The knees are 85 they say from three
surgeries.
>> Have you done three?
>> Yeah. It's not a matter of weight.
>> I just this in 20 this in 25.
>> I can walk.
>> Not too bad.
>> No, you're good now.
>> That's what I hear.
>> This went right away. I guess it took me
from January to June for rehab. It never
went all the way. I told him I says I'm
76 years old.
>> I can walk. They don't hurt. I'm fine.
>> The only thing I notic when you don't
use it for your strength. You got kind
of build back up a bit.
>> I told you for one just you got to do
what they tell you.
>> Exercise. I still got that thing I put
my foot when I'm sitting down and just
pull my leg up, hold it just to kind of
keep the strength up
>> and whatnot. Yeah,
>> cuz I think you do uh
>> new stuff as you get older.
>> Testing. Testing.
As you get older,
>> as you get older, if you have an ache
here, it goes down here, then it goes
here, then there
>> been so I haven't even got
>> We're pushing and talking and testing
the mic. Uh just testing the mic.
There it is.
How is that possible?
>> Flying.
>> Right. You both got that push to talk
now.
Y got it.
>> We just sent out 12:15 and we just get
them
Christmas rush.
Okay.
push to talk.
>> John is not the only one that want to
check his
turn on and off. It works
>> okay for a change.
>> Mine was
>> Mine seems good.
>> Here's the one that's live.
>> 407 guys don't have no hair.
>> I'm going to call the meeting to order.
If everyone could please stand for the
pledge of allegiance and a moment of
silence or reflection, please.
I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic
for which it stands. One nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
Thank you. Could we have a roll call,
please?
>> Councilman Eids
>> here.
>> Councilwoman Jackman
>> here.
>> Councilman Hayes
>> here.
>> President Peters
>> here.
>> Councilman hit
>> here.
>> Councilwoman Trainer
>> present.
>> Councilman
Boyd
>> here. Councilman Stall
>> present.
>> Okay. For the meeting minutes from
January 5th meeting, um
Chris uh sent those out this evening. If
you could take a look at those and see
if there's any uh corrections or
concerns and then we'll uh approve those
next meeting.
Uh there are no public hearings um
communication announcements. We do have
the city administration appointments and
reappointments.
Did everybody get a chance to look at
those appointments?
Any uh questions or concerns?
Okay. All in favor of approving those
appointments and reappointments?
>> I
>> I
>> oppose. Same sign.
On to audience concerns. Um,
we have Kevin Crosley. If you could uh
state your name and address for the
record, please.
I can't see him.
>> Kevin Crosley Kevin Crosley 1044way.
Concerns sanitation. I know there's a
lot of misconception people are posting
the fact that people want to say that we
charge for a lid being open. That is not
true. Originally, I heard that that was
something that when the first went to
this, that was BPU had stated that if
the lids weren't shut, you would be
charged. But I've been here two years,
not charged. I have not seen anybody
charge for a lid being open on their
trash can. The only thing people get
charged for is if it's sitting outside
the trash can on the ground. And the
misconception is when it says bulk
pickup, a lot of people assume they put
furniture, couches, chairs out. That's
just how Mid Ohio puts it on the bill as
a bulk pickup. So it could be one bag,
it could be five bags with a minimum of
one yard being charged. So that's where
a lot of this misconception comes from.
But absolutely not. Are we charging
residents if their lid is open? What
happens if the wind blows blows the lid
open? Do we charge you for it? No. So, I
just that's all I wanted to state is
that from us in the sanitation
department, we do not charge for lids
being open. That's all I have.
>> All right. Thank you.
On to committee reports. Greg
The personnel, budget, and finance
committee met on the 13th.
A couple things to run by everyone.
We'll just use for the year. The overall
revenue for the year was $23,821,696
and change. That includes $4.2 $2
million uh for uh the police building.
The loan that was put into the revenue,
the expenses were $21,455,
$277,
rounding that
tax department.
For the year on the general fund taxes,
we were down 1.41%
total for the year. And for the fire
department it was uh 0.13%
so pretty close to what it was but down
slightly for the year. We had a number
of items that came up. Most of these I
think all of these are going to go
before uh council tonight on new
business including donations that were
made or made for the police and fire the
cash flow transfers which are pretty
normal. some training funds that need to
be reappropriated
and um we might hear some more about the
police building updates that was brought
up. I don't know if Mr. Salsman may
discuss that later, but I believe that's
just about everything that came up in
the uh new business. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Lisa.
I attended the public service committee
meeting also on Tuesday the 13th and I
have the street department report from
that meeting. Um as usual the street
department was very busy doing lots of
jobs all around town. Um a few notable
things they did. They again had to work
on a couple of the trash trucks, trash
departments. Um met more than once with
the boring companies. um replaced some
street signs, had to report some lights
that were out to Ohio Edison. They did
take down the Christmas lights, changed
the lights um at the schools since they
were off for break, patched some
potholes,
changed a couple of traffic lights. Um
they did salt and plow and ordered more
salt with all the snow that we've had.
hauled some scrap, um, fixed some
potholes,
and let me see, cleaned a ditch, cut
ornamental grass at Triangle Park, put
some blocks around the hope box at Mary
Park,
and
let me see, they did remove a beaver dam
at the bridge at the old landfill.
Um, picked up some yard waste,
and they were very busy. That's all that
I have.
>> Thank you. Rich
>> had public safety meeting January 13th.
Called meeting at order 6 p.m. All my
committee members were present. We
approved the minutes of the December
9th, 2025 meeting uh 30.
Um Chief Ease gave his report fire EMS
and Mr. Hit will give that report
momentarily.
