My cold is out in the heart of the sun here.
Good evening. We'd like to call quite a city council agenda meeting for Tuesday, September 2, 2025, order.
We will have a call, order, moment of silence, pledge of allegiance. We will do a roll call, and choose me.
We'll need a motion to excuse that.
And a second, please?
I'll second.
Thank you. Then we will go into approval of minutes, which we will also need a first and second on that.
Action.
Take a motion.
Second, for anyone?
Aye, ma'am.
Let's take.
Then we will go through standing committee reports.
They will do official reports.
Mr. President or Tem.
I can sub for.
Mr. President, Smith.
Mr. committee.
You will send for Miss Smith.
You're the second in this, I hear this committee, you've got it.
You're the hero in this sector.
Have a good evening.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dick.
There will be a few sessions reports.
And the following, my official review reports have been filed.
And the City Council offers since the last meeting.
The August financial report will go to July, 2021.
And then the communications, petitions, and clients.
The following, communications, petitions, or clients have been filed in the Council
office since the last meeting.
White House Planning Commission, special meeting agenda for Thursday, August 28, 2025.
And White House Planning Commission meeting minutes for Monday, July 7, 2025.
There will be a meeting to public hearing.
We have public hearing on August 7, 2023, 2025.
I mean, section, excuse me.
I mean, section 11, 36, type of flood management reduction of the planning and zoning code of the City of White House.
Excuse me.
After that, we will have our first public.
They will go to verification of copies.
And then we will move to third meeting.
Or that's, which is August 7, 2023, 2025.
It is up for adoption tonight.
I mean, section 11, 36, type of flood damage reduction of the planning and zoning code.
I have the City of White House.
This is to be introduced by Councillor Smith and Secretary Councillor Dixon.
I can go first on that.
Okay.
I can go first on that.
Okay.
I can go first on that.
Okay.
I can go first on that.
Okay.
I can go first on that.
Okay.
Thank you.
Next on the agenda, the second meeting.
Or that's 79, 2025, which is title only, authorizing the Mayor to execute the agreement for the collection.
Transportation and delivery for disposal or processing of residential solid waste recyclable material.
And yard waste generated within the City of White House.
Right click down.
Oh, Ohio.
Between the area of White House and local waste.
This is L2D.
This is title only.
Then we will move to our first meeting.
Our first meeting is ordinance 86, 2025.
It's authorized the Mayor to enter into a contract with the three employees.
Okay.
And these people.
Oval, Ohio.
P-E-P.
And declaring an emergency.
Resport time.
I can.
And shift for.
Councilor Smith.
Okay.
So then we'll be introduced by.
Mr. Dixon and Secretary of Commerce.
Thank you.
Okay.
Any discussion on that?
Anybody good?
Next we will move to the next.
87.
2025.
Authorizing the exceptions of 161.09.
Vacation and sickly credit perial over 161.09.
For the purpose of employing two highly qualified employees
to the city of White House and declare an emergency.
That is to be introduced by Ms.
and said by Ms. Harcar.
Mr. Any questions or comments on this?
Peaceful.
Thanks.
Pretty well.
Next we will have ordinance number 88.
2025.
It is first reading up for adoption this evening.
Authorizing and approving.
And then to the codified alerts on the city of Whitehall.
161.
Table of authorized personnel.
For the fiscal year 25 and declaring an emergency.
Mr. President, just to alert everyone.
I do have some motions on this.
Based on conversations we all had last week.
Some may be made.
Some not.
My intent is to.
Split this so that.
At the positions that we're spoken of last week.
The three of them.
The director of neighborhoods events and.
Advancement coordinator police community coordinator.
Would be struck from that to give them the opportunity to advance down the road.
Maybe to a third reading.
But then this would allow.
What was left because there was also a conversation about the unions and stuff last week.
I don't want to hold that up.
But yet I also don't want to be held prisoner.
By having several things in one.
A particular piece of legislation.
So that motion would be made.
Um.
And and.
And.
And splitting actually we're wanting to remove.
The part time police.
Community from the other two of the three.
The three pieces there that director neighborhoods.
The events and advancement coordinator.
And the police community.
Board.
The three.
Split.
Three one.
And I hopefully go further read it because after speaking with the mayor last week, he said
I don't care if it's on first or third reading to quote the mayor.
So I would like to try to move it on down the line to allow more conversation, get the citizens
involved in all of that now rather than later during budget processes.
And if indeed we moved it the third reading for that would be October 7th.
So that's my point, I've got some motions to attempt those things whether or not they
go or not, it's another matter.
But I just wanted to read it a little bit.
Then when those were a little bit, I thought it was the side and that it wouldn't matter
if he split it like we could hold off on all of that, was that a lot, where you guys
landed?
Maybe the budget positions, I mean, they're already in operation, they're already functioning.
It would not impact the contracts, and but then also with respect to the police position
as well, there is a person that is already in that position right now employed with the city.
So that is already in operation, so that's more ministerial than anything.
I mean, ultimately, it's council's prerogative regarding the votes that Mr. Dixon wants to
propose.
If it goes first reading, great, if it goes third reading, fine, but I just don't want council to
feel any pressure, as it relates to its necessity to go first or third reading, it's up to
you on your timeliness, or if, you know, it's council's prerogative at this point, so.
I appreciate that, and I appreciate what councilman Dixon is trying to do to give everybody
more time.
I just am a little weary about like splitting it off and exactly how that will work, and then
we'll somewhat else have to then write that legislation and bring it forward, or I've never
seen it where it's just been split like that, so I guess there's some guidance on that.
There's mulling that over, if you were saying split it off, so what you would end up having
to do is strike whichever ones, amend it to remove them, and then future legislation to address
them would have to be brought back.
