1
00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:30,720
I call to order and welcome you to the
Middletown City of Middletown, Ohio

2
00:24:29,039 --> 00:24:34,880
Council meeting for Tuesday, September
1st, 2026. Please join me for a moment

3
00:24:33,360 --> 00:24:38,240
of meditation followed by the pledge of
allegiance to the American flag. You

4
00:24:36,559 --> 00:24:43,880
will hear three taps of the gavl when it
is time to stand. Please join me in a

5
00:24:39,919 --> 00:24:43,880
moment of meditation now.

6
00:25:07,279 --> 00:25:16,600
To the flag
of America to the stands nationy

7
00:25:17,919 --> 00:25:21,080
for all

8
00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:28,159
» clerk of council, Mrs. Amy Skank, please
call the attendance role.

9
00:25:27,120 --> 00:25:29,919
» Mrs. Carter,
>> present.

10
00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:32,159
» Mr. West,
>> here.

11
00:25:30,559 --> 00:25:33,679
» Mr. Mulligan,
>> here.

12
00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:35,120
» Mayor Slam
>> here.

13
00:25:34,159 --> 00:25:39,200
» Mr. Li,
>> present. Before we continue, I'd like to

14
00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:44,559
make a motion to amend this evening's
agenda to remove legislation item number

15
00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:49,279
nine, resolution R202621,
to be added to a future regular council

16
00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:51,120
meeting agenda. Is there a motion? Oh,
I'm sorry. I made a motion. Is there a

17
00:25:50,480 --> 00:25:53,360
second?
>> Second.

18
00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:57,440
» It has been properly moved and seconded.
Is there any discussion?

19
00:25:55,919 --> 00:26:00,080
Okay, seeing none, we will continue.
City Manager Combmes, uh, do you have

20
00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:02,640
anything to add? Do you want to add
anything to that?

21
00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:08,320
» Do a vote. I do need a vote.
>> Oh, I know. Yes. So, um, hearing no more

22
00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,440
in, uh, conversation, Mrs. Skank, please
call the role.

23
00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:10,960
» Okay.
>> Mr. West,

24
00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,320
» yes.
>> Mr. Milligan,

25
00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:13,679
» yes.
>> Mayor Slama,

26
00:26:13,279 --> 00:26:15,120
» yes.
>> Mr. Law,

27
00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:16,480
» yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,

28
00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:21,279
» yes.
>> Yes. Have it. And the motion passes. Um,

29
00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:24,480
item number nine, resolution R202621,
shall be removed from this evening's

30
00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:28,720
agenda for to be added to a future
agenda. Our first order of business

31
00:26:26,559 --> 00:26:32,559
today is citizen comments. A
professional presentation free of foul

32
00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:35,200
language is expected. Speakers are
encouraged to prepare remarks in

33
00:26:33,679 --> 00:26:39,600
advance. to stay within the set time
limits. Citizen comments is not the time

34
00:26:37,360 --> 00:26:43,600
for debate, questions, and answer or any
back and forth conversation with council

35
00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:46,640
or staff. This is a time for you, our
residents, to be able to present in

36
00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:49,760
front of council on record uninterrupted
and have the floor. Please note that

37
00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:52,799
after the meeting, your comment cards
will be given to the city manager and

38
00:26:51,360 --> 00:26:56,720
she will assign a member of staff to
reply to you as appropriate. We have

39
00:26:55,200 --> 00:27:01,200
received
two comment cards this evening. I will

40
00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:05,520
prompt each speaker for their next steps
when they reach the podium. I would like

41
00:27:02,799 --> 00:27:08,520
to call Kimberly Silas to the podium,
please.

42
00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:13,679
And you may sit or stand according to
your preference. Please adjust the

43
00:27:12,159 --> 00:27:17,279
microphone and speak directly into the
microphone at all times. Before you

44
00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:20,159
begin, please state your full name and
Middletown residence for the record. You

45
00:27:18,799 --> 00:27:22,640
will then have three and a half minutes
of uninterrupted speech. Please

46
00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:26,480
commence.
>> Hello. Yes, I am a Middletown resident.

47
00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:31,440
My name is Kimberly Silus. I've lived
here for 66 years next week.

48
00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:35,360
» May we have your address, please?
>> Yes. 1847 Spring Grove Lane, Middletown,

49
00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:39,240
Ohio. I'm sorry.
>> Thank Thank you. Please commence.

50
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:45,760
» I'm sorry. Dear members of Middletown
City Council, my name is Kimberly Silus

51
00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:50,960
and I am the founder of the William
Asylus Breast Cancer Awareness Ministry.

52
00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:55,279
While my ministry is not a nonprofit
organization and is essentially a

53
00:27:52,720 --> 00:28:00,159
onewoman ministry, its purpose is deeply
rooted in community service, awareness,

54
00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:06,559
and bringing people together. I am not
writing to bring a complaint nor to

55
00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:11,840
request monetary assistance. Instead, I
am reaching out to extend an invitation

56
00:28:09,120 --> 00:28:16,399
and respectively solicit your
involvement in an important community

57
00:28:14,159 --> 00:28:21,840
initiative. The William Assilles Breast
Cancer Awareness Ministry is a very is

58
00:28:19,120 --> 00:28:27,760
very personal to me. Although I was only
five years old when my mother, William

59
00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:33,200
Silas, passed away in 1966, I have spent
my life carrying her name and learning

60
00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:38,240
about the woman she was. I have been
told how much she loved the community of

61
00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:44,000
Middletown and the people who live live
here.

62
00:28:39,919 --> 00:28:50,480
This walk is one of the ways
I continue to honor my mother's legacy

63
00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:55,679
in in very excuse me in the very
community in which she lived and loved

64
00:28:52,960 --> 00:29:01,679
through the ministry. I want her name to
continue to represent love, compassion,

65
00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:06,320
awareness, unity, service to others. On
October 27th, 2022, the first William

66
00:29:04,799 --> 00:29:11,039
Emma Silas Peace, Prayers, and
Positivity Breast Cancer Walk was held

67
00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:15,360
here in Middletown, Ohio. We began at
Old South Park on Main Street and walked

68
00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:21,559
together to United Missionary Baptist
Church where we gathered in prayer,

69
00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:21,559
fellowship, and unity.

70
00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:29,919
I am pleased to announce that on October
24th, 2026, the walk will take place

71
00:29:27,279 --> 00:29:34,480
again. This year we will once again
begin at Old South Park and conclude at

72
00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:39,200
the CBI Robert Sunny Hill Community
Center. With that in mind, I am

73
00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:42,960
respectfully asking the members of
Middletown City Council to come walk

74
00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:47,919
with me.
Your presence would mean so much not

75
00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:52,480
only as a show of support but for breast
cancer survivors, breast cancer uh

76
00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:57,279
survivors and their families, breast
cancer awareness, but also as a visible

77
00:29:55,279 --> 00:30:02,320
demonstration of our collective
commitment to peace, unity, togetherness

78
00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:08,720
throughout the city of Middletown. My
motto is we support all ribbons. To me,

79
00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:13,679
this statement represents more than
breast cancer. It represents

80
00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:17,919
acknowledgement
and supporting the many causes,

81
00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:23,360
struggles, uh, and families and
individuals within our community who

82
00:30:20,799 --> 00:30:28,880
need to know about awareness. I believe
when community I'm sorry, I didn't print

83
00:30:26,799 --> 00:30:33,919
this out. I believe that when community
leaders um, come together, walk

84
00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:38,559
together, this would send a powerful
message that Middletown stands together.

85
00:30:36,559 --> 00:30:44,240
I would be honored to have you join me
on October 26th as we walk for peace,

86
00:30:41,919 --> 00:30:46,960
prayers, and positivity in the city of
Middletown. Thank you,

87
00:30:46,399 --> 00:30:48,480
» Sus.
>> Thank you.

88
00:30:47,279 --> 00:30:51,279
» What time?
>> Oh, we can find that out.

89
00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:57,200
» I didn't hear. What time?
>> Oh, I'm sorry. The walk will start at

90
00:30:54,080 --> 00:31:00,240
10:00 a.m. at Old South Park and
>> 24th or the 26th?

91
00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:03,520
» The 24th.
>> Yeah. And we can um

92
00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:07,840
» 20 26. Did I say the 26th?
>> You the second time you said 26th. I'm

93
00:31:05,679 --> 00:31:09,840
sorry. October 20,
>> much as I love to talk and I'm nervous.

94
00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:15,919
Yeah.
>> October 24th, 2026 at 1000 p.m. and it's

95
00:31:14,159 --> 00:31:19,279
uh starts at um
>> Thank you. Thank you, Miss Silus. Is um

96
00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:23,279
if you would have a seat. Thank you so
much. We'll make sure to reach out to

97
00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:25,840
you to get all the details. Thank you so
much. No problem.

98
00:31:24,559 --> 00:31:31,120
» Sometimes you get we get nervous up
here. All right. Uh next, I would like

99
00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:34,600
to call uh Constance Miller to the
podium, please.

100
00:31:37,279 --> 00:31:41,519
and you may stand or sit according to
your preference. Please adjust the

101
00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:44,559
microphone and speak directly into the
microphone at all times. Before we

102
00:31:43,200 --> 00:31:46,960
begin, please state your full name and
Middletown residence for the record. You

103
00:31:45,919 --> 00:31:49,440
will then have three and a half minutes
of uninterrupted speech. Please

104
00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:54,640
commence.
>> My name is Constance Miller. I reside at

105
00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:57,840
4002 Riverview Avenue in Middletown. Do
you need the zip code?

106
00:31:56,240 --> 00:32:01,600
» No. Thank you. Hi.
>> Um I'm here today to speak about the

107
00:32:00,159 --> 00:32:08,399
flock cameras that we're seeing going
up. not just block but other items of

108
00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:14,880
247 surveillance. Um but I'd like to
start by thanking the Middletown police.