Chief Nickel was there, gave his police
report. Uh, Mr. Stall will give that to
council here momentarily.
Uh, safety service director had no new
business for us. We had no new business.
We had no old business and there was no
public comment. Uh, we adjourned at
6:15. Next public safety meeting will be
on February the 10th, 6 pm.
>> Thank you, Andy. I
>> attended the
I attended the public safety meeting and
I'll give the uh fire department's
report. Uh they had EMT refresher
training. They had new part- timerr
orientation training. They had several
students for ride time from tolls and
grant paramedic class. They completed a
toy drive festivities and they assisted
with women's federation with furniture
moving from the candy sale.
And as of the end of the year 2024,
there was 2460 incidences, which came
out to an average of 6.7
uh incidences per day. And in 2025, they
had 276 incidents, which came out to an
average of 7.2
uh runs per day. And so far to this
point this year, they've had 102
incidences, which is 7.8 eight runs per
day.
Uh and then I also attended the public
service committee meeting
and um
uh there will be legislation coming up
at the next meeting regarding vacating
an alley.
Uh we also talked about uh sidewalk
ramps and possible grants to complete
all those ramps throughout the city.
Uh we also talked about the storm sewer
issues
uh and how repairs are done for that.
Uh that was about it. The next meeting
is February 10th at 5:00 in the meeting
room next door for um service committee.
That's it.
>> Thank you Shannon.
>> Uh just one push to talk right u just
one question. And I don't, Greg, I don't
see those agenda items.
>> Okay,
>> that's actually probably the next
meeting, not tonight. Yeah, they'll be
on the next agenda, I'm sure.
>> So, yeah, all old business for tonight.
>> And also, I also neglected to say that
we're going to meet on the 10th, also at
6:30 p.m.
>> All right. Thank you, Tommy.
>> All right. Got to attend the parks and
recreation committee, Board of Zoning
Appeals, Public Service Committee,
Public Safety Committee, and Finance
Committee. So, it's been a busy last
week and a half. Uh, parks and
recreation is what I'm going to be going
over. And so, at this committee, we
discussed that recreational basketball
has about two more weekends left in
their regular season. Tournament games
are starting Monday 119 and wrap up
championship games on Sunday 125.
Spring volleyball registration is live
on Civic Plus catalog. So, get a account
set up there and that way you can
register all your kids stuff right on
through the online site. We also
discussed the pool prices and possibly
looking into seeing if there's any
changes we would maybe like to make to
help cover the last of pool fees.
In this case, last year looking at it,
we had about 7,000 people attending. And
so with being only about $12,000 short
on actually covering funds for that, an
extra dollar to increase would actually
do really well. Um we are looking into
resident versus non-resident rates and
seeing if maybe we can look into adding
that down the road. That's all.
>> Thank you, John.
>> I attended the service, safety, and
finance committees and I have a report
for the public safety committee briefing
on January 13th. Building construction
is progressing with wallboard insulation
panels and detention. Siding roofing is
in progress with all roof trestles
completed expected to be completed by
the middle of June. LPD participated in
the annual operation Santa sleigh in
Columbus at Nationwide's Children's
Hospital. We are in the process of
selecting applicants for open police
officer positions and continue to
solicit lateral entry officers.
Detective Greg Perkins will be retiring
in February after 20 years with LPD and
over 29 years in law enforcement. The
funding for a completed cruiser package
was used to buy a Ford PIU. However, we
are waiting for an upfitting as the
original completed cruiser was sold
prior to funding being available. We had
three officers on restricted duty due to
various health conditions. So, the
hiring of a second administrative
support position is being held for
consideration later in the year.
LPD conducted the annual shop with a cop
serving a total of 28 children. LPD
handled 8,765
calls in service in 2025, a 22% increase
over 2024. Officers filed 1,463 incident
reports, a 6.7%
increase. There were 234 criminal
charges filed, 896 traffic offenses.
division also handles handled 52 injury
crashes and 182 property damage crashes.
There were 73 OVI
and the officers completed 2,758
traffic stops with 1,593
or 58% of those resulting in traffic
warnings. That's all I have. Thank you.
>> Thank you. On to city official reports.
Matt,
>> thank you, sir. Appreciate everyone
coming out tonight. Um, just a reminder
that I will be giving the state of the
city address at the next city council
meeting on February 5th. I look forward
to talking about all the great things
that we've been able to accomplish and
uh some of the plans that we have for
2026 and into the future. I did speak
before about business view magazine had
published or about the article and they
have published that article in London.
Um, the article is named Growing with
Purpose, which talks about balancing
growth, infrastructure, and keeping that
small town charm. I'm excited to
highlight all the great things going on
in London and the teamwork taking place
to make it happen. So, you can find that
on businessview magazine.com.
The construction of the new police
department, as Councilman Stall said,
it's moving along pretty well. The
trusses have gone up. The exterior is
being covered, and it's really starting
to take shape. So, they will continue to
work hard as they complete the exterior
so they can move to the interior. And as
he said, we are on schedule to complete
the construction in June.
Um, I've been able to get out in the
community a little bit for some
outreach. One thing I was able to do
recently is teach Junior Achievements to
Miss King's kindergarten class at London
Elementary. And if anyone's ever taught
junior achievement, teaching
kindergarten is uh uh quite the good
time. So this was a wonderful class
though with a lot of bright young minds
and as you know I pride myself on being
active in the community and because the
responsibility of a mayor is the
community outreach and just showing up
and staying engaged with all the
residents of all ages.
