Xenia council ratifies AFSCME contract, launches citywide streetlight assessment and approves caboose acquisition

Xenia City Council on Jan. 23, 2025, ratified a three‑year labor agreement with AFSCME Local 101, voted to begin the process of a citywide streetlight assessment, accepted ownership of a historic red chassis caboose for $1 from the Greene County Historical Society and approved several other measures, including an ordinance introduction to rezone 234 Dayton Avenue and a resolution allowing a stipend for the municipal court chief probation officer tied to a recovery‑court grant.

The AFSCME tentative agreement—described by city staff as a three‑year contract negotiated in good faith—was ratified after the union informed the city it had approved the deal. City Manager and staff told council the agreement had been reviewed by finance and legal staff; council then voted to authorize execution of the contract. Council recorded the motion, and the vote carried.

Council also approved Resolution 2025‑004, initiating the statutorily required resolution of necessity to begin a citywide streetlight assessment process. City staff said the assessment would replace several smaller, preexisting lighting districts and would allow the city to shift the roughly $245,000 annual streetlight cost now paid from the general fund to property assessments. City staff provided an illustrative estimate of about $12 per $100,000 of appraised property value (for example, about $12 annually on a $100,000 appraisal), and said the assessment would be levied on all property types (residential, commercial and industrial). Staff said the process requires public notice and an objection period, and that assessments would likely be certified to the county in late August for 2026 collections.

On historic preservation, council unanimously approved acquiring the red chassis caboose currently at Xenia Station for $1 from the Greene County Historical Society. City staff said the society had solicited proposals and selected the city’s $1 offer; the council itemized the acceptance so the acquisition would be recorded in the city’s permanent record. Staff said no immediate relocation or repairs were planned and that maintenance would be absorbed by public services with repainting and ongoing upkeep programmed into the city’s capital plan.

Under New Business, council introduced Ordinance 2025‑001 to rezone 234 Dayton Avenue. City staff said the owner consolidated the former residence and several vacant lots into one parcel (0.96 acres) and asked to rezone the site to B‑3 General Business to allow a construction contracting office now and a future equipment storage building to the rear. Planning and Zoning recommended approval on Jan. 8; staff noted that access and screening requirements would be addressed later at site‑plan review and that the rezoning introduction will return for a formal vote at a future meeting.

Council also approved Resolution 2025‑006, amending the municipal court pay plan to permit a conditional stipend for the court’s chief probation officer tied to the court’s new specialized recovery (drug) court. Judge Mike McNamee told council the court received a grant of about $20,000 per fiscal period administered through the Mental Health Recovery Board and OMAS; the grant permits use of funds for recovery‑court employee compensation. McNamee said the stipend would be conditioned on renewal of that grant each fiscal period and would avoid making a permanent change to the pay scale. He described the court’s recent certification by the Ohio Supreme Court as a specialized recovery court and said the stipend gives flexibility to compensate added responsibilities without increasing base salary obligations.

Council also authorized staff to submit an application to the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial (America 250 Ohio) for a $5,000 grant (Resolution 2025‑007). City staff said the proposed application would fund storytelling and interpretation about the former Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans’ Home (OSSO) as part of the state’s 250th anniversary programming in 2026.

Finally, council approved committee and commission appointments for 2025, including a motion placing Mayor Will Urschel as chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission and naming Councilman Ethan Reynolds chair of the Recreation and Events Commission, and confirmed the city’s representative and alternate to the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission. The council also administered oaths and swore in two newly seated council members during the meeting: Dennis Lawrence and Carlos Walker.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025‑008 (AFSCME tentative collective bargaining agreement, three years): motion moved and seconded; vote recorded as carried (councilayes). - Resolution 2025‑004 (initiate citywide streetlight assessment process): motion moved and seconded; vote carried. - Resolution 2025‑005 (accept donation/purchase of red chassis caboose from Greene County Historical Society for $1): motion moved and seconded; vote carried. - Resolution 2025‑006 (amend municipal court pay plan to permit grant‑conditioned stipend for chief probation officer): motion moved and seconded; vote carried. - Ordinance 2025‑001 (introduction: rezone 234 Dayton Avenue to B‑3 General Business): introduced; formal vote scheduled at subsequent meeting. - Resolution 2025‑007 (authorize application to America250 Ohio $5,000 grant for OSSO interpretation): motion moved and seconded; vote carried. - Committee and commission appointments (Planning & Zoning chair to Mayor Urschel; Recreation & Events chair to Councilman Reynolds; other appointments and Miami Valley RPC representative/alternate): motions moved and seconded; votes carried.

Why it matters: The AFSCME contract ends a round of municipal labor negotiations, the streetlight assessment shifts the funding mechanism for public lighting from the city’s general fund to property assessments (potentially affecting homeowners and businesses), and the caboose acceptance preserves a local historic artifact. The court stipend ties municipal personnel compensation directly to grant funding for a certified recovery court, and the rezoning introduction could allow a contracting business and equipment storage at 234 Dayton Avenue.

What’s next: The rezoning will return for a formal council vote at a future meeting. The streetlight assessment must proceed through public notice and objection periods before assessment ordinances and certification to the county. The AFSCME contract will be executed now that council authorized ratification. Staff will pursue the America250 grant and say they will notify council if awarded.