Columbus Common Council adopts utility bond amendment and airport PUD change; advances annexation and staffing items

The Columbus Common Council on March 17 adopted an amendment to City Utilities' bonding ordinance and approved changes to the Columbus AirPark Planned Unit Development, while also advancing new housing, personnel and redevelopment funding proposals.

Roger Kelso, Executive Director of City Utilities, presented the amendment to Ordinance No. 49 (2024), saying revised budget numbers revealed "approximately a $10 million gap" but that the department can complete required projects "with absolutely no impact on any of the projected rates." Following Kelso's presentation and brief discussion, the council approved the second reading and adopted Ordinance No. 3, 2026, by an 8-0 roll-call vote.

Planning Director Jeff Bergman presented a second-reading amendment to the Columbus AirPark Planned Unit Development (Ordinance No. 4, 2026). Bergman said the Plan Commission forwarded the modification with a 9-0 favorable recommendation. Brad Davis asked whether further PUD changes would be needed to align with the "Great by '38" plan; Bergman said the current changes should position the airport well. The council adopted the ordinance 8-0.

The meeting also advanced several first-reading items. The council granted first reading to an annexation and related rezoning request from Arbor Homes for approximately 140 acres (rezoning proposed for about 107 acres), a proposal that would allow about 284 single-family homes. Tony Bagato, Arbor Homes' director of land entitlement, said the plan calls for 150 "Arrival" series houses and 132 "Arbor" series houses. Nearby property owner Collin Ruf submitted a letter raising concerns about a landscape buffer, drainage and potential well-water contamination; Jeff Bergman said the Plan Commission was satisfied existing regulations address those issues, and Bagato said he had agreed to provide a buffer with berms and retention ponds to improve drainage. The annexation and the amended rezoning passed first reading and were sent to proper channels.

On personnel and budgeting, Jake Sipe, Director of Community Development, and Mikala Brown, Assistant Director of Redevelopment, proposed replacing a part-time office administrator with a full-time Community Development Specialist. Council President Frank Miller moved to amend the job title to "Redevelopment Specialist;" that amendment passed 7-1, with Councilor Grace Kestler casting the lone no vote. Councilors also approved a first-reading ordinance for an additional appropriation from the Redevelopment General Fund; Brown said the Redevelopment fund can absorb the requested salary and that the department currently manages about twenty active projects.

Transit Director Matt Dudukovich reported a redesign of fixed routes that will launch four new bus loops beginning March 23, provide new service to Waters Edge and Southern Indiana Orthopedics, use Nexus Park as a connection point, and expand service to Taylorsville and Walesboro on April 6; he also described plans for demand-response service and wayfinding technology.

Deputy Clerk Liz Storm read four appointments to the Human Rights Commission for three-year terms through March 31, 2029 (reappointment Janae Gamer-Kelley and new appointees Blake Fields, Felicia Garr and Ethan Crough); councilors approved the appointments 8-0. The council adjourned at approximately 8:13 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance No. 3, 2026 (CCU bond amendment) — adopted, roll-call 8-0; Ordinance No. 4, 2026 (AirPark PUD modification) — adopted, roll-call 8-0; Arbor Homes annexation and rezoning — first reading passed, 8-0, sent to proper channels; Salaries/Wages ordinance (title change to Redevelopment Specialist) — amendment passed 7-1; Redevelopment additional appropriation — first reading passed, 8-0.