109
00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:20,240
Um before I go in on it, um back in May,
June, my autistic son eloped and if it

110
00:32:18,559 --> 00:32:26,080
weren't for the police, you know, coming
in quick, I am I don't know what what

111
00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:29,279
the outcome would have been. Um so I
just want to take the time to thank the

112
00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:34,399
police while I'm up here. [snorts] Um,
that being said, I get that a lot. What

113
00:32:32,399 --> 00:32:38,000
would Flock do to help you if you if
your son eloped again? Being that

114
00:32:36,159 --> 00:32:43,519
they're license plates readers, I would
think nothing. Um, unless he has a

115
00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:48,640
license plate attached to him or unless
the Flock cameras are collecting data

116
00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:55,519
further than the license plates. some AI
features at Flock. Uh they create

117
00:32:51,440 --> 00:33:00,559
profiles on driver behavior, car
features, um where you're traveling,

118
00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:06,640
where you're going, and without access
to the contract, uh we as residents who

119
00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:11,919
pay for these do not know how long the
data is being stored, who has access to

120
00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:16,720
the data, who is it just the police or
is it any city employee or is it certain

121
00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:22,720
police officers? As you've seen in the
news, there are several instances where

122
00:33:20,159 --> 00:33:28,000
um officers have stalked exes or love
interests um and now they're either

123
00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:33,840
fired, in jail, 5 years probation,
things like that. Um as a freedom loving

124
00:33:31,519 --> 00:33:38,320
person, I enjoy my Fourth Amendment and
I realize that the Supreme Court hasn't

125
00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:43,440
decided on how the Fourth Amendment
applies to flock cameras. Um it's for

126
00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:49,600
me, it's not too different than USV.
Jones where you can't just tag on a GPS

127
00:33:46,559 --> 00:33:53,760
tracker to a car without a warrant. Um
granted there's no tracker on my car. I

128
00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:59,200
am still being tracked throughout the
city. Um I have yet to see an exit and

129
00:33:56,399 --> 00:34:03,200
entry point without a flock camera. Um
the thought that you can't go in and out

130
00:34:01,120 --> 00:34:06,399
of here without the government's eyes on
you is should not be comfortable to

131
00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:10,720
anybody.
And I also hear a lot, well, if you

132
00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:16,240
don't do anything wrong, then you have
nothing to worry about. In this current

133
00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:21,679
times, I am an activist. I run no elegy
needed in Middletown. And there I'm

134
00:34:19,919 --> 00:34:26,720
being called by the federal government a
domestic terrorist. So, I can't sit here

135
00:34:24,720 --> 00:34:31,359
and be said, "Oh, well, don't do
anything wrong." when certain people are

136
00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:35,440
defining, redefining what's right and
what's wrong, who gets a voice, who gets

137
00:34:33,200 --> 00:34:39,359
to travel freely, who gets to say, "I
don't like what's going on." And I don't

138
00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:42,399
think Middletown Police would follow me
around. They've been very supportive for

139
00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:47,599
our rallies, and I've always been
grateful for that. However, I don't know

140
00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:51,440
who else has access to these. We have
found out that the federal government

141
00:34:48,960 --> 00:34:56,320
has found backdoor channels. Flock
safety contract. The general contract

142
00:34:53,919 --> 00:34:59,920
states that Flock Safety has access and
can keep all of the data that they

143
00:34:58,079 --> 00:35:03,680
store. Whether or not Middletown Police
wants them to, it's part of the

144
00:35:01,760 --> 00:35:09,920
contract, but without reviewing
Middletown's contract, we don't know if

145
00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:14,320
you all opted for that or not. Um,
another option that is missing is the

146
00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:18,160
transportal, like the transparency
portal where residents can do audit logs

147
00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:23,119
and make sure that they're not being
abused. And with that, I just hope that

148
00:35:20,720 --> 00:35:27,359
all the public records requests are
followed so that residents can review.

149
00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:32,560
» Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.

150
00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:35,599
» This concludes our public participation.
The next agenda item is council

151
00:35:34,079 --> 00:35:39,280
comments. We will begin to my left with
council member Lai, followed by Vice

152
00:35:37,520 --> 00:35:42,320
Mayor Carter, and then to my right with
Council Member West, uh followed by

153
00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:47,440
Council Member Mulligan, and I will
speak last. Mr. Lai.

154
00:35:44,240 --> 00:35:53,599
» Thank you, Mayor. [clears throat] um
start off uh with wishing everybody a

155
00:35:50,240 --> 00:35:58,880
happy and safe uh Labor Day weekend
coming up next weekend. Hope everybody

156
00:35:56,079 --> 00:36:02,640
enjoys the extra day or two off they
might get for the Labor Day holiday.

157
00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:09,680
Thank to all the workers in America for
everything they they do. Um, secondly,

158
00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:15,440
uh, I want to congratulate Cleveland
Cliffs on being able to move forward

159
00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:19,760
with the, uh, the, uh, project out at
the Middletown Works. I think it's going

160
00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:24,000
to be a very big thing for, uh,
Cleveland Cliffs as a company. It's

161
00:36:22,240 --> 00:36:29,359
going to be a very big thing for the
workers there. It's going to be a very

162
00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:35,200
big thing for the city of Middletown and
in terms of it pretty much guarantees

163
00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:40,880
that the Middletown Works is here for uh
decades to come, which is our largest

164
00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:47,359
employer in the city of of Middletown
and a a our biggest tax base, which is a

165
00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:51,040
great thing. And then with the with the
uh billion dollar investment in the

166
00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:56,000
Middletown Works and the construction
that we're going to be going on out

167
00:36:53,200 --> 00:37:02,400
there will do a lot to enhance enhance
our um income tax revenue for a few

168
00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:07,040
years which which is a great thing. So
thank you to that. Thank you to the

169
00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:11,760
Department of Energy. Thank you for uh
Vice President JD Vance for coming to

170
00:37:09,359 --> 00:37:19,280
Middletown, his hometown. and he gave a
a good talk at uh Middletown Works uh

171
00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:24,400
last Friday and uh this is a very
positive thing for Middletown.

172
00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:29,599
Um
I want to congratulate Jackie Phillips

173
00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:34,640
on her retirement. Uh Jackie and I
worked together for nearly 30 years and

174
00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:39,839
I can call Jackie a friend and we worked
on a lot of things together and I will

175
00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:45,440
tell everybody that uh this city is in
in a much better place for her service

176
00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:50,880
over the last 30 plus years. So Jackie
enjoy retirement and I wish you good

177
00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:57,599
luck.
Um yeah, it and I just as far I've been

178
00:37:55,280 --> 00:38:04,800
reading a lot on the flock camera
situation over the last several weeks

179
00:38:01,119 --> 00:38:10,079
and uh while I'm not ready to bail like
a lot of communities are are starting to

180
00:38:07,359 --> 00:38:15,359
do on the flot camera. I do think well
we need to look at it on a city level, a

181
00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:22,400
county level, a state level, and a
federal level as as far as

182
00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:27,440
um protecting our civil liberties.
However, I will say that our police

183
00:38:25,359 --> 00:38:33,680
department keeps the information for
what I believe uh Chief Nelson told us

184
00:38:30,079 --> 00:38:40,640
in an email for 30 days. Um, you know,
if my child or somebody's grandchild was

185
00:38:37,280 --> 00:38:45,520
abducted and I knew we had a tool like
the flock cameras to to jump on it

186
00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:52,640
within the first couple hours and it it
it uh get our loved one back quickly or

187
00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:57,440
it does what it's supposed to do in
apprehending criminals, that's great and

188
00:38:54,720 --> 00:39:03,440
I think we need to continue. But I do
understand some of the concerns with it

189
00:39:00,160 --> 00:39:08,160
and and uh how it invades it might
invade our civil liberties uh the

190
00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:12,480
collection the collection of data and
stuff like that. We have to find a way

191
00:39:10,079 --> 00:39:17,680
to figure out how we can do that you
know and but then again you know on the

192
00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:21,440
other hand folks we live you know the
big thing about it is we don't want to

193
00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:25,839
live in a surveillance society. I'm
going to tell you something. If you get

194
00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:31,280
on a computer, you have Facebook, you
have social media, you do anything else,

195
00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:38,400
you're we're living in a surveillance
world, you know. I just that that's the

196
00:39:35,119 --> 00:39:43,119
other thing I wrestle with. Um I don't
know of anybody who doesn't get 20

197
00:39:41,119 --> 00:39:48,160
emails a day from financial
organizations wanting you to apply for

198
00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:53,119
this loan, apply for that loan, or I see
you were at Kroger's. How many of you

199
00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:57,680
has gone to Target, Kroger's, Meyers,
and 2 minutes after you leave there,

200
00:39:54,880 --> 00:40:02,400
they they know you're there?
It's the world of cell phones today.

201
00:39:59,839 --> 00:40:09,119
But, you know, I agree with I agree with
some of the things um that Miss Miller

202
00:40:06,079 --> 00:40:14,720
said and we just we have to find the h
happy medium because as you said, it is

203
00:40:11,599 --> 00:40:19,599
a good tool when it's used properly. So,
with that, that's all I have.

204
00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:25,440
» Thank you, Mr. Lai. Vice Mayor Carter.
Good evening. Uh, Miss Miller, I also

205
00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:31,119
agree with the conversation you had
about the uh, flock cameras because we

206
00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:35,520
as human beings abuse everything we get
our hands on when it comes to other

207
00:40:33,440 --> 00:40:40,960
people. I don't know what's going to
happen in Middletown. Um,

208
00:40:38,720 --> 00:40:46,800
how much investigation we're going to
put into it, but I agree. There's

209
00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:51,920
something that some things that we do
need and there are some things that we

210
00:40:48,560 --> 00:40:56,400
do not need. So, thank you, Mayor.
>> Thank you, Vice Mayor. Mr. West.

211
00:40:53,920 --> 00:41:02,000
» Yes. Good evening. Thank you, Mayor. Um,
I Yeah, I mean, the flock cameras, I

212
00:40:58,400 --> 00:41:06,720
think in probably the last 60 or 90 days
have really kind of exploded on the

213
00:41:04,079 --> 00:41:14,560
scene. Um, I've watched quite a few
things uh on flock cameras and I think

214
00:41:10,079 --> 00:41:20,480
it's it's one of those issues where when
used properly um they're a great asset,

215
00:41:17,280 --> 00:41:26,319
great tool. Uh however, you know, Flock
has a whole organization outside of

216
00:41:23,599 --> 00:41:32,000
local jurisdictions and so I I think
it's worth a conversation for sure to to

217
00:41:28,560 --> 00:41:36,480
figure out um you know what Flock is
doing um from a corporate standpoint.