Yeah, so I don't know if it on the speed easier to kind of keep it together, and we're going to
choose to wait on it, and that way we're still moving forward, but giving us extra time if it
doesn't make a difference.
And then the answer to the council of heck, what impact is that going to have with us reviewing
the budget, with net line items, getting it ready for all the readings, and then passing,
because we are, actually, we're into the budget of season now, so that's my only concern
with splitting.
And that to your point, that was the purpose of coming to council, just administratively
having the positions, because it's my opinion in order to come and be open and transparent
regarding the budget, it would be somewhat quitting the car before the force, if I were to
come to council with a budget item on a position that council has not approved of, at least
in term, because at this point now, I mean, asking for a position title is not asking you
for any budget, not asking for any appropriation.
It is just more or less a title that we are asking for to ultimately go to budget.
And the council ultimately decides not to appropriate funds once the budget presentations
are given in that position, you know, becomes an unfunded position with the city of Whitehall.
So, did you say that these three positions is already filled?
No.
No, okay.
No, they're not filled.
Okay.
You said there was one.
The police officer, the part time police officer positions already filled.
Okay.
The other two is not.
No.
Because they don't, they don't.
Yeah, there's no money appropriated for those positions.
It was my understanding last week, because there was a contention about dealing with this point
of further readings in union contracts or something where this needed to pass and thus, then,
my concern and wanting to split, but now you're saying that that is not a concern.
No.
As far as for the union contract, even last week, we were under the impression there was no contention
or no problem with respect to that even last week and that still carries over today from everything
that we've been able to determine.
So, it's not going to impair the union contract that council has already approved.
It's just more or less to catch up, administratively with what has already been approved
by council for our authorized personnel.
So, at least there were no contention on the administration side on that.
It was just more or less going the first reading so that we could move on.
It would help, as far as my office preparing for a budget testimony and in preparation
of presenting a presentation, because, ultimately, what I don't want to do is come to council
with a subpar product and I also don't want to waste my staff's time in gathering and compiling
the data and putting together a presentation if council's not even amenable to doing a position.
So, if you're not amenable to do in the position, then it would be the administration's view
that not to come to council with the appropriation as it relates to those offices that I
deemed at least based on my research to be a pretty valuable department that would move the
needle as it relates to our poverty rate as well as being a...
Direct access to residents within the city and being a bridge for economic mobility and services
throughout the city of Whitehall. And if that's not council's prerogative, then I wouldn't
waste the time to even bring that to council if you can, or if you're not interested in
even authorizing the position for the people.
Well, perhaps I or others might be more meaningful if there was more information that was given.
And certainly postponing the vote for a little while, might tempt us more so into voting for it than just simply what was presented here.
So I've added on the just adding it to the classification and it's unfunded.
It's not like we haven't had unfunded positions on the classification table of organization.
There are unfunded.
I know there are. And so it's no harm of violence. It's out there. It's wanted to be considered.
It's not funded yet more informational calm. And I don't know about separation.
It only because of the budget testimonies trying to get the budget this September already.
And then we have five meetings of voting meetings to ratify, not ratify, but to vote on the budget.
And that is putting us very, very close to not having a budget.
And we need to have a balanced budget or a budget by the end of this year.
So just having the information out there gets no harm of file.
It doesn't do anything.
Your explanations, your presentations and all that comes with those positions will be for coming.
And we can still decide based upon those weeks on how that will work itself out.
Would go into October 7th, like, make it harder on the administration to budget?
It is wood for purposes of putting together the presentation.
I mean, ultimately, you know, as I've indicated, I mean, certainly, there's a lot of work that goes into budget testimony as well as putting all of the departments together and compiling the data.
Because this is a new position, I mean, certainly, it is a position that I believe is worthy of being brought to the city of Whitehall.
And the work should be invested towards it.
The way that separation of powers work in balance of powers work.
I mean, ultimately, it's council's prerogative to approve the position.
And then at that point in time, that would give me the green light from the administration to do the next steps on investing the time in the effort to bring, you know, a full presentation as far as what the neighborhoods look like.
I mean, you, thank you council for coming to actually look at the book of, and that was just the beginning, that was not compiled, that was just raw data.
And it was a lot. And so if council's not amenable, you know, to just the positions in, in form, based upon the job titles that, that we've always provided over the years whenever we have done authorized personnel throughout the years.
The, the history has been, provide the name of the title and provided a sample job description.
And that's what we've done because that's what it's always been done historically to support what the name of the position is.
Getting to the budget aspect is a completely different matter because then I have to, you know, show council, council, all of the reasons for it.
I mean, all of the necessity for appropriating taxpayer dollars, you know, towards the position.
And that does value, there's, there's a lot of value in that, and there's a lot of work and effort that should be involved in that.
So I will go back to saying, if council is not amenable to just the position and form, then I will, I will not invest the time to bring those positions to council, because there's a lot of other work that I can put in the place as it relates to the rest of the budget.
Which is a lot, and all of the directors have been there, they're starting to, to put together the spreadsheets, the auditors putting together the projections as we speak.
And so I still have to look at that to see what the actual numbers will be to justify the position.
And once again, I'll spree it or write if council is not amenable to the title that I, it won't even be a discussion that will have when we go to budget testimony and we sit down as a, as a group and talk about what the budget will be to bring the council.
No, I understand that, I was just trying to find that happening, yeah, I can understand why.
With it being a full new department and really kind of trying to think outside the box and do something different to try to combat poverty, which I appreciate.
I think it just comes with some more questions and just a, oh, you know, something that we've heard before.
And so that's why I didn't know getting into the little more time would help answer some of those questions.
What if we even just moved it two weeks down to the 16th without being wouldn't it make it easier on you or it's.
To do it as a second reading.
Yeah, because I will say like the seventh does put us out with having a fifth Tuesday that makes it a lot harder.
