Xenia council introduces tax‑forfeited property sales, adopts pay‑source changes and authorizes emergency street repairs

XENIA, Ohio — The Xenia City Council on Aug. 14 introduced an ordinance to sell six tax‑forfeited properties for single‑family, owner‑occupied housing, unanimously approved changes to how employee pay is charged across city funds and authorized an emergency change order to add repairs to this year’s paving contract after recent utility failures.

The meeting also included council approval of a final plat for the Xenia Market District replat, confirmation of Amy Brown as city clerk (via council president contract authorization), and adoption of a sister‑city program framework. Members heard public comments about a sewer backup that a resident said caused $13,000 in home damage and a resident who thanked the council for accessibility of meeting information.

The property sale item — introduced, not adopted, at the meeting — would permit the sale of six city‑owned parcels previously acquired through tax forfeiture under the city’s Home Preservation Program. City staff presented sale recommendations and identified the buyers and sale prices: 225 E. Third St. to Copeland Construction for $10,000; 317 E. Church St. to G.G. Custom Homes for $3,000; 147 S. Monroe St. to G.G. Custom Homes for $4,000; 93 Pru (Crew) Ave. to Emory Builders for $10,000; and 1068 and 1088 Jasper Rd. to TJD Homes for $250 each. Staff and council said deeds will include a five‑year owner‑occupancy restriction required by the council’s program rules.

City Manager Merriman told the council the properties had been difficult to market while taxes and fees exceeded market value, and that the city had worked with county officials including the prosecutor, auditor and sheriff to clear liens so the parcels could be returned to productive use.

Finance Director Ryan Duke briefed council on Resolution 2025‑40, the pay‑source policy update. Duke said the revision reallocates portions of employee wages among funds to reflect recent program changes — most notably the city’s new stormwater ERU model, the in‑house building inspection function and work charged to public safety/dispatch. Duke said the pay source is used both to allocate payroll charges at each paycheck and to build personnel budgets.

During audience comments, resident Darren Brown described a July 6 sewer backup at his home on Colorado Drive that he said resulted in about $13,000 of damage to his basement. Brown told council he had filed a claim and said the city’s claims contractor advised denial, with the city reportedly attributing the loss to an "act of God." Brown said he plans to file a public records request for maintenance records for Colorado Drive over the past five years to determine cause and next steps. City staff said they will investigate and review whether private contractors can be held financially responsible for the water‑main puncture near McDowell Street.

Resident Lashonda Oatmeal addressed council to thank members for making meeting content available online and urged residents to review recorded meetings when they cannot attend in person. “It’s important to come to these meetings. So therefore, you know what’s going on in your community,” she said.

Council approved a final plat for the Xenia Market District replat (a replat of Xenia Redevelopment Project No. 1), establishing rights‑of‑way and lot boundaries for the approved PUD and formally renaming the recorded subdivision the Xenia Market District. City staff said streets, utilities and park space construction is underway and is expected to be substantially complete by year‑end or early next year.

On staff appointments, council authorized the council president to execute a contract with Amy Brown to serve as city clerk following the resignation of Michelle Johnson. Manager and council members praised Johnson’s tenure and said she will remain on in a deputy clerk role to assist the transition.

Council also adopted a resolution establishing a sister city program to permit future cultural and economic partnerships; staff identified initial ties with Wilberforce University and contacts in Ghana and with Athletes in Action and Armenia. Membership in Sister Cities International was described as a small annual fee with any future official activities to be budgeted separately.

Finally, the council approved a change order to the city’s 2025 paving contract with John R. Jurgensen to add emergency roadway repairs. The emergency repairs respond to (1) a collapsed vitrified clay sanitary sewer on Home Avenue, estimated at about $60,000 to repair (to be funded from the sanitary sewer fund), and (2) a punctured water main and subsurface damage at the end of McDowell Street, estimated at about $75,000 (to be funded from the water fund). The total additional authorization is about $135,000; city staff said J.R. Jurgensen honored previously quoted prices to add scope immediately.

Council members and staff emphasized the city’s ongoing infrastructure priorities, noting recent progress on stormwater funding and the goal to repair and recondition a substantial mileage of streets if a proposed levy succeeds in November. The city manager said legal and transactional steps for the Market District phase‑one launch remain active and will be clearer after a scheduled meeting with counsel next week.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (July 24, 2025): motion carried (roll call: unanimous among members present).

- Resolution 2025‑40 (Pay Source Policy amendment): approved (unanimous roll call). The ordinance updates allocations across funds to reflect stormwater ERU revenue, in‑house building inspection, and public‑safety allocations.

- Resolution 2025‑41 (Final Plat, Xenia Market District): approved (unanimous roll call). Plat covers ~18.338 acres in 12 lots and establishes rights of way consistent with the PUD previously approved by council.

- Resolution 2025‑42 (Council president authorized to execute contract with Amy Brown, city clerk): approved (unanimous roll call). Amy Brown holds the Certified Municipal Clerk designation; Michelle Johnson will remain in a deputy role during transition.

- Resolution 2025‑43 (Establish sister city program): approved (unanimous roll call). Initial interest cited with Ghana (via Wilberforce University) and Armenia (via Athletes in Action).

- Resolution 2025‑44 (Change order to 2025 paving program — emergency repairs, Home Ave. and McDowell St.): approved (unanimous roll call). Estimated additional cost ~ $135,000; funded from sanitary sewer and water funds.

- Ordinance 2025 Action 19 (Introduction — sale of six tax‑forfeited properties under Home Preservation Program): introduced (no final vote tonight). Deeds will include five‑year owner‑occupancy restriction per council program rules. Buyers and prices were provided by staff during introduction.

- Ordinance 2025‑20 (Introduction — update to traffic code to conform to state law through June 30, 2025): introduced. Staff said changes mostly reflect terminology and statutory updates from multiple state bills; councilwoman Cerise introduced the ordinance.

What’s next

Council scheduled further internal work sessions, including an Aug. 26 special session on infrastructure policy and the Market District legal/transaction timeline. Staff said records requests and investigations were expected regarding the Colorado Drive sewer backup and the McDowell water‑main puncture. Council also encouraged resident participation in the Nov. 4 election, noting several municipal seats on the ballot.

Ending

Council recessed after the meeting for an executive session on property sale/purchase and pending legal matters; members indicated action could follow after the executive session and after election‑related steps.