218
00:41:35,359 --> 00:41:40,640
You know, with that said, I mean there
was concern many years ago,

219
00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:44,800
10 plus years ago when there were
certain apps being developed for phones.

220
00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:50,880
one of which I think most of us have
used before uh ways for example um when

221
00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:54,880
ways first came out everybody was like
oh this is great you know and then there

222
00:41:52,560 --> 00:41:58,079
was some hesitation
uh involved I mean we thought it was

223
00:41:56,480 --> 00:42:05,599
great you know maybe we won't get as
many tickets right but at the same token

224
00:42:02,079 --> 00:42:09,280
you know they do store driving data um
it could be speed it could be routine

225
00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:13,920
those types of things Google does the
same thing um so I think there's always

226
00:42:11,599 --> 00:42:19,119
that concern. I think the big difference
between those apps and flock cameras is

227
00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:25,119
those apps. It's a choice to use those.
Flock is is present there. Um I do know

228
00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:31,119
there are a lot of cases even locally
here where flock cameras have have been

229
00:42:28,160 --> 00:42:35,760
uh instrumental in solving crimes and
and even understanding for example when

230
00:42:33,680 --> 00:42:41,040
uh when stolen cars move in and out of
the city. So it's yeah it's a

231
00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:46,319
double-edged sword. Um, I'm not sure I'm
100% up on it yet to really offer what

232
00:42:44,240 --> 00:42:52,079
my opinion would be either way, but I
know it has been a valuable tool in in

233
00:42:48,800 --> 00:42:57,119
many examples, even for, uh, Chief
Nelson's team. So, um, you know, and

234
00:42:55,520 --> 00:43:02,160
here in Middletown, we've we've always
kind of dealt with, you know, being on

235
00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:07,520
75, being on a major corridor, a lot of
people coming in and out of town, and,

236
00:43:05,119 --> 00:43:11,440
you know, being between two major cities
or two large cities, I should say, you

237
00:43:09,839 --> 00:43:17,440
know, kind of puts us in the middle for
for some some crime. Um, with that said,

238
00:43:14,960 --> 00:43:22,240
I I would like to say congratulations to
Cleveland Cliffs. Um, that was something

239
00:43:19,760 --> 00:43:27,520
that's been in the works for what seems
like a very, very long time. Uh, and I'm

240
00:43:25,520 --> 00:43:33,520
glad to see it finally come to fruition.
That was a concern I know many of us in

241
00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:37,040
the city had is if you know the if
Cleveland cliffs didn't have some type

242
00:43:35,359 --> 00:43:41,760
of upgrades coming, there is a shelf
life uh on the blast furnace. Um, so I'm

243
00:43:40,079 --> 00:43:47,760
proud that that Middletown will be on
the map for generations really. I mean,

244
00:43:44,560 --> 00:43:52,560
this this will solidify uh Cleveland
Cliff's presence in this community for

245
00:43:49,920 --> 00:43:58,880
many many years and in in a cleaner
sense. Um, so I think it's a win-win for

246
00:43:54,960 --> 00:44:03,359
the city uh as well as Cleveland Cliffs.
And with that said, uh the only other

247
00:44:00,640 --> 00:44:08,400
thing I have is I hope everybody enjoys
uh Labor Day and and the weather's nice

248
00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:11,040
and everybody stays safe. Thank you,
Mayor.

249
00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:15,200
» Thank you, Mr. West. Mr. Mulligan.
>> Thank you, Mayor. I'll add my uh

250
00:44:13,359 --> 00:44:19,520
comments for the Cleveland Cliffs
celebration. It was uh it was great to

251
00:44:17,119 --> 00:44:24,319
join with so many uh elected officials
on the federal, state, and local level.

252
00:44:22,160 --> 00:44:29,280
And uh the CEO of Cleveland Cliffs
coming in to to celebrate the terrific

253
00:44:26,640 --> 00:44:33,359
announcement. Um the $1 billion
investment, as has been said, represents

254
00:44:31,520 --> 00:44:38,640
more than just dollars and cents. It's
um a a commitment to decades of service

255
00:44:36,160 --> 00:44:43,680
for Middletown Works. uh the the
construction jobs alone could create uh

256
00:44:41,040 --> 00:44:48,800
1500 temporary jobs and of course uh
help preserve the over 2,000 permanent

257
00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:53,359
jobs at the plant. So uh great day for
Middletown to get that positive exposure

258
00:44:50,880 --> 00:44:58,400
and and we hope that uh Cleveland Cliffs
will continue to be the economic engine

259
00:44:55,359 --> 00:45:03,920
driver that it is. Uh congratulations to
the uh organizers of Hops in the Hangar.

260
00:45:01,520 --> 00:45:08,880
This was another successful event at
Middletown uh Regional Airport. uh Jamie

261
00:45:06,720 --> 00:45:14,240
Murphy and Mika Glazer Jones and their
committee did an excellent job and there

262
00:45:11,119 --> 00:45:19,599
were so many um uh patrons and there was
also a familyfriendly area for the event

263
00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:23,280
to to enjoy the the airplane uh show and
it really was phenomenal. So

264
00:45:21,520 --> 00:45:28,319
congratulations to them and I know that
the proceeds of that event also benefit

265
00:45:25,599 --> 00:45:33,119
some nonprofits in Middletown. So thank
you for their efforts. Um there's um

266
00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:38,160
been some comment in the past couple
weeks about Middletown separating with

267
00:45:35,359 --> 00:45:42,640
um a particular employee and you know I
I am not in a role that comment on any

268
00:45:41,119 --> 00:45:47,119
personnel decisions and that's certainly
not my place and our policy is not to do

269
00:45:44,720 --> 00:45:52,319
so but I just want to point out that you
know it you know we we celebrate the

270
00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:56,319
longevity of so many city employees. As
I looked at this month's employee

271
00:45:53,760 --> 00:46:00,560
newsletter there were um a couple of
employees that have reached the 25 year

272
00:45:58,400 --> 00:46:04,240
mark. uh Pat Ballas in the clerk of
court's office and Andy Warick in the

273
00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:08,079
police department. So, and of course
Jackie Phillips celebrating 28 years

274
00:46:06,160 --> 00:46:12,160
with the city. So, we have it on all
ends of the spectrum and as an

275
00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:17,040
organization that's 4 to 500 employees,
there will be some turnover. And um but

276
00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:20,960
but I so I wouldn't want anyone to read
too much into one particular event or

277
00:46:19,119 --> 00:46:25,040
one particular employee that that's
separated, but just know that um you

278
00:46:23,359 --> 00:46:29,680
know, we have a lot to celebrate in the
city. happy that uh Martin Russell is

279
00:46:27,359 --> 00:46:34,400
joining us as assistant city manager and
he brings decades of experience in in

280
00:46:31,839 --> 00:46:39,440
government leadership. So uh I I think
that adds to our bench strength and and

281
00:46:36,240 --> 00:46:44,880
really adds a um professionalism and
experience that that we'll benefit from.

282
00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:50,000
So welcome uh Mr. Russell. And uh
finally uh offering condolences to the

283
00:46:47,280 --> 00:46:56,720
family of Dr. Ray Keabber. uh he passed
away uh last week and um really left

284
00:46:53,839 --> 00:47:01,119
behind a a a great legacy of the in the
practice of medicine. Then also his

285
00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:05,839
generous support of so many uh
charitable organizations in Middletown.

286
00:47:03,119 --> 00:47:10,880
But my condolences to to Gene Keubber,
his uh his widow and his family. Uh just

287
00:47:08,960 --> 00:47:14,480
an all-around great guy and who will
certainly be missed in the Middletown

288
00:47:12,240 --> 00:47:20,319
community. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mulligan. Uh I will also

289
00:47:17,920 --> 00:47:25,520
uh echo my congratulations to Cleveland
Cliffs. Um so much has been said already

290
00:47:23,760 --> 00:47:29,440
and I'm just very excited especially
about the co-generation plant. I'm very

291
00:47:27,440 --> 00:47:34,640
grateful to them to be building that
saving up to like 50% of their energy to

292
00:47:32,640 --> 00:47:38,160
put it back into their own plant. I
applaud them for that. Also with the

293
00:47:36,800 --> 00:47:41,680
flock cameras, I know that's something
that the city's been looking at. Um so

294
00:47:40,240 --> 00:47:45,280
I'm sure we'll hear we'll be hearing
more from that in the in the coming

295
00:47:43,440 --> 00:47:48,640
weeks and months.
So, now I'd like to go into um a little

296
00:47:47,119 --> 00:47:52,960
bit of what we are expecting coming up
in the next couple of weeks here in

297
00:47:49,839 --> 00:47:56,720
Middletown. So, enjoy general trivia
night every Thursday this month from

298
00:47:54,640 --> 00:48:00,400
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at New Als
Brewery located at 13:30 Manchester

299
00:47:58,720 --> 00:48:04,319
Avenue. For more information, please
visit the calendar at downtown

300
00:48:01,680 --> 00:48:08,720
middletown.org. Celebrate First Friday
at 5:00 p.m. this week on September 4th

301
00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:12,560
and join the Helens for the 3rd annual
Roper Romp throughout downtown. Come

302
00:48:10,960 --> 00:48:16,240
dressed up as Mrs. Roper from Thre's
Company or Just as You Are and walk the

303
00:48:14,720 --> 00:48:19,839
bar crawl through our door district, the
first in all of Ohio with specials at

304
00:48:18,480 --> 00:48:23,280
participating local businesses for
anyone dressed as Helen. New this year

305
00:48:21,760 --> 00:48:26,720
is the family-friendly kids zone. For
more information on this fun and

306
00:48:24,880 --> 00:48:30,800
eccentric event, please visit the
calendar at downtown middletown.org.