So that's why I didn't know if maybe even moving it to the second reading would be.
You know, you know.
The 16th.
So that would give you two more weeks.
So that would give another committee meeting to talk about it.
Talk about it and it knows.
Yeah.
And it can go title only tonight.
And that would, that would go a long way and in putting, giving us the ability to manage our time.
So that we can start putting the presentation together for budget.
Yeah.
Thank you.
Sorry.
I just, sorry.
I didn't mean to just take over.
No.
We go.
So we're looking at making a motion then to.
It could just go title only tonight.
Nothing else needs to be done.
I was going to make a motion two motions.
Well, it is.
If it's needed.
If we do title only tonight.
I don't know.
Can we do that?
Can we change?
That's it.
We have to be low.
We're talking about if we want to amend it.
If we just want to do title only.
We have to do it.
So we're talking about it.
Okay.
We have to do it.
And we have to do the third motion.
It's going to be the third motion.
And we have to do that.
So according to, we have to include seated positions.
Temporary motion.
This is going to be a second motion.
We need to do the third motion.
So we're going to do those first motion.
If we don't do that.
No.
Yes.
We don't do that.
Then I have to do that.
Just want to do.
So the first motion.
I want to do.
No.
There's no.
You, I paid that question.
So that would be, that would be a Mr. Morrison.
That would be just for you.
It would only tonight.
Yeah.
That would be it.
Come on with.
Everybody good with it?
Yeah, it's just time.
Yeah.
So, ordinance.
You good on that, dear?
Yes.
So what is 2825?
Yeah.
We'll be read by five to one.
What did I read?
Yeah.
Okay.
So, we will move to ordinance 89, 2025.
It is not for adoption tonight.
It's allowing the mayor to enter into the contract with the HM advisors for the purpose of developing
community comprehensive plan and parks and recreation plan and declaring an emergency.
Any discussion on this?
Yes.
To be identified.
Councilor.
Our car and second by councilor.
Any comments or questions?
I have no comments or questions about that.
Since councilor Smith has arrived.
I will take my name off of committee report.
And I will put her name back on 7325.
And I will be the second on that.
As well as.
And then on ordinance 8625.
I will give that back to Smith and take my name off of it.
And that's all.
So, you got all that?
Yes.
That's somebody.
You got all that.
Okay.
We've done 89 right.
Okay.
We will move on now to ordinance 9825.
Which is up for adoption tonight.
And it's resolving a tobacco recale license appeal and declaring an emergency.
Anybody want to speak on that?
Yes.
So.
Two years ago.
We have a business reply for tobacco retail license.
It was denied because it's within the perimeter of what is defined as a youth facility.
They filed a timely appeal.
And then that appeal was stayed while Columbus and Whitehall and other municipalities suit the state regarding the home rule stuff.
Once that came back down.
This appeal was reactivated.
So, you know, kind of resolve the appeal.
The business is attorney reached out and said, here's what we're proposing.
Your tobacco retail license is pretty much premise on marketing, flavor tobacco.
And he cigarettes teenagers and all the different things.
And this business will not sell that.
Those products.
They will sell flavor stuff.
They will sell these cigarettes.
They won't advertise outside of the store.
They'll use enhanced ID scanners to make sure everyone buying what we would call traditional tobacco products.
Are at least 21.
And the youth facility that it's near is a daycare for zero to five year old children.
So, when I really endangered teenagers popping in.
So, the health department is kind of, you know,
leaving it up to us.
I talked with Jackie about it.
And you basically said, it's probably best just to resolve this because if we don't.
Then we could end up with an appeal and court because right now it's just a report of health.
We could end up with an appeal and court because everything's kind of been geared towards the flavor tobacco.
And they want to do more of the traditional tobaccos and are willing to make these concessions.
So, in order for the board of health, though, to give them the license.
Our tobacco retail license doesn't allow for because it is strictly prohibited within that thousand feet.
So, basically, this ordinance is almost think of it in zoning in terms of granting a variance.
It's a one-time variance.
It only goes to the zone or so if these owners go to sell it doesn't apply it with their selling to.
They have to, they can't sell their flavor tobacco.
They can't advertise outside the store, tobacco advertisements in the store.
Can't be seen from the street and they have to use these.
And answer IDs to confirm IDs.
So, it's probably done quite a few cigarettes or are those vapes?
Thanks.
Okay.
I don't know that much about this.
If we were a call or remember that legislation correctly.
Didn't we cap the number within the city?
We did cap the number.
And so, here's the other reason this is required.
Good question.
Technically, we are at our capacity or is a waiting list.
However, at the time they filed, they applied, had they not been denied.
And at the time they filed their appeal, there was one available.
So, we'll technically be one over our capacity.
But we end up in a lawsuit if we say, well, you know, we give this to you now.
But, you know, we've held this in advance for a couple years.
And now we're not going to give it to you because we don't have any.
So, but yes, it is capped and this will be the exception.
It will be the one extra.
And then, but that is not transferred.
So, if they were to stop, then that would just be done.
And we would go back to curry.
Right.
So, it's a family that owns it.
So, if mom and dad give it to the kids, they continue it.
But it's in there.
It says in there, third party purchasers, it would not transfer to.
And then they would still be required to have, like, I know when we first set this up,
there was somebody to come out and like chat.
All the other requirements apply, yes.
I guess, you know, the legislation about the flavor to back go.
It says e-sigarettes, yeah.
So, the same thing.
Well, it's e-sigarettes.
The reason we didn't specifically say flavor to back go.
It is someone buying dip that is meant to flavor this flavor to back go.
And you meant all cigarettes, right?
Yeah.
Cool.
So, tell us.
That's not advocates.
But it will be, it would be a police, it was in the other room.
As any other.