Since the last city council meeting
there has been a few meetings take
place. The parks and recck commission
met and they are looking at the current
price to enter the pool possibly an
increase. The board of zoning appeals
met and heard one case for the Buckeye
Community School. Uh they had a prior
application for a conditional use permit
filed uh 62524
on behalf of Buckeye School.
It was uh approved for the conditional
use permit and it was granted the whole
building for educational purposes. On
December 11th, 2025, a modification of
the plan for the building was filed. the
details.
This details a list of uses that would
otherwise be permitted in the district.
However, since the entire building has a
conditional use permit, it needed to be
modified. So, that case was heard and
was passed. Their plans are to add
possibly a doctor's office, a salon, and
a greenhouse area. The planning
commission meeting for this last week
was cancelled due to no cases on the
agenda.
We are continuing to get training on
city logic software for the sidewalk
grading and actually our next training
is tomorrow. So once we finish all of
our training, we'll be able to present
the information on the sidewalks to
everyone. I do look forward to
furthering the conversations with city
council on how we will move forward with
the repairs after that is presented. Now
on to the fun fact which is the number
32. That is actually the number of
weddings I performed in 2026.
As mayor of the county seat, I have the
ability to perform wedding ceremonies
within the county. So that takes a total
number of weddings I've performed as
mayor since 2017 to 289.
Kind of a funny number. So I just
thought that was kind of cool. I
appreciate you guys and thank you for
your time. All
right, Steve, you have
>> Yeah, really the only thing else I have
to offer um you know, everybody else hit
on the meetings and that is I did attend
civil service meeting yesterday. Um they
exhausted the current or the the former
uh civil service list for uh police
officer. They had offered a conditional
offered employment to one officer. We
anticipate him going to the training
academy in March. Um as you heard with
the shortages, we're still addressing
the other that list expired. They did
certify a new list and I know the police
have been interviewing off that. So, we
hope to make uh hopefully see uh uh a
few additional officers
potentially pick from that to to bring
our our staff back up.
>> That's it.
>> All right, Kenna.
>> I have nothing.
>> Nothing.
>> All right.
>> I have a question.
>> Pardon me.
Raquel, our our law director, good to
see you here. Thanks for coming. Um, I
know you were in originally intended to
come for a different reason, but one of
the questions that I had asked you the
other day was about solicitors
doortodoor and I didn't know if you had
a chance to look into that or you could
give us any further. I know a lot of
people complain about as many people
knocking on the doors right now,
especially from the electric companies
and the aggregators that are trying to
get uh people to switch over. Do you
have can you give us any further
information about that at this time?
>> Not at this time. No. I I'll need a
little bit more time to look into it.
Um, it's on my list, but I don't have an
answer for that yet.
>> Okay. Thank you for that, Mr. Mayor. I I
appreciate your uh comments tonight. You
added a lot of new information, and I'm
glad that we uh got to hear. So, it also
I'd also like it with those uh those
reports from the other company or the
other committees. That'd be great if
that was also emailed us because that
was a lot of good information. Thank
you.
>> You're welcome.
>> Okay. On to old business. Up for a
fourth reading. Resolution 190-25. Can I
get a motion to read by title number?
>> So moved.
>> Second.
>> Resolution 190-25 sponsored by Andrew
Hit and Lisa Jackman. A resolution
authorizing the safety service director
to advertise for bids for the sanitation
department services.
So this is uh would allow the safety
service director to put out bids for
privatization of the sanitation
services provided to the city.
Any questions on this?
What are council's wishes?
>> Move to adopt.
>> I'll second.
>> Councilman Stall.
>> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Jackman.
>> Yes.
>> Councilman hit.
Yes.
>> Councilwoman Trainer.
>> Yes.
>> Councilman Hayes.
>> Yes.
>> Councilman Boyd.
>> No. So, this is for us adopting to go
with Rumpky and or put out bid for it.
>> Speak in the
>> speak in the microphone, please.
>> Oh, sorry. That was off. Uh, so are we
not going to read through the others at
all first or are we just going to go
with this one because officially if we
were to pass this one, we're not even
going to look into the rate increase
then. Do I have that?
>> Can Can I address something? So there's
been a lot of misinformation that point
there. Exactly. Going with Rumpky. That
is not what this is. So, and I think it
needs to be clear. It sounds like what
this one has to verify would be to
privatize, to advertise, to have a
private company come in and take over
our entire services. So, it's not Runky
or any other person. It's anybody that's
qualified when we write those
specifications. They would come in and
they would take over all of our
services. We would eliminate the current
sanitation. Is that correct? That's the
one,
>> right? The other the other one is that
we maintain our services as are with our
city employees. And then the third part
is to increase that rate. So the current
one 19025 would be to advertise for bids
to bring in private companies to take
over our entire sanitation, the trash
collection, all that.
>> All right. And so I was kind of hoping
that we might have some discussion on
yes, our sanitation and adjusting the
rates before maybe coming back to these.
But I guess am I able to still discuss
this now or
>> there's not I don't think there's
supposed to be any discussion between
votes.
>> Yeah, let's finish the votes and then we
can uh
>> No, Councilman.
>> Yes.
Thank you.
>> Now, with these
straight
>> this put advertised for bids, we we
don't have to accept these bids.
>> Well, you ethically you have to put it
out with the intent to accept it. And
and I I will say I've had this
discussion is if I will not put a bid
out, I will not put my name behind a bid
that we don't intend to accept. The
exception would be if we haven't
anticipated what it is and that bid
would come in five times higher and we
had the right to do it. and I would lean
to my law director, but I think you have
to have the intent to ethically put it
out. It's just like the conversation we
had about, hey, let's just ask what it
is. A company is not going to tell you
what they're going to bid because this
company knows and they and they beat
them. It's not competitive if they know
what the other person's going to bid.
