Council approves late amendment to appropriation ordinance to add street-lighting line

Summary

Council voted Jan. 5 to suspend rules and adopt Ordinance 2026-02, an amendment to the annual appropriation ordinance that inserts a missing line item for street-lighting. City staff said the funds were technically available but the change reduces cash reserves by about four days; council approved unanimously on roll call.

The Wooster City Council moved on Jan. 5 to correct a missing budget line covering street-lighting costs by adopting Ordinance 2026-02 and suspending the rules to allow immediate enactment.

Council member Jonathan Doherty (speaking about the omission) apologized and described the error as a human omission in the city’s multi-thousand-line budget, saying, “I had 1 job to do. I messed it up.” Staff explained the line was accounted for within the city’s unappropriated balance; adopting the amendment will draw down reserves by roughly four days of cash on hand compared with earlier projections. Council members pressed staff about long-term efficiency plans; Joel (city staff) said the city is pursuing a multi-year project with AEP to install LED and smart lighting that would permit dimming in some areas and yield efficiencies over time.

A motion to suspend the rules was made and seconded; a roll-call vote followed, and the suspension and the ordinance’s adoption passed with all recorded members voting yes.

The council recorded the adoption in the meeting minutes and moved on to other business.