And this is, the Board of Health has a meeting.
They have a meeting once a month.
Their meeting is next week.
But before they can act on it, they need us to act on it.
That's why it's on the asking for going on a first meeting.
Normal procedures that they've been caught in violation.
Yeah.
Basically, all this says, as we know, we don't have one more license to give you.
And you're within a thousand feet of this daycare.
But we're going to give you a license.
All the other rules apply.
Do we see this?
I understand that potentially taking this.
Court, but do we see this as creating any sort of precedent, like somebody else being like, well.
That's, that's always a concern, but that's also why we kind of very bare bones drafted the ordinance.
And only this one, as opposed to writing an exception, into the existing code.
That way, it doesn't give someone that wants to come in. If they look at the code, it's still there. We don't have this in here.
It's kind of the very easy capacity, so we don't consider.
What's that?
Maybe we've met our capacity, sorry.
Right, but thank you, you want to wait list and they could try to this stuff.
Yeah, it was a concern to that, again, why we tried to do the bare bones added to discourage future things like this.
Anyone else? Mr. Nixon said he would, you're introduced and you've got to wish them, second.
Go once.
I can.
That's me.
Thank you, Mr. Nixon.
Come out.
Come out, man.
That was, that was nice.
We will now move to resolution 36, which is the first reading for tonight.
It's resolving and approving then and now certificates.
Anything to say on that, Mr.
The same thing we do every month, following state law, just double check.
Any comments?
This is to be introduced by Councillor Elmore and Secular by the Councillor Smith.
Next is resolution 37, 2025.
Also look first reading.
Thank you.
Authorizing the mayor to apply and accept assistance from the High Department of Math and Resultures
via a highest urban forest grant program.
Any comments or questions on this particular.
If not, it is to be introduced by Councillor Heck and Secular by Councillor Elmore.
Next we will move to resolution 38, 2025, first reading.
Accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission authorizing.
This is our tax deliveries and certifying them to the county auditor.
Do you wish to speak on this?
Sure.
The same thing we do every year.
This is the county auditor's office contacting us and providing us with their estimates.
What we will receive in 2026 for property tax revenue.
Which includes also the police department's level.
They gave us our estimates.
We just have to say that we accept their estimates and send it back to them.
Our estimates of course are based on the idea of everyone paying their property taxes and on time and not being delinquent.
Because obviously if they are delinquent we are not going to get this much.
And again just to reiterate and for those of course watching as well.
This is based on what we do.
These are all the things that have already been taken care of in previous years.
I need someone to introduce a second.
Take your one.
I'll second.
I think we'll second.
We're about to paste.
Okay then we would move to Poland public.
People who have a chair for that.
We really date board and Polk Council and then adjourned.
Just make a guess before this council I will adjourn it.
7-0-4.
Good evening.
We should call the order of White House City Council meeting Tuesday.
September 2nd, 2025.
We would like for everyone to stand for a moment of silence.
And then the pledge allegiance.
Thank you.
That's what it is.
Would you please call the roll?
More than.
Present.
Hi.
Present.
Her car.
Present.
Dixon.
Present.
Elmer.
Present.
Miss Ned.
Did we get everybody?
No.
Present.
I'm here, present.
Sorry.
Okay.
Someone.
I'm sorry.
Motion.
Make a motion.
Excuse me.
Excuse the absent member.
All set.
Motion's been made by Councillor Dixon.
And the second by Councillor Harcarke.
Excuse the absent members.
Miss Wittis.
More than.
Yes.
Heck.
Yes.
Smith.
Yes.
Harcar.
Yes.
Dickson.
Elmer.
Yes.
Excuse.
The absent members have been excused.
All the potten.
I say potten.
Potten.
I say potten.
Yes.
Thank you.
Okay.
Now we have approval of minutes of August 5, 2025, agenda andison.
I was 12, 25 committee meeting minutes, August 26, 2025, committee meeting minutes.
Present.
The President for the time, I would like to make a motion to approve the minutes.
Second.
Motion's been made by Councillor Dixon and seconded by Councillor HECK to approve the minutes.
Ms. Wittis, would you please call the roll.
Morrison.
Yes.
HECK. Yes.
Smith.
Yes.
Our car. Yes.
Dixon.
Yes.
Elmer. Yes.
Thank you.
We will now move to standing committee reports.
And we will begin with the administration financial management.
Chairperson.
Elmore.
Thank you, President protein.
Administration of financial management.
Mental Tuesday.
Our minutes on file.
We have several pieces of legislation this evening.
We will meet again next Tuesday.
630.
Thank you.
Next is community.
Community and elder advocacy.
Chairperson.
Yes. Thank you, President.
Community and elder advocacy met last week.
Our minutes are on file.
We have no drafts depending on legislation this evening.
We'll meet again next week sometime after 630.
Thank you. Next is community standards and enforcement.
Chairperson.
Smith.
Thank you, President.
Chairperson.
Community standards and enforcement also met last week.
Our minutes are on file.
We have ordinance.
73.
25.
For adoption.
No.
I'm getting him myself.
Up for adoption this evening.
And we'll meet again next week.
Sorry.
Next.
We have an economic development chairperson.
Thank you, President.
Protein.
Morrison.
Economic development.
Last week.
Our minutes are on file.
We have nothing on the agenda this evening.
And we will meet in these chambers.
Next Tuesday after 630.
Thank you.
We will now move to infrastructure maintenance services.
And as heck has agreed to.
Gracious.
Graciously.
Thank you.
Thank you, President.
In infrastructure maintenance and services met last Tuesday.
Our minutes are on file.
We have no legislation on the agenda tonight.
And we will meet again.
This coming Tuesday sometime after 630.
Thank you.
Next is up public safely, which is chairperson.
We met last Tuesday.