>> It's just it's a I'm sorry,
>> but it's a it's a good faith proposal
basically. You know, you're you're not
gonna
That's fine. Okay. Uh sorry. Um yes, it
is bas any just like any other proposal
has to be profered in good faith. You
can't just put a fictitious bid out
there or have something that's un with
unreasonable expectations. It has to be
based on real time um needs, real time
services to it to address those needs.
um with obviously the intent to satisfy
the the terms of the you know the offer
when it if it should be accepted on the
other side
>> Mr. President.
>> Yes.
>> If that were the case then then we've
either done it wrong for a long time or
this needs to be changed because this
only says to advertise for bids not to
accept. In the past we've had advertise
and accept bids. Can I ask why we would
bid when we don't like this? This
discussion's happened a number of times.
I don't understand why we would put it
to bid without the intent to do exactly
what council person trainer said. Why
would we put a bid out that we don't
intend to accept if I'm competing with
your insurance company? Were you going
to give that somebody else your
competitor your rates? That's ridiculous
>> to get a
>> like we've had this discussion like so
this is infuriating from the sense of we
have a number of city employees here
that are looking at their future. These
questions should have come up at the
meeting Tuesday. This is unacceptable
that we're having this kind of question,
that we're still willing to put that out
there, that we're fishing for for
amounts.
Unacceptable.
And that's where I'd say that the
amounts that are put out there with the
comparison of Plain City with their $21
for a 4,400
civilian city makes it tough to say
that, hey, this is going to be any lower
than what ours is currently or is going
to be. The larger one that I've heard a
good amount of feedback for is $100 for
three months with Rumkey. And so that
puts you at a $33 bill. That's $4 higher
still than what we're going to raise
ours to.
So, you know, there's lots of that, but
I would say that yes, it's usual for
these businesses to give out these bids
or quotes to kind of give that
competition or say, "Hey, this is what
your city or business is looking into.
We provide that service for you." And
that's why they would give a quote.
>> They would give a quote. They're not
giving a quote. So, I'm going to I'm
going to back up to my conversation, the
meeting the other night. So, the the
last meeting was brought forward from
Councilman Eids of Mr. Boyd wanting to
do a study. I got a call and this is why
and I said the last two meetings I will
not do that. I'm not doing that study
because Mr. Boyd contacted Rumpky trying
to get that information implying he was
an employee or an aid to city council
which is false.
>> That's not it. I wouldn't do it. Mr. Mr.
Roupert from Rumpkey called me and said
we can't do that. We're not going to
give that. It's not a common practice.
They're not going to give an amount.
They will glad to give other quotes
which the mayor got in public
information from Plane City of what
their two vendors are. So he'll be glad
to provide what he's provided to other
public entities because that's required
by law. It's public information. So you
can make a comparison. All right? It's
we're not comparing us to Plane City.
We're comparing the services they
offered and that is a a light comparison
that we can look and say, "Hey, this is
what they charge them. It's a best
guess." So if we're looking at that
price and they come in three times that
amount, yes, I think then we have a
right under good faith. We can it's not
anywhere close to what we thought it was
going to be. We could reject it. or they
couldn't meet our minimum standards, we
can reject it, but they're not going to
give us a price. I had a specific
conversation with the representative
from and and the Rumpky is because he's
our rep on what we do currently on the
transfer station. That's why I've talked
to Rumpy.
>> All right.
>> I don't think you'll find anybody that's
going to tell you what they're going to
bid because anybody else out there could
bring that beat that bid by a dollar and
win it. That takes away the competition.
So yeah, it just kind of sounds like 21
is kind of the price we're given. But
there really is no guarantee though to
what the price will be. That's the main
part that I think we should be able to
look into is that there is no guarantee
>> that doesn't come with guarantees. But
this number that we have to keep our
employees to offer a Saturday drop off
for the citizens of this city that have
asked for that that we do have the
opportunity to offer and we aren't even
discussing it before passing this. And
so Councilman
Mr. Peter sat quiet for about 30 seconds
and said, "Is there any discussion?" And
no one said a word. And then he said, he
gave it about 20 to 30 seconds. No one
ever spoke. Then he said, "What are
council's wishes?" It was quiet for
another 15 seconds and nobody spoke. And
then somebody said, "I'll move to
adopt." So saying you you didn't have an
opportunity to speak about it. You had
plenty of opportunity to speak about it
and you didn't say anything.
>> Well, that would be me speaking about
1922
instead of 19025.
And so I wasn't sure on that.
Unfortunately, if I was able to discuss
1 1925
during 1 190's reading. So my apologies
on that confusion there. But that is
where that came from that. Yes, I was
saving my comments for the reading of
ordinance 1922.
So um
do we want to anything else?
>> All right. Well then on we go.
>> Okay. Resolution 190-25 has passed. On
to resolution 191-25.
Okay. Get a motion to read by title
number.
>> So moved. Second.
>> Resolution 191-25
sponsored by Andy Hit and Lisa Jax
Jackman.
A resolution authorizing the safety
service director to advertise for bids
for trash hauling services.
So this is to put out bids for trash
hauling. Is this something that we need
to
do in the meantime until bids go out or
it still needs to be put in place?
>> I I I've extended. So this one is to
continue services out is I would bid for
the transfer station and I've got an
extension through I believe July. I can
extend it further if we had to. So, I
guess if I may freely speak is with the
passing of last res resolution, you just
eliminated this. You can't do both. So,
you you just voted to privatize. I don't
need uh an extension of this. I can
extend on my
>> So, since it's on the agenda, I guess we
need to make a vote on it.
