Nelsonville council approves emergency contract with outside accounting firm to reconcile 2025 finances

Nelsonville City Council on June 29 enacted Ordinance 49-26, authorizing the city manager and city auditor to enter a contract with Juliana Groove, Inc. to reconcile the city's bank cash balances with its book cash balances for the 2025 financial year.

The ordinance text states the auditor determined it was advantageous to retain outside accounting assistance. Council discussed the engagement's scope during the meeting: the firm anticipates 10–20 hours per month for the first two months with an estimated cap of $2,500 per month for that initial period and a projected ongoing workload of roughly 8–10 hours per month thereafter. The ordinance includes language allowing a contract addendum should the city request additional services.

Council members voted to suspend the two-reading requirement and enacted the ordinance on first reading as an emergency under Ohio Code 731.30 and article 4, sections 4.09–4.11 of the Nelsonville city charter. The roll call recorded affirmative votes by Nick Joseph, Amy Holland, Cameron Peek, Nancy Sonic and Charlotte Beach; the ordinance was carried.

Why it matters: city leaders said the outside engagement is intended to provide an additional layer of oversight while the city continues to recruit a permanent treasurer and to ensure the 2025 cash reconciliations are completed promptly.

Council did not record a named mover or seconder for the final adoption in the transcript beyond the procedural votes. The ordinance text and the council's vote constitute the formal authorization; contract execution will be handled by the city manager and city auditor once the engagement letter is finalized.