[24:25] I call to order and welcome you to the
Middletown City of Middletown, Ohio
[24:29] Council meeting for Tuesday, September
1st, 2026. Please join me for a moment
[24:33] of meditation followed by the pledge of
allegiance to the American flag. You
[24:36] will hear three taps of the gavl when it
is time to stand. Please join me in a
[24:39] moment of meditation now.
[25:07] To the flag
of America to the stands nationy
[25:17] for all
[25:23] » clerk of council, Mrs. Amy Skank, please
call the attendance role.
[25:27] » Mrs. Carter,
>> present.
[25:28] » Mr. West,
>> here.
[25:30] » Mr. Mulligan,
>> here.
[25:32] » Mayor Slam
>> here.
[25:34] » Mr. Li,
>> present. Before we continue, I'd like to
[25:37] make a motion to amend this evening's
agenda to remove legislation item number
[25:41] nine, resolution R202621,
to be added to a future regular council
[25:46] meeting agenda. Is there a motion? Oh,
I'm sorry. I made a motion. Is there a
[25:50] second?
>> Second.
[25:51] » It has been properly moved and seconded.
Is there any discussion?
[25:55] Okay, seeing none, we will continue.
City Manager Combmes, uh, do you have
[25:58] anything to add? Do you want to add
anything to that?
[26:00] » Do a vote. I do need a vote.
>> Oh, I know. Yes. So, um, hearing no more
[26:06] in, uh, conversation, Mrs. Skank, please
call the role.
[26:08] » Okay.
>> Mr. West,
[26:10] » yes.
>> Mr. Milligan,
[26:11] » yes.
>> Mayor Slama,
[26:13] » yes.
>> Mr. Law,
[26:14] » yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,
[26:16] » yes.
>> Yes. Have it. And the motion passes. Um,
[26:18] item number nine, resolution R202621,
shall be removed from this evening's
[26:22] agenda for to be added to a future
agenda. Our first order of business
[26:26] today is citizen comments. A
professional presentation free of foul
[26:30] language is expected. Speakers are
encouraged to prepare remarks in
[26:33] advance. to stay within the set time
limits. Citizen comments is not the time
[26:37] for debate, questions, and answer or any
back and forth conversation with council
[26:41] or staff. This is a time for you, our
residents, to be able to present in
[26:44] front of council on record uninterrupted
and have the floor. Please note that
[26:48] after the meeting, your comment cards
will be given to the city manager and
[26:51] she will assign a member of staff to
reply to you as appropriate. We have
[26:55] received
two comment cards this evening. I will
[26:59] prompt each speaker for their next steps
when they reach the podium. I would like
[27:02] to call Kimberly Silas to the podium,
please.
[27:09] And you may sit or stand according to
your preference. Please adjust the
[27:12] microphone and speak directly into the
microphone at all times. Before you
[27:15] begin, please state your full name and
Middletown residence for the record. You
[27:18] will then have three and a half minutes
of uninterrupted speech. Please
[27:21] commence.
>> Hello. Yes, I am a Middletown resident.
[27:24] My name is Kimberly Silus. I've lived
here for 66 years next week.
[27:29] » May we have your address, please?
>> Yes. 1847 Spring Grove Lane, Middletown,
[27:34] Ohio. I'm sorry.
>> Thank Thank you. Please commence.
[27:40] » I'm sorry. Dear members of Middletown
City Council, my name is Kimberly Silus
[27:44] and I am the founder of the William
Asylus Breast Cancer Awareness Ministry.
[27:48] While my ministry is not a nonprofit
organization and is essentially a
[27:52] onewoman ministry, its purpose is deeply
rooted in community service, awareness,
[27:57] and bringing people together. I am not
writing to bring a complaint nor to
[28:02] request monetary assistance. Instead, I
am reaching out to extend an invitation
[28:09] and respectively solicit your
involvement in an important community
[28:14] initiative. The William Assilles Breast
Cancer Awareness Ministry is a very is
[28:19] very personal to me. Although I was only
five years old when my mother, William
[28:24] Silas, passed away in 1966, I have spent
my life carrying her name and learning
[28:30] about the woman she was. I have been
told how much she loved the community of
[28:35] Middletown and the people who live live
here.
[28:39] This walk is one of the ways
I continue to honor my mother's legacy
[28:46] in in very excuse me in the very
community in which she lived and loved
[28:52] through the ministry. I want her name to
continue to represent love, compassion,
[28:58] awareness, unity, service to others. On
October 27th, 2022, the first William
[29:04] Emma Silas Peace, Prayers, and
Positivity Breast Cancer Walk was held
[29:08] here in Middletown, Ohio. We began at
Old South Park on Main Street and walked
[29:13] together to United Missionary Baptist
Church where we gathered in prayer,
[29:17] fellowship, and unity.
[29:21] I am pleased to announce that on October
24th, 2026, the walk will take place
[29:27] again. This year we will once again
begin at Old South Park and conclude at
[29:32] the CBI Robert Sunny Hill Community
Center. With that in mind, I am
[29:37] respectfully asking the members of
Middletown City Council to come walk
[29:41] with me.
Your presence would mean so much not
[29:45] only as a show of support but for breast
cancer survivors, breast cancer uh
[29:50] survivors and their families, breast
cancer awareness, but also as a visible
[29:55] demonstration of our collective
commitment to peace, unity, togetherness
[30:00] throughout the city of Middletown. My
motto is we support all ribbons. To me,
[30:06] this statement represents more than
breast cancer. It represents
[30:10] acknowledgement
and supporting the many causes,
[30:16] struggles, uh, and families and
individuals within our community who
[30:20] need to know about awareness. I believe
when community I'm sorry, I didn't print
[30:26] this out. I believe that when community
leaders um, come together, walk
[30:31] together, this would send a powerful
message that Middletown stands together.
[30:36] I would be honored to have you join me
on October 26th as we walk for peace,
[30:41] prayers, and positivity in the city of
Middletown. Thank you,
[30:46] » Sus.
>> Thank you.
[30:47] » What time?
>> Oh, we can find that out.
[30:49] » I didn't hear. What time?
>> Oh, I'm sorry. The walk will start at
[30:54] 10:00 a.m. at Old South Park and
>> 24th or the 26th?
[30:59] » The 24th.
>> Yeah. And we can um
[31:01] » 20 26. Did I say the 26th?
>> You the second time you said 26th. I'm
[31:05] sorry. October 20,
>> much as I love to talk and I'm nervous.
[31:09] Yeah.
>> October 24th, 2026 at 1000 p.m. and it's
[31:14] uh starts at um
>> Thank you. Thank you, Miss Silus. Is um
[31:18] if you would have a seat. Thank you so
much. We'll make sure to reach out to
[31:20] you to get all the details. Thank you so
much. No problem.
[31:24] » Sometimes you get we get nervous up
here. All right. Uh next, I would like
[31:27] to call uh Constance Miller to the
podium, please.