>> That's not correct.
>> I don't think we voted to privatize.
>> They seem to be all right.
I think we voted to I I think we voted
to to advertise for bids and you had
said during your part of the
conversation was if the bids came in
three times higher, we could reject
those. But if we're voting to privatize
the way you just said, then it doesn't
matter what the bids are, we're going to
accept whatever you deem to be the best,
even if it's three times higher. I I
guess what I'm saying ethically, and I
don't know if I'm using the right word,
you I can't put out a bid to to do
privatization and at the same time put
out a bid to run the transfer station.
If we privatize, that company's going to
run it all. I don't need a transfer
station. So, I'm I'm doing both and
you're making it look like, well, we'll
decide which one we're taking. So, I I
will put it is we can ask for a legal
opinion, but I don't think that's
ethical and I don't think that's the
right way to do it. We can't. You're
asking a company to say, "Here's what
we're going to charge and we'll decide."
Now, again, if they're out of the realm,
I think we have the right to refuse it.
But, as Shannon said, the the legal
part, you have to have the intent to to
a legitimate offer to accept that. So,
if they come back and it was $80 a
month, yeah, we probably have a right to
refuse that. But,
>> yes, this is, you know, contract law
101. You put out an an offer. or if that
offer is accepted and it meets the uh
conditions of the offer and all of you
know the the standards and comes within
the the dollar amount of expectation
then you've got a contract. So
>> Mr. President, when when this was first
presented it was presented as this was
going to be an eitheror.
I I do believe so. Either we would
privatize and that decision would be
made after the bids or or we would raise
our rates and since we already took care
of 190 25 that's how I believe that was
presented to council to begin with.
>> So if we privatize we don't be able to
raise our rates. We we set the rate
based upon that. So the second part of
the eitheror is if we're not going to
privatize then we have to continue
operations. I have to have a contract to
do the transfer stations we currently
are and then the third
192 would be to raise the rates so that
we can continue the operation. So that
would be an e either or but you passed
resolution 19025 saying we're going to
privatize.
I I don't know how we pass resolution
191 if we're going to privatize.
I mean, you put them all up, so it's all
there. We're not starting over and do
another three months of, you know, we if
they decided not to privatize, now we
got to start over to raise the fees. My
understanding is that's why we did that.
So, if I'm wrong, please correct me.
>> Yeah. So, passing resolution 190-25.
Yeah. 191
and 192. Just just to clarify, when
these pieces of legislation came out of
committee and came to the law director's
office to draft the legislation itself,
it was relayed to my office and it that
it was the intention to either pass 190
or pass 191 and 92 192 in conjunction.
Pass 190 or 192 and 192 in conjunction.
That was my understanding as well how it
came to my office and the way that they
were drafted.
>> I think since they've been read multiple
times, don't we we still have to vote on
those?
Even though they don't really apply.
>> I think that's
>> we still have to vote.
>> We'd have to vote them down.
>> We have to vote.
>> Okay. So,
we're on 1912. I make a motion to adopt.
>> I'll second.
Councilwoman Trainer,
>> no.
>> Councilman Hit,
>> no.
>> Councilman Hayes,
>> no.
>> Councilman Stall,
>> no.
>> Councilman Boyd,
>> yes.
>> Councilwoman Jackman,
>> no.
>> Councilman Eids,
>> yes.
Okay. Resolution 191-25 has failed.
On to ordinance 192-25. Can I get a
motion to read by title number?
>> Some moved.
>> Second.
>> Ordinance 192-25 sponsored by Andy Hit
and Lisa Jackman. An ordinance adjusting
the rate of sanitation department
services.
So, this is basically the same deal
since we passed 19025, but this has been
on the agenda multiple times and read
multiple times. We would still need to
make a vote on this. So, I make a motion
to adopt.
>> Can I discuss?
>> Sorry.
>> Yeah. Before vote. Yes.
>> Thank you. Um, so yeah, it was nice. I
at least got to reach out to our
sanitation department some more with
Yes. last meeting being kind of my first
time on in here on that Monday and one
that came up with the return of the
Saturday hours. You know, that was a big
one that we would have been able to
offer as a city that you're not going to
get from these other companies. Uh the
big part of it was that that wasn't even
something that was just for the
citizens. That was a big day that our
department used for the maintenance of
our vehicles. So the fact that we
haven't really been taking care of that
and offering that, we were slightly
diminishing our own departments by
taking this away. And so it was nice to
hear that that could have actually been
offered back to us with the proper
amount of people and employees within
that department. The other questions
were going to be was if the city was
going to place the $60,000 for the
salaries back in the budget for 2026
that we had actually decreased this
year. Uh, I guess that we don't have to
worry about that. However, I do believe
that it shows that, you know, hey, if we
had a $467,000
salary line and we only budgeted for
$47,000,
clearly we could have actually cut down
some of these increases on these rates
that we would have possibly had. But
this is something that I would have
thought somebody would have seen maybe
or kind of marked up before, but it was
nice to kind of actually catch it here.
At this point, there's no real point,
but if anyone had any words on that down
there,
>> when I budgeted for that expense line, I
budgeted for how current staffing has
been. You asked for figures to include
everybody per strength ordinance, and
that's what I gave you. That's why the
figures did not get budgeted for what I
gave you.
>> Oh, good. And that's where I was just
going to ask to kind of, hey, help out
with this also. See if we could have
that just in case. That way we were
given a good push to actually fill our
employees for our department before
going through with this removal of it.
But thank you.
Also, it seemed the citizens said they
wish to actually have kept it rather
than compared to getting rid of it. But
on we go. Thank you. M
Chris, you can do roll call now.
