Council approves collective bargaining agreement, infrastructure and equipment purchases; recesses to executive session

Hilliard City Council on Feb. 9, 2026 approved a package of one ordinance and five resolutions, heard brief staff reports, and voted to recess to executive session on matters involving pending or imminent court action.

Ordinance 26-01 (second reading) — collective bargaining agreement: The clerk read the ordinance authorizing the city to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, Capital City Lodge 9, and appropriating funds. Council conducted a roll-call vote with recorded affirmative responses from President Cole, Miss Vermillion, Miss Rossell, Miss Parker Jones, Vice President Catone and Mister Betts; the ordinance passed 6–0 and will be effective at the earliest date allowable by law.

Resolution 26-R-13 — lift station professional services agreement: Council authorized the city manager to enter a professional services agreement with Evans, Meghorn, Hamilton, and Tip Tilton (EMH&T) to support rehabilitation or replacement work identified in the lift station master plan (CIP projects 31 and 48). Staff reported the city operates 21 lift stations, described condition assessments from a 2025 master plan update, and noted the contract is structured as an annual agreement with up to four one-year extensions subject to performance and appropriation. The resolution passed by roll call (pass 6–0).

Resolution 26-R-14 — parks equipment purchase: Council authorized purchase of equipment (rough-cut mower, sprayer, utility tractor and aerator) from Beard Equipment Company (a John Deere dealer) for approximately $231,497.92, funded from the 2026 capital improvement budget tied to maintenance of the Hilliard Athletic Complex and other parks; council approved the resolution by roll call (pass 6–0).

Resolution 26-R-15 — police vehicles: Council authorized purchase of three marked replacement police vehicles through a Franklin County competitive bid with Byers Automotive and noted separate upfitting by PAR Equipment is included in capital dollars; the resolution passed by roll call (pass 6–0). Staff said the replacements were selected based on age, mileage and repair costs and the city will dispose of surplus vehicles via auction or trade-in as appropriate.

Resolution 26-R-16 — services upon annexation: Council approved a resolution indicating what services the city will provide to a roughly 2.2-acre parcel in Norwich Township, Franklin County upon annexation; staff said this is the first step to annex a small house and adjacent railroad property that were part of a prior acquisition. The resolution passed by roll call (pass 6–0).

Resolution 26-R-17 — CRA Housing Council appointments: Council appointed members to the Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) Housing Council and staff provided an overview of post-1994 CRA rules and the council’s largely procedural role under the city’s current use of the program; the resolution passed by roll call (pass 6–0).

Consent agenda and public comment: The council approved a consent agenda item not to request a hearing on a new C1 liquor permit application for 4920 Scioto Darby Road. In public comment, John Tetzloff of the Darby Creek Association raised concerns about regional development targets and the need to retire development rights before relocating growth.

Executive session: President Cole moved and council seconded a motion to recess to executive session to confer with the city attorney on disputes subject to pending or imminent litigation; roll-call votes were affirmative and council recessed, with no additional business scheduled after the session.

Vote tallies (roll-call results as recorded): Ordinance 26-01 — Yes: President Cole, Miss Vermillion, Miss Rossell, Miss Parker Jones, Vice President Catone, Mister Betts (6–0). Resolutions 26-R-13 through 26-R-17 — each recorded as pass 6–0 on roll-call votes.