City Council - Regular Meeting

Mr. Caress, please join us for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. here. Mayor Bailey, I didn't hear you speak. I haven't follow the role, please. Bailey, here. Vice Mayor B here. Good here. Hamlin. Here. Mr. Hart, here. Miss Hazel Baker.

Oh, boy. Here. Mr. Here. It's going to be interesting. Sort of frog in the room. There's something going on down there. Welcome everyone. With us tonight we have our director of finance Mark Medler, Chris Winage, assistant city manager, clerk of council Misty Clark, Dave Kennedy, city manager, city solicitor Joe Ronn, Kelsey Richard our engineer, and our chief of police Michael Gabrielson, former council members all sitting in a row, Neil Ory, Kent Blair, and Todd Osborne. That's right. All right, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Medler.

So, um we're here tonight for Mark's uh fifth uh celebrate Mark's five years with the city. Um I I got to tell you that I can't tell you how important stability is uh for any city. You see that with what Misty brings to us and all the people that have been around for many years. We over an 8-year period, we had six finance directors. And that is not a benefit to anyone. It's not a benefit to figure out how we operate the city. And when Mark came around, um there was just something different uh about it. And I think we knew right off the bat we were going to get the stability. Wanted to be here. He was happy to be here. And that's first and foremost. And he recognizes how important this city is. And you know, so much of what we do, and I when I say that, I'm talking about Chris and I and and Kelsey, too. So much of everything we do uh goes back to money, grants, uh uh major projects, fire funding, personnel, equipment, whatever it is, you know, um Mark is always there. He could take on the role that my job is to take care of the books, keep the books going, and um that's how it is. And what it is is just couldn't be farther from that. Mark is with Chris and I on every grant application helping us with the forms figuring out how to what account we want to take off. What do you think we can put in Mark? Do you think we maybe can go 15% match on this? Yeah, I think we go 15% because we can take some out of this fund and we can do that or that's going to help our application. And and that's uh that's a big part of what we do. I can't tell you how many times I've run into Mark's office to ask him a question and he always knows exactly what it is. And um that really benefits the city. I can't tell you enough how much that benefits what we do. Um I know that Mark comes off as a bit dry. That's an understatement.

But he's actually very funny and uh he is really a pleasure to work with. He's actually a you might not know this, but Mark is a closet hard rocker and um I think he has been caught air guitaring in his office. Drums.

Drums. Air drumming in his office. He likes the likes of Dream Theater. He made me listen to some of it on the way home one day. I don't get it. It's a far cry from John Denver, let me tell you. He's he is also uh quite the along with Chief Gabrielson quite a pizza snob. So, in closing, I've seen how Mark has grown and evolved over the five years he's been with the city and I can't imagine a better person for the job. And I hope Mark on behalf of everyone who's had an opportunity to work with Mark, we all say we hope he is here for many, many years to come. Thanks Mark.

Um I would just add that obviously Mark is very smart, very competent for all the reasons that Dave said. We know we're in good hands with Mark, which is great expected, but and we appreciate all that. But what I really appreciate is I just see you as a man of honor and integrity. You're solid. You're dedicated. not just to your job but to this city and just feel like we're in good hands with you and that that you are looking out for us and for the interest of uh of the council and and the residents at all times and always a a pleasure to be with. So very much appreciate you being it's hard to believe it's 5 years. It seems longer because you just seem we're just it's so easy with you. So thank you for being here for 5 years. I would agree. I hope uh hope we have another 20 25 years out of you for this city. We would be in very good hands if that were if that happens. Congratulations. This is YOUR did ask Mark not to drone on like he ordinarily does.

So I'll keep it moderately short. But uh thank you so much for this. I've been here know five years and just it feels like home. It's like a place I wanted to be. Um, you know, when I moved to the Cincinnati area, you're looking for places that kind of define you and places you want to go and spend some time. And Lovelin just was that, you know, on my lunch breaks when the numbers get to be too much and I need to get out of the get out of that world to take a walk on the on the bike trail, go into the shops, uh, got a record player for my birthday last year. So, now I'm next door quite often, you know, perusing the stacks of records. So, it just seemed like a place I want to be and I want to stay. uh got a really great staff. They were really helpful to me when I uh first started as my first director position obviously hopefully my last and I will stay here for quite some time. But staff did a great job of being able to take care of the day-to-day stuff, taking that pressure off of me so I can just sit down and focus on on doing my job and doing what I need to do. So just thanks for a very very awesome staff that I've got and Mr. Kennedy for being a great teacher. I I would call him the John Wooden of city management. He can just coach you.

John Wooden let you know everything you know. You know, this is the guy that can coach you in and knows knows a thing or three about city management. So, just like I said, appreciate it here. I feel like this is my home. I hope to stay here for quite some time. Thank you. Congratulations, sir.

It's quite lively. Oh, we are. Thank you. And as I turn on the door, we took a picture. Oh, yeah. You're directing

despite I just keep keep it.

You made me I'm not used to what is going on. God. Okay. All right. Where are we? Next is uh review and approval of the minutes from the January 13, 2026 meeting. Were there any changes or additions? Move to approve as written. Second. Thank you. Call the role, please. Vice Mayor Baitman. Yes. Mr. Goodyear. Yes. Miss Hamlin. Yes. Mr. Hart. Yes. Miss Hazel Baker. Yes. Mr. Janick. Yes. Mayor Bailey.

Yes. Motion carries seven to zero. All right. Next is second reading of the ordinance. We'll go ahead and read that. Ordinance amending section 905.14 creating section 905.14B of the city of Welvin code of ordinances relating to the city sidewalk program. Thank you