Councilwoman Jackman,
>> no.
>> Councilman Hayes,
>> no.
>> Councilman Boyd,
>> yes.
>> Councilman Stall,
>> no.
>> Councilwoman Trainer,
>> no.
>> Councilman hit.
>> No.
>> Councilman Eids,
>> yes.
Okay. Ordinance 192-25 has failed. On to
new. Mr.
>> President,
before we move on to that, I move to
reconsider 19025.
The resolution 19025.
I second.
Councilman Stall,
>> I want want to hear this again.
>> He wants a motion to reconsider
>> to revote
>> to revote.
>> We're wanting to look into see.
>> Okay. I thought that was I want to make
sure.
>> Yes.
>> Did I hear Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Councilman Eids?
>> Yes.
>> Councilman Boyd?
No.
>> Councilwoman Jackman.
>> Now this one 19025
>> this
>> this will allow reconsider
allow. Okay. Okay. Thank you.
>> Yep.
>> Yes.
>> Counciloman Boyd. What was your answer?
>> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Jackman.
>> Yes.
>> Councilwoman Trainer.
>> No.
>> Councilman Hayes.
Yes.
>> And Councilman hit.
>> No.
>> What was the count there?
>> Okay.
>> Mr. President, the reason why I asked to
reconsider this is because I don't think
that I understood that this was not an
going to be an eitheror, that this was a
vote to switch um without further ado,
and without further information. Um the
reason why I asked reconsider is I don't
know that anybody else wants to do this,
but I do intend to switch my vote at
this time.
>> Do we make need to make an amendment to
uh accept bid and accept. Is that
required to have that in the language?
>> I I missed the question. I'm sorry.
>> It was a question of uh putting out a
bid and then having to have legislation
saying we would accept. Uh is that a
requirement in the legislation that bid
and accept or if we amend it, we can
amend it to say bid and accept?
The way that it's written I I believe is
sufficient. Um it's the way that our
other legislation for bids is written. A
lot of the pieces of legislation are
pulled from old templates of the same
type of legislation. I believe the bid
could be entered into as written, but I
don't see an issue with amending it to
say put to bid and accept.
>> Ethically, I think um bid just like in
anything else is you have to have an
intention to accept otherwise you don't
place a bid. So, it's, you know, maybe
it wasn't explicitly stated, but um
yeah, no, the the the connotations of
placing out a bid were obviously that
you would have an intent to accept that
same bid.
>> So, yes, I want to be clear. I believe
it's sufficient as written. I don't
think there's any issue with the
amendment to include language to allow
it to be accepted.
>> Okay. What are council's wishes?
Um, I'd like to state that, um, I've
listened to all of the evidence. I've
listened to the pros and the cons
and um,
regarding
that.
>> Um,
>> let me help you. For for me personally,
um,
as much as
I like our sanitation department, as
soon as I learned that it was customary
for the new the new company to um, off
to extend employment to our current
persons, that was my primary concern was
that we weren't going to leave everybody
out in the high and dry. If you want to
make if you want to comment to that,
then
>> yeah, come up here.
>> Let's just
Richard Wiggins, 175 Mound Street. Um,
as an employee,
being brought into the new company would
be great, but let's just say it's
Rumpky. Now I've got to drive to Dayton,
Circleville, Columbus, one of them
places in order for me to have a job.
That's fine during the summer. But we
seen what this winter's been like.
If it comes down to that in the winter
time, I'm stuck. I mean, I've got a
truck, but that doesn't guarantee I'm
going to be able to make it. I
understand you're concerned about us,
but I want you to know when it was
negative 20 degrees windchill factor, we
were still out there picking up the
trash.
No one complained about it.
That that's all.
I agree with him after looking at the
department itself and seeing that the
main fix we're making is for a 10 foot
by one foot long gap that's in their
main maintenance garage there. You know,
I was barely standing out there 10
minutes before I Hey, let's step back
inside seeing the breath. And so these
guys do they push through. They work
hard. And I'll say from my point of
view, it's kind of a hey without
unfortunately a price. I understand the
ethical and legal that we wouldn't want
to do this, but for having the chance to
once again offer hay, the drop off on
weekends for the citizens, being able
to, hey, have that self-control of
watching our price, the $8 price jump
isn't as large as what we might possibly
see. And I'm not in for that bet. And I
hope we can look into that.
I don't think there's any expectation
that an $8 price jump at this juncture
is going to be the end of it. These are
going to be regular repeatable rate
increases in order to address the
massive massive infrastructure um
improvements uh that needs to happen.
It's not only the entire electrical
system. It's the entire if I understand
it's the um the rotor grinding system um
at the at the transfer station. It's
everything about the building that needs
to be completely
um upgraded and and and brought up to
whatever code. I'm not even sure. Um so
and and the issue with the trash trucks
constantly failing. This is not this
initial $8 increase is by no means the
end of it. By no means. No means. And
and this is not only the you know it's
the wear and tear on the employees. is
the wear and tear on the administration
and our um and the the constant worry uh
over you know maintaining these uh
services that we have. There is
absolutely no guarantee that that price
isn't going to jump by an initial 35 to
40% and continue to go up from there.
first of all. Secondarily, if we can
guarantee that our employees are at
least extended the opportunity to have
employment and I understand that very
well may be local
um uh that you know it's it's you'd
obviously have to pass the um the
strictures of the the new employer. Um
but you know we're we're in a situation
where it's not just the wear and tear on
the bodies, the uh the buildings, the
machinery and the mind. um when we have
uh companies that are perfectly capable
and willing to come in and take care of
this and maintain the fees at or below
what we're paying right now without the
without the uh very significant
increases. Um this is this is a
no-brainer.