Our minutes are on file.
And we will meet again next Tuesday sometime after 630.
And next is Park of Recreation.
Chairperson.
Thank you.
President.
Parts and Recreation.
Also met last Tuesday.
Our minutes are on file.
We have resolution 372225 being voted on tonight.
We'll meet again.
This coming Tuesday sometime after 630.
Thank you.
Next we have officials.
We will start with mayor.
Thank you.
Mr. President.
And members of council and everyone that's here this evening.
I want to first publicly thank council member Smith for our discussion that we had just a few days ago.
I thought it was very valuable.
I thought it was informative.
You have always just as a city council member.
Just been very, very honorable in the way that you approach legislation and the way that you ask questions.
And I wanted to thank you for that, which leads me into letting everyone know what that discussion was about.
And that was particularly.
Related to the office on neighborhoods.
It was interesting.
In that discussion.
The council member Smith had brought up and offered.
The idea of why had we or why couldn't we utilize current staff.
In order to bring this to bear rather than creating a whole new department.
And if it was interesting that we both agreed.
In that discussion that in budget testimony last year.
I indicated that current staff would be utilized in 2025.
Especially with the neighborhood van.
Especially with going out in the communities.
And we had done that in 2025.
Council remembers.
We had a pretty sizable surplus.
I never asked for budget as it relates to the van.
Or as it relates to the office on neighborhoods.
But I'm really excited to continue the conversation with members of council.
Or anyone in the community as it relates to the office on neighborhoods.
Because while I sit here and I say that it's necessary.
I don't think members of council or members of the public really understand why I'm so passionate about
bringing this to the city of Whitehall.
And I and this is your fault.
Council member Smith because I shared it with you.
But I feel it's worthy to share it publicly.
I grew up in very extreme poverty.
Not just on the surface.
I'm talking homelessness, park benches.
I'm talking couches.
I'm talking homes that were deserted.
While with a single mother that always planted dreams and hopes and aspirations.
And said that education and opportunity.
Is just your decision away.
And it's interesting that as of today,
reading the Wall Street Journal 70% of Americans pulled in the Wall Street Journal
indicate that they no longer believe that the American dream is attainable.
And they believe that opportunities are not available.
And they believe that hard work 31% believe that hard work won't get you anywhere.
That is not the world that I grew up in.
That's not what my mother taught me.
That's not what I was taught.
And the beautiful thing about what I know about our city.
There are two things.
One, we are the city of opportunity.
And we stand by it.
We stand by it.
Not just in our words, but we also stand by it in our actions.
By having council members like council member Elmore.
That has funded the Martin Luther King Junior Scholarship.
And even anonymous council members that have done the same.
But it is one of those things that we stand behind our city and we stand behind our residents.
And the thing that I know because of my life and my upbringing.
Fortune favors the bold.
And going in the direction of creating a new department that is focused on the residents and the households.
The 80, 600 household units that are in the city of Whitehall with our poverty rate of 19% is an idea that is beyond its time.
And it is something that we have talked about doing for years.
But until we take actionable and measurable steps in that direction,
then it will just be something we talk about, something we play around with.
But the office on neighborhoods would be that direction to the residents where they live, where they are.
I can tell you stories of being in the community this year with the community van where hundreds of our neighbors have needed resources and services and wrap around services.
And my only heart was in a way that I was thinking.
I wish I could do it more. But as mayor, obviously, I have a task and other tasks ahead of me that I can't do that, individually by myself and the staff that I currently have poor Casey and the service department, my executive assistant, as well as service members who have assisted in bringing this to bear, it's been a lot.
And I've often said this publicly that healthy families, built healthy community and that would be the main focus and the goal for the office on neighborhoods to meet every resident where they are.
Now, mind you, I will make the promise once and if council approves the actual titles to do a more resplendent presentation as it relates to the data you be amazed at the individual neighborhoods and their particular needs throughout the city.
And it deserves a specialist and a person that gets up every day all day thinking about the residents and their homes, the children which we also know from the schools living in at least 85% of them are living in a state of poverty in our school system.
I believe we're better than that and I believe that our city can do better and that is the idea and the heart behind why I will bring why I intend to bring this to council for budget if we can afford it.
But if we can't then we can't at this time but if we can then it is a step in a direction that we can be the city of opportunity and we can put everything to bear and we can meet the moment of what we just saw recently at the library with the BRT doing its presentation.
Right through the city of Whitehall, the data will show that Whitehall stands to grow by nearly 16,000 residents by the time the BRT is completed.
What type of city are they going to come into? Are they coming into a city that is prepared or are we coming into a city where we're welcoming more rates of poverty?
We're just compiling poverty upon poverty or will we stand ready to be a city that's going to offer opportunity because that's who we are.
And so I wanted to share that because council member Smith told me that I should I'm just kidding but it just I've been moved by that by that conversation I really once again want to thank you for that.
And I will welcome additional conversations that necessary because I really believe and I stand behind the need for it and I see it as something that will move the needle in the right direction for our city and our neighbors.
So with that being said my last comments from the mayor's office is the Barker era has begun at Whitehall yearling high school and they beat a Columbus Public School last week they did East High School.
We have our first home game this Friday against Mary and Pleasant.
So I invite every single one of you to come out and cheer on our rams and watch them win this Friday. So thank you Mr. President. That's my time.
Thank you Mr. Mayor. Next is city attorney. We're going to have a meeting.
Thank you Mr. President. Thank you Mr. President. I also have no official report tonight. I would just ask for favorable consideration on resolutions 36 37 and 38 25.
Next on the agenda is Director of Public Services Casey Rollins.
Thank you President. I have no official report. I just wanted to let everyone know that Brittany was unable to get the meeting minutes for the planning commission completed with the holiday.