[31:37] and you may stand or sit according to
your preference. Please adjust the
[31:40] microphone and speak directly into the
microphone at all times. Before we
[31:43] begin, please state your full name and
Middletown residence for the record. You
[31:45] will then have three and a half minutes
of uninterrupted speech. Please
[31:48] commence.
>> My name is Constance Miller. I reside at
[31:51] 4002 Riverview Avenue in Middletown. Do
you need the zip code?
[31:56] » No. Thank you. Hi.
>> Um I'm here today to speak about the
[32:00] flock cameras that we're seeing going
up. not just block but other items of
[32:04] 247 surveillance. Um but I'd like to
start by thanking the Middletown police.
[32:10] Um before I go in on it, um back in May,
June, my autistic son eloped and if it
[32:18] weren't for the police, you know, coming
in quick, I am I don't know what what
[32:23] the outcome would have been. Um so I
just want to take the time to thank the
[32:27] police while I'm up here. [snorts] Um,
that being said, I get that a lot. What
[32:32] would Flock do to help you if you if
your son eloped again? Being that
[32:36] they're license plates readers, I would
think nothing. Um, unless he has a
[32:40] license plate attached to him or unless
the Flock cameras are collecting data
[32:45] further than the license plates. some AI
features at Flock. Uh they create
[32:51] profiles on driver behavior, car
features, um where you're traveling,
[32:58] where you're going, and without access
to the contract, uh we as residents who
[33:03] pay for these do not know how long the
data is being stored, who has access to
[33:08] the data, who is it just the police or
is it any city employee or is it certain
[33:14] police officers? As you've seen in the
news, there are several instances where
[33:20] um officers have stalked exes or love
interests um and now they're either
[33:25] fired, in jail, 5 years probation,
things like that. Um as a freedom loving
[33:31] person, I enjoy my Fourth Amendment and
I realize that the Supreme Court hasn't
[33:35] decided on how the Fourth Amendment
applies to flock cameras. Um it's for
[33:41] me, it's not too different than USV.
Jones where you can't just tag on a GPS
[33:46] tracker to a car without a warrant. Um
granted there's no tracker on my car. I
[33:52] am still being tracked throughout the
city. Um I have yet to see an exit and
[33:56] entry point without a flock camera. Um
the thought that you can't go in and out
[34:01] of here without the government's eyes on
you is should not be comfortable to
[34:04] anybody.
And I also hear a lot, well, if you
[34:09] don't do anything wrong, then you have
nothing to worry about. In this current
[34:12] times, I am an activist. I run no elegy
needed in Middletown. And there I'm
[34:19] being called by the federal government a
domestic terrorist. So, I can't sit here
[34:24] and be said, "Oh, well, don't do
anything wrong." when certain people are
[34:28] defining, redefining what's right and
what's wrong, who gets a voice, who gets
[34:33] to travel freely, who gets to say, "I
don't like what's going on." And I don't
[34:37] think Middletown Police would follow me
around. They've been very supportive for
[34:40] our rallies, and I've always been
grateful for that. However, I don't know
[34:45] who else has access to these. We have
found out that the federal government
[34:48] has found backdoor channels. Flock
safety contract. The general contract
[34:53] states that Flock Safety has access and
can keep all of the data that they
[34:58] store. Whether or not Middletown Police
wants them to, it's part of the
[35:01] contract, but without reviewing
Middletown's contract, we don't know if
[35:06] you all opted for that or not. Um,
another option that is missing is the
[35:12] transportal, like the transparency
portal where residents can do audit logs
[35:16] and make sure that they're not being
abused. And with that, I just hope that
[35:20] all the public records requests are
followed so that residents can review.
[35:26] » Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.
[35:30] » This concludes our public participation.
The next agenda item is council
[35:34] comments. We will begin to my left with
council member Lai, followed by Vice
[35:37] Mayor Carter, and then to my right with
Council Member West, uh followed by
[35:41] Council Member Mulligan, and I will
speak last. Mr. Lai.
[35:44] » Thank you, Mayor. [clears throat] um
start off uh with wishing everybody a
[35:50] happy and safe uh Labor Day weekend
coming up next weekend. Hope everybody
[35:56] enjoys the extra day or two off they
might get for the Labor Day holiday.
[36:00] Thank to all the workers in America for
everything they they do. Um, secondly,
[36:07] uh, I want to congratulate Cleveland
Cliffs on being able to move forward
[36:11] with the, uh, the, uh, project out at
the Middletown Works. I think it's going
[36:17] to be a very big thing for, uh,
Cleveland Cliffs as a company. It's
[36:22] going to be a very big thing for the
workers there. It's going to be a very
[36:26] big thing for the city of Middletown and
in terms of it pretty much guarantees
[36:32] that the Middletown Works is here for uh
decades to come, which is our largest
[36:37] employer in the city of of Middletown
and a a our biggest tax base, which is a
[36:43] great thing. And then with the with the
uh billion dollar investment in the
[36:49] Middletown Works and the construction
that we're going to be going on out
[36:53] there will do a lot to enhance enhance
our um income tax revenue for a few
[36:59] years which which is a great thing. So
thank you to that. Thank you to the
[37:04] Department of Energy. Thank you for uh
Vice President JD Vance for coming to
[37:09] Middletown, his hometown. and he gave a
a good talk at uh Middletown Works uh
[37:15] last Friday and uh this is a very
positive thing for Middletown.
[37:22] Um
I want to congratulate Jackie Phillips
[37:26] on her retirement. Uh Jackie and I
worked together for nearly 30 years and
[37:31] I can call Jackie a friend and we worked
on a lot of things together and I will
[37:36] tell everybody that uh this city is in
in a much better place for her service
[37:42] over the last 30 plus years. So Jackie
enjoy retirement and I wish you good
[37:49] luck.
Um yeah, it and I just as far I've been
[37:55] reading a lot on the flock camera
situation over the last several weeks
[38:01] and uh while I'm not ready to bail like
a lot of communities are are starting to
[38:07] do on the flot camera. I do think well
we need to look at it on a city level, a
[38:12] county level, a state level, and a
federal level as as far as
[38:19] um protecting our civil liberties.
However, I will say that our police
[38:25] department keeps the information for
what I believe uh Chief Nelson told us
[38:30] in an email for 30 days. Um, you know,
if my child or somebody's grandchild was
[38:37] abducted and I knew we had a tool like
the flock cameras to to jump on it
[38:43] within the first couple hours and it it
it uh get our loved one back quickly or
[38:49] it does what it's supposed to do in
apprehending criminals, that's great and
[38:54] I think we need to continue. But I do
understand some of the concerns with it
[39:00] and and uh how it invades it might
invade our civil liberties uh the
[39:06] collection the collection of data and
stuff like that. We have to find a way
[39:10] to figure out how we can do that you
know and but then again you know on the
[39:14] other hand folks we live you know the
big thing about it is we don't want to
[39:19] live in a surveillance society. I'm
going to tell you something. If you get
[39:23] on a computer, you have Facebook, you
have social media, you do anything else,
[39:28] you're we're living in a surveillance
world, you know. I just that that's the
[39:35] other thing I wrestle with. Um I don't
know of anybody who doesn't get 20
[39:41] emails a day from financial
organizations wanting you to apply for
[39:45] this loan, apply for that loan, or I see
you were at Kroger's. How many of you
[39:50] has gone to Target, Kroger's, Meyers,
and 2 minutes after you leave there,
[39:54] they they know you're there?
