Delhi Hills Town Council adopts 2025 Ohio Fire Code, authorizes spending and approves multiple nuisance actions

The Delhi Hills Town Council on March 11 unanimously adopted the 2025 Ohio Fire Code by emergency resolution, authorized the township administrator to spend amounts greater than $10,000 for fiscal year 2026 and approved multiple emergency nuisance removals at properties across the township.

The council voted to adopt Resolution 2026-15 — incorporating the 2025 Ohio Fire Code and several technical appendices — after Fire Chief Campbell told the board the update provides a “modern and legally recognized framework for fire prevention, life-safety and emergency response,” including technical standards such as apparatus turning radius, hydrant spacing and fire‑flow requirements. The council dispensed with a second reading and approved the resolution by roll call.

In other formal business, the council passed Resolution 2026-16, which authorizes the township administrator to approve purchases greater than $10,000 in fiscal 2026. The resolution lists multiple vendors and categories of planned spending, including website services, fleet and maintenance equipment and ambulance refit work. The measure was introduced as budgeted authority and approved after councillors dispensed with the second reading.

The fiscal officer read bids for the township's 2026 street rehabilitation program and the council moved to have the bids turned over to Public Works Director Ron Ripager for review and determination of the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. One bid was read as coming from R A Miller Construction Company for $943,799.12; the transcript also reports a bid from Adita Construction that was read aloud in the meeting record with the amount rendered in the transcript as "1,8230.92" — township staff said bid tabulation and bond verification will confirm the correct figure.

The council also approved several emergency nuisance resolutions aimed at removing junk vehicles and accumulated debris at listed addresses; members noted some properties are repeat violators and one vacant structure may face unsafe-structure procedures under township code. The meeting record shows each resolution was introduced, the second reading dispensed with and each resolution approved by roll call.

Votes at a glance - Approval of meeting minutes for Jan. 14, Jan. 28, Feb. 11, Feb. 25 and special meeting Jan. 27: approved (voice vote). - Overtime payment for pay period ending Feb. 17, 2026: approved (voice vote). - Payment of bills: approved (voice vote). - Motion directing fiscal officer to open and read bids for road rehabilitation and turn bids over to Public Works Director Ron Ripager for review: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 2026-15, adoption of the 2025 Ohio Fire Code (emergency): approved (unanimous roll call). - Resolution 2026-16, authorize township administrator to spend >$10,000 in FY2026: approved (unanimous roll call). - Resolutions 2026-17, 2026-18/19/20 (nuisance declarations and vehicle removal at multiple addresses): each approved (unanimous roll call). - Retirement and rehire of Police Lt. Joseph J. Maluso Jr. under Ohio Revised Code §145.381: approved (voice vote).

Why it matters: Adopting the 2025 fire code formally updates township technical standards that fire officials say will improve development reviews, reduce redesign costs and provide clearer requirements for hydrant spacing and apparatus access. The spending authorization is intended to expedite budgeted purchases without repeated board votes. Nuisance resolutions are a standard code-enforcement tool intended to clear hazard-prone properties and require owner action or township abatement.

The council scheduled its next regular meeting for March 25 at 6 p.m.; before adjourning it voted to retire to executive session to discuss personnel and property matters.