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Washington Court House council approves trustee appointment, applies for OPWC grant and awards street resurfacing contract; first readings set for playground,AF
Summary
At its Oct. 8 meeting, Washington Court House City Council unanimously confirmed a Carnegie Board appointment, authorized an Ohio Public Works Commission application, awarded the 2025 street resurfacing contract to Fillmore Construction and approved an AFSCME labor contract; council also took first readings for a land-and-conservation playground grant and an inclusive-playground grant application.
The Washington Court House City Council on Oct. 8 unanimously adopted several routine but consequential measures, confirming a board appointment, seeking infrastructure grant funding and awarding a contractor for the city’s 2025 street and alley resurfacing program.
On a unanimous roll-call vote, council adopted Resolution R37-2025 to confirm the appointment of Rick Garrison to the Carnegie Board of Trustees, with the term running through Dec. 31, 2029. The motion to move R37 on second reading and adopt it was made and seconded, and council recorded all “Yes” votes during roll call.
Council then approved Resolution R38-2025, authorizing the city manager or service director to prepare and submit an application to the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) for state-capital-improvement or local-transportation funds. The resolution identifies Dayton Avenue culvert and related small-structure, tile and grading improvements as eligible project elements; council moved for adoption and recorded unanimous approval.
The body also approved Resolution R39-2025 to award the 2025 street and alley resurfacing contract to Fillmore Construction. City staff presented the contract award on second reading, a motion to adopt was made and council recorded a unanimous roll-call vote in favor.
Council held first readings on two other items and voted to place them on the agenda: R40-2025 authorizes the city manager to apply for funding through the Land and Conservation Fund program for playground equipment at Washington Park (next to the splash pad), and R41-2025 approves a labor contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Ohio Council 8, Local 3819.
On R40, a council member asked whether an amount had been identified for the grant; a staff member replied, “Ask for, oh, $850,000,” and cautioned that playground projects are scalable if the awarded amount is lower. The record shows council carried the first reading by roll call. The city indicated a public meeting related to the playground grant application is to be scheduled in October as part of standard grant outreach.
On R41, council members spoke in favor of the contract, thanking negotiators and noting that ratification followed committee discussion; the first-reading roll call likewise recorded unanimous support. The resolution language in the record states it is “a resolution approving the contract with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Ohio Council 8, AFL–CIO, Local 3819.”
During routine reports, City Manager Joseph J. Dennen updated council on a full-depth repair on Clinton Avenue to address longstanding pavement and subsurface issues, leaf pickup timing (typically late October–early November, weather dependent), winter-equipment readiness, and a short enforcement sweep targeting defective mufflers and excessively loud stereos later in October. Dennen also thanked volunteers organizing courthouse-lawn holiday trees and invited sponsorships via lightuptheseasonwch@gmail.com.
Prosecutor (self-identified in the record as “Mister Fitztek”) described implementing a CARPEL case-management system to store and provide body-worn and squad-car video for discovery, noting daily download procedures and cloud storage workflows. The clerk reported a liquor-permit name-only change request from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control for the Rusty Cake business at 1801 Columbus Avenue; the police chief raised no objections and council raised none.
Council members used the open-remarks portion of the meeting to promote upcoming community events (including a Fayette County Dog Shelter benefit) and reflect on local priorities. Council Member Caleb Johnson observed the difficulty of online civic discourse but argued for tangible local improvements, saying, “I do know that we can fix our parks.”
The meeting concluded after a motion and second to adjourn; roll call confirmed and the meeting ended at about 8:18 p.m.
Votes at a glance: - R37-2025 (Carnegie Board appointment of Rick Garrison through 12/31/2029): adopted, unanimous roll-call 'Yes' votes. - R38-2025 (OPWC application for Dayton Avenue culvert and related improvements): adopted, unanimous roll-call 'Yes' votes. - R39-2025 (Award contract to Fillmore Construction for 2025 street & alley resurfacing): adopted, unanimous roll-call 'Yes' votes. - R40-2025 (Land & Conservation Fund grant application for playground equipment): placed on first reading; first-reading roll call recorded 'Yes' votes; application amount discussed as potentially $850,000 but noted as scalable. - R41-2025 (Approval of AFSCME contract, Local 3819): placed on first reading and approved on first reading by roll call.
Next steps: staff to schedule the public meeting for the playground grant application and to proceed with contract execution and OPWC application steps as authorized by council.
