Carlisle council approves emergency payments, petty-cash rule changes and salt purchase; Park Drive rezoning set for final reading

Carlisle City Council on Tuesday approved a series of administrative and procurement measures, including an emergency authorization for four then-and-now certificates, an ordinance amending petty-cash and cash-drawer practices, and a contract for road salt with the Warren County Engineer's Office.

City Manager Chris Lohr told the council that four then-and-now certificates were needed because some transition-year invoices were not encumbered in time; he asked the council to suspend the three-reading rule and declare an emergency so the City could comply with the State's 30-day requirement for approval after payment. Mayor Randy Winkler put the request to the body; Council member Michael Kilpatrick moved to suspend the rule and Council member Debbie Kemper seconded. The suspension and the subsequent emergency resolution (Resolution 3-26) were approved by unanimous roll-call vote.

On third reading, Council adopted Ordinance 19-25 amending Section 236.02 and repealing other codified provisions related to cash drawer funds and petty cash drawer practices. Council member Michael Kilpatrick moved approval, seconded by Council member Debbie Kemper; the ordinance passed by unanimous roll-call vote.

Council also approved Resolution 28-25 authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with the Warren County Engineer's Office for the purchase of road salt. The resolution passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.

Council considered but did not vote on zoning changes under Ordinance 1-26, which would rezone properties along Park Drive from B-2 (General Business) to B-3 (Central Business District) and rezone 498 Clay Street to R-3 (Attached single-family/townhouse). The ordinance is scheduled for a third and final reading at the Feb. 10 meeting. Likewise, Resolution 1-26, appointing the city's Public Records Designee under Ohio Revised Code sections 149.43 and 109.43, remains on second reading and will return on Feb. 10.

Votes at a glance: approval of the work session minutes (Jan. 13, 2026) and regular meeting minutes (Jan. 13, 2026) passed unanimously. Resolution 3-26 (Then-and-Now certificates) passed; Ordinance 19-25 (cash-drawer/petty cash) was adopted; Resolution 28-25 (salt purchase agreement) was approved. All recorded roll-call votes in this meeting were unanimous "yes" from Council members Michael Kilpatrick, Debbie Kemper, Denise Eagle, Jason Faulkner, Tim Humphries, Chris Stivers and Mayor Randy Winkler.

Next steps: Ordinance 1-26 (Park Drive rezoning) and Resolution 1-26 (Public Records Designee) will return for third and final readings on Feb. 10, 2026. No procurement amounts for the salt contract or details of the then-and-now vendor line items were specified in the meeting record.