Council adopts financial reporting change, multiple appropriations and equipment purchase; grants and contracts cleared

The Xenia City Council approved multiple ordinances and resolutions on April 9 focused on financial reporting, appropriations, grant agreements and capital equipment.

Ordinance 2026‑13 (adopted) — financial reporting: The council adopted an amendment to the city administrative code (section 25101) to allow the municipality to consolidate certain fund reporting for clearer financial statements. Finance Director Mr. Duke said auditors recommended the change. The motion was moved by Mayor Reynolds and seconded by Councilman Rubio; roll‑call voting recorded five votes in favor and two abstentions (Councilwoman Sice and Councilwoman Huffman). Outcome: approved.

Ordinance 2026‑14 (emergency appropriation — adopted): Council approved an emergency amendment to appropriations covering four items: - West Second Street sidewalk/design/right‑of‑way work — $149,000 appropriation requested (project ~90% grant funded with construction programmed for 2029). - Sewer truck/back‑truck bid overrun — budgeted at $450,000; low bid and cooperative purchase price required additional appropriation; bid/purchase price reported as $514,415.71. - United Way First Grade Futures — $41,500 to fund seed deposits and administration (see resolution below). - Reallocation of $40,000 from downtown sidewalk funds to east‑end sidewalk engineering (grant funded). The emergency ordinance was moved and adopted on roll call (unanimous votes recorded as "yes").

Resolution 2026‑23 (approved) — ODOT Local Public Authority agreement: Council authorized execution of the Local Public Authority agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the West Second Street sidewalk project, noting the grant covers approximately $827,963 of construction costs and the city's 10% share is about $91,997. Design and right‑of‑way work is underway; construction funds would be available in 2029.

Resolution 2026‑24 (approved) — First Grade Futures with United Way of Greater Dayton: The council approved a $41,500 agreement to allow United Way to administer a pilot First Grade Futures program that seeds an Ohio 529 account with $100 for up to 250 resident first graders (seed funds $25,000; $16,500 for United Way administration). The program is open to any resident first grader (public, private, home‑schooled) in the city and will be evaluated after year one.

Resolution 2026‑25 (approved) — Purchase of combination sewer cleaner: The council authorized purchase of a truck‑mounted combination sewer cleaner through the Sourcewell cooperative program at a total price of $514,415.71 (price includes a trade‑in value reported as under $25,000). Staff stressed the purchase is necessary because the existing 2010 unit has extensive corrosion and the replacement has a 12–18 month fabrication lead time.

Votes at a glance (as recorded by roll call) - Ordinance 2026‑13: Yes — Vice President Crawford, Councilman Muscavage, Councilman Rubio, Mayor Reynolds, President Smith. Abstain — Councilwoman Sice, Councilwoman Huffman. Outcome: adopted. - Ordinance 2026‑14 (emergency appropriation): Unanimous recorded 'yes' votes on roll call. Outcome: adopted. - Resolution 2026‑23 (ODOT LPA agreement): Motion carried on roll call. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 2026‑24 (United Way First Grade Futures): Motion carried on roll call. Outcome: approved. - Resolution 2026‑25 (sewer cleaner purchase): Motion carried on roll call. Outcome: approved.

Notes: All formal votes were recorded by roll call as shown in the meeting transcript. Where a roll call used shorthand ("I"/"Hi"), the clerk's entries were interpreted as recorded affirmative or abstention votes in the transcript. Where funding or schedule details were described (grant amounts, bid figures, projected construction years), the article reports amounts exactly as given in council staff presentations and agenda remarks.