It's the world of cell phones today.
[39:59] But, you know, I agree with I agree with
some of the things um that Miss Miller
[40:06] said and we just we have to find the h
happy medium because as you said, it is
[40:11] a good tool when it's used properly. So,
with that, that's all I have.
[40:16] » Thank you, Mr. Lai. Vice Mayor Carter.
Good evening. Uh, Miss Miller, I also
[40:22] agree with the conversation you had
about the uh, flock cameras because we
[40:28] as human beings abuse everything we get
our hands on when it comes to other
[40:33] people. I don't know what's going to
happen in Middletown. Um,
[40:38] how much investigation we're going to
put into it, but I agree. There's
[40:44] something that some things that we do
need and there are some things that we
[40:48] do not need. So, thank you, Mayor.
>> Thank you, Vice Mayor. Mr. West.
[40:53] » Yes. Good evening. Thank you, Mayor. Um,
I Yeah, I mean, the flock cameras, I
[40:58] think in probably the last 60 or 90 days
have really kind of exploded on the
[41:04] scene. Um, I've watched quite a few
things uh on flock cameras and I think
[41:10] it's it's one of those issues where when
used properly um they're a great asset,
[41:17] great tool. Uh however, you know, Flock
has a whole organization outside of
[41:23] local jurisdictions and so I I think
it's worth a conversation for sure to to
[41:28] figure out um you know what Flock is
doing um from a corporate standpoint.
[41:35] You know, with that said, I mean there
was concern many years ago,
[41:39] 10 plus years ago when there were
certain apps being developed for phones.
[41:42] one of which I think most of us have
used before uh ways for example um when
[41:49] ways first came out everybody was like
oh this is great you know and then there
[41:52] was some hesitation
uh involved I mean we thought it was
[41:56] great you know maybe we won't get as
many tickets right but at the same token
[42:02] you know they do store driving data um
it could be speed it could be routine
[42:07] those types of things Google does the
same thing um so I think there's always
[42:11] that concern. I think the big difference
between those apps and flock cameras is
[42:16] those apps. It's a choice to use those.
Flock is is present there. Um I do know
[42:23] there are a lot of cases even locally
here where flock cameras have have been
[42:28] uh instrumental in solving crimes and
and even understanding for example when
[42:33] uh when stolen cars move in and out of
the city. So it's yeah it's a
[42:38] double-edged sword. Um, I'm not sure I'm
100% up on it yet to really offer what
[42:44] my opinion would be either way, but I
know it has been a valuable tool in in
[42:48] many examples, even for, uh, Chief
Nelson's team. So, um, you know, and
[42:55] here in Middletown, we've we've always
kind of dealt with, you know, being on
[42:59] 75, being on a major corridor, a lot of
people coming in and out of town, and,
[43:05] you know, being between two major cities
or two large cities, I should say, you
[43:09] know, kind of puts us in the middle for
for some some crime. Um, with that said,
[43:14] I I would like to say congratulations to
Cleveland Cliffs. Um, that was something
[43:19] that's been in the works for what seems
like a very, very long time. Uh, and I'm
[43:25] glad to see it finally come to fruition.
That was a concern I know many of us in
[43:30] the city had is if you know the if
Cleveland cliffs didn't have some type
[43:35] of upgrades coming, there is a shelf
life uh on the blast furnace. Um, so I'm
[43:40] proud that that Middletown will be on
the map for generations really. I mean,
[43:44] this this will solidify uh Cleveland
Cliff's presence in this community for
[43:49] many many years and in in a cleaner
sense. Um, so I think it's a win-win for
[43:54] the city uh as well as Cleveland Cliffs.
And with that said, uh the only other
[44:00] thing I have is I hope everybody enjoys
uh Labor Day and and the weather's nice
[44:06] and everybody stays safe. Thank you,
Mayor.
[44:09] » Thank you, Mr. West. Mr. Mulligan.
>> Thank you, Mayor. I'll add my uh
[44:13] comments for the Cleveland Cliffs
celebration. It was uh it was great to
[44:17] join with so many uh elected officials
on the federal, state, and local level.
[44:22] And uh the CEO of Cleveland Cliffs
coming in to to celebrate the terrific
[44:26] announcement. Um the $1 billion
investment, as has been said, represents
[44:31] more than just dollars and cents. It's
um a a commitment to decades of service
[44:36] for Middletown Works. uh the the
construction jobs alone could create uh
[44:41] 1500 temporary jobs and of course uh
help preserve the over 2,000 permanent
[44:46] jobs at the plant. So uh great day for
Middletown to get that positive exposure
[44:50] and and we hope that uh Cleveland Cliffs
will continue to be the economic engine
[44:55] driver that it is. Uh congratulations to
the uh organizers of Hops in the Hangar.
[45:01] This was another successful event at
Middletown uh Regional Airport. uh Jamie
[45:06] Murphy and Mika Glazer Jones and their
committee did an excellent job and there
[45:11] were so many um uh patrons and there was
also a familyfriendly area for the event
[45:16] to to enjoy the the airplane uh show and
it really was phenomenal. So
[45:21] congratulations to them and I know that
the proceeds of that event also benefit
[45:25] some nonprofits in Middletown. So thank
you for their efforts. Um there's um
[45:31] been some comment in the past couple
weeks about Middletown separating with
[45:35] um a particular employee and you know I
I am not in a role that comment on any
[45:41] personnel decisions and that's certainly
not my place and our policy is not to do
[45:44] so but I just want to point out that you
know it you know we we celebrate the
[45:49] longevity of so many city employees. As
I looked at this month's employee
[45:53] newsletter there were um a couple of
employees that have reached the 25 year
[45:58] mark. uh Pat Ballas in the clerk of
court's office and Andy Warick in the
[46:02] police department. So, and of course
Jackie Phillips celebrating 28 years
[46:06] with the city. So, we have it on all
ends of the spectrum and as an
[46:10] organization that's 4 to 500 employees,
there will be some turnover. And um but
[46:15] but I so I wouldn't want anyone to read
too much into one particular event or
[46:19] one particular employee that that's
separated, but just know that um you
[46:23] know, we have a lot to celebrate in the
city. happy that uh Martin Russell is
[46:27] joining us as assistant city manager and
he brings decades of experience in in
[46:31] government leadership. So uh I I think
that adds to our bench strength and and
[46:36] really adds a um professionalism and
experience that that we'll benefit from.
[46:41] So welcome uh Mr. Russell. And uh
finally uh offering condolences to the
[46:47] family of Dr. Ray Keabber. uh he passed
away uh last week and um really left
[46:53] behind a a a great legacy of the in the
practice of medicine. Then also his
[46:58] generous support of so many uh
charitable organizations in Middletown.