307
00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:35,359
Also this Friday, September 4th, from 6
PM to 8:00 PM at the MAC, our Middletown

308
00:48:33,280 --> 00:48:40,079
Art Center is the opening of the exhibit
Steel in a Different Light. A special

309
00:48:37,599 --> 00:48:44,800
collaboration of works by renowned steel
artist Mike Elsas and our local

310
00:48:42,480 --> 00:48:48,160
employees of Cleveland Cliffs. Steel in
a Different Light celebrates the Union

311
00:48:46,480 --> 00:48:52,079
of Fine Art and Middletown Steel
Heritage. Through this exhibition that

312
00:48:50,079 --> 00:48:55,680
runs through October 15th, visitors can
explore the history and impact of steel

313
00:48:54,000 --> 00:49:01,520
in Middletown. Learn about Cleveland
Cliff's 125-year legacy and see how

314
00:48:58,960 --> 00:49:05,200
steel continues to influence the present
and future of our city. For more

315
00:49:03,359 --> 00:49:09,680
information, including more uh more on
the upcoming block party, please visit

316
00:49:07,359 --> 00:49:13,359
middletown artcenter.com. Also this
Friday after the MAC, head over to the

317
00:49:11,359 --> 00:49:18,319
Sword Op Sorgor Opera House located at
63 South Main Street at 8 PM for an

318
00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:22,480
acoustic set from Cincinnati Red's team
hall of famer and musician Bronson Aoyo.

319
00:49:20,880 --> 00:49:26,400
For more information and tickets, please
visit sorgoroperhouse.org.

320
00:49:24,559 --> 00:49:31,359
Next Friday, September 11th, the Sor
Opera House and the Middletown Lyric

321
00:49:28,400 --> 00:49:35,599
Theater present 110 Stories, a 25th
anniversary memorial being performed at

322
00:49:33,520 --> 00:49:39,200
the Sorg. This is a free event, though
you must reserve your tickets. Told

323
00:49:37,520 --> 00:49:44,160
through the real testimonies of first
responders, survivors, volunteers, and

324
00:49:41,599 --> 00:49:48,079
everyday New Yorkers, 110 stories
captures the emotional experience of 911

325
00:49:46,400 --> 00:49:51,839
through the voice voices of those who
lived it. You will see familiar faces

326
00:49:50,160 --> 00:49:55,680
from Middletown in the Ensemble CLA
cast, including our very own Vice Mayor

327
00:49:54,079 --> 00:49:59,119
Jennifer Carter. For more information
and to reserve your tickets, please

328
00:49:57,040 --> 00:50:02,960
visit sorgherhouse.org.
The next day, Saturday, September 12th,

329
00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:06,720
is the 25th anniversary September 11th
Memorial 5K hosted by the city of

330
00:50:05,119 --> 00:50:11,920
Middletown. Starting with the ceremony
at 8:46 a.m. at Firehouse 83 located at

331
00:50:09,920 --> 00:50:16,319
18:30 Yankee Road. The race begins at
9:28 a.m. For information on parking and

332
00:50:14,800 --> 00:50:20,400
race signups, please visit city of
middletown.org, hover over residents,

333
00:50:18,000 --> 00:50:24,160
and click on city events. Also, next
Saturday after the 5K, join in from

334
00:50:22,319 --> 00:50:29,200
10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Middletown's
3rd annual FiveStar Comic-Con at Miami

335
00:50:27,040 --> 00:50:33,680
University's Middletown campus located
at 4200 North University Boulevard.

336
00:50:31,839 --> 00:50:37,920
FiveStar Comic-Con is a celebration of
comics, pop culture, anime, gaming,

337
00:50:36,480 --> 00:50:41,839
cosplay, and more right here in
Middletown, Ohio. If you or anyone in

338
00:50:40,000 --> 00:50:44,480
your life is a fan of any of these, you
will want to be there. For more

339
00:50:43,280 --> 00:50:47,440
information, including how to buy
tickets, please visit

340
00:50:45,440 --> 00:50:51,599
fivestarcomicomicon.com and click on the
Middletown Ohio location.

341
00:50:49,760 --> 00:50:55,680
Sunday, September 13th from 11:00 a.m.
to 5:00 pm, join Moam, Middletown's Open

342
00:50:54,160 --> 00:51:00,000
Air Market for their second Sunday
called Harvest and Heritage located

343
00:50:58,240 --> 00:51:04,880
across from Gravel Road Brewing Company
at 916 1st Avenue. Discover heirloom

344
00:51:02,880 --> 00:51:08,640
vegetables, heritage crafts, historical
organizations, a seed swap, and

345
00:51:06,960 --> 00:51:11,920
old-fashioned games. For more
information, please visit the calendar

346
00:51:09,839 --> 00:51:14,960
at downtownmilltown.org.
Please save the date for one of my

347
00:51:13,359 --> 00:51:19,200
all-time favorite events in Middletown.
The 10th annual dog day downtown.

348
00:51:17,280 --> 00:51:23,280
Friday, September 18th from 5:00 p.m.
until 9 or 8:00 p.m. is a day just for

349
00:51:21,680 --> 00:51:26,400
the dogs and those who love them. For
more information, please visit the

350
00:51:24,480 --> 00:51:29,359
calendar at downtownmilltown.org.
As a reminder, the city of Middletown

351
00:51:27,920 --> 00:51:31,599
accepts applications for our boards and
commissions throughout the year. So, if

352
00:51:30,640 --> 00:51:34,319
there is something that you have an
interest in and you wish to give back to

353
00:51:32,800 --> 00:51:37,440
your city in this way, please do submit
your application. To learn more, please

354
00:51:36,000 --> 00:51:40,319
visit the city's website at
cityofmiddtown.org.

355
00:51:39,040 --> 00:51:43,119
Lastly, and as always, there are many
ways to get involved with your community

356
00:51:41,440 --> 00:51:46,720
and give back. You can join a board a
local group, run for office, apply for a

357
00:51:45,200 --> 00:51:49,599
job with the city, volunteer at the
hospital, pick up trash in your

358
00:51:48,160 --> 00:51:53,040
neighborhood or park, plant a garden in
your yard or balcony, smile at a

359
00:51:51,280 --> 00:51:56,079
neighbor, find joy and satisfaction for
a job well done in whatever work you do,

360
00:51:54,640 --> 00:51:59,200
or just have a positive and giving
attitude. Find something you can do

361
00:51:57,680 --> 00:52:02,079
regularly to give back. We are all
connected. We are all in this together.

362
00:52:00,559 --> 00:52:05,119
The care of our city is an adventure
which we all get to share. That's all

363
00:52:03,839 --> 00:52:08,440
from me tonight. This concludes our
council comments.

364
00:52:09,280 --> 00:52:13,680
The next agenda item is city manager
reports. City manager, Miss Ashley

365
00:52:12,400 --> 00:52:17,200
Combmes, you have the floor.
>> Thank you. Good evening. I don't have

366
00:52:15,200 --> 00:52:20,720
any specific reports, but I would like
to congratulate Jackie Phillips Carter

367
00:52:18,960 --> 00:52:24,800
on 28 years with the city. She's going
to be greatly missed and we wish her the

368
00:52:22,559 --> 00:52:29,680
best. And the second item is welcoming
our new assistant city manager, Martin

369
00:52:26,960 --> 00:52:36,000
Russell. And that's all for me.
>> Thank you, Mr. Russell. Did you want to

370
00:52:31,200 --> 00:52:39,520
say anything? No pressure. Thank you.
Well, I because of the 20 years of

371
00:52:37,520 --> 00:52:43,200
experience, I now feel old thanks to Mr.
Mulligan there, but that's okay. No, I

372
00:52:41,359 --> 00:52:47,280
just appreciate the opportunity and and
thank you. It's uh um obviously only

373
00:52:45,440 --> 00:52:51,839
been two days and I'm I'm learning a lot
as as we go here, but uh um just an

374
00:52:50,400 --> 00:52:56,240
exceptional team that I've been able to
sit there and meet thus far and really

375
00:52:53,920 --> 00:53:00,240
look forward to working with uh council
and others to accomplish a lot in the

376
00:52:58,319 --> 00:53:03,680
near future. Thank you.
>> Thank you.

377
00:53:02,000 --> 00:53:06,800
Thank you, Miss. All right. Thank you so
much.

378
00:53:05,040 --> 00:53:10,160
Next is the consent agenda. While the
consent agenda is generally for

379
00:53:08,240 --> 00:53:13,119
consensus items, do any council members
wish to remove anything from the consent

380
00:53:11,680 --> 00:53:16,640
agenda this evening and move it to the
motion agenda.

381
00:53:14,880 --> 00:53:21,280
All right. Seeing none, we will uh
proceed. Mrs. Skank, please present the

382
00:53:18,800 --> 00:53:24,800
consent agenda. Your consideration this
this evening, we have the approval of

383
00:53:22,720 --> 00:53:29,440
the city council minutes of August 18th,
2026 and to receive and file the four

384
00:53:27,760 --> 00:53:34,720
following board and commission minutes.
the board of zoning appeals from July

385
00:53:31,280 --> 00:53:41,599
2nd, August 6th, October 1st, November
5th, and December 3rd, 2025, and January

386
00:53:38,480 --> 00:53:47,599
7th, February 4th, April 1st, and July
1st, 2026. The planning commission

387
00:53:44,400 --> 00:53:52,880
minutes of April 23rd, May 13th, June
the 10th, and July 8th, 2026, and the

388
00:53:50,960 --> 00:53:59,680
Civil Service Commission minutes of May
7th, June 9th, July 16th, and August

389
00:53:56,319 --> 00:54:04,480
12th, 2026. and to receive and file an
oath of office for Brianna Steel.

390
00:54:02,640 --> 00:54:07,119
» Thank you, Mrs. Skank. Is there a motion
to approve the consent agenda?

391
00:54:06,319 --> 00:54:09,440
» Motion to approve.
>> Thank you. Is there a second?