But they did give favorable consideration for 073225 out the planning commission meeting last Thursday. So I would ask for a favorable consideration for that decision. Thank you.
Next on the agenda is Director of Public Services. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Next on the agenda is not here. Next is Director of Economic Development.
Director of Economic Development. Jackie Russell who is also not here.
Next we have the following officials reports have been filed in the City Council office.
The last meeting since the last meeting. The August financial report for July 2025.
Now we'll move to communications petitions and claims the following communications petitions all crimes have been filed in the Council office since the last meeting.
White hot planning commission special meeting agenda for August 28 25 and White hot planning commission meeting minutes for Monday July 7 25.
At this time we have on the agenda for a public hearing for ordinance 732025 amendment section 1136 title flood management reduction of the planning and zoning code of the city of Whitehall.
I put some fast facts out sorry do you want to open it out? Yes. I'm a little slow.
Okay I read the legislation. I will open the public hearing on ordinance 732025 at this time are there any proponents who would like to speak in favor of ordinance 732025.
I will jump in now sorry for rushing in. I put some fast facts on all of your deaths today.
Kind of discuss this over the past few weeks on why we're ready for this legislation.
We did a regulation update back in 2019 and are required to do it again this year to enforce his regulations to be a part of the NFI key.
Which is the national flood insurance program through FEMA with the assistance of Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
We are one of the 754 communities that participate in the NFI key in Ohio and so that's why we have this legislation this evening just to make sure that we follow those regulations so that our homeowners and renters in the flood planning are eligible for
Fair request and federally backed insurance for the flood planning.
Thank you. Are there anyone else who wishes to speak?
I just passed it everybody planning commission vote for yesterday and then did anybody come and like did any citizens come and speak or have any questions?
I'll ask it all of maybe ten minutes.
Do you want us? Are there any upholics who would like to speak in opposition?
Oh, we're not 73.
Seeing none.
There's witness over there.
Excuse me, any additional proponents or opponents in order of 73.
Let's send in any emails or post-pondents.
Okay.
If there are no further opponents or proponents, I will close this public hearing on order of 73 at 724 and I did not give a time for opening.
Okay, that's it for the public hearing.
We now have our whole first whole public.
Anyone who wishes to speak?
Okay, come up. We have three minutes.
Stage nine and sign in.
There's a rush.
There you go.
It's not on it.
It should come over the schedule.
Thank you.
Anyone else wants to speak?
We'll move on to verification of copies.
This is what you call roll.
It's getting on whether each member of council was given a copy of each item of legislation on the agenda prior to the meeting and including any.
Yes.
Thank you.
We will now move to third readings.
We have ordinance 73, 2025.
Many section 11, 36 title flood damage reduction of the finding and zoning code of the city of Whitehall.
This is up to third reading and.
President Percent, I'd like to introduce ordinance 73, 2025 and move for its adoption.
Second.
For the seven, seven, three, 20, 25.
It's a big move for adoption by.
Councilor Smith and second by councilor Dixon.
Any questions or comments?
Ms. Wittis, would you please follow?
Morrison.
Yes.
Heck.
Yes.
Smith.
Yes.
Hard car.
Yes.
Dixon.
Yes.
Oh, more.
Yes.
That's it.
Order 73, 2025 has been adopted.
Who would now move to second readings.
Order 79, 2025.
This would be read by title only authorizing the mayor to execute.
The agreement for the collection transportation and delivery for disposal or processing of residential solid waste recyclable materials and yard waste.
Generating within the city of Whitehall Franklin County, Ohio.
Between the city of Whitehall and local.
The waste services out to you did.
We will now move to first readings.
We have ordnance 86, 2025.
This is authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with the public entities who of Ohio and declaring an emergency.
Present percent by like to introduce ordnance 86, 2025 and suspend all rules.
Second.
Ordnance 86, 2025 has been introduced for suspension of rules by Councillor Smith and
Seculated by Councillor Heck.
Is there any comments?
Ms. Wittis, would you please call the world?
Morrison.
Yes.
Harcar.
Yes.
Fixing.
Yes.
Elmore.
Yes.
Ordnance 86, 2025 has had the rules suspended.
Move.
2.
Second.
Ordnance 86, 2025 has been moved for adoption by Councillor Smith.
Thank you.
Ordnance 86, 2025 has been adopted.
We will now move to ordnance 87, 2025.
This is authorizing the exemptions of one of the rules.
Thank you.
Ordnance 86, 2025 has been adopted.
We will now move to ordnance 87, 2025.
This is authorizing exemptions of one, 61, 09, A, vacation and sick leave.
Credit carry over.
Excuse me.
1, 61, 09, A, for the.
Court of Appeals.
or Harcar any questions or comments?
Yes.
Smith.
Yes.
Harcar.
Yes.
Gixen.
Yes.
Orders 87, 2025, has had the rules suspended.
Hasn't a part time would like to move to adopt second?
Orders 87, 2025 has been moved for adoption by Councillor Hegg, seconded by Councillor
Harcar any questions or comments?
Yes.
Harcar.
Yes.
Harcar.
Yes.
Gixen.
Yes.
Oh.
Sorry.
Orders 87, 2025 has been adopted by Councillor Hegg, seconded by Councillor Hegg.
Now we will move to Orders 80, 2025.
Oh, the agenda shows first reading, but this has been changed to Title O'Lay.
Orders 88, 2025 to only authorizing and approving and amendment to the code of Title O'Lay.
This is a city of Whitehall, 161 table of authorized personnel for the fiscal year 2025 and declaring an emergency.
There again, that's been read by Title O'Lay.
Oh, that's 89, 2025, allowing the mayor to enter into a contract with LHM, advisors for the purpose of developing a community comprehensive plan and park and recreation plan and declaring an emergency.
This is, yeah.