[47:03] But my condolences to to Gene Keubber,
his uh his widow and his family. Uh just
[47:08] an all-around great guy and who will
certainly be missed in the Middletown
[47:12] community. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Mulligan. Uh I will also
[47:17] uh echo my congratulations to Cleveland
Cliffs. Um so much has been said already
[47:23] and I'm just very excited especially
about the co-generation plant. I'm very
[47:27] grateful to them to be building that
saving up to like 50% of their energy to
[47:32] put it back into their own plant. I
applaud them for that. Also with the
[47:36] flock cameras, I know that's something
that the city's been looking at. Um so
[47:40] I'm sure we'll hear we'll be hearing
more from that in the in the coming
[47:43] weeks and months.
So, now I'd like to go into um a little
[47:47] bit of what we are expecting coming up
in the next couple of weeks here in
[47:49] Middletown. So, enjoy general trivia
night every Thursday this month from
[47:54] 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at New Als
Brewery located at 13:30 Manchester
[47:58] Avenue. For more information, please
visit the calendar at downtown
[48:01] middletown.org. Celebrate First Friday
at 5:00 p.m. this week on September 4th
[48:06] and join the Helens for the 3rd annual
Roper Romp throughout downtown. Come
[48:10] dressed up as Mrs. Roper from Thre's
Company or Just as You Are and walk the
[48:14] bar crawl through our door district, the
first in all of Ohio with specials at
[48:18] participating local businesses for
anyone dressed as Helen. New this year
[48:21] is the family-friendly kids zone. For
more information on this fun and
[48:24] eccentric event, please visit the
calendar at downtown middletown.org.
[48:28] Also this Friday, September 4th, from 6
PM to 8:00 PM at the MAC, our Middletown
[48:33] Art Center is the opening of the exhibit
Steel in a Different Light. A special
[48:37] collaboration of works by renowned steel
artist Mike Elsas and our local
[48:42] employees of Cleveland Cliffs. Steel in
a Different Light celebrates the Union
[48:46] of Fine Art and Middletown Steel
Heritage. Through this exhibition that
[48:50] runs through October 15th, visitors can
explore the history and impact of steel
[48:54] in Middletown. Learn about Cleveland
Cliff's 125-year legacy and see how
[48:58] steel continues to influence the present
and future of our city. For more
[49:03] information, including more uh more on
the upcoming block party, please visit
[49:07] middletown artcenter.com. Also this
Friday after the MAC, head over to the
[49:11] Sword Op Sorgor Opera House located at
63 South Main Street at 8 PM for an
[49:16] acoustic set from Cincinnati Red's team
hall of famer and musician Bronson Aoyo.
[49:20] For more information and tickets, please
visit sorgoroperhouse.org.
[49:24] Next Friday, September 11th, the Sor
Opera House and the Middletown Lyric
[49:28] Theater present 110 Stories, a 25th
anniversary memorial being performed at
[49:33] the Sorg. This is a free event, though
you must reserve your tickets. Told
[49:37] through the real testimonies of first
responders, survivors, volunteers, and
[49:41] everyday New Yorkers, 110 stories
captures the emotional experience of 911
[49:46] through the voice voices of those who
lived it. You will see familiar faces
[49:50] from Middletown in the Ensemble CLA
cast, including our very own Vice Mayor
[49:54] Jennifer Carter. For more information
and to reserve your tickets, please
[49:57] visit sorgherhouse.org.
The next day, Saturday, September 12th,
[50:00] is the 25th anniversary September 11th
Memorial 5K hosted by the city of
[50:05] Middletown. Starting with the ceremony
at 8:46 a.m. at Firehouse 83 located at
[50:09] 18:30 Yankee Road. The race begins at
9:28 a.m. For information on parking and
[50:14] race signups, please visit city of
middletown.org, hover over residents,
[50:18] and click on city events. Also, next
Saturday after the 5K, join in from
[50:22] 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Middletown's
3rd annual FiveStar Comic-Con at Miami
[50:27] University's Middletown campus located
at 4200 North University Boulevard.
[50:31] FiveStar Comic-Con is a celebration of
comics, pop culture, anime, gaming,
[50:36] cosplay, and more right here in
Middletown, Ohio. If you or anyone in
[50:40] your life is a fan of any of these, you
will want to be there. For more
[50:43] information, including how to buy
tickets, please visit
[50:45] fivestarcomicomicon.com and click on the
Middletown Ohio location.
[50:49] Sunday, September 13th from 11:00 a.m.
to 5:00 pm, join Moam, Middletown's Open
[50:54] Air Market for their second Sunday
called Harvest and Heritage located
[50:58] across from Gravel Road Brewing Company
at 916 1st Avenue. Discover heirloom
[51:02] vegetables, heritage crafts, historical
organizations, a seed swap, and
[51:06] old-fashioned games. For more
information, please visit the calendar
[51:09] at downtownmilltown.org.
Please save the date for one of my
[51:13] all-time favorite events in Middletown.
The 10th annual dog day downtown.
[51:17] Friday, September 18th from 5:00 p.m.
until 9 or 8:00 p.m. is a day just for
[51:21] the dogs and those who love them. For
more information, please visit the
[51:24] calendar at downtownmilltown.org.
As a reminder, the city of Middletown
[51:27] accepts applications for our boards and
commissions throughout the year. So, if
[51:30] there is something that you have an
interest in and you wish to give back to
[51:32] your city in this way, please do submit
your application. To learn more, please
[51:36] visit the city's website at
cityofmiddtown.org.
[51:39] Lastly, and as always, there are many
ways to get involved with your community
[51:41] and give back. You can join a board a
local group, run for office, apply for a
[51:45] job with the city, volunteer at the
hospital, pick up trash in your
[51:48] neighborhood or park, plant a garden in
your yard or balcony, smile at a
[51:51] neighbor, find joy and satisfaction for
a job well done in whatever work you do,
[51:54] or just have a positive and giving
attitude. Find something you can do
[51:57] regularly to give back. We are all
connected. We are all in this together.
[52:00] The care of our city is an adventure
which we all get to share. That's all
[52:03] from me tonight. This concludes our
council comments.
[52:09] The next agenda item is city manager
reports. City manager, Miss Ashley
[52:12] Combmes, you have the floor.
>> Thank you. Good evening. I don't have
[52:15] any specific reports, but I would like
to congratulate Jackie Phillips Carter
[52:18] on 28 years with the city. She's going
to be greatly missed and we wish her the
[52:22] best. And the second item is welcoming
our new assistant city manager, Martin
[52:26] Russell. And that's all for me.
>> Thank you, Mr. Russell. Did you want to
[52:31] say anything? No pressure. Thank you.
Well, I because of the 20 years of
[52:37] experience, I now feel old thanks to Mr.
Mulligan there, but that's okay. No, I
[52:41] just appreciate the opportunity and and
thank you. It's uh um obviously only
[52:45] been two days and I'm I'm learning a lot
as as we go here, but uh um just an
[52:50] exceptional team that I've been able to
sit there and meet thus far and really
[52:53] look forward to working with uh council
and others to accomplish a lot in the
[52:58] near future. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[53:02] Thank you, Miss. All right. Thank you so
much.