392
00:54:08,800 --> 00:54:12,319
» Second.
>> It has been properly moved and seconded

393
00:54:10,880 --> 00:54:14,240
to accept the consent agenda. We will
proceed to vote. Mrs. Skank, please call

394
00:54:13,760 --> 00:54:15,760
the role.
>> Mr. Mulligan,

395
00:54:15,119 --> 00:54:17,119
» yes.
>> Mayor Slama,

396
00:54:16,640 --> 00:54:18,559
» yes.
>> Mr. Li,

397
00:54:18,079 --> 00:54:20,240
» yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,

398
00:54:19,599 --> 00:54:21,760
» yes.
>> Mr. West,

399
00:54:21,200 --> 00:54:24,800
» yes.
>> The yeses have it, and the motion

400
00:54:22,880 --> 00:54:28,079
passes. The consent agenda is approved.
The next agenda item is the motion

401
00:54:26,319 --> 00:54:30,720
agenda. We have two items this evening.
Mrs. Skank, please present item A of the

402
00:54:29,760 --> 00:54:37,920
motion agenda
>> to request approval to purchase one 2027

403
00:54:34,160 --> 00:54:42,079
Ford F550 Altech bucket truck model
AT37G

404
00:54:39,599 --> 00:54:47,160
from Altech Industries Incorporated of
Indianapolis, Indiana in the amount of

405
00:54:44,160 --> 00:54:47,160
$182,482

406
00:54:47,280 --> 00:54:53,119
for the for the electronics division.
Thank you so much, Miss Combmes. The

407
00:54:51,599 --> 00:54:56,640
staff report, please. Mayor and city
council. This truck will support traffic

408
00:54:55,200 --> 00:55:00,240
traffic signal, street light, and
related maintenance throughout the city.

409
00:54:58,160 --> 00:55:03,839
It will replace a 22year-old bucket
truck that has exceeded the city's

410
00:55:01,680 --> 00:55:07,359
replacement threshold and is becoming uh
costly to maintain. Funds are available

411
00:55:05,760 --> 00:55:11,280
in the garage fund, and the existing
truck will be sold on gov deals.

412
00:55:09,760 --> 00:55:16,160
» Thank you, Miss Combmes. Do I have a
motion to approve item A to request

413
00:55:12,800 --> 00:55:19,359
approval to purchase one 2027 Ford F550
Altech bucket truck from Altech

414
00:55:17,599 --> 00:55:23,839
Industries Incorporated of Indianapolis,
Indiana in the amount of $182,482

415
00:55:22,400 --> 00:55:25,599
for the electronics division?
>> Motion.

416
00:55:24,720 --> 00:55:28,880
» Thank you. Is there a second?
>> Second. [laughter]

417
00:55:27,440 --> 00:55:32,400
» Uh having been properly moved and
seconded, is there any discussion? All

418
00:55:31,119 --> 00:55:34,960
right. Hearing none, we will proceed to
vote. Mrs. Kang, please call the role.

419
00:55:34,000 --> 00:55:36,400
» Mayor Slam,
>> yes.

420
00:55:35,359 --> 00:55:37,760
» Mr. Li,
>> yes.

421
00:55:36,800 --> 00:55:39,040
» Mrs. Carter,
>> yes.

422
00:55:38,240 --> 00:55:40,400
» Mr. West,
>> yes.

423
00:55:39,520 --> 00:55:42,720
» Mr. Mr. Mulligan.
>> Yes.

424
00:55:40,800 --> 00:55:45,359
» Yes. Is have it. And the motion passes.
Mrs. Skank, please present item B of the

425
00:55:44,480 --> 00:55:49,200
motion agenda
>> to authorize a city manager to grant a

426
00:55:47,359 --> 00:55:53,240
permanent easement to Duke Energy on
city- owned parcel C16200020008

427
00:55:55,920 --> 00:56:00,000
located on South Main Street.
>> Thank you, Miss Combmes. A staff report,

428
00:55:59,599 --> 00:56:03,280
please.
>> Mayor and city council, this item

429
00:56:01,440 --> 00:56:06,799
request authorization to grant Duke
Energy a permanent easement on the city

430
00:56:05,119 --> 00:56:10,079
property to provide electrical service
to the police firing range. The range

431
00:56:08,640 --> 00:56:13,440
currently has no power, limiting
lighting, security, and future training

432
00:56:11,920 --> 00:56:19,720
capabilities. The easement will allow
Duke to extend power to the site. The

433
00:56:15,520 --> 00:56:19,720
cost of the extension is $13,15125.

434
00:56:20,480 --> 00:56:24,799
Thank you, Miss Combmes. Do I have a
motion to approve item B to authorize

435
00:56:23,280 --> 00:56:31,000
the city manager to grant a permanent
easement to Duke Energy on city-owned

436
00:56:26,799 --> 00:56:31,000
parcel number C16200020008

437
00:56:32,160 --> 00:56:35,440
located on South Main Street?
>> Motion.

438
00:56:34,559 --> 00:56:40,000
» Is there a second?
>> Second. Having been properly moved and

439
00:56:37,200 --> 00:56:42,400
seconded, is there any discussion?
>> Hearing none, we will proceed to vote.

440
00:56:41,119 --> 00:56:44,160
Mrs. Skank, please call the role.
>> Mr. Li,

441
00:56:43,680 --> 00:56:45,680
» yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,

442
00:56:45,200 --> 00:56:46,960
» yes.
>> Mr. West,

443
00:56:46,640 --> 00:56:48,240
» yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,

444
00:56:47,839 --> 00:56:50,799
» yes.
>> Mayor Sama,

445
00:56:49,200 --> 00:56:54,880
» yes. The yeses have it, and the motion
passes. This concludes the motion

446
00:56:52,480 --> 00:56:58,240
agenda. The next item on the agenda is
executive session. Uh, do I hear a

447
00:56:56,880 --> 00:57:03,680
motion to move to executive session
under the authority of OC121.22

448
00:57:01,200 --> 00:57:06,880
22G8 to consider confidential
information related to the marketing

449
00:57:05,119 --> 00:57:10,240
plans, specific business strategy,
production techniques, trade secrets, or

450
00:57:08,799 --> 00:57:13,839
personal financial statements of an
applicant for economic development

451
00:57:11,599 --> 00:57:16,720
assistance or to negotiations with other
political subdivisions respecting

452
00:57:15,280 --> 00:57:20,480
requests for economic development
assistance, provided that both of the

453
00:57:18,480 --> 00:57:23,200
following conditions apply. One, the
information is directly related to a

454
00:57:22,000 --> 00:57:26,640
request for economic development
assistance that is to be provided or

455
00:57:24,799 --> 00:57:34,000
administered under any provision of
chapter 1 715 7251 1724 or 1728 or

456
00:57:31,920 --> 00:57:37,599
section 701.07
3735.67

457
00:57:35,520 --> 00:57:41,119
to 3735.70
5709.40

458
00:57:39,119 --> 00:57:49,839
to 5709.43
5709.61 to 579.69 69 5709.73 to 5709.75

459
00:57:47,760 --> 00:57:54,000
or 5709.77
to 5709.81 of the revised code or that

460
00:57:52,880 --> 00:57:57,440
involves public infrastructure
improvements or the extension of

461
00:57:55,760 --> 00:58:00,400
utilities utility services that are
directly related to an economic

462
00:57:58,799 --> 00:58:04,000
development project. And two, a
unanimous quorum of the public body

463
00:58:02,240 --> 00:58:07,040
determines by a roll call vote that the
executive session is necessary to

464
00:58:05,520 --> 00:58:11,359
protect the interests of the applicant
or the public investment or expenditure

465
00:58:09,839 --> 00:58:13,520
of public funds to be made in connection
with the economic development project.

466
00:58:12,640 --> 00:58:14,960
Is there a motion?
>> Motion.

467
00:58:14,079 --> 00:58:17,040
» Is there a second?
>> Second.

468
00:58:15,440 --> 00:58:19,200
» Has been properly moved and seconded. We
will proceed to vote. Mrs. Skank, please

469
00:58:18,400 --> 00:58:20,559
call the role.
>> Mrs. Carter?

470
00:58:20,160 --> 00:58:21,760
» Yes.
>> Mr. West?

471
00:58:21,440 --> 00:58:23,040
» Yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan?

472
00:58:22,640 --> 00:58:24,240
» Yes.
>> Mayor Slama?

473
00:58:23,839 --> 00:58:25,680
» Yes.
>> Mr. Li?

474
00:58:25,200 --> 00:58:30,880
» Yes.
>> Yes. Haven't the motion passes. Council

475
00:58:27,200 --> 00:58:34,119
will now move to executive session
>> over there.

476
00:58:35,119 --> 00:58:38,119
» Figured.

477
01:59:39,119 --> 01:59:42,480
Do we have a motion to return to open
session?

478
01:59:41,440 --> 01:59:45,679
» Motion.
>> Is there a second?

479
01:59:44,639 --> 01:59:48,800
» Second.
>> Thank you. It has been properly moved

480
01:59:47,360 --> 01:59:51,040
and seconded to return to open session.
We will proceed to vote. Mrs. Gank,

481
01:59:50,159 --> 01:59:52,239
please call the role.
>> Mr. West,

482
01:59:51,920 --> 01:59:53,520
» yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,

483
01:59:53,199 --> 01:59:54,800
» yes.
>> Mayor Slam,

484
01:59:54,400 --> 01:59:56,080
» yes.
>> Mr. Li,

485
01:59:55,679 --> 01:59:57,599
» yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,

486
01:59:57,040 --> 02:00:01,760
» yes.
>> This is happen. Motion passes. Council

487
01:59:59,280 --> 02:00:06,239
now returns to open session. The next
item on the agenda is legislation. We

488
02:00:04,000 --> 02:00:10,159
have nine items of legislation this
evening. Uh law director, Mr. Alex

489
02:00:08,080 --> 02:00:14,639
Ewing. The legislation, please.
>> Item number one, ordinance number

490
02:00:12,000 --> 02:00:18,400
02026-47.
An ordinance authorizing the city

491
02:00:16,239 --> 02:00:22,320
manager to enter into an agreement with
the Ohio Department of Natural Resources

492
02:00:20,719 --> 02:00:26,480
for capital improvements at the
Middletown Community Foundation Park

493
02:00:24,000 --> 02:00:28,080
project. Second reading.
>> Thank you. you. Miss Combmes, do you

494
02:00:27,440 --> 02:00:31,440
have anything to add?
>> I do not. Thank you.