I'd like to introduce Orders 89, 2025, and move to the next couple of roles.
Second.
Orders 89, 2025 has been introduced for suspension of all rules by Councillor Hegg, seconded by Councillor Hegg.
Any questions you're comments?
Is there any questions for the role?
More, sir.
Yes.
Harcar.
Yes.
There's been suspended on orders 89 and 2025.
Move to adapt.
Second.
Orders 89, 2025 has been moved for adoption by Councillor Hegg, seconded by Councillor Hegg.
Any questions your comments?
Is there a switch for the role?
More, sir.
Yes. Smith. Yes. Harcar? Yes.
Dickson? No.
Tell more? Yes.
Ordnance 89, 2025 has been amended with the help of the emergency calls.
Receiving four votes.
It's been adopted.
I'll mess up again.
It's been adopted.
With that for the emergency calls. Sorry about that.
Next is ordnance 90, 2025.
It's resolving a tobacco,
retail license appeal and declaring an emergency.
It's present.
I'd like to introduce ordnance 90, 2025,
and move this suspension of all the rules.
Second.
Ornance 90, 2025 has been introduced.
This has been all rules by Councillor Dickson,
second by Councillor Smith, and comments your questions.
This witness, please call the roll.
Morrison. Yes.
Heck. Yes. Smith. Yes.
Harcar? Yes. Dickson? Yes.
Elmore. Yes.
Ordnance 90, 2025 has the rules suspended.
Move to adopt, please.
Second.
Ornance 90, 2025 has been moved for adoption by Councillor Dickson,
second by Councillor Smith.
What is the police going to roll?
Morrison. Yes.
Heck. Yes. Smith. Yes.
Harcar? Yes. Dickson? Yes.
Elmore. Yes.
Ordnance 90, 2025 has been adopted.
Resolution 36, 2025.
Resolving to approve then and now certificates.
President Prostam, I'd like to introduce
resolution 36, 2025, and move to the suspension of all rules.
Second.
Resolution 36, 2025 has been introduced by Councillor,
second by Councillor Smith.
Of course, suspension of rules.
Any questions or comments?
This witness, please call the roll.
Morrison. Yes. Heck. Yes. Smith. Yes.
Harcar? Yes. Dickson? Yes.
Elmore. Yes.
Ordnance 90, pardon me.
Resolution 36, 2025 has been adopted.
Resolution 36, 2025 has been moved for adoption by
Councilor Elmore, second by Councilor Smith.
What is the police call the roll?
Morrison. Yes. Heck. Yes. Smith. Yes.
Harcar? Yes. Dickson? Yes. Elmore. Yes.
Resolution 36, 2025 has been adopted.
Resolution 37, 2025.
Authorizing the mayor to apply for an accept.
Assistance for the Ohio Department of Natural.
Resolution 36, the Ohio Urban Forestry Grant program.
Mr. President, I would like to introduce resolution number 37,
2025 and move for the suspension of all rules. Second.
Resolution 37, 2025 has been moved for suspension of rules by Councilor Hick
and second by Councilor Elmore. Any questions or comments?
This is where the police call the roll? Morrison.
No. Heck. Yes. Smith. Yes. Harcar? Yes. Dickson? Yes.
Elmore. Yes.
Resolution 37, 2025 has been adopted.
He has been moved for adoption by Councilor Hick, second by Councilor Elmore.
Mr. Smith. Yes. Harcar? Yes. Dickson? Yes.
Elmore? Yes.
Resolution 37, 2025 has been adopted.
The final item on the agenda of night is resolution 38, 2025.
It's accepting their mouth and rates as determined by the budget commission,
authorizing necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county on earth.
President Pro Temot like to introduce resolution 38, 2025 and move for suspension of all rules.
Resolution 38, 2025 has been introduced by Councilor Elmore.
Seconded by Councilor Harcar.
First suspension of rules. Any questions or comments?
This is where the police call the roll?
Of Morrison. Yes. Heck. Yes. Smith. Yes. Harcar? Yes. Dickson? Yes. Elmore? Yes.
Resolution 38, 2025 has been adopted.
Resolution 38, 2025 has been moved for adoption by Councilor Elmore.
Seconded by Councilor Harcar.
Mr. Smith. Yes. Harcar? Yes. Dickson? Yes. Elmore? Yes.
Resolution 38, 2025 has been adopted.
We're now moved to our second public.
We want to the ground to wish you come up and speak.
Seeing none, we will move to...
I'm happy that.
Community date board of which Mr. Harcar says she has nothing.
Harmar Smith. Yes. Harcar, please.
There is the Ethiopian New Year's celebration on Saturday from 3 to 7.
Over with the White Hole Wine, please join us at your able.
And the first football game, what's not for dad? May or now Saturday earlier?
Good, good, good, come back there.
Yes. That's all we have to do.
We're not having to worry about that.
Boxing registration and the whole concept that we have to have.
Visit a person-rex website. There are having registration.
What do you care about?
So this?
Then we can move on to Polk Council.
We will start with councilor.
Thank you, President Pertan.
Thank you, everybody. That is watching.
Thank you, too.
That came in tonight.
Thank you, Richard, for getting us a move.
Public it is not always easy.
So we do appreciate that.
And that's really all I have for tonight.
Thank you. Next is councilor Smith.
Thank you, President Pertan.
Thank you for those there today.
This evening, watching live, or we'll watch later this week.
Thank you for your kind words, Mayor Vivance.
I was just doing my due diligence, but I'm glad you know,
a stroke of cord we had a great conversation.
So if anybody would like to learn more information, I highly encourage you to call them.
We had a great conversation.
I asked some questions about overall staffing and what efforts have already been done.
I asked some pretty tough questions and we had a really good conversation about what
the future of this new department could look like.
And that's all.
