Columbus council approves finance director, downtown lighting plan and multiple equipment quotes
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Summary
The Columbus City Council unanimously approved Christopher Norquist as finance director, adopted three resolutions including a $125,000 guaranteed-maximum agreement for Frankfurt Square lighting reimbursed by the downtown BID, and approved vendor quotes for cameras and fire hydrants.
The Columbus City Council on Feb. 2 unanimously appointed Christopher Norquist as the city’s new finance director and approved several vendor quotes and resolutions affecting municipal facilities and downtown lighting.
Norquist, introduced by the mayor as a finance professional with more than a decade in public accounting and municipal finance, will begin March 9, 2026. The council moved and seconded the appointment and passed it by voice vote. After the vote, Norquist said, “I’m looking forward to serving the community here in Columbus.”
Council approved three vendor quotes on consent or by motion: a $12,609 SEI quote for camera upgrades at the Columbus Aquatic Center; a $29,018 SEI quote for transfer-station camera upgrades (noted as CIP24-38); and a $19,200 Core & Main quote to supply six fire hydrants for the water utility department. Each motion carried by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tallies in the public minutes.
On resolutions, council adopted R26-19, approving a land lease agreement with Yellow Airplane LLC for property at Columbus Municipal Airport after the Board of Airport Commissioners’ recommendation and confirmation that insurance had been obtained. The motion carried with no further discussion.
Council also adopted Resolution R26-20 approving an owner-designer agreement with Commonwealth Electric Company for Frankfurt Square lighting with a guaranteed maximum price of $125,000. Jean Van Eyckburn, the city’s planning and economic development coordinator, said the project will replace and add lighting around the mural, the flagpole and the center of the square, and upgrade sidewalk/security lights. Van Eyckburn said the downtown Business Improvement District will reimburse the city for the full amount and reported two donations to support the effort, including a $25,000 anonymous gift and a $4,100 goodwill donation from Commonwealth Electric.
Finally, council adopted R26-21 to formally adopt the City of Columbus purchasing policy and procedures following a Committee of the Whole recommendation. The update had been presented earlier and carried by motion without discussion.
What’s next: the finance director’s effective start date is March 9, 2026, and the downtown lighting project will proceed under the guaranteed-maximum contract reimbursed by the BID. No individual vote tallies or dissenting votes were recorded in the meeting transcript.