495
02:00:29,280 --> 02:00:33,119
» Thank you. Is there a motion to approve
the ordinance?

496
02:00:32,480 --> 02:00:34,719
» Motion.
>> Is there a second?

497
02:00:34,159 --> 02:00:38,880
» Second.
>> It has been properly moved and seconded.

498
02:00:36,239 --> 02:00:41,599
Is there any discussion?
>> Hearing none, we will proceed to vote.

499
02:00:40,239 --> 02:00:43,199
Mrs. K, please call the role.
>> Mr. Mulligan,

500
02:00:42,719 --> 02:00:44,719
» yes.
>> Mayor Slamama,

501
02:00:44,239 --> 02:00:46,320
» yes.
>> Mr. Li,

502
02:00:45,760 --> 02:00:48,800
» yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,

503
02:00:47,440 --> 02:00:51,360
» yes. Mr. West,
>> yes.

504
02:00:49,440 --> 02:00:56,080
» Yeses have it. And the legislation
passes. Mr. Ying, the next item, please.

505
02:00:54,400 --> 02:01:00,560
Item number two, ordinance number
02026-48,

506
02:00:58,960 --> 02:01:04,719
an ordinance authorizing the city
manager to enter into an agreement with

507
02:01:02,560 --> 02:01:08,159
the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
for Capital Improvements at Miami Park.

508
02:01:06,960 --> 02:01:09,679
Second reading.
>> Thank you, Miss Combmes, you have

509
02:01:09,119 --> 02:01:13,280
anything to add?
>> I do not. Thank you.

510
02:01:10,639 --> 02:01:16,080
» All right. Thank you. Uh, it has been Is
there a motion to approve the ordinance?

511
02:01:15,599 --> 02:01:17,599
» Motion.
>> Is there a second?

512
02:01:16,960 --> 02:01:21,599
» Second.
>> Has been properly moved and seconded. Is

513
02:01:19,119 --> 02:01:24,000
there any discussion?
>> Hearing none, we will proceed to vote.

514
02:01:22,800 --> 02:01:25,440
Mrs. Scan, please call the role.
>> Mayor Slamama,

515
02:01:24,960 --> 02:01:26,960
» yes.
>> Mr. Li,

516
02:01:26,400 --> 02:01:29,199
» yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,

517
02:01:28,560 --> 02:01:30,639
» yes.
>> Mr. West,

518
02:01:30,159 --> 02:01:32,000
» yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,

519
02:01:31,520 --> 02:01:34,960
» yes.
>> Yes. Have it. And the legislation

520
02:01:33,199 --> 02:01:37,920
passes. Mr. Yuing. The next item,
please.

521
02:01:35,920 --> 02:01:42,239
» Item number three, ordinance number
02026-49.

522
02:01:40,400 --> 02:01:47,360
An ordinance authorizing the execution
of a subordination and recognition of

523
02:01:44,800 --> 02:01:51,599
final development agreement with Valley
Central Bank in connection with the

524
02:01:49,360 --> 02:01:58,320
final development agreement with Ohio
Regional Con. Constructors LLC, the

525
02:01:56,080 --> 02:02:01,199
former Roosevelt School site, and
declaring an emergency.

526
02:02:00,080 --> 02:02:03,280
» Thank you, Miss Combmes. The staff
report, please.

527
02:02:01,840 --> 02:02:07,199
» Mayor and city council, this item
authorizes the city manager to execute a

528
02:02:05,360 --> 02:02:10,560
subordination and recognition agreement
for the Roosevelt Ridge project. The

529
02:02:09,040 --> 02:02:13,840
developer is obtaining construction
financing, and the lender has requested

530
02:02:12,159 --> 02:02:18,159
that the city subordinate its
reversionary rights for the property.

531
02:02:16,080 --> 02:02:22,400
The proposed agreement is negotiated
compromise that that addresses the

532
02:02:20,800 --> 02:02:25,920
lender's concerns while protecting the
city's ability to reclaim the property

533
02:02:24,239 --> 02:02:30,080
under the existing development agreement
subject to the agreed upon cure process.

534
02:02:28,639 --> 02:02:33,520
We are requesting a first reading
emergency passage so the agreement can

535
02:02:31,840 --> 02:02:38,080
be executed promptly allowing the
developer to finalize financing proceed

536
02:02:36,239 --> 02:02:40,880
with the installation of public um
infrastructure during the current

537
02:02:39,599 --> 02:02:46,400
construction season and meet the
project's established deadlines.

538
02:02:44,080 --> 02:02:48,400
» Thank you.
Is there a motion to approve the

539
02:02:47,679 --> 02:02:50,960
ordinance?
>> Motion.

540
02:02:49,040 --> 02:02:53,360
» Is there a second?
>> Second.

541
02:02:52,000 --> 02:02:56,840
» Having been properly moved and seconded.
Is there any discussion?

542
02:02:57,280 --> 02:03:06,000
» I did have a question about this. Um,
with the current agreement here, it says

543
02:03:04,000 --> 02:03:09,920
that if there's any floor closure, the
land would go basically to the bank and

544
02:03:08,480 --> 02:03:15,320
not come back to Middletown. Is that
correct? That's correct. Okay. Um,

545
02:03:15,840 --> 02:03:20,880
how is it looking so far with Brandon
Holmes and the ability to complete this

546
02:03:20,000 --> 02:03:24,159
project?
>> Jacob, would you like to So, Jacob, our

547
02:03:22,960 --> 02:03:27,920
acting community and economic
development director, is going to come

548
02:03:25,199 --> 02:03:32,400
up and answer that question. Thank you.
>> Absolutely. Mayor, members of council

549
02:03:29,520 --> 02:03:36,719
and the general public. Um, currently,
uh, Brandon Holmes has a tenative

550
02:03:35,040 --> 02:03:41,520
scheduling date set for the
implementation of the infrastructure,

551
02:03:39,199 --> 02:03:45,599
right? The, uh, Roosevelt Ridge, the the
drive culde-sac, um, if you will, that

552
02:03:43,840 --> 02:03:50,000
would go to to implement, uh, to put all
the homes in. They've already sold two

553
02:03:47,280 --> 02:03:54,480
or constructed two homes, um, and still
have those, uh, lots facing central

554
02:03:51,840 --> 02:04:00,000
there for sale. This basically the the
sub um subordination of the right of

555
02:03:57,840 --> 02:04:04,000
reverter there with the property will
allow the bank to be able to finance it

556
02:04:02,080 --> 02:04:07,840
to then be able to allow Philip Brandon
and Brandon Holmes to move forward with

557
02:04:06,400 --> 02:04:11,920
uh the completion of the infrastructure
there. Um and then once the

558
02:04:10,159 --> 02:04:16,239
infrastructure is in, he's able to sell
the additional 16 lots uh and to be able

559
02:04:14,560 --> 02:04:20,639
to move move forward towards completion
of those.

560
02:04:17,920 --> 02:04:26,320
So, is that a matter of the construction
on the specific house won't begin until

561
02:04:23,520 --> 02:04:29,679
it's sold? That lot is sold instead of
like he's going to go down there and

562
02:04:27,679 --> 02:04:31,520
build the final 16 homes and then sell
them is

563
02:04:30,159 --> 02:04:32,639
» Yeah. Because it's a custom home
community.

564
02:04:32,159 --> 02:04:36,560
» Okay.
>> So, they're built built to customers

565
02:04:35,599 --> 02:04:39,920
orders, if you will.
>> Okay.

566
02:04:36,960 --> 02:04:43,119
» Um ultimately, yeah, to to that point,
once I mean, he hasn't been able to sell

567
02:04:41,679 --> 02:04:46,080
the other 16 lots because there's no
road accessing that. And I I believe

568
02:04:45,040 --> 02:04:49,360
there there's been a lot of back and
forth for him to be able to get to this

569
02:04:47,520 --> 02:04:53,679
point. And uh this has been that final
lynch pin and the the developer's

570
02:04:51,119 --> 02:04:57,440
interest is to be able to come in here
this fall, start the construction, get

571
02:04:55,840 --> 02:05:00,320
the construction of the road done and
then continue moving forward with

572
02:04:58,719 --> 02:05:03,840
selling the houses.
>> And so far, is it looking good for that?

573
02:05:02,159 --> 02:05:05,840
Is it looking good for him? Does he have
interest there?

574
02:05:04,800 --> 02:05:09,520
» I I would we don't know
>> presume. Okay.

575
02:05:06,800 --> 02:05:12,960
» Um I mean I think otherwise he probably
would have already

576
02:05:10,320 --> 02:05:17,679
» sold the two houses out frontly. I
thought one was sold. I thought there's

577
02:05:15,520 --> 02:05:21,520
Isn't there a sign out there selling the
the first one that was built?

578
02:05:19,840 --> 02:05:24,480
» Yes. Sold. Yeah. And then
>> Yeah. They've already

579
02:05:22,960 --> 02:05:26,639
» the developers been able to build those
two houses because there's already

580
02:05:25,760 --> 02:05:31,119
interest in the
>> Right. And one has been sold and then

581
02:05:28,719 --> 02:05:32,320
the other has a sign up front.
>> Mhm.

582
02:05:31,520 --> 02:05:34,639
» For sale.
>> I think they're selling it. The people

583
02:05:33,679 --> 02:05:38,960
that initially bought
>> people that bought it.

584
02:05:36,800 --> 02:05:44,000
» So none neither of those I think one may
have started as a model home. um and he

585
02:05:41,360 --> 02:05:48,960
quickly went on to to sell it um I think
within weeks. But uh again, this would

586
02:05:46,480 --> 02:05:53,760
pretty much allow the additional 16 lots
for for people to to start buying down

587
02:05:50,639 --> 02:05:57,599
and and uh to building up the the homes.
>> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions or

588
02:05:55,360 --> 02:06:00,800
comments at this time hearing? None.
Thank you so much.

589
02:05:58,320 --> 02:06:03,679
» Absolutely.
>> Mrs. Skank, please call the RO.

590
02:06:02,560 --> 02:06:05,599
» Mr. Li,
>> yes.

591
02:06:04,320 --> 02:06:07,520
» Mrs. Carter,
>> yes.

