Columbus City Council Appoints New Auditor, Passes Jail Funding Over ICE Objections

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus City Council on Monday appointed Jacqueline Lewis as the city’s new auditor and approved $2 million for housing prisoners at Franklin County jails, a vote that passed 8-1 after two weeks of debate over the sheriff’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Lewis will replace Megan Kilgour, who resigns May 4. The council voted 9-0 to appoint Lewis after a truncated but open selection process that drew five applicants, three of whom met the requirements and spoke at a prior hearing. Council President Hardin noted the charter required a vote Monday because the council does not meet next week.

“This has been a truncated process, but it’s been an open and transparent process,” Hardin said before the vote. Council members praised all three finalists, including Kimberly and Garrett, and thanked Kilgour and retiring staff member Darlene Wilds for their service.

The most contentious item was Ordinance 860-2026, authorizing $2 million from the General Fund for housing Columbus prisoners at Franklin County Correction Centers. The council had paused the contract two weeks ago amid concerns over the sheriff’s policy of notifying ICE when inmates are about to be released.

During public comment, several speakers accused the council of complicity in human trafficking and demanded the contract be defunded until the ICE cooperation ends. One commenter told council members their “social medias of progressivism don’t distract us from issues like this.”

After debate, the council passed the ordinance 8-1, with President Hardin voting no. Councilmember Day-Achauer’s vote was initially unclear but was recorded as yes.

The council also unanimously approved several other items:

- Ordinance 1051-2026, authorizing $1.5 million for Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio to provide free legal representation to tenants facing eviction. Councilmember Ross said eviction filings in Franklin County hit 25,000 this year, the highest in 20 years.

- Ordinance 1048-2026, authorizing up to $2,688,125 for rock salt purchase through an ODOT cooperative contract.

- Ordinance 0924-2026, authorizing $1 million for design of improvements to the Hilliard-Rome Road at Renner Road intersection, a high-injury network location.

- Ordinance 1066-2026, authorizing $3,776,868.44 transfer to the new COAAA Regional Council of Governments for senior services.

- Ordinance 996-2026, authorizing $3.2 million for a contract with Ohio Mulch Supply and Quasar Energy for biosolids disposal via a hybrid poplar tree farm.

The council adopted resolutions recognizing April as Fair Housing Month, Central Ohio Restored Citizens’ Collaborative Reentry Week (April 20-24), and Arbor Day.

A public hearing on council district structure was postponed to May 4.

Key moments

Significant

Auditor appointment vote

Council President Hardin: 'Congratulations, Madam Auditor.'

Contentious Columbus City Council Meeting (4/27/26) · 1:50:45

Jail contract debate - Councilmember Remy explains pause

Councilmember Remy: 'It was not a refusal to honor an obligation... it was for oversight.'

Contentious

Public comment on ICE - Isaiah Saint John

Isaiah Saint John: 'If you do not end this unjust practice, it is not because you cannot, it is because you do not want to.'

Contentious

Public comment on ICE - Ricky Asher

Ricky Asher: 'The absolute bare minimum you can do is to block money to the Franklin County Sheriff's Department until this human trafficking procedure has been discontinued.'

Contentious

Councilmember Ross responds to ICE concerns

Councilmember Ross: 'I want to at least have this conversation... it's a bananas threat.'

Full analysis

Show structured analysis

Meeting Analysis

City of Columbus — 2026-04-27

Meeting Information

Title: Columbus City Council Meeting (4/27/26)

Parish: City of Columbus

Date: 2026-04-27

Video: Recording

Transcript segments: 2102

Item	Description	Action	Vote Status
Appointment of City Auditor	Council appointed Jacqueline Lewis as City Auditor to replace Megan Kilgour, who resigns effective May 4, 2026. Three candidates were considered after a truncated but open process.	Jacqueline Lewis appointed by roll call vote 9-0.	9-0 in favor
Fair Housing Month Resolution	Resolution 0095X-2026 recognizing April as Fair Housing Month in Columbus, presented with Columbus Realtors.	Adopted by roll call vote.	Unanimous adoption
Reentry Week Resolution	Resolution 0118X-2026 commemorating Central Ohio Restored Citizens' Collaborative Reentry Week, April 20-24, 2026.	Adopted by roll call vote.	Unanimous adoption
Arbor Day Resolution	Resolution 110X-2026 recognizing Arbor Day in Columbus, presented with Clintonville Green Team.	Adopted by roll call vote.	Unanimous adoption
County Jail Contract Funding	Ordinance 860-2026 authorizing $2 million from the General Fund for housing Columbus prisoners at Franklin County Correction Centers. Debate over ICE notification policies at the jail led to a two-week pause.	Passed by roll call vote after debate and public comment.	Passed (8-1, with President Hardin voting no)
Eviction Legal Aid Funding	Ordinance 1051-2026 authorizing $1.5 million grant to Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio for free legal representation to tenants facing eviction.	Passed by roll call vote.	Unanimous passage
Rock Salt Purchase	Ordinance 1048-2026 authorizing up to $2,688,125 for rock salt purchase via ODOT cooperative contract.	Passed by roll call vote.	Unanimous passage
Intersection Improvement Design	Ordinance 0924-2026 authorizing $1 million for design of improvements to Hilliard-Rome Road at Renner Road intersection, a high-injury network location.	Passed by roll call vote.	Unanimous passage
Senior Services Funding Transfer	Ordinance 1066-2026 authorizing $3,776,868.44 transfer to the new COAAA Regional Council of Governments for senior services.	Passed by roll call vote.	Unanimous passage
Biosolids Disposal Contract	Ordinance 996-2026 authorizing $3.2 million contract with Ohio Mulch Supply and Quasar Energy for hybrid poplar tree farm biosolids disposal.	Passed by roll call vote.	Unanimous passage

$2 million appropriated for jail contract with Franklin County.
$1.5 million grant to Legal Aid for eviction representation.
$2,688,125 for rock salt purchase.
$1 million for intersection design at Hilliard-Rome and Renner roads.
$3,776,868.44 transferred to COAAA for senior services.
$3.2 million for biosolids disposal via tree farm.

ICE cooperation at county jail leading to deportations; call to defund contract.
Property tax relief for seniors; life estate barriers to housing assistance.
Need for affordable housing and eviction prevention.

Debate over ICE notification policies at Franklin County jail; council paused contract two weeks prior, then passed funding after sheriff said policy is under legal review.
Public commenters accused council of complicity in human trafficking and demanded defunding the jail contract until ICE cooperation ends.

No department reports noted.

City Attorney's office to review contract remedies with Franklin County jail.
Councilmember Bankston's participatory budgeting hearing on Wednesday.
Councilmember Day-Achauer's deer feeding ordinance community meeting on May 5.
Councilmember Dorans' public hearing on council district structure rescheduled to May 4.
Councilmember Ross's reentry listening session on April 28.