Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Middletown council approves consent agenda, arts grant and six legislative measures including purchase of Cincinnati State building
Loading...
Summary
On March 2 the Middletown City Council approved the consent agenda, a $53,000 one-year services agreement for the Middletown Arts Center, and six pieces of legislation (including emergency appropriations for police renovations, a grant appropriation, participation in a county drug task force and a $325,000 property purchase).
The Middletown City Council on March 2 approved the consent agenda, a $53,000 city services agreement for the Middletown Arts Center and six pieces of legislation covering planning, historic preservation, police renovations, a grant appropriation, a county drug task-force memorandum of understanding and a downtown property purchase.
The consent agenda — which included approval of council minutes (Nov. 18, 2025 and Feb. 17, 2026), confirmations of conditional and promotional city staff appointments and receipt of several oaths of office — passed by roll call.
Motion agenda: council authorized a one-year city services agreement providing $53,000 to the Middletown Arts Center to support programming that the manager said serves roughly 1,200–1,400 residents with 160–175 classes. The motion passed on a roll call vote with Vice Mayor Carter voting no; other members voted yes.
Legislation: Law Director Alex Ewing presented six items. Key approved actions included:
• Ordinance O2026-07 (second reading) approving the revised final development plan for the Havenwood plan development on Towne Boulevard — motion approved by roll call.
• Resolution R2026-02 adopting the Middletown historic preservation and revitalization plan (second reading) — approved by roll call.
• Resolution R2026-03, a supplemental appropriation to finalize renovations at former Fire Station 82 into a police substation (transfer of unused 2025 funds to 2026 building and structures account) totaling $77,673.76 — approved by roll call. City staff said additional work was needed to make the facility operational after delays.
• Resolution R2026-04, a supplemental appropriation to account for an $11,748.96 grant from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (the remaining $7,826.33 to be appropriated for future acquisitions including fencing at the police substation and property-room shelving) — approved by roll call.
• Resolution R2026-05 authorizing participation in the Warren County multi-jurisdictional drug task force and authorizing the city manager to execute the memorandum of understanding — approved by roll call.
• Resolution R2026-06 approving the purchase of approximately 13,000 square feet of land and roughly 84,000 square feet of improvements at 1 North Main (the former Cincinnati State/CG&E building) for a contract amount of $325,000; staff said the purchase is intended to reactivate the building to boost downtown employment and foot traffic — approved by roll call.
All legislation was presented as emergency items in order to meet timing or closing-date requirements; council voted to pass each piece of legislation during the meeting. After votes concluded, council moved to executive session to discuss personnel and confidential economic development matters under Ohio Revised Code.