592
02:06:06,480 --> 02:06:09,199
» Mr. West,
>> yes.

593
02:06:08,159 --> 02:06:12,560
» Mr. Mulligan,
>> yes. Mayor Slamama.

594
02:06:10,880 --> 02:06:15,199
» Yes. Yeses have it. And the motion
passes. Mr. Yuing. The next item,

595
02:06:14,560 --> 02:06:19,119
please.
>> Item number four, ordinance number

596
02:06:16,960 --> 02:06:23,199
02026-50.
An ordinance amending ordinance number

597
02:06:20,800 --> 02:06:28,239
0205-081
passed by the city of Middletown on

598
02:06:24,880 --> 02:06:32,400
December 15, 2015 to remove certain
parcels from the town Malt TIFF and

599
02:06:30,480 --> 02:06:34,239
declaring an emergency.
>> Thank you. Miss Combmes, the staff

600
02:06:33,599 --> 02:06:37,520
report, please.
>> Mayor and city council. This item makes

601
02:06:35,920 --> 02:06:41,760
two changes to our existing tiff
structure in the east end. We are

602
02:06:39,040 --> 02:06:45,920
removing 15 underdeveloped and
undeveloped parcels from the town mall

603
02:06:43,840 --> 02:06:50,480
hospital tiff and creating a new east
end east interchange tiff for those

604
02:06:48,719 --> 02:06:53,599
parcels. The purpose is to capture the
future increases in property value from

605
02:06:52,159 --> 02:06:56,719
the development and reinvest those
revenues into the public infrastructure

606
02:06:55,440 --> 02:07:01,280
supporting the renaissance point
project. This tiff revenue has also been

607
02:06:58,880 --> 02:07:03,920
part of the arena's financing plan. The
new tiff would run for 30 years and

608
02:07:02,800 --> 02:07:07,360
comply with the city's school
compensation agreement. There is no

609
02:07:05,599 --> 02:07:10,400
direct cost to the city. We're
requesting first reading emergency

610
02:07:08,719 --> 02:07:13,840
passage so the developer can finalize
the incentive documents and financing to

611
02:07:12,320 --> 02:07:17,360
keep the infrastructure work on
schedule.

612
02:07:15,520 --> 02:07:18,880
» Thank you. Is there a motion to approve
the ordinance?

613
02:07:18,159 --> 02:07:20,239
» Motion.
>> Is there a second?

614
02:07:19,840 --> 02:07:24,000
» Second.
>> Having been properly moved and seconded,

615
02:07:21,760 --> 02:07:26,639
is there any discussion?
Hearing none, we will proceed to vote.

616
02:07:25,199 --> 02:07:28,639
Mrs. Gang, please call the role.
>> Mrs. Carter,

617
02:07:28,079 --> 02:07:30,079
» yes.
>> Mr. West,

618
02:07:29,599 --> 02:07:31,599
» yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,

619
02:07:31,040 --> 02:07:33,119
» yes.
>> Mayor Slama,

620
02:07:32,560 --> 02:07:34,639
» yes.
>> Mr. Li,

621
02:07:34,000 --> 02:07:38,159
» yes.
>> Yeses have it. And the uh legislation

622
02:07:36,480 --> 02:07:41,440
passes. Mr. Yuing. The next item,
please.

623
02:07:39,599 --> 02:07:45,920
» Item number five, ordinance number
02026-51,

624
02:07:44,000 --> 02:07:51,360
an ordinance to create a tiff area
pursuant to section 5709.40B

625
02:07:49,119 --> 02:07:55,679
of the Ohio Revised Code. Declare
improvements to certain parcels of real

626
02:07:53,280 --> 02:08:01,040
property located in the tiff area to be
a public purpose. Exempt from real

627
02:07:58,000 --> 02:08:05,440
property taxation 100% of those
improvements. require the owners of

628
02:08:03,520 --> 02:08:09,920
those parcels to make service payments
in lie of taxes. Establish a municipal

629
02:08:08,239 --> 02:08:14,400
public improvement tax increment
equivalent fund for the deposit of the

630
02:08:12,239 --> 02:08:18,400
remainder of those service payments.
Specify the public infrastructure

631
02:08:16,079 --> 02:08:23,360
improvements to be made within the tiff
area that directly benefits those

632
02:08:20,239 --> 02:08:25,199
parcels and declaring an emergency.
>> Thank you, Miss Combmes. The staff

633
02:08:24,639 --> 02:08:29,119
report, please.
>> Mayor and city council, this item is the

634
02:08:27,199 --> 02:08:33,040
second part of the tiff legislation just
discussed. This ordinance creates the

635
02:08:30,960 --> 02:08:36,239
east interchange tiff for the 15 parcels
removed from the town mall hospital

636
02:08:34,560 --> 02:08:39,599
tiff. The new tiff will capture the
future increases in property value and

637
02:08:37,840 --> 02:08:42,880
use those revenues to support the public
infrastructure in the east end and the

638
02:08:41,040 --> 02:08:46,079
renaissance point project. We are
requesting first reading emergency

639
02:08:44,400 --> 02:08:49,599
passage so the developer can align the
financing and infrastructure work with

640
02:08:47,760 --> 02:08:52,000
the project schedule.
>> Thank you. Is there a motion to approve

641
02:08:51,199 --> 02:08:54,960
the ordinance?
>> Motion.

642
02:08:52,800 --> 02:08:57,040
» Is there a second?
>> Second.

643
02:08:55,520 --> 02:09:00,639
» It has been properly moved and seconded.
Is there any discussion?

644
02:08:59,360 --> 02:09:02,960
Seeing none, we will proceed to vote.
Mrs. Kang, please call the role.

645
02:09:02,000 --> 02:09:04,400
» Mr. West,
>> yes.

646
02:09:03,520 --> 02:09:05,920
» Mr. Mulligan,
>> yes.

647
02:09:04,880 --> 02:09:07,440
» Mayor Slam,
>> yes.

648
02:09:06,480 --> 02:09:08,960
» Mr. Li,
>> yes.

649
02:09:07,920 --> 02:09:11,360
» Mrs. Carter,
>> yes.

650
02:09:09,520 --> 02:09:16,480
» Yeses have. And the legislation passes.
Mr. Yuing, the next item, please.

651
02:09:13,520 --> 02:09:20,400
» Item number six, ordinance number 0
2026-52.

652
02:09:18,639 --> 02:09:24,320
an ordinance authorizing the city
manager to enter into an amended and

653
02:09:22,320 --> 02:09:28,560
restated final development agreement
with Woodard Development LLC and the

654
02:09:26,719 --> 02:09:31,679
Warren County Port Authority and
declaring an emergency.

655
02:09:30,480 --> 02:09:34,239
» Thank you. Miss Combmes, the staff
report, please.

656
02:09:32,320 --> 02:09:37,440
» Mayor and city council, this item amends
and reinstates the final development

657
02:09:35,840 --> 02:09:40,320
agreement between the city water
development and Warren County Port

658
02:09:38,800 --> 02:09:44,480
Authority for the public improvements
associated with the arena facility and

659
02:09:42,079 --> 02:09:48,480
arena hotel. This agreement memorializes
recent negotiation in negotiations

660
02:09:46,880 --> 02:09:52,000
including the waiver of permit fees in
the city's construction of the south

661
02:09:49,920 --> 02:09:55,520
parking lot. The port authority or its
assenee will be responsible for ongoing

662
02:09:54,159 --> 02:09:59,280
maintenance of the private section of
atrium boulevard in the south parking

663
02:09:57,360 --> 02:10:02,800
lot. We are requesting first reading
emergency passage to allow the project

664
02:10:00,880 --> 02:10:06,239
to pursue bond financing in a timely
manner and continue with the project

665
02:10:04,400 --> 02:10:10,000
moving forward.
>> Thank you. Miss Combmes is there or is

666
02:10:08,880 --> 02:10:11,599
there a motion to approve?
>> Motion.

667
02:10:10,719 --> 02:10:16,239
» Is there a second?
>> Second. Having been properly moved and

668
02:10:13,599 --> 02:10:18,800
seconded, is there any discussion?
Hearing none, we will proceed to vote.

669
02:10:17,520 --> 02:10:20,159
Mrs. Gank, please call the role.
>> Mr. Mulligan,

670
02:10:19,760 --> 02:10:22,560
» yes.
>> Mayor Slama,

671
02:10:21,760 --> 02:10:24,159
» yes.
>> Mr. Lai,

672
02:10:23,520 --> 02:10:25,679
» yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,

673
02:10:25,119 --> 02:10:27,599
» yes.
>> Mr. West,

674
02:10:26,800 --> 02:10:30,880
» yes.
>> Yes. Have it. And the legislation

675
02:10:28,960 --> 02:10:33,840
passes. Mr. Yuing. The next item,
please.

676
02:10:32,079 --> 02:10:37,599
» Item number seven, ordinance number
02026-53.

677
02:10:36,079 --> 02:10:41,760
an ordinance authorizing the city
manager to enter into a credit support

678
02:10:39,760 --> 02:10:44,560
pledge agreement with the Warren County
Port Authority and declaring an

679
02:10:43,199 --> 02:10:46,480
emergency.
>> Thank you. Miss Combmes, the staff

680
02:10:45,760 --> 02:10:49,440
report, please.
>> Mayor and city council, this item

681
02:10:48,000 --> 02:10:52,560
authorizes the city manager to
administer the credit support pledge

682
02:10:50,960 --> 02:10:56,079
agreement in support of the arena bond
financing. The city and Warren County

683
02:10:54,159 --> 02:10:59,760
are providing up to 12 a.5 million in
credit support for the arena financing.

684
02:10:58,159 --> 02:11:03,599
Under the updated agreement, the city
would provide a pledge and limited

685
02:11:01,280 --> 02:11:08,079
guarantee to support up to 5.4 4 million
in annual debt surface if needed after

686
02:11:06,159 --> 02:11:12,000
the project's other pledge revenues and
credit support are utilized. This does

687
02:11:10,320 --> 02:11:15,280
not require immediate expenditure of
city funds. However, if the pledge is

688
02:11:13,760 --> 02:11:18,480
needed, payments would be made from the
city's income tax revenues. We

689
02:11:17,119 --> 02:11:21,920
requesting first reading emergency
passage to allow the bond bond financing

690
02:11:20,400 --> 02:11:25,599
to move forward and keep the arena
project on schedule.

