Woodlawn council approves multiple ordinances, places five-mill fire levy on November ballot

Woodlawn council on July 30 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions that included placing a five‑mill fire levy renewal on the November ballot, certifying charter amendments for the ballot and approving several grant and engineering agreements.

Law Director Emily summarized the night’s legislative items before votes, saying that the fire‑levy ordinance ‘‘would authorize the placement of the fire levy on the ballot’’ and that charter amendment materials would be mailed to every resident so voters can review them before the election. Council moved to suspend rules on multiple items and then held roll‑call votes on each measure.

What the council approved

- Ordinance 13‑20‑24: Revised mayor’s court costs and fines (second reading and passage). Council suspended the rules and passed the ordinance; the law director told council the change raises court costs to $70 and most violation fines increase by roughly $10.

- Ordinance 20‑24: Renewal of the existing five‑mill fire levy. Council suspended the rules and passed the ordinance to place the levy on the November ballot. During discussion a council member asked whether the renewal would increase taxes; Village Manager Tim Engel confirmed the renewal ‘‘allow[s] your tax rates to remain the same. It's not an increase in taxes.’’

- Ordinance 21‑20‑24: Certification of proposed Woodlawn Charter amendments to the Hamilton County Board of Elections. Council approved the ordinance and declared an emergency to expedite certification and mailing of the proposed changes to residents.

- Ordinance 22‑20‑24: Advance up to $55,000 from the general fund to the pool levy fund until property tax distributions are received. Council approved the advance by roll call.

- Multiple resolutions: Council authorized a resource impact grant agreement with Hamilton County for a chipper purchase, revised the tax commissioner job description, and approved engineering contracts with CT Consultants for Leacrest Road, the Glendale‑Milford Road sidewalk improvement project, and the Wayne Avenue improvement project. The council also approved a joint agreement with Hamilton County to administer a community revitalization grant for the Taconic Terrace parking‑lot and food‑truck park project.

Votes and procedure

For each ordinance and resolution the presiding officer called for suspension of the rules when required and then called roll for passage. The transcript records members’ roll‑call responses for each measure; in all listed votes the measures passed as recorded. Motions to approve routine financial reports (receipt and expense listings, fund balance and bank reconciliation) were also moved, seconded and approved earlier in the meeting.

What happens next

The fire‑levy ordinance will be certified to the Hamilton County Board of Elections so the question can appear on the November ballot. Charter amendment materials will be mailed to Woodlawn residents ahead of the election. Engineering work authorized by the council will proceed under contract with CT Consultants; individual project schedules will be set out in later project briefings or bids.

The meeting adjourned after a unanimous vote to close the July 30 session.