London City Council approves $1.3M in infrastructure, equipment spending amid documentation concerns

LONDON, Ohio — The London City Council approved more than $1.3 million in spending on street repairs, equipment and public safety upgrades during its Feb. 19 meeting, though one council member voted against two measures citing a lack of documentation provided ahead of time.

Councilman Boyd cast the lone dissenting votes on a $500,000 street repair resolution and a $30,000 fire department radio purchase, saying council had not received detailed project plans or supporting materials before the meeting.

The council, with all members present except President Peters, who was attending his daughter's basketball game, adopted nine resolutions after suspending the three-reading rule.

The largest spending item was Resolution 108-26, which increased appropriations by $500,000 for chip seal and micro seal repairs on side streets. The program continues work from previous years, but Boyd said no list of specific streets or a project plan was presented to council.

"I noticed we passed $500,000 for a road repair that there was nothing put in front of us last week for this," Boyd said during the meeting. "That's a big one that we kind of brought up."

Councilman Stall acknowledged the concern, noting that while a list of roads from prior years existed, the administration should provide documentation to committees before votes.

The council also approved $339,970 for the city's 20% share of an Ohio Department of Transportation resurfacing project on State Routes 38 and 42, known as Lafayette Street. Boyd raised concerns about potential conflicts between the ODOT project and the city's street repair work, warning of possible traffic delays.

Other approved spending included $275,000 to replace a 2008 dump truck with a new vehicle equipped with a plow, salt box and light package; $150,000 to address additional soil stability issues at the new police station, with unused funds to be returned; and three fire department transfers totaling $102,000 for turnout gear, tablets and MARCS radios.

Boyd also voted against the radio purchase, citing similar documentation concerns.

The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the safety service director, mayor and department heads to apply for various grants with written approval.

Several items were left on second reading, including a resolution to transfer $1,464.98 from a closed COPS FAST grant fund to the general fund, an ordinance to remove full-time dispatcher positions from the city's strength ordinance, and a resolution adjusting the city's capital asset threshold from $5,000 to $10,000.

A public hearing was scheduled for March 19 on an ordinance to vacate an alley.

During audience concerns, resident Jeremiah Campana addressed comments made by Councilman Stall at a previous meeting about growth concerns, saying the view that worries about London becoming "the next Hillyard" were overstated overlooked real anxieties about infrastructure.

The council also discussed reclaiming nearly $180,000 in unused funds and submitted a disaster funding request for snowstorm costs.

Key moments

Public interest

Public comment on growth concerns

Jeremiah Campana addressed Councilman Stall's previous comments about growth, stating that dismissing fears about rapid growth risks alienating residents.

Contentious

Street repair funding debate

Councilman Boyd voted no on the $500,000 street repair resolution, saying there was nothing put in front of us last week for this.

Contentious

Fire radios funding vote

Councilman Boyd voted no on the $30,000 fire radio transfer, continuing his pattern of objecting to last-minute appropriations.

Significant

Police station soil stability funding

Council approved transferring $150,000 for soil stability issues at the new police station, with unused funds to be returned.

Significant

ODOT paving project contribution

Council approved $339,970 as the city's 20% share for resurfacing State Routes 38 and 42, with a tight deadline of February 27.