691
02:11:23,599 --> 02:11:26,880
» Thank you. Is there a motion to approve
the ordinance?

692
02:11:26,320 --> 02:11:28,880
» Motion.
>> Is there a second?

693
02:11:28,239 --> 02:11:32,480
» Second.
>> Has been properly moved and seconded. Is

694
02:11:30,480 --> 02:11:36,480
there any discussion?
just to uh thank staff and and all the

695
02:11:34,800 --> 02:11:40,639
parties involved in getting this across
the finish line. It's um I know we're

696
02:11:38,800 --> 02:11:44,560
not seeing shovels in the ground yet,
but there's been years, literally years

697
02:11:42,719 --> 02:11:49,119
of of work into this. And although it's
a first reading emergency, that's just

698
02:11:46,480 --> 02:11:52,880
to satisfy what we need to uh to really
get the project going and uh and get

699
02:11:51,360 --> 02:11:56,560
those shovels in the ground because this
is really going to be a spectacular um

700
02:11:54,800 --> 02:11:59,440
amenity in Middletown and for the
region. Thanks.

701
02:11:58,159 --> 02:12:02,800
» Thank you, Mr. Mulligan. Any other
comments?

702
02:12:00,960 --> 02:12:06,400
I just want to go ahead and say echo
that as well. This is very exciting.

703
02:12:04,320 --> 02:12:11,040
Looking forward to the continuation.
Thank you so much. And in that case

704
02:12:08,880 --> 02:12:12,560
then, Mrs. Skank, please call the role.
>> Mayor Slama,

705
02:12:12,000 --> 02:12:14,079
» yes.
>> Mr. Li,

706
02:12:13,520 --> 02:12:15,599
» yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,

707
02:12:15,040 --> 02:12:17,119
» yes.
>> Mr. West,

708
02:12:16,639 --> 02:12:18,800
» yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,

709
02:12:18,079 --> 02:12:22,560
» yes.
>> This is Havit. Legislation passes. Mr.

710
02:12:20,800 --> 02:12:26,560
Yuing. The next item, please.
>> Item number eight, ordinance number

711
02:12:24,239 --> 02:12:30,560
02026-54.
an ordinance authorizing the city

712
02:12:28,480 --> 02:12:34,960
manager to enter into a cooperative
agreement with the Warren County Port

713
02:12:33,199 --> 02:12:37,760
Authority at all and declaring an
emergency.

714
02:12:36,159 --> 02:12:40,159
» Thank you. Miss Miss Combmes, the staff
report, please.

715
02:12:38,400 --> 02:12:43,840
» Mayor and city council, this item
authorizes the city manager to enter

716
02:12:42,159 --> 02:12:47,840
into a cooperative agreement with the
project partners for the issuance of

717
02:12:45,360 --> 02:12:53,040
bonds and finance the re R renaissance
port uh Renaissance Point Arena project.

718
02:12:51,520 --> 02:12:56,880
The agreement outlines the party's
contributions to the project for the

719
02:12:54,880 --> 02:13:00,719
city. pledges revenues from the three
east end tiffs, the arena tiff, east

720
02:12:59,199 --> 02:13:04,800
interchange tiff, and the north union
tiff to support the arena financing. The

721
02:13:03,040 --> 02:13:08,719
tiff revenues provide another source of
funding and are intended to limit the

722
02:13:06,960 --> 02:13:12,719
need to utilize the city's credit
support discussed in the previous item.

723
02:13:11,040 --> 02:13:16,079
The agreement also establishes the
structure and operation for the

724
02:13:14,320 --> 02:13:18,960
facilities within the project. We are
requesting first reading emergency

725
02:13:17,360 --> 02:13:23,040
passage to allow for the bond financing
to move forward and keep the arena

726
02:13:20,800 --> 02:13:25,520
project on schedule.
>> Thank you, Miss [clears throat] Combmes.

727
02:13:24,320 --> 02:13:27,040
Is there a motion to approve the
ordinance?

728
02:13:26,159 --> 02:13:29,280
» Motion.
>> Is there a second?

729
02:13:28,400 --> 02:13:33,199
» Second.
>> Has been properly moved and seconded. Is

730
02:13:30,800 --> 02:13:35,760
there any discussion?
>> Seeing none, we will proceed to vote.

731
02:13:34,400 --> 02:13:37,360
Mrs. King, please call the role.
>> Mr. Li,

732
02:13:36,800 --> 02:13:38,880
» yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,

733
02:13:38,400 --> 02:13:40,400
» yes.
>> Mr. West,

734
02:13:39,920 --> 02:13:41,840
» yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,

735
02:13:41,280 --> 02:13:44,719
» yes.
>> Mayor Slam,

736
02:13:42,719 --> 02:13:48,159
» yes. Yeses have it. And the legislation
passes. Mr. Euing, the last item,

737
02:13:46,800 --> 02:13:54,000
please.
>> Uh, [snorts] yes. Uh item number uh nine

738
02:13:51,280 --> 02:13:58,960
uh originally item number 10, resolution
number R 2026-22,

739
02:13:57,199 --> 02:14:03,119
a resolution to make adjustments to
appropriations for current expenses and

740
02:14:01,440 --> 02:14:07,040
other expenditures of the city of
Middletown counties of Butler and

741
02:14:04,960 --> 02:14:12,480
Warren, state of Ohio for the period
ending December 31st, 2026. Core

742
02:14:09,760 --> 02:14:15,520
computerization fund first reading.
>> Thank you, Miss Combmes. The staff

743
02:14:13,920 --> 02:14:18,960
report, please. Mayor and city council.
This item requests 20,000 supplemental

744
02:14:17,840 --> 02:14:22,079
appropriation for the court
computerization fund. The additional

745
02:14:20,719 --> 02:14:26,000
appropriation is needed because
expenditures for the municipal court

746
02:14:24,480 --> 02:14:29,760
technology have exceeded the amount
originally budgeted for 2026. These

747
02:14:28,480 --> 02:14:33,040
funds will be used for computer
equipment, software, and related

748
02:14:31,199 --> 02:14:36,000
technology needs for the municipal
court. There is sufficient cash

749
02:14:34,800 --> 02:14:40,000
available in the fund. So, this
adjustment is to appropriate authority

750
02:14:38,560 --> 02:14:43,360
and does not require an additional
funding.

751
02:14:41,679 --> 02:14:46,320
» Thank you, Miss Combmes. As this is a
first reading, there is no action to be

752
02:14:44,800 --> 02:14:50,040
taken at this time. However, is there
any discussion from council?

753
02:14:50,239 --> 02:14:55,280
Right. Seeing none, this concludes the
legislation for the evening. The next

754
02:14:53,840 --> 02:14:58,000
item on the agenda is unfinished
business. Do any council members have

755
02:14:56,719 --> 02:15:02,960
anything that they would like to present
under unfinished business.

756
02:15:01,520 --> 02:15:06,159
Hearing none, that concludes unfinished
business. The next item on the agenda is

757
02:15:04,480 --> 02:15:09,679
new business. Do any council members
have any new business they would like to

758
02:15:07,440 --> 02:15:14,000
present this evening?
No. All right. Hearing none, that also

759
02:15:11,920 --> 02:15:18,880
concludes new business. The next item on
the agenda is executive session.

760
02:15:17,280 --> 02:15:23,840
Just a moment as I get the wording. May
I do I hear a motion uh to move to

761
02:15:21,679 --> 02:15:28,239
executive session under the authority of
OC121.22G1

762
02:15:26,719 --> 02:15:30,400
to consider the appointment of a public
official?

763
02:15:29,679 --> 02:15:33,360
» Motion.
>> Is there a second?

764
02:15:32,320 --> 02:15:36,480
» Second.
>> Having been properly moved and seconded,

765
02:15:34,960 --> 02:15:41,480
we will proceed to vote. Mrs. Gang,
please call the role.

766
02:15:38,079 --> 02:15:41,480
» Mrs. Carter,

767
02:15:42,400 --> 02:15:47,679
» are we moving into executive session?
Okay.

768
02:15:45,599 --> 02:15:49,679
» Yes. Mr. West.
>> Yes.

769
02:15:48,560 --> 02:15:51,199
» Mr. Mulligan.
>> Yes.

770
02:15:50,239 --> 02:15:52,560
» Mayor Sama.
>> Yes.

771
02:15:51,599 --> 02:15:54,800
» Mr. Lawley.
>> Yes.

772
02:15:53,119 --> 02:15:58,199
» Yes. Haven't council will now move to
executive session.

773
02:15:58,719 --> 02:16:01,719
» Yes.

774
02:42:36,720 --> 02:42:39,720
Okay.

775
02:42:41,439 --> 02:42:44,960
» All right. Here we go.
>> Do we have a motion to return to open

776
02:42:44,479 --> 02:42:47,439
session?
>> Motion.

777
02:42:45,600 --> 02:42:50,640
» Do we have a second?
>> Having been properly moved and seconded,

778
02:42:49,200 --> 02:42:52,240
we will proceed to vote. Mrs. King,
please call the role.

779
02:42:51,439 --> 02:42:53,359
» Mr. West,
>> yes.

780
02:42:52,560 --> 02:42:54,640
» Mr. Milligan,
>> yes.

781
02:42:53,760 --> 02:42:55,920
» Mayor Slama,
>> yes.

782
02:42:55,040 --> 02:42:57,200
» Mr. Lai,
>> yes.

783
02:42:56,319 --> 02:42:59,920
» Mrs. Carter,
>> yes.

784
02:42:58,160 --> 02:43:02,960
» Yes. Have it. And the motion passes.
This concludes our regular city council

785
02:43:01,439 --> 02:43:08,000
meeting for Middletown, Ohio, Tuesday,
September 1st, 2026 at 7:48 p.m. This

786
02:43:06,640 --> 02:43:13,280
meeting is adjourned until Tuesday,
September 15th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. these

787
02:43:10,479 --> 02:43:13,280
chambers for our