I'm going to use certain sweet.
Thank you. That's what's left. Next is councilor Park.
Thank you, President Pertan. Thank you for coming in tonight.
Thank you Mr. Collins for getting up and speaking and welcome to City Council.
You're always welcome to come in.
I don't really have a lot from this evening either.
I do want to thank the Mayor for sharing some information about the neighborhoods.
Thank you, folks, for Smith, for meeting with him and getting further discussion going.
And I look forward to hearing what comes next.
Other than that, we'll have a great evening.
Thank you. Next is councilor Dickson.
Thank you, President Pertan.
Morrison.
Thank you to the two attendees here this evening.
And Mr. Collins.
Yes.
Thank you for coming in and welcome to a White House welcome to the City Council.
And of course, all those watching from home.
Well, keep it fairly short tonight.
I had two things that I wanted to share with everyone.
One of them had to do when I was discussing grants and taxes and how this country is
Interrobable debt and everything else.
And I found this quote from Calvin Cooler, which kind of summed it up.
I want to share it, I think, two weeks ago when I had forgotten.
So here I share it tonight.
President Cooler said, I favor the policy of economy, not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people.
The men and women of this country who toil are the ones who bear the cost of the government.
Every dollar that we carelessly waste means that their lives will be so much more maker.
And that kind of got to the heart of that.
The other thing I wanted to share was something from the blog post that I used to run, White House Watch blog.
And two weeks ago there was some inferences made here.
And I happened to come across this piece that I had written and posted on September 25th, 2017, eight years ago.
And I thought it was important to read and share with everyone.
So these are my thoughts from September 25th, 2017.
And they come from a blog that when I was running for office that year, things that I wish list for my time on Calvin.
Of course I didn't win that year but nevertheless this is one of them.
This is number eight and it's pretty important.
Number eight insists on increased awareness of diversity in the movements of city events and such.
And I write while I grew up in the White Hall of the 60s and 70s, where it was 99.5% white.
I also lived in New York City in LA for 17 years, where white was just one of several racial distinctions.
Growing up in a majority white community, I found it refreshing and wonderful to be surrounded by so much rich, racial, ethnic and cultural diversity.
Dominicans and Africans and Spaniards and Columbians and Islanders etc.
That all brought their unique selves to the table of experience and life.
New York City, who are used to a rich diversity of peoples, are very comfortable with all their citizens.
Everybody is celebrated and appreciated each and their own way and is a whole too.
Here in White Hall, I feel a lack of comfortability with diversity from our city in various ways.
For my experience in New York City in LA, it feels non-inclusive and off-putting.
Whether it was the harsh blanket criticism of the common royal landing neighborhood, where many people of color who didn't cause problems,
also, and who were forced out of their homes, or the distinct lack of diverse choices of music at the various free concert venues.
Currently, it's primarily always country music or 70s rock tribute bands.
It seems like stuff that those in charge enjoy, regardless of whether a broader scope of people would enjoy or attend it.
How about something for the Samanians or the Senegalese didn't?
They made what about the Latinos, how about a festival or ban celebrating one of their cultures. It must feel terribly dismissive to some citizens to never have their particular niche of humanity celebrated and made to feel specifically, excuse me, to feel specifically welcome by their own town.
The point is, I feel a lack of thought in regard to diversity of city events separates the citizenry. Whitehall is what it is now, not what it once, once, from eight years ago I wrote down.
As such, we need to acknowledge more of the reality of the current us and display it more in the events and such that we put on and enjoy.
It's my hope to keep an eye on and speak up about and defend this position when decisions are discussed and made.
And that's all I have, Mr. President, for example.
Thank you, Councilor Nixon. We will now move to Councilor Elmo.
Thank you, President President. I want to thank our viewers and those that are in attendance.
Thank you, Mr. Collins, for coming and being a part of local government. Hope to see you again. Hope you get involved.
And I'm sure you will find a conversation with the mayor regarding the healthy communities, the neighborhood communities, very informative.
The mayor spoke about his report, healthy families from healthy communities. I could not agree more.
The healthier we are as a family, the more we get back and we retain as a community and can assist other community members.
As we grow, we need a plan of action, a road map, and this city is evolving. It's multicultural, it's multigenerational.
We are considered a melting pot. And although we are mid to lower income, we need to, we really are in desperate need of meeting the needs of those people in the different wars and the neighborhoods.
So that they don't feel like one area is better than the other.
They take, they look at their own communities and wars as a wonderful place to live and we want to make sure that we are promoting that all over.
And so I say that to say, without a vision, the people perish. We don't have a vision. We go back to nostalgia. We don't have anything to hang our hat on.
And we are not like other cities. As a matter of fact, we don't have all of the amenities and all of the different things that larger cities have, or cities that have more money like an upper Arlington, or Reynoldsburg, or New Albany.
Those are separate and distinct. What we should be focusing on is a neighborhood and a city in which we live to make it a better place to live.
And to ensure that we have people that we meet the needs of those people that live in our city so that they become healthy and contribute to the city called Whitehall.
And I am happy to be here almost 15 years now. And I don't think I would choose another place to live because of all of the amenities, all of the culture and just the growth that is happening here in Whitehall.
And so thank you Mayor for your vision. Thank you Council for seeing the vision ahead and moving in that direction.
And my hope is that all counselors will come on board to see what the vision is for the city, not like not what it was, not what it is, but what it has the potential to be. And that's all I have.
Thank you, Councilor.
Now more. I guess I would do that last bit of a talk. I would like to thank Mr. Wittis for her patience.
Thank you very much. Thank Mr. Collins for his participation. It's always to be able to see the faces here and new participants.
I would like to thank those at home for watching and thank the administration of Council for their patience with me today.
If there's nothing else before this Council, I will bear it 749.