[53:05] Next is the consent agenda. While the
consent agenda is generally for
[53:08] consensus items, do any council members
wish to remove anything from the consent
[53:11] agenda this evening and move it to the
motion agenda.
[53:14] All right. Seeing none, we will uh
proceed. Mrs. Skank, please present the
[53:18] consent agenda. Your consideration this
this evening, we have the approval of
[53:22] the city council minutes of August 18th,
2026 and to receive and file the four
[53:27] following board and commission minutes.
the board of zoning appeals from July
[53:31] 2nd, August 6th, October 1st, November
5th, and December 3rd, 2025, and January
[53:38] 7th, February 4th, April 1st, and July
1st, 2026. The planning commission
[53:44] minutes of April 23rd, May 13th, June
the 10th, and July 8th, 2026, and the
[53:50] Civil Service Commission minutes of May
7th, June 9th, July 16th, and August
[53:56] 12th, 2026. and to receive and file an
oath of office for Brianna Steel.
[54:02] » Thank you, Mrs. Skank. Is there a motion
to approve the consent agenda?
[54:06] » Motion to approve.
>> Thank you. Is there a second?
[54:08] » Second.
>> It has been properly moved and seconded
[54:10] to accept the consent agenda. We will
proceed to vote. Mrs. Skank, please call
[54:13] the role.
>> Mr. Mulligan,
[54:15] » yes.
>> Mayor Slama,
[54:16] » yes.
>> Mr. Li,
[54:18] » yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,
[54:19] » yes.
>> Mr. West,
[54:21] » yes.
>> The yeses have it, and the motion
[54:22] passes. The consent agenda is approved.
The next agenda item is the motion
[54:26] agenda. We have two items this evening.
Mrs. Skank, please present item A of the
[54:29] motion agenda
>> to request approval to purchase one 2027
[54:34] Ford F550 Altech bucket truck model
AT37G
[54:39] from Altech Industries Incorporated of
Indianapolis, Indiana in the amount of
[54:44] $182,482
[54:47] for the for the electronics division.
Thank you so much, Miss Combmes. The
[54:51] staff report, please. Mayor and city
council. This truck will support traffic
[54:55] traffic signal, street light, and
related maintenance throughout the city.
[54:58] It will replace a 22year-old bucket
truck that has exceeded the city's
[55:01] replacement threshold and is becoming uh
costly to maintain. Funds are available
[55:05] in the garage fund, and the existing
truck will be sold on gov deals.
[55:09] » Thank you, Miss Combmes. Do I have a
motion to approve item A to request
[55:12] approval to purchase one 2027 Ford F550
Altech bucket truck from Altech
[55:17] Industries Incorporated of Indianapolis,
Indiana in the amount of $182,482
[55:22] for the electronics division?
>> Motion.
[55:24] » Thank you. Is there a second?
>> Second. [laughter]
[55:27] » Uh having been properly moved and
seconded, is there any discussion? All
[55:31] right. Hearing none, we will proceed to
vote. Mrs. Kang, please call the role.
[55:34] » Mayor Slam,
>> yes.
[55:35] » Mr. Li,
>> yes.
[55:36] » Mrs. Carter,
>> yes.
[55:38] » Mr. West,
>> yes.
[55:39] » Mr. Mr. Mulligan.
>> Yes.
[55:40] » Yes. Is have it. And the motion passes.
Mrs. Skank, please present item B of the
[55:44] motion agenda
>> to authorize a city manager to grant a
[55:47] permanent easement to Duke Energy on
city- owned parcel C16200020008
[55:55] located on South Main Street.
>> Thank you, Miss Combmes. A staff report,
[55:59] please.
>> Mayor and city council, this item
[56:01] request authorization to grant Duke
Energy a permanent easement on the city
[56:05] property to provide electrical service
to the police firing range. The range
[56:08] currently has no power, limiting
lighting, security, and future training
[56:11] capabilities. The easement will allow
Duke to extend power to the site. The
[56:15] cost of the extension is $13,15125.
[56:20] Thank you, Miss Combmes. Do I have a
motion to approve item B to authorize
[56:23] the city manager to grant a permanent
easement to Duke Energy on city-owned
[56:26] parcel number C16200020008
[56:32] located on South Main Street?
>> Motion.
[56:34] » Is there a second?
>> Second. Having been properly moved and
[56:37] seconded, is there any discussion?
>> Hearing none, we will proceed to vote.
[56:41] Mrs. Skank, please call the role.
>> Mr. Li,
[56:43] » yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,
[56:45] » yes.
>> Mr. West,
[56:46] » yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,
[56:47] » yes.
>> Mayor Sama,
[56:49] » yes. The yeses have it, and the motion
passes. This concludes the motion
[56:52] agenda. The next item on the agenda is
executive session. Uh, do I hear a
[56:56] motion to move to executive session
under the authority of OC121.22
[57:01] 22G8 to consider confidential
information related to the marketing
[57:05] plans, specific business strategy,
production techniques, trade secrets, or
[57:08] personal financial statements of an
applicant for economic development
[57:11] assistance or to negotiations with other
political subdivisions respecting
[57:15] requests for economic development
assistance, provided that both of the
[57:18] following conditions apply. One, the
information is directly related to a
[57:22] request for economic development
assistance that is to be provided or
[57:24] administered under any provision of
chapter 1 715 7251 1724 or 1728 or
[57:31] section 701.07
3735.67
[57:35] to 3735.70
5709.40
[57:39] to 5709.43
5709.61 to 579.69 69 5709.73 to 5709.75
[57:47] or 5709.77
to 5709.81 of the revised code or that
[57:52] involves public infrastructure
improvements or the extension of
[57:55] utilities utility services that are
directly related to an economic
[57:58] development project. And two, a
unanimous quorum of the public body
[58:02] determines by a roll call vote that the
executive session is necessary to
[58:05] protect the interests of the applicant
or the public investment or expenditure
[58:09] of public funds to be made in connection
with the economic development project.
[58:12] Is there a motion?
>> Motion.
[58:14] » Is there a second?
>> Second.
[58:15] » Has been properly moved and seconded. We
will proceed to vote. Mrs. Skank, please
[58:18] call the role.
>> Mrs. Carter?
[58:20] » Yes.
>> Mr. West?
[58:21] » Yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan?
[58:22] » Yes.
>> Mayor Slama?
[58:23] » Yes.
>> Mr. Li?
[58:25] » Yes.
>> Yes. Haven't the motion passes. Council
[58:27] will now move to executive session
>> over there.
[58:35] » Figured.
[1:59:39] Do we have a motion to return to open
session?
[1:59:41] » Motion.
>> Is there a second?
[1:59:44] » Second.
>> Thank you. It has been properly moved
[1:59:47] and seconded to return to open session.
We will proceed to vote. Mrs. Gank,
[1:59:50] please call the role.
>> Mr. West,
[1:59:51] » yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,
[1:59:53] » yes.
>> Mayor Slam,
[1:59:54] » yes.
>> Mr. Li,
[1:59:55] » yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,
[1:59:57] » yes.
