Council suspends rules and approves water and stormwater rate changes, joins AT&T tariff challenge and passes supplemental appropriations and annexation

City Council voted on multiple ordinances and resolutions Tuesday, adopting fee changes, emergency legal authority, supplemental appropriations, and an annexation resolution. Council suspended the usual three-reading rules where noted and approved each item by roll call.

Stormwater rates (Ordinance 24‑98): Council amended the ordinance’s effective date to March 1, 2025, and approved an increase in the stormwater rate from $4.50 to $5.00 per ERU (equivalent residential unit) per month. Staff said the effective date needed correction and requested a third reading to reflect March 1; council amended from the floor and then suspended rules and adopted the ordinance as amended.

Water base rates (Ordinance 24‑99): Council amended the effective date to March 1, 2025, and approved changes to the water base rates (not the consumption component). Staff said the change would increase base-rate revenues by about $300,000 in the first year and that the revenue would be dedicated to the water department and could not be used for non-water purposes. The ordinance passed after suspending rules.

AT&T tariff challenge (Ordinance 25‑01): Council adopted an emergency ordinance authorizing the city manager and city attorney to join Ohio Municipal League efforts to challenge a tariff AT&T filed with the Ohio Public Utilities Commission. Staff said the tariff, filed Dec. 18, would shift utility relocation costs on certain projects from the utility to municipalities if the tariff is not successfully challenged; the tariff would automatically become effective Jan. 17, 2025, unless challenged. The ordinance was adopted with an emergency clause so the city could join the League’s challenge in time.

Supplemental appropriations (Ordinance 25‑02): Council approved a 2025 appropriation supplement to correct budget transfers. Staff said the largest change was a transfer into the equipment-replacement fund to fund planned equipment purchases (about $1,178,000), a transfer of about $13,204 for facility maintenance, and an additional $48,000 to cover a higher-than-expected ODOT final estimate on a resurfacing project; ODOT has stated it may delay the resurfacing if the city does not provide the funds.

Simpkins annexation (Resolution 25‑04): Council approved a resolution of services for approximately 4.4 acres at the northeast corner of US 36 and South Section Line Road to facilitate annexation into the city and to allow subsequent PUD amendment and development plan approvals. Staff recommended approval to clean up PUD boundaries and to simplify future development of the larger property.

Votes at a glance: the items above were each adopted on roll call after motions to suspend the rules where applicable. See the actions section for roll-call detail.