Canal Winchester council advances waterline easement, festival permit and Route 33 consent; approves $20,000 emergency appropriation

Canal Winchester City Council on July 20 voted to advance several resolutions to the full council and approved an emergency budget amendment to restore funds used for unexpected legal expenses.

Council moved Resolution 26‑030, authorizing the mayor to accept a waterline easement from Myers Stores Limited Partnership, to full council after Development Director Lucas Hare said the easement is tied to the Velocity Hill Road project and is the first of several needed for public utility extensions. "This easement is associated with the Velocity Hill Road project for Browning," Hare said, explaining the easement runs from the water line behind the Myers store to the Browning property.

The council also moved Resolution 26‑031, permitting the Labor Day Festival committee to operate on city streets and sidewalks, to full council. Staff described the measure as the standard annual authorization required for the event.

Council moved Resolution 26‑032, a consent resolution for the Ohio Department of Transportation to widen U.S. Route 33 from two lanes to three lanes in each direction between Gender Road and I‑270. City staff said jurisdictions commonly provide consent for ODOT projects; staff added the city may pay for aesthetic upgrades requested locally if they exceed the state’s standard construction features. "If we decline to do this... the project would still likely proceed, but we would also have responsibility coming much sooner," staff said.

On the ordinance docket, the council held first reading of Ordinance 26‑014, authorizing city officials to seek Ohio Public Works Commission funding for the Hill Road widening project and declaring an emergency to meet application timelines. Staff said construction is tentatively planned for 2028 and applications are due Aug. 28.

The council approved Ordinance 26‑015, an amendment to the 2026 appropriation ordinance to replenish $20,000 in the general fund. Finance Director Amanda Jackson said the funds had been used to cover unexpected legal expenses related to the Winchester Boulevard roundabout dispute with Casto and that restoring the amount would return the contingency to the budget for the remainder of the year.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 26‑030 (waterline easement): moved to full council; roll-call recorded as yes by members present. - Resolution 26‑031 (Labor Day Festival permit): moved to full council; roll-call recorded as yes by members present. - Resolution 26‑032 (ODOT Route 33 consent): moved to full council; roll-call recorded as yes by members present. - Resolution 26‑033 (appointment of Chuck Milliken to Planning & Zoning Commission): moved to full council; roll-call recorded as yes by members present. - Ordinance 26‑014 (OPWC application — 1st reading): introduced and set for further readings. - Ordinance 26‑015 (2026 appropriation amendment to replenish $20,000): council voted to waive additional readings and adopted the ordinance; roll-call recorded as yes by members present.

The council also voted to enter executive session under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(3) to consult with the city attorney about pending or imminent litigation. The work session recessed for executive session at 6:13 p.m. and reconvened for the formal council meeting at 7:20 p.m.

The meeting packet and staff comments list the Ohio Public Works Commission and the Ohio Department of Transportation as the relevant external agencies for the projects discussed. The council set a public hearing on a Planning & Zoning matter for Sept. 8 at 5:45 p.m.