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Canal Winchester council advances infrastructure and event permits, approves emergency $20,000 budget amendment
Summary
Council voted to advance a waterline easement for the Velocity Hill Road project, approve the Labor Day Festival permit and consent to an ODOT US‑33 widening agreement; it also adopted an emergency appropriation ordinance to restore $20,000 to the general fund.
The Canal Winchester City Council on July 20 moved several measures to full council and adopted an emergency budget amendment amid updates on local development.
Development Director Lucas Hare told the council the city needs a small waterline easement from Myers Stores Limited Partnership to allow a new line to extend from the rear of the Myers store to the Browning property as part of the Velocity Hill Road project. "This easement is associated with the Velocity Hill Road project for Browning," Hare said, describing it as the first of multiple easements required for public utility extensions on the site.
Council also approved a routine resolution authorizing the Labor Day Festival Committee to operate the annual Labor Day Festival on city streets and sidewalks. Clerk read the resolution and council members asked procedural questions about whether authorization was required to hold the event; the sponsor said it is the standard permit authorization.
The council consented to staff seeking agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the planned widening of US Route 33. Presentations from staff explained the project will expand the route from two lanes to three lanes in each direction between Gender Road and I‑270, with construction expected to begin in fall 2027 and continue for about two years. Staff warned that the city would be responsible for any aesthetic upgrades it requests beyond ODOT's standard provisions.
Finance Director Amanda Jackson asked council to replenish emergency funds used to cover unexpected legal expenses tied to the Winchester Boulevard roundabout project. "We are asking to replace those funds, in the amount of $20,000 in the general fund," Jackson said. Council voted to waive additional readings and adopted Ordinance 26‑015 to restore the $20,000 to the general fund.
The council also approved Mayor Joe Steiger's appointment of Chuck Milliken to fill an unexpired term on the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the set of resolutions the council considered were advanced or adopted by roll call with no recorded opposition in the session record.
What happens next: several measures were moved to full council (or adopted as ordinances where noted). Staff said an OPWC funding application for the Hill Road widening project is due Aug. 28 and that the project, if funded, would be scheduled for construction in 2028. The council scheduled a related public hearing for Sept. 8 for the planning and zoning item referred to council.
Votes at a glance: Resolutions 26‑030 (waterline easement), 26‑031 (Labor Day Festival authorization), 26‑032 (ODOT/US‑33 consent) and 26‑033 (appointment to Planning & Zoning) were advanced by roll call; Ordinance 26‑015 (appropriation amendment) was adopted after a successful motion to waive additional readings.