>> This is happen. Motion passes. Council
[1:59:59] now returns to open session. The next
item on the agenda is legislation. We
[2:00:04] have nine items of legislation this
evening. Uh law director, Mr. Alex
[2:00:08] Ewing. The legislation, please.
>> Item number one, ordinance number
[2:00:12] 02026-47.
An ordinance authorizing the city
[2:00:16] manager to enter into an agreement with
the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
[2:00:20] for capital improvements at the
Middletown Community Foundation Park
[2:00:24] project. Second reading.
>> Thank you. you. Miss Combmes, do you
[2:00:27] have anything to add?
>> I do not. Thank you.
[2:00:29] » Thank you. Is there a motion to approve
the ordinance?
[2:00:32] » Motion.
>> Is there a second?
[2:00:34] » Second.
>> It has been properly moved and seconded.
[2:00:36] Is there any discussion?
>> Hearing none, we will proceed to vote.
[2:00:40] Mrs. K, please call the role.
>> Mr. Mulligan,
[2:00:42] » yes.
>> Mayor Slamama,
[2:00:44] » yes.
>> Mr. Li,
[2:00:45] » yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,
[2:00:47] » yes. Mr. West,
>> yes.
[2:00:49] » Yeses have it. And the legislation
passes. Mr. Ying, the next item, please.
[2:00:54] Item number two, ordinance number
02026-48,
[2:00:58] an ordinance authorizing the city
manager to enter into an agreement with
[2:01:02] the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
for Capital Improvements at Miami Park.
[2:01:06] Second reading.
>> Thank you, Miss Combmes, you have
[2:01:09] anything to add?
>> I do not. Thank you.
[2:01:10] » All right. Thank you. Uh, it has been Is
there a motion to approve the ordinance?
[2:01:15] » Motion.
>> Is there a second?
[2:01:16] » Second.
>> Has been properly moved and seconded. Is
[2:01:19] there any discussion?
>> Hearing none, we will proceed to vote.
[2:01:22] Mrs. Scan, please call the role.
>> Mayor Slamama,
[2:01:24] » yes.
>> Mr. Li,
[2:01:26] » yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,
[2:01:28] » yes.
>> Mr. West,
[2:01:30] » yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,
[2:01:31] » yes.
>> Yes. Have it. And the legislation
[2:01:33] passes. Mr. Yuing. The next item,
please.
[2:01:35] » Item number three, ordinance number
02026-49.
[2:01:40] An ordinance authorizing the execution
of a subordination and recognition of
[2:01:44] final development agreement with Valley
Central Bank in connection with the
[2:01:49] final development agreement with Ohio
Regional Con. Constructors LLC, the
[2:01:56] former Roosevelt School site, and
declaring an emergency.
[2:02:00] » Thank you, Miss Combmes. The staff
report, please.
[2:02:01] » Mayor and city council, this item
authorizes the city manager to execute a
[2:02:05] subordination and recognition agreement
for the Roosevelt Ridge project. The
[2:02:09] developer is obtaining construction
financing, and the lender has requested
[2:02:12] that the city subordinate its
reversionary rights for the property.
[2:02:16] The proposed agreement is negotiated
compromise that that addresses the
[2:02:20] lender's concerns while protecting the
city's ability to reclaim the property
[2:02:24] under the existing development agreement
subject to the agreed upon cure process.
[2:02:28] We are requesting a first reading
emergency passage so the agreement can
[2:02:31] be executed promptly allowing the
developer to finalize financing proceed
[2:02:36] with the installation of public um
infrastructure during the current
[2:02:39] construction season and meet the
project's established deadlines.
[2:02:44] » Thank you.
Is there a motion to approve the
[2:02:47] ordinance?
>> Motion.
[2:02:49] » Is there a second?
>> Second.
[2:02:52] » Having been properly moved and seconded.
Is there any discussion?
[2:02:57] » I did have a question about this. Um,
with the current agreement here, it says
[2:03:04] that if there's any floor closure, the
land would go basically to the bank and
[2:03:08] not come back to Middletown. Is that
correct? That's correct. Okay. Um,
[2:03:15] how is it looking so far with Brandon
Holmes and the ability to complete this
[2:03:20] project?
>> Jacob, would you like to So, Jacob, our
[2:03:22] acting community and economic
development director, is going to come
[2:03:25] up and answer that question. Thank you.
>> Absolutely. Mayor, members of council
[2:03:29] and the general public. Um, currently,
uh, Brandon Holmes has a tenative
[2:03:35] scheduling date set for the
implementation of the infrastructure,
[2:03:39] right? The, uh, Roosevelt Ridge, the the
drive culde-sac, um, if you will, that
[2:03:43] would go to to implement, uh, to put all
the homes in. They've already sold two
[2:03:47] or constructed two homes, um, and still
have those, uh, lots facing central
[2:03:51] there for sale. This basically the the
sub um subordination of the right of
[2:03:57] reverter there with the property will
allow the bank to be able to finance it
[2:04:02] to then be able to allow Philip Brandon
and Brandon Holmes to move forward with
[2:04:06] uh the completion of the infrastructure
there. Um and then once the
[2:04:10] infrastructure is in, he's able to sell
the additional 16 lots uh and to be able
[2:04:14] to move move forward towards completion
of those.
[2:04:17] So, is that a matter of the construction
on the specific house won't begin until
[2:04:23] it's sold? That lot is sold instead of
like he's going to go down there and
[2:04:27] build the final 16 homes and then sell
them is
[2:04:30] » Yeah. Because it's a custom home
community.
[2:04:32] » Okay.
>> So, they're built built to customers
[2:04:35] orders, if you will.
>> Okay.
[2:04:36] » Um ultimately, yeah, to to that point,
once I mean, he hasn't been able to sell
[2:04:41] the other 16 lots because there's no
road accessing that. And I I believe
[2:04:45] there there's been a lot of back and
forth for him to be able to get to this
[2:04:47] point. And uh this has been that final
lynch pin and the the developer's
[2:04:51] interest is to be able to come in here
this fall, start the construction, get
[2:04:55] the construction of the road done and
then continue moving forward with
[2:04:58] selling the houses.
>> And so far, is it looking good for that?
[2:05:02] Is it looking good for him? Does he have
interest there?
[2:05:04] » I I would we don't know
>> presume. Okay.
[2:05:06] » Um I mean I think otherwise he probably
would have already
[2:05:10] » sold the two houses out frontly. I
thought one was sold. I thought there's
[2:05:15] Isn't there a sign out there selling the
the first one that was built?
[2:05:19] » Yes. Sold. Yeah. And then
>> Yeah. They've already
[2:05:22] » the developers been able to build those
two houses because there's already
[2:05:25] interest in the
>> Right. And one has been sold and then
[2:05:28] the other has a sign up front.
>> Mhm.
[2:05:31] » For sale.
>> I think they're selling it. The people
[2:05:33] that initially bought
>> people that bought it.
[2:05:36] » So none neither of those I think one may
have started as a model home. um and he
[2:05:41] quickly went on to to sell it um I think
within weeks. But uh again, this would
[2:05:46] pretty much allow the additional 16 lots
for for people to to start buying down
[2:05:50] and and uh to building up the the homes.
>> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions or
[2:05:55] comments at this time hearing? None.
Thank you so much.
[2:05:58] » Absolutely.
>> Mrs. Skank, please call the RO.
[2:06:02] » Mr. Li,
>> yes.
[2:06:04] » Mrs. Carter,
>> yes.
[2:06:06] » Mr. West,
>> yes.
[2:06:08] » Mr. Mulligan,
>> yes. Mayor Slamama.
[2:06:10] » Yes. Yeses have it. And the motion
passes. Mr. Yuing. The next item,
[2:06:14] please.
>> Item number four, ordinance number
[2:06:16] 02026-50.
An ordinance amending ordinance number
[2:06:20] 0205-081
passed by the city of Middletown on
[2:06:24] December 15, 2015 to remove certain
parcels from the town Malt TIFF and
[2:06:30] declaring an emergency.
>> Thank you. Miss Combmes, the staff
[2:06:33] report, please.
>> Mayor and city council. This item makes
[2:06:35] two changes to our existing tiff
structure in the east end. We are
[2:06:39] removing 15 underdeveloped and
undeveloped parcels from the town mall
[2:06:43] hospital tiff and creating a new east
end east interchange tiff for those
[2:06:48] parcels. The purpose is to capture the
future increases in property value from
[2:06:52] the development and reinvest those
revenues into the public infrastructure
[2:06:55] supporting the renaissance point
project. This tiff revenue has also been
[2:06:58] part of the arena's financing plan. The
new tiff would run for 30 years and
[2:07:02] comply with the city's school
compensation agreement. There is no
[2:07:05] direct cost to the city. We're
requesting first reading emergency
[2:07:08] passage so the developer can finalize
the incentive documents and financing to
[2:07:12] keep the infrastructure work on
schedule.
[2:07:15] » Thank you. Is there a motion to approve
the ordinance?
[2:07:18] » Motion.
>> Is there a second?
[2:07:19] » Second.
>> Having been properly moved and seconded,
[2:07:21] is there any discussion?
Hearing none, we will proceed to vote.
[2:07:25] Mrs. Gang, please call the role.
>> Mrs. Carter,
[2:07:28] » yes.
>> Mr. West,
[2:07:29] » yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,
[2:07:31] » yes.
>> Mayor Slama,
[2:07:32] » yes.
>> Mr. Li,
[2:07:34] » yes.
>> Yeses have it. And the uh legislation
[2:07:36] passes. Mr. Yuing. The next item,
please.
[2:07:39] » Item number five, ordinance number
02026-51,
[2:07:44] an ordinance to create a tiff area
pursuant to section 5709.40B
[2:07:49] of the Ohio Revised Code. Declare
improvements to certain parcels of real
[2:07:53] property located in the tiff area to be
a public purpose. Exempt from real
[2:07:58] property taxation 100% of those
improvements. require the owners of
[2:08:03] those parcels to make service payments
in lie of taxes. Establish a municipal
[2:08:08] public improvement tax increment
equivalent fund for the deposit of the
[2:08:12] remainder of those service payments.
Specify the public infrastructure
[2:08:16] improvements to be made within the tiff
area that directly benefits those
[2:08:20] parcels and declaring an emergency.
>> Thank you, Miss Combmes. The staff
[2:08:24] report, please.
>> Mayor and city council, this item is the
[2:08:27] second part of the tiff legislation just
discussed. This ordinance creates the
[2:08:30] east interchange tiff for the 15 parcels
removed from the town mall hospital
[2:08:34] tiff. The new tiff will capture the
future increases in property value and
[2:08:37] use those revenues to support the public
infrastructure in the east end and the
[2:08:41] renaissance point project. We are
requesting first reading emergency
[2:08:44] passage so the developer can align the
financing and infrastructure work with
[2:08:47] the project schedule.
>> Thank you. Is there a motion to approve
[2:08:51] the ordinance?
>> Motion.
[2:08:52] » Is there a second?
>> Second.
[2:08:55] » It has been properly moved and seconded.
Is there any discussion?
[2:08:59] Seeing none, we will proceed to vote.
Mrs. Kang, please call the role.
[2:09:02] » Mr. West,
>> yes.
[2:09:03] » Mr. Mulligan,
>> yes.
[2:09:04] » Mayor Slam,
>> yes.
[2:09:06] » Mr. Li,
>> yes.
[2:09:07] » Mrs. Carter,
>> yes.
[2:09:09] » Yeses have. And the legislation passes.
Mr. Yuing, the next item, please.
[2:09:13] » Item number six, ordinance number 0
2026-52.
[2:09:18] an ordinance authorizing the city
manager to enter into an amended and
[2:09:22] restated final development agreement
with Woodard Development LLC and the
[2:09:26] Warren County Port Authority and
declaring an emergency.
[2:09:30] » Thank you. Miss Combmes, the staff
report, please.
[2:09:32] » Mayor and city council, this item amends
and reinstates the final development
[2:09:35] agreement between the city water
development and Warren County Port
[2:09:38] Authority for the public improvements
associated with the arena facility and
[2:09:42] arena hotel. This agreement memorializes
recent negotiation in negotiations
[2:09:46] including the waiver of permit fees in
the city's construction of the south
[2:09:49] parking lot. The port authority or its
assenee will be responsible for ongoing
[2:09:54] maintenance of the private section of
atrium boulevard in the south parking
[2:09:57] lot. We are requesting first reading
emergency passage to allow the project
[2:10:00] to pursue bond financing in a timely
manner and continue with the project
[2:10:04] moving forward.
>> Thank you. Miss Combmes is there or is
[2:10:08] there a motion to approve?
>> Motion.
[2:10:10] » Is there a second?
>> Second. Having been properly moved and
[2:10:13] seconded, is there any discussion?
Hearing none, we will proceed to vote.
[2:10:17] Mrs. Gank, please call the role.
>> Mr. Mulligan,
[2:10:19] » yes.
>> Mayor Slama,
[2:10:21] » yes.
>> Mr. Lai,
[2:10:23] » yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,
[2:10:25] » yes.
>> Mr. West,
[2:10:26] » yes.
>> Yes. Have it. And the legislation
[2:10:28] passes. Mr. Yuing. The next item,
please.
[2:10:32] » Item number seven, ordinance number
02026-53.
[2:10:36] an ordinance authorizing the city
manager to enter into a credit support
[2:10:39] pledge agreement with the Warren County
Port Authority and declaring an
[2:10:43] emergency.
>> Thank you. Miss Combmes, the staff
[2:10:45] report, please.
>> Mayor and city council, this item
[2:10:48] authorizes the city manager to
administer the credit support pledge
[2:10:50] agreement in support of the arena bond
financing. The city and Warren County
[2:10:54] are providing up to 12 a.5 million in
credit support for the arena financing.