>> I'd say it's a gamble to say at or below
our prices now. That's my one main
thing. However, we have been seeing this
department ask for assistance and trucks
since 2023. we took on this department
when we gave away the sewer and water
department. We haven't put the increases
into it. We do have the 3% increase
already factored into this for the
yearly increases needed. And I believe
in this sanitation department that
actually said that they say that this is
going to help continue and will cover
the required prices for maintain this
department getting these two trucks at
least and the repairs.
>> Mr. President.
>> Yeah.
>> So, a couple things. I'd asked Mr.
Saltzman the other night. I I feel that
generally council wants to follow um
what the suggestions are and I asked if
he would be willing to make his
suggestion on which way to go and I
don't know if he's willing to do that or
not. However, I just want to be clear
that if if we're making the decision, if
you walked in thinking you want to keep
our our sanitation department, then we
have to fail the first one and pass the
next two if that was your thought. If
your thought was that you want to
privatize, then obviously we keep this
one on and the other two have already
failed. But that's the decision that I
don't know that I understood I had to
make tonight before I walked in. And I
don't know if anybody else knew that
either. And maybe everybody understood
and I just didn't. I don't know but I
just want to clarify that part.
>> Please.
So there there's been a lot of
discussion, right? We've had three
hearings on this. This is the largest
group we've had yet. I've got zero zero
questions from council. Not one other
than your meeting with Mr. Boyd.
Nothing. So tonight and and if I appear
upset, I am. I am ticked off. I'm ticked
off because we're in that question of
what it meant.
At two weeks, I was asked by Mr. Eids
whether or not what my opinion was. I
don't have an opinion. I've been here
two weeks. I was asked it two months. So
now I'm asked again what my opinion.
First of all, that's your decision, not
mine. I I did what I said. I would
present a proposal one way the other.
What I did determine there's no way we
can continue operations without asking
more money. No way. It's not feasible.
It's not. And you're right, that price
is going to continue to up. We can't we
can't give them raises, deal with
equipment raises, and the price
increases without increasing the price.
That's probably why we're in the
situation we are now. Prices are going
to increase. Period. I don't care which
way you look. You I feel like you all
are looking on a way to point it to
somebody else. That's the problem.
That's what I feel. So you asked what
what my opinion I think all of our
employees in the city are worth keeping.
All right, Shannon, you brought up some
very valid things. That's your decisions
you have to make. Is it can is it worth
the money we're asking to put in and the
continued. Now I I can't tell you what
it's going to continue cost. I have no
idea. Today we had another truck go down
and tomorrow I've got to sign a lease or
or rental agreement to have another
truck or we're not picking up commercial
uh dumpsters. Like it's not going to
change. Too many people want to look in
the past and talk about all the other
things. I'm sick and tired of getting
beat up on Facebook by anybody and
nobody has bothered calling. You know,
people want to talk about it. Come sit
down to meeting. Let's sit and have that
discussion. But we come tonight and
nobody understands what we're voting
for. That's terrible. Like that's that's
to me that's where I say it's
unacceptable. So people ask me to do my
job. I've got a lot to do. I've had a
lot to learn and I'm still learning. I
spent yesterday, five hours writing to
get a better idea of what's there. First
time I've had in the five months I've
been here. So I I'm going to tell you
what I said to begin. It's your decision
to make. It's not mine. We have good
people. I do believe that with that
increased money, we can make it work.
But absolutely, there's got to be an
increase. So I think the way the
resolution reads has to be adjusted
anyway because the prices went on
January 1. We're talking about the
add-on on that. Um, and and I can't
promise you that there's not other
issues going to arise. That building
needs repaired. The roof needs repaired.
We need to add things to the wall. If we
keep it, we have to go to Ohio Edison
and get a three-phase put in that we
think's going to be about 175,000. It
could be more, maybe not. We're going to
fix that building one way the other.
Now, timing may be different, but it's
still a piece of city asset we have to
keep. All this is things we've discussed
before. We have to get the trucks. You
know, we need to to get off an $11,000
lease and and purchase a truck to see
what we can buy it for. That's going to
take time. We probably going to need a
second one shortly thereafter. And then
then there's other things have to be
done. But but we keep pushing it and we
want to push it till May or other times.
We can't make a decision. We can't move
forward. I can't change how our clothes
shop or the open shop, the the
dumpsters. None of that could really
happen until we would know what we're
doing. So, it makes no sense that we
push this further down the road, uh, put
out a bid, and then we decide then if
we're going to go to do it the other
way, unless it's completely outrageous.
And I agree, if we got something that
was, you know, $21 is Plain Cities, and
they come back and set it 75 for London,
yeah, I I think in good faith we would
be able to to turn down that bid. But by
keep pushing this out, you're you're
you're not helping the citizens of
London. I think our employees, all of
them are worth it. I do believe with
that amount of money, we can move
forward. Not everybody agrees with me.
There's going to be additional cost and
I can't say that three months from now.
So I I'm not a genie. I can't tell you
what's going to happens.
I I don't know. And you know it's it is
a decision that the voters have put you
in to make that decision.
Good, bad, and different.
Anybody any questions for me?
>> Thank you, Steve.
So, is there a motion to adopt?
>> Motion to adopt.
>> Second,
>> John.
>> Councilman hit.
>> Yes.
>> Councilman Hayes.
>> Yes.
>> Councilman Councilwoman Trainer.
>> Yes.
Councilman Boyd.
>> No.
>> Councilwoman
Jackman,
>> no.
>> Councilman Eids,
>> no.
