Huber Heights council adopts Kanawha Heights development plan, approves budget transfers and construction awards

The Huber Heights City Council on Dec. 24 voted unanimously to adopt an economic development plan for the Kanawha Heights development project and approved multiple year-end financial and procurement measures, including supplemental appropriations and a contract amendment for Fire Station 23 renovations.

City manager John presented the Kanawha Heights ordinance at the meeting’s second reading and recommended adoption. “No, sir. This is the second reading. We would ask for adoption after today,” John said. The council approved adoption by a 7-0 vote.

The ordinance authorizes the city to proceed with creating tax increment financing (TIF) incentive districts for the Kanawha Heights project; the vote was for adoption at second reading. The vote was recorded as carried 7 to 0.

Council also voted 7-0 to waive a second reading and adopt an ordinance authorizing interfund transfers and supplemental appropriations for the 2025 budget year. Council voted to waive the second reading and then to adopt the ordinance in the same meeting.

On an item that required an amendment after the packet distribution, council amended and then adopted a resolution awarding the construction and renovation contract for Fire Station 23 to Broomball Construction (vendor and amount were added in amendment recorded at the meeting). The amendment and the final adoption each carried 7-0.

Other actions approved or moved forward at the meeting included: - A resolution to increase the not-to-exceed amount for cybersecurity and additional IT services for calendar year 2025 (first reading and adoption motion carried 7-0). - A resolution authorizing solicitation of bids for furniture, fixtures and equipment for the Richard F. Schompert governance center (adopted 7-0). - A resolution to solicit bids for maintenance, repair and minor construction of traffic signals and outdoor decorative lighting (adopted 7-0). - A first-reading resolution creating a special tap-in district to provide water to certain unserviced properties along Bellefonte Road and nearby streets (moved forward at first reading; vote carried 7-0 to advance).

Council handled multiple ministerial appointments and license responses on consent or by brief motion, including reappointments to the Parks and Recreation Board and responses of “no objection” to new liquor permits for a Hampton Inn and for Hidden Heights Campground Resort; each of those motions carried 7-0.

Why it matters: Adoption of the Kanawha Heights economic development plan and authority to pursue TIF districts clears a key procedural step for a local development effort that the city says will be supported by future incentive districts. The supplemental appropriations and contract awards finalize several budgetary and capital decisions before the end of the year, and the cybersecurity funding increase reflects ongoing IT security spending identified in executive session updates.

Meeting context: The council’s actions were largely unanimous, with multiple items adopted on motions to waive second readings or as routine business. City manager John and clerk staff presented most items; discussion on substantive items was brief and focused on procedural points and confirming packet amendments.

Votes at a glance Kanawha Heights economic development plan — Ordinance (second reading): adopted; vote 7-0. Supplemental appropriations / transfers — Ordinance (waived second reading and adopted): adopted; vote to waive 7-0, adoption 7-0. Fire Station 23 renovation — Resolution (award amended to name Broomball Construction and amount): amended and adopted; votes 7-0. Cybersecurity not-to-exceed increase — Resolution (first reading/adoption motion): adopted; vote 7-0. Governance center FF&E solicitation — Resolution: adopted; vote 7-0. Traffic signal/decorative lighting solicitation — Resolution: adopted; vote 7-0. Special tap-in district (water extension) — Resolution (first reading): advanced at first reading; vote 7-0. Liquor permit responses (Hampton Inn; Hidden Heights Campground) — Motions to respond “no objection” to Ohio Division of Liquor Control: adopted; votes 7-0. Parks & Recreation Board reappointments and Huber Heights Housing Council appointments — Motions adopted; votes 7-0.

Sources and attribution: Quotations and attributions are taken from meeting remarks recorded at the Dec. 24 regular session of the City of Huber Heights City Council. The transcript records city manager John presenting staff recommendations and council members making and seconding motions; many routine items were approved unanimously without extended debate.