[2:10:58] Under the updated agreement, the city
would provide a pledge and limited
[2:11:01] guarantee to support up to 5.4 4 million
in annual debt surface if needed after
[2:11:06] the project's other pledge revenues and
credit support are utilized. This does
[2:11:10] not require immediate expenditure of
city funds. However, if the pledge is
[2:11:13] needed, payments would be made from the
city's income tax revenues. We
[2:11:17] requesting first reading emergency
passage to allow the bond bond financing
[2:11:20] to move forward and keep the arena
project on schedule.
[2:11:23] » Thank you. Is there a motion to approve
the ordinance?
[2:11:26] » Motion.
>> Is there a second?
[2:11:28] » Second.
>> Has been properly moved and seconded. Is
[2:11:30] there any discussion?
just to uh thank staff and and all the
[2:11:34] parties involved in getting this across
the finish line. It's um I know we're
[2:11:38] not seeing shovels in the ground yet,
but there's been years, literally years
[2:11:42] of of work into this. And although it's
a first reading emergency, that's just
[2:11:46] to satisfy what we need to uh to really
get the project going and uh and get
[2:11:51] those shovels in the ground because this
is really going to be a spectacular um
[2:11:54] amenity in Middletown and for the
region. Thanks.
[2:11:58] » Thank you, Mr. Mulligan. Any other
comments?
[2:12:00] I just want to go ahead and say echo
that as well. This is very exciting.
[2:12:04] Looking forward to the continuation.
Thank you so much. And in that case
[2:12:08] then, Mrs. Skank, please call the role.
>> Mayor Slama,
[2:12:12] » yes.
>> Mr. Li,
[2:12:13] » yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,
[2:12:15] » yes.
>> Mr. West,
[2:12:16] » yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,
[2:12:18] » yes.
>> This is Havit. Legislation passes. Mr.
[2:12:20] Yuing. The next item, please.
>> Item number eight, ordinance number
[2:12:24] 02026-54.
an ordinance authorizing the city
[2:12:28] manager to enter into a cooperative
agreement with the Warren County Port
[2:12:33] Authority at all and declaring an
emergency.
[2:12:36] » Thank you. Miss Miss Combmes, the staff
report, please.
[2:12:38] » Mayor and city council, this item
authorizes the city manager to enter
[2:12:42] into a cooperative agreement with the
project partners for the issuance of
[2:12:45] bonds and finance the re R renaissance
port uh Renaissance Point Arena project.
[2:12:51] The agreement outlines the party's
contributions to the project for the
[2:12:54] city. pledges revenues from the three
east end tiffs, the arena tiff, east
[2:12:59] interchange tiff, and the north union
tiff to support the arena financing. The
[2:13:03] tiff revenues provide another source of
funding and are intended to limit the
[2:13:06] need to utilize the city's credit
support discussed in the previous item.
[2:13:11] The agreement also establishes the
structure and operation for the
[2:13:14] facilities within the project. We are
requesting first reading emergency
[2:13:17] passage to allow for the bond financing
to move forward and keep the arena
[2:13:20] project on schedule.
>> Thank you, Miss [clears throat] Combmes.
[2:13:24] Is there a motion to approve the
ordinance?
[2:13:26] » Motion.
>> Is there a second?
[2:13:28] » Second.
>> Has been properly moved and seconded. Is
[2:13:30] there any discussion?
>> Seeing none, we will proceed to vote.
[2:13:34] Mrs. King, please call the role.
>> Mr. Li,
[2:13:36] » yes.
>> Mrs. Carter,
[2:13:38] » yes.
>> Mr. West,
[2:13:39] » yes.
>> Mr. Mulligan,
[2:13:41] » yes.
>> Mayor Slam,
[2:13:42] » yes. Yeses have it. And the legislation
passes. Mr. Euing, the last item,
[2:13:46] please.
>> Uh, [snorts] yes. Uh item number uh nine
[2:13:51] uh originally item number 10, resolution
number R 2026-22,
[2:13:57] a resolution to make adjustments to
appropriations for current expenses and
[2:14:01] other expenditures of the city of
Middletown counties of Butler and
[2:14:04] Warren, state of Ohio for the period
ending December 31st, 2026. Core
[2:14:09] computerization fund first reading.
>> Thank you, Miss Combmes. The staff
[2:14:13] report, please. Mayor and city council.
This item requests 20,000 supplemental
[2:14:17] appropriation for the court
computerization fund. The additional
[2:14:20] appropriation is needed because
expenditures for the municipal court
[2:14:24] technology have exceeded the amount
originally budgeted for 2026. These
[2:14:28] funds will be used for computer
equipment, software, and related
[2:14:31] technology needs for the municipal
court. There is sufficient cash
[2:14:34] available in the fund. So, this
adjustment is to appropriate authority
[2:14:38] and does not require an additional
funding.
[2:14:41] » Thank you, Miss Combmes. As this is a
first reading, there is no action to be
[2:14:44] taken at this time. However, is there
any discussion from council?
[2:14:50] Right. Seeing none, this concludes the
legislation for the evening. The next
[2:14:53] item on the agenda is unfinished
business. Do any council members have
[2:14:56] anything that they would like to present
under unfinished business.
[2:15:01] Hearing none, that concludes unfinished
business. The next item on the agenda is
[2:15:04] new business. Do any council members
have any new business they would like to
[2:15:07] present this evening?
No. All right. Hearing none, that also
[2:15:11] concludes new business. The next item on
the agenda is executive session.
[2:15:17] Just a moment as I get the wording. May
I do I hear a motion uh to move to
[2:15:21] executive session under the authority of
OC121.22G1
[2:15:26] to consider the appointment of a public
official?
[2:15:29] » Motion.
>> Is there a second?
[2:15:32] » Second.
>> Having been properly moved and seconded,
[2:15:34] we will proceed to vote. Mrs. Gang,
please call the role.
[2:15:38] » Mrs. Carter,
[2:15:42] » are we moving into executive session?
Okay.
[2:15:45] » Yes. Mr. West.
>> Yes.
[2:15:48] » Mr. Mulligan.
>> Yes.
[2:15:50] » Mayor Sama.
>> Yes.
[2:15:51] » Mr. Lawley.
>> Yes.
[2:15:53] » Yes. Haven't council will now move to
executive session.
[2:15:58] » Yes.
[2:42:36] Okay.
[2:42:41] » All right. Here we go.
>> Do we have a motion to return to open
[2:42:44] session?
>> Motion.
[2:42:45] » Do we have a second?
>> Having been properly moved and seconded,
[2:42:49] we will proceed to vote. Mrs. King,
please call the role.
[2:42:51] » Mr. West,
>> yes.
[2:42:52] » Mr. Milligan,
>> yes.
[2:42:53] » Mayor Slama,
>> yes.
[2:42:55] » Mr. Lai,
>> yes.
[2:42:56] » Mrs. Carter,
>> yes.
[2:42:58] » Yes. Have it. And the motion passes.
This concludes our regular city council
[2:43:01] meeting for Middletown, Ohio, Tuesday,
September 1st, 2026 at 7:48 p.m. This
[2:43:06] meeting is adjourned until Tuesday,
September 15th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. these
[2:43:10] chambers for our