>> Councilman Stall,
>> yes.
>> Okay. Resolution 190-25 has passed.
Now on to there's no new business. So on
to round table.
>> John,
>> thanks everybody for coming out. It's
very interesting to get all the
different opinions and this is one of
the most contentious things I've ever
seen in all my years here. And uh I
guess we just can't make up our minds.
And I thank everybody for their opinions
and I hope you all do the right thing.
That's Thank you.
Tommy.
>> All right. First off, thank you again to
our sanitation employees especially for
hey going through everything.
That's a it's an unfortunate night. I'll
say we had chance to actually save one
of our departments after we've already
gotten rid of two of them in the last
two years. Here we are again giving away
another one. However, you know, that's
kind of where we're at when things
haven't been managed properly, it seems.
And so, thank you to all the citizens uh
online that, hey, might have chimed in
when we did discuss this. I want to say
it's sad to hear that, you know, does
our voice really matter? Does our
opinion really matter is what I hear.
And I wish I could say it was more of a
yes. You know, unfortunately though, we
don't hear that and we go with something
else that has now eliminated once again
one more of our departments.
That is all
>> Shannon.
>> And I know the dissenting voices out
there on Facebook are the loudest. They
are also routinely the most uninformed.
Um, you know, this is a a hard decision
to make from every aspect and the wear
and tear on the the the powers that be.
It's not just the wear and tear on on
the vehicles and the wear and tear on
the bodies of the people that are um
employing. Like I said, my biggest
concern was to uh once I was assured
that there would be um employment
opportunities offered to the current
department. Um but the wear and tear on
on the the vehicles, I mean, we've had
this these trucks break down. And it
seems like every other week these things
are breaking down. Um you know the the
the problems with the infrastructure and
the transportation and all this other
stuff is just you know years and years
and years of things that are now to a
point of you know it it's do or die or
or move on and and if everybody's going
to complain about well we should be able
to do this for the current prices. No no
that is absolutely out of the question.
Um the price increase right now I think
was a an initial proposal of around 30%.
Um yeah and there's no fe nobody's got a
crystal ball. There are no guarantees in
life but nobody wants to pay more for
services that are being perfectly
capable of being provided um by by a
privatized organization. And it saves
the wear and tear of this constant
constant worry over what to do with the
infrastructure, what to do about the
trash trucks, what to do about the lease
payment. um from everybody in the
administration of of the city. So, I I
apologize to the street department um
but this was a decision that is greater
than, you know, the couple individuals
that work there.
>> Andy,
>> yeah, I want to thank the safety service
director for all the um research he did
on this topic. I do um
feel bad for the employees of the
sanitation department, but hopefully
that could be something that could be
written into the contract with whoever
might take the bid and they could um be
employed in that in the that service or
be transferred to another position
within the city if something was to come
up. Uh, I'd agree with Shannon that it's
fiscally it just seems like this is the
best uh decision in order to have
uninterrupted services or continued
issues with truck breakdowns or um
building breakdowns or whatever might
come up. So, that was kind of the
reasoning for my vote.
And the service committee meeting is
February 10th at 5:00 over in the
meeting room here and safety committee
is at uh 6:00 in the meeting room next
door on February 10th.
>> Rich,
thank you. Um thanks everybody for
coming out tonight. This is a tough one.
Um I want to thank all of our city
employees for the jobs you do for the
city. You do great. You're great
employees. Um, I don't know what we do
without you. Uh, and I'm hoping that our
sanitation employees can either be we
have a street department and they need
people. Uh, maybe we can just laterally
transfer them to the street department
if they would so wish to do that or uh
the new company will pick them up. But
if they want to work for the city, let's
give them a chance to work somewhere in
the city. Um, I want to speak to all the
rumors and the trash that's out there.
That's what it is. It's trash right now
online, on phones, uh, word of mouth.
If you don't know something and you
don't understand something, there's
seven of us up here. We all got phone
numbers on the city site.
Call the damn number and get a hold of
one of us and we'll talk to you.
We're not untouchable, but call, talk to
us, ask us the questions. If we don't
know, we'll find out for you. But at
least, you know, all this stuff that's
going on out here, uh, ex- councsil
members and that have moved and putting
stuff out. Uh, it's just ridiculous. Um,
it's like a Trump syndrome thing going
on here, but it's a London syndrome. and
it needs to stop. We need to work
together. We need to come together. We
need to take care of this city. That's
what we were voted in for. And I'm going
to do my best to do this.
And I hope that everybody else will, and
I'm sure they will. We got a good group
of people up here right now. So, we're
going to be all right. We're growing.
And when you have growth, you have
problems, you have things that come up
that you've not faced before, we got to
get over it. We got to work together.
Got to be a team effort, teamwork. And
uh I just ask Lord God Almighty to watch
over our city, watch over our employees,
watch over our citizens, keep us all
safe and well. And that's all I have.
Thank you.
Lisa,
>> I don't have it.
>> Greg,
>> well, I want to thank everybody for
allowing me to reconsider that vote
because if nothing else, I needed to
vote my conscience and and it wasn't my
conscience to get rid of our sanitation
department. It was my desire to keep
them because I agree with Steve. I think
we could save them. I think they do a
good job. And if if the either or came
to me, it was going to keep them. So, at
least I got to vote that and I thank you
for that. The uh finance committee
meeting will be on February 10th, 6:30
in the building or in the room next
door.
>> Okay. Is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> Motion to adjurnn.
>> We don't have another meeting down to
the fifth amendment.
>> I'm not sure.
>> I think we raised all the rates for
decisions to cover our own prices.
That's
>> we didn't want to pay for something, so
we put it on them.
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