City Council

City of Groveport 655 Blacklick St. Groveport, OH 43125 614.830.2052 www.groveport.org . Meeting Minutes Monday, January 27, 2025 6:30 PM Council Chambers City Council City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2025 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, Mike Poirier - Chief Building Official, 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 Absent: 1 - Scott Lockett Present: 6 - Edward Dildine, Edward Dildine, Becky Hutson, Jack Rupp, Jean Ann Hilbert, and Shawn Cleary Roll Call A motion was made by Council Member Rupp, seconded by Council Member Cleary, to excuse Council Member Lockett from tonight's meeting. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Dildine, Hutson, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary V. Approval of Minutes The January 13, 2025 City Council Minutes stand approved as submitted. #004-2025 January 13, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Attachments: 2025.01.13 City Council Meeting Minutes.pdf VI. Business of Guests A. Swearing-In of New Police Officers Law Director Shannon swore in our three newly hired officers, Ryan City of Groveport Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2025 Snider, Joseph Collins, and Patrick Buttress. VII. Ordinances and Resolutions A. 3rd Readings B. 2nd Readings Ord. 2024-061 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A VARIANCE AS TO THE PERMITTED USES IN THE ESTABLISHED ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4685 HOMER OHIO LANE, PARCEL NO. 185-001424, CURRENTLY ZONED PLANNED INDUSTRIAL PARK (PIP), NEXGREEN, APPLICANT Sponsors: Dildine Attachments: Ord. 2024-061 Exhibit A.pdf This Ordinance was read by title C. 1st Readings Ord. 2025-001 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH THE SERGEANTS OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE ALSO MEMBERS OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, CAPITAL CITY LODGE # 9, AND THE DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY Sponsors: Dildine A motion was made by Council Member Dildine, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to suspend the rules as to the three readings and the effective date. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Dildine, Hutson, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary A motion was made by Council Member Dildine, seconded by Council Member Hutson, to adopt. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Dildine, Hutson, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary VIII. Reports A. Mayor - Lance Westcamp Mayor Westcamp made a recommendation to appoint Todd Lutz to the vacant spot on the Trees & Decorations Committee. City of Groveport Page 2 City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2025 A motion was made by Council Member Dildine, seconded by Council Member Hilbert, to appoint Todd Lutz to the Trees & Decorations Committee. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5- Dildine, Hutson, Rupp, Hilbert and Cleary B. Administrator - BJ King Administrator King expressed his excitement for our new officers and said they are going to be tremendous assets to the City of Groveport. C. Chief of Police - Casey Adams Chief Adams thanked Council for their support in the hire of our new officers and announced that we are now fully staffed. He also thanked Council for their support in passing the FOP Sergeants contract. He spoke about our recent inclement weather and partnership with the Red Cross to provide shelter at our Rec Center. He gave his appreciation to Bob Dowler and Seth Bower for their efforts and teamwork in making sure it was a smooth and easy transition getting people in and out. There will be a debriefing to see if there is anything we can improve upon for next time. Mr. Rupp inquired about feedback from the residents we hosted, to which Administrator King replied that he has not received any. Mr. King expressed his appreciation for the Red Cross and their process. Mr. Dildine said everything ran rather smoothly, given this is our first time hosting at the Rec Center during a disaster situation. Mayor Westcamp agreed and gave kudos to everyone involved for their hard work. Chief Adams added that we were able to deploy one camera trailer and when the second one is complete, it will be nice to have two available to deploy. The new one is bigger and has a built-in generator, so we can leave it out for longer periods of time. Mr. Rupp then asked if there have been any problems in the picket line area where Eastland-Fairfield Career Center staff are currently on strike. Chief Adams said they are not disrupting traffic or causing any problems. D. Director of Finance - Jason Carr Finance Director Carr gave a year end update on the budget. He explained that the methodology behind the budget has changed significantly since Administrator King joined the City in 2020. He said the reason he is bringing it up is because at the end of 2024, we ended our general fund with a cash balance of about $20.1 million. That's the highest it's ever been. In 2020 it was a little less than $5.5 million. In order to present a budget to Council that addresses our need operationally and capital wise, we are also trying to at least have a 1 to 1 coverage of fund balance to expenditures. Meaning, if we didn't get any revenue in, we can go the entire year and just spend out of our fund balance. This is City of Groveport Page 3 City Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2025 important because we're looking toward always increasing our debt rating. With us having to go to the market, especially in 2025 for some big projects, this will help hopefully with interest rates in the future and lowering our debt expense. He said other than that, we've had a really strong year for 2024 and hopefully it continue with 2025. E. Director of Law - Kevin Shannon F. Development Director - Michael Loges G. Council Members - Jean Ann Hilbert, Ed Dildine, Shawn Cleary, Becky Hutson, Scott Lockett and Jack Rupp H. Clerk of Council - Mindy Kay I. Standing Committees IX. Other Business X. Adjournment Council Member Cleary made a motion, seconded by Council Member Hilbert to adjourn at 6:52 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 4