Full analysis

Show structured analysis

Meeting Analysis

City of London — 2026-02-19

Meeting Information

Title: London City Council Meeting 2/19/2026

Parish: City of London

Date: 2026-02-19

Video: Recording

Transcript segments: 2026

Item	Description	Action	Vote Status
Resolution 107-26: Dump truck replacement	Resolution to increase appropriations by $275,000 for the street department to replace a 2008 dump truck with a new one, including plow, salt box, and light package.	Adopted after suspending three-reading rule (unanimous).	Motion carries (unanimous).
Resolution 108-26: Street repair funding	Resolution to increase appropriations by $500,000 for street repairs (chip seal and micro seal) on side streets, continuing a program from previous years.	Adopted after suspending three-reading rule (6-1, Boyd no).	Motion carries (6-1).
Resolution 109-26: ODOT paving project contribution	Resolution to increase appropriations by $339,970 for the city's 20% share of resurfacing State Routes 38 and 42 (Lafayette Street).	Adopted after suspending three-reading rule (unanimous).	Motion carries (unanimous).
Resolution 110-26: Police station soil stability	Resolution to transfer $150,000 to cover additional soil stability issues at the new police station, with unused funds to be returned.	Adopted after suspending three-reading rule (unanimous).	Motion carries (unanimous).
Resolution 111-26: Fire turnout gear	Resolution to transfer $41,000 from fire department general fund to capital fund for new turnout gear.	Adopted after suspending three-reading rule (unanimous).	Motion carries (unanimous).
Resolution 112-26: Fire department tablets	Resolution to transfer $31,000 from fire general fund to capital for new tablets to replace outdated ones that are no longer compliant.	Adopted after suspending three-reading rule (unanimous).	Motion carries (unanimous).
Resolution 113-26: Fire department radios	Resolution to transfer $30,000 from fire general fund to capital for new MARCS radios to replace phased-out equipment.	Adopted after suspending three-reading rule (6-1, Boyd no).	Motion carries (6-1).
Resolution 114-26: Decrease police project appropriation	Resolution to decrease the police project line item by $2,543,135.52 to match the actual fund balance after year-end close.	Adopted after suspending three-reading rule (unanimous).	Motion carries (unanimous).
Resolution 115-26: Transfer COPS FAST grant balance	Resolution to transfer remaining $1,464.98 from a closed COPS FAST grant fund to the general fund.	Left on second reading (no action).	No action.
Resolution 116-26: Capital assessment threshold increase	Resolution to adjust the city's capital asset threshold from $5,000 to $10,000 for asset tracking purposes.	Left on second reading (no action).	No action.
Resolution 117-26: Grant application authorization	Resolution authorizing safety service director, mayor, and department heads to apply for various grants with written approval.	Adopted after suspending three-reading rule (unanimous).	Motion carries (unanimous).
Ordinance 118-26: Remove dispatcher positions	Ordinance to remove full-time dispatcher positions from the city's strength ordinance, as those positions are no longer needed.	Left on second reading (no action).	No action.
Ordinance 106-26: Alley vacation	Ordinance to vacate an alley; public hearing scheduled for March 19, 2026.	Public hearing set for March 19, 2026.	No action.

January general fund income tax collected $504,181.84, up 3.7% from last year.
January fire income tax (0.5%) collected $252,092, up 5% from last year.
Month-to-date revenue: $2,266,384.67; expenses: $2,767,629.48.
Three unused funds totaling nearly $180,000 identified; law director authorized to work with county auditor to reclaim them.
City submitted a damage assessment for federal disaster funding related to January snowstorm, estimating $40,000 in eligible costs.

Resident Jeremiah Campana expressed concerns about rapid growth and its impact on infrastructure, schools, roads, and quality of life, urging council to take those concerns seriously.

Councilman Boyd voted against Resolution 108-26 (street repair funding) and Resolution 113-26 (fire radios), citing lack of documentation and information provided to council ahead of time.
Councilman Boyd expressed concern that the $500,000 street repair resolution had no detailed list of streets or project plan presented to council before the meeting.
Councilman Boyd raised concerns about potential conflicts between the ODOT paving project and the city's street repair work, causing traffic delays.

Police

Building construction progressing; completion expected July, possibly mid-June.
Three applicants in screening for basic academy starting March.
One open position; three officers on restricted duty or leave.
Five vehicles left on snow emergency routes; three tows required.
One cruiser damaged by officer striking a dumpster.
New MDTs received and being programmed.

Fire/EMS

Training in pediatric and advanced cardiac life support.
New part-timer orientation; hosted students for ride time.
Preventative maintenance on rescue tools; inventoried supply rooms.

Street

Worked on heater and brakes on city trucks.
Plowed and salted multiple times; repaired plows; hauled snow from downtown.
Assessing ADA curbs for ODOT paving project.
Need for new dump truck (2008 International failing).

Parks and Recreation

Pool day pass increasing from $5 to $7.
Spring volleyball registration open at $85 per person.
Seeking applications for lifeguards, concessions, front desk.
Pickleball court installation contractor being set up; parking lot expansion planned.
Applying for AARP grant up to $15,000 for improvements.

Sanitation

Met with North Central Solid Waste District to discuss bid; timeline likely no earlier than July.
60-day notification to employees required before contract change.

Law director to work with county auditor on reclaiming three unused funds totaling nearly $180,000.
Safety service director to continue working with department heads to provide better documentation and information to council ahead of meetings.
Street department to assess ADA curb compliance on Center Street to Lafayette for the ODOT paving project.
City to apply for AARP grant (up to $15,000) for pickleball court improvements.
Sanitation bid process to continue; timeline likely no earlier than July.
Storm sewer repair at Elm Street and Cheney/Thomas to be done first thing in spring.