Votes at a glance: Wooster council adopts tax-code changes, paving contracts and traffic updates

The Wooster City Council on Oct. 6 adopted five measures affecting tax agreements, the municipal income-tax code, multiple paving projects and the city's traffic-control file.

The council approved Resolution 2025-53 to accept Group C recommendations from the Wooster Tax Incentive Review Council covering existing enterprise zone agreements, community reinvestment area agreements and tax increment financing projects. Council President Mr. Abernathy moved to adopt; Council member Ms. Wharton seconded. The roll call recorded votes in favor from Mr. Abernathy, Ms. Wharton, Ms. Knappick and Mr. Malta; the motion was approved.

Council also adopted Ordinance 2025-14, amending various sections of Chapter 1701 of the codified ordinances (Wooster income tax) to correspond with Chapter 718 of the Ohio Revised Code and to add a provision clarifying when residential individual taxpayers with no municipal taxable income need not file. Council member Mr. Abernathy introduced the ordinance and moved to suspend the rules; the motion to adopt passed on a second by Mr. Gaffey. Roll call votes in favor included Mr. Abernathy, Ms. Wharton, Mr. Malta, Mr. Jose, Mr. Gaffey and Ms. Knappick.

Resolution 2025-59 authorizes the director of administration to advertise and enter into a contract with the lowest and best bidder for pavement resurfacing on multiple city streets. Council member Ms. Wharton explained the project list (Burbank Road, East Wayne Avenue, East Larwell, West Liberty Street and Prairie Lane Road) and stated the estimated total project cost is $1,000,000, with $494,493 expected from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Large Cities program. Ms. Wharton moved to place the item on third reading and later moved to adopt; the motion to adopt passed on a second by Mr. Abernathy. Roll call votes in favor included Ms. Wharton, Ms. Knappick, Mr. Abernathy, Mr. Malta, Mr. Gaffey and Mr. Jose. The resolution was approved; the project will be incorporated into the 2026 appropriations budget, the council said.

Resolution 2025-60 authorizes the director of administration to enter into a cooperative Local Public Agency (LPA) agreement with ODOT for resurfacing projects slated for fiscal year 2027. Council member Ms. Wharton said the agreement enables acceptance of ODOT funding and execution of required documents; projects named include Long Road, Palmer Street (Pittsburgh Avenue to East Bowman Street) and East Bowman Street (Quimby to Palmer). Wharton moved to suspend rules and then to adopt; the motions passed and the adoption roll call recorded votes in favor from Ms. Wharton, Ms. Knappick, Mr. Abernathy, Mr. Malta, Mr. Gaffey and Mr. Jose. The council discussed the ODOT funding split (80/20) and a cap near $500,000 for the program.

Ordinance 2025-15 amending the traffic-control file and map to enact traffic recommendations was introduced and placed on third reading by Council member Mr. Gaffey. Mr. Gaffey moved to adopt; Mr. Abernathy seconded. Roll-call votes in favor included Mr. Gaffey, Mr. Abernathy, Mr. Jose, Mr. Malta, Ms. Warden and Ms. Knappick. The amendment was adopted; council members said the ordinance formalizes traffic-control changes that have been under way (for example, South Street streetscape and Silver Road work).

Votes at the Oct. 6 meeting were generally unanimous on the items listed; roll-call tallies for each item matched the city clerk's record. Each adopted item will return in implementation steps as required (contract bids, cooperative agreements, or administrative action), the council said.

The council set its next regular meeting for Monday, Oct. 20.