Votes at a glance: Xenia council approves streetlight assessment, sells six city lots, applies for West Main funding and seeks governor letter on state tax bill

XENIA, Ohio — The Xenia City Council on June 26 took a series of votes on infrastructure, property and state policy items. The council approved ordinances and resolutions with brief discussion, and took one procedural action to request a letter to the governor about state property‑tax legislation.

Summary of votes and key details

- Ordinance 2025‑14 — Levying assessments for city street lighting, 2025: Council approved creating a single citywide assessment district for streetlight maintenance and funding. The measure was introduced June 9 and passed June 26 by roll call (all members present voted yes). Council members said the ordinance complements a broader set of infrastructure funding steps the city has pursued.

- Ordinance 2025‑15 — Sale of city properties (authorizing sales at 607 S. Monroe; 475 E. Church St.; 476 E. Second St.; 536 E. Second St.; 656 E. Second St.; 105 Jackson St.): The ordinance authorizes sales to three buyers identified in staff reports — Tri Power LLC; GG Custom Homes LLC; and Emery Builders LLC — with the properties to be conveyed as part of the city’s home‑preservation/infill effort. The presenter said staff solicited offers and negotiated prices; the specific sale prices were referenced in the staff report but not read into the public record at the meeting. Council voted aye by roll call. Council members urged constituents to drive by neighborhood infill to see the quality of work being produced.

- Resolution 2025‑32 — Authorize application for Ohio Public Works Commission / state capital and local transportation improvement funds (Issue 2) for West Main Street (Progress Drive to Orange Street): Council approved staff filing an application for program year 2026. Staff estimated the project at $1,294,990 with a proposed 69% state / 31% city split, giving a local share of $401,446.90 based on current estimates. The resolution passed by roll call.

- Resolution 2025‑33 — Response to House Bill 335 / state budget proposals: Council discussed a pending package of state changes affecting property taxes and local levy authority. Rather than pass the draft opposition resolution as written, councilors directed staff to draft a procedural letter urging the governor to consider using line‑item veto authority on specific provisions that would constrain local taxing authority; the mayor said staff would prepare a draft for the council president’s signature. Members voted to authorize staff to prepare and send the letter; roll call was unanimous among members present.

- Old business: Resolution 2025‑20 remained tabled (previously tabled on March 27) and was not taken up.

Who spoke and procedural notes

Staff presented the property sales report and recommended acceptance of the negotiated offers; the city manager outlined the Issue 2 application and the estimated project cost and local match. Councilwoman Faith Cerise moved the ordinance approving property sales; Councilman Crawford and other council members seconded and spoke in favor of infill development.

What the meeting record does not specify

- The staff report referenced specific sale prices for the six lots but the transcript did not include the dollar amounts; the transcript identifies buyers and properties but not sale prices read aloud. - The Issue 2 cost estimate and local match were provided by staff as current estimates and are subject to change if awarded.

Speakers quoted in this article are identified in the meeting record and any direct quotations are verbatim from the transcript excerpts provided to the city.