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Obetz council suspends rules to pass three emergency ordinances; water and sewer rate change tabled
Summary
On Jan. 12, 2026 the Obetz City Council suspended rules to unanimously adopt three emergency ordinances — annexation of about 163 acres, an OPERS conversion plan for employee time conversion to cash, and appropriations changes to front Full Throttle Thursday costs — and voted to table a third-reading water and sewer rates ordinance pending further analysis of Columbus rates.
The Obetz City Council moved quickly through several ordinance items at its Jan. 12 meeting, suspending the rules to adopt three emergency ordinances and tabling a separate water-and-sewer rates proposal for further analysis.
Council suspended the rules and unanimously adopted Ordinance 01-26 accepting the annexation of approximately 163 +/- acres from Hamilton Township (see separate item). It also unanimously adopted Ordinance 02-26, approving a conversion plan policy that allows employees to convert vacation and sick time to cash in line with Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) specifications; City Administrator Rod Davisson said this mirrors the city's routine annual practice. Council also adopted Ordinance 03-26, which modifies 2026 appropriations to front money to begin booking bands for Full Throttle Thursday; Davisson said the event has been retooled to be net-zero.
On third reading, Ordinance 65-25 (an amendment to water and sewer rates) was read; Davisson told council the city is still analyzing City of Columbus rates that are passed along to Obetz. Council voted unanimously to table Ordinance 65-25 for additional review.
Votes at a glance (as recorded): - Approval of minutes (Dec. 15, 2025): Motion by Todd Gibbs; seconded by Guiles Richardson — unanimous yes. - Ordinance 01-26 (Annexation): Motion to suspend rules and adopt — unanimous yes. - Ordinance 02-26 (OPERS conversion plan): Motion to suspend rules and adopt — unanimous yes. - Ordinance 03-26 (2026 appropriations changes for Full Throttle Thursday): Motion to suspend rules and adopt — unanimous yes. - Ordinance 65-25 (Water and sewer rates): Read on third reading; tabled — unanimous yes to table.
What it means: The emergency adoptions allow the city to proceed quickly on the annexation and annual personnel and appropriations adjustments. The council's decision to table the water and sewer rates ordinance indicates the city will return with more detailed analysis about how Columbus' rates affect Obetz before any rate changes are adopted.
