City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, August 26, 2024 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council City Council Meeting Minutes August 26, 2024 I. Call to Order Mayor Lance Westcamp called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Staff Present: BJ King - Administrator, Kevin Shannon - Law Director, Jason Carr - Director of Finance, Casey Adams - Chief of Police, Michael Loges - Development Director, Mindy Kay - Clerk of Council Guests Present: The Guest Book is on file with the Clerk of Council. II. Moment of Silence The Mayor asked everyone to join him in a moment of silence. III. Pledge of Allegiance Chief Adams led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. Roll Call Present: 6 - Edward Dildine, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett, Jack Rupp, Jean Ann Hilbert, and Shawn Cleary V. Approval of Minutes The August 12, 2024 City Council Minutes stand approved as submitted. #166-2024 August 12, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Attachments: 2024.08.12 City Council Meeting Minutes.pdf VI. Business of Guests A. Julian and Grube Inc. – Results of 2023 Audit Finance Director Carr introduced Tara Weaver and Brice Frentzel, members of the team from Julian & Grube, Inc who performed our 2023 audit. He said their team has always done a very thorough and efficient audit. Mrs. Weaver said the City is always very accommodating and she appreciates working with our Finance Department. She then went over excerpts from the Independent Auditor’s Report. Mrs. Weaver, Mr. Frentzel, Council, and staff went over certain details of the report. Administrator King congratulated the Mayor and council on entrusting staff to protect taxpayer money. He said that one of the biggest things City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes August 26, 2024 Council does is protect taxpayer money and that any recommendations the team from Julian & Grube had over the past couple years have all been corrected. He gave credit to our Finance Department for having no recommendations this year and for having a very clean audit. B. State Representative Richard Brown & Meredith Lawson-Rowe State Representative Richard Brown greeted Council and staff and said he’s been a State Representative for seven and a half years. He said that Groveport is one of the gems of his district and Council should be very proud of the work they do. He then introduced his successor, Meredith Lawson-Rowe. She is currently the President of the Reynoldsburg City Council, easily won the Primary Election, and is running unopposed in the Secondary. Councilwoman Lawson-Rowe expressed how happy she is to have the opportunity to be here and how she looks forward to building a relationship with City, Council, and staff. VII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings B. 2nd Readings Ord. 2024-034 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT GRANTS FROM STATE AND FEDERAL RESOURCES FOR THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, VIDEO EQUIPMENT, TRAILER MONITORING EQUIPMENT, GENERATOR, SOLAR PANELS, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AGREEMENTS NECESSARY TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING (PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT# 2022-PS-PSD-459). Sponsors: Hilbert This Ordinance was read by title Ord. 2024-035 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH BENJAMIN JAMES KING TO SERVE AS CITY ADMINISTRATOR Sponsors: Rupp Attachments: Ord. 2024-035 Exhibit A revised.pdf City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes August 26, 2024 This Ordinance was read by title Ord. 2024-036 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH JASON CARR TO SERVE AS CHIEF FISCAL OFFICER/DIRECTOR OF FINANCE FOR THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Sponsors: Lockett Attachments: Ord. 2024-036 Exhibit A revised.pdf This Ordinance was read by title C. 1st Readings Ord. 2024-037 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Sponsors: Cleary Attachments: Ord. 2024-037 Exhibit A.pdf This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole Ord. 2024-038 AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING BILLING RATES FOR WATER, SEWER, CLEAN RIVER AND STORMWATER UTILITIES Sponsors: Hutson This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole Ord. 2024-039 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COLUMBUS SEWER MAINTENANCE FUND Sponsors: Dildine This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole ++Ord. 2024-040 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 15-083 AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COLUMBUS WATER MAINTENANCE FUND Sponsors: Hilbert City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes August 26, 2024 This Ordinance was referred to the Committee of the Whole VIII. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Westcamp commented that we had a well-attended ribbon cutting for the new pickleball courts and that City Engineer Steve Farst did an excellent job designing it. He proudly said it is the best pickleball facility in central Ohio. B. Administrator - BJ King Administrator King said he appreciates the investment and support that the Mayor and Council put into the new pickleball courts. He then updated Council on current and upcoming projects, including new pavement on the walking path at the Rec Center, the completion of phase one of the parking lot sealing at the pickleball courts, restriping of the roadway leading back to the Rec Center, locker room retiling, the wrapping up of the street program, and golf course signage replacement. Mr. Dildine inquired about the road closing sign posted southbound on 317. Mr. King said he would find out first thing in the morning and let Council know. Mr. Rupp asked why they are boring underneath the railroad tracks on Hendron road. Mrs. Hilbert and Mr. King said it is probably for the Columbia Gas line. C. Chief of Police - Casey Adams Chief Adams spoke about how the football game was pretty calm and uneventful, other than a video of patrolman Dillard playing the bass drum with the band hitting over a million views. He said that’s what he played when he attended Groveport High School and that his daughter is in the band as well. Chief Adams said Patrolman Dillard has been on with us for ten months and this is one example of how involved he gets with the community. He gave an example of Patrolman Dillard stocking shelves and making sure the employees were all ok after a robbery at Dollar General. He added that Patrolman Dillard is the future of our department when it comes to community involvement and that he hopes to find more officers like him in the upcoming hiring process. Mr. Rupp commended our officers and their involvement, as well as their posts and videos on social media. Mayor Westcamp said Lieutenant Short comes up with some good things to post. D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr City of Groveport Page 4 City Council Meeting Minutes August 26, 2024 Mr. Carr spoke briefly about the rate study. He said the report was put together by City staff without having to use a firm, saving the City about $30,000. He then said interviews will soon be conducted for the IT Director position, in hopes to fill the position by the middle to end of September. Mrs. Hilbert inquired about the yearly stormwater rate. Mr. Carr, Mr. King, and Council agreed to clarify and amend that section and to discuss it at the Committee of the Whole Meeting. Mr. Dildine suggested putting together an information packet explaining the increase to residents. Mr. King expressed how it’s not an easy thing to increase rates but it is necessary. Mr. Dildine said he hopes that one day we could do smaller increases instead of waiting a long time between increases and it being a huge jump in rates. Mr. King said this is a five-year plan in hopes to get to a point where we’re balanced out and can do nominal increases. It will be more palatable to residents then, but we’re playing catch up right now. Council and staff further discussed the rates and future plans for utilities in area C. #167-2024 2024 Groveport Rate Study Attachments: 2024 Groveport Rate Study.pdf E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon F. Development Director - Michael Loges Mr. Loges reported that he and will be attending the Tax Incentive Review Council in the morning and gave brief details on items to be reviewed. He then said that we’re working with Jobs Ohio on a push for food and beverage manufacturing companies to take a look at central Ohio. G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Jack Rupp Mr. Rupp expressed his appreciation to all those who reached out and gave condolences upon his mother’s passing. Mr. Lockett spoke about the great success of opening day at the pickleball courts. He commended all the staff who had a hand in design and construction on a job well done. Mr. Cleary commented on how well our summer pool season went and gave a reminder that with the summer heat, there’s a greater need to conserve energy. He said just flipping the light off makes a difference. Mr. King said we can put something out on social media about the heat. H. Clerk of Council - Mindy Kay City of Groveport Page 5 City Council Meeting Minutes August 26, 2024 I. Standing Committees IX. Other Business X. Adjournment Council Member Cleary made a motion, seconded by Council Member Dildine to adjourn at 7: 18 p.m. All in favor stated AYE, None Opposed. Motion passed. __________________________________________ Lance Westcamp, Mayor __________________________________________ Mindy Kay Clerk of Council PLEASE NOTE: THESE MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM. A RECORDING OF THE MEETING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. City of Groveport Page 6