South Lebanon council approves emergency budget items, property maintenance appeals fee and hazard mitigation plan

The South Lebanon City Council unanimously adopted a series of emergency ordinances and routine fiscal measures during its regular meeting.

The council voted to waive the two-reading rule and adopt Emergency Ordinance 2025-21 (authorizing supplemental appropriations for fiscal year beginning Jan. 1, 2025). Brenda Combs moved to adopt the ordinance by title only; Lisa Feder seconded. The chair recorded the vote as "Yay" from each council member and the motion carried.

Council next considered Emergency Ordinance 2025-22, which amends Ordinance 2013-8 to set an application fee for filing property maintenance appeals and formally assigns the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) as the appeals body. Council waived the two-reading requirement and adopted Ordinance 2025-22 by title only; the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.

The council also waived the two-reading rule and adopted Emergency Resolution 2025-42 to adopt the Warren County multiple-jurisdiction hazard mitigation five-year plan. Members said the emergency timing reflected a county deadline; the resolution passed unanimously.

In addition to emergency legislation, council authorized the director of finance to send an amended certificate to the Warren County auditor for fiscal year 2025, approved invoices, and approved the September financial statement. The council approved the law director's invoice and set the rescheduled January 2026 council meeting for Jan. 6 (organizational meeting 5:30 p.m., regular meeting 6:00 p.m.).

All recorded voice votes during the meeting on the above items were unanimous in favor. No roll-call opposition or abstentions were recorded in the public minutes.

The meeting included a motion to adjourn to executive session to consider personnel under Ohio Revised Code 121.22; council recessed and later returned to open session, at which time the mayor announced that no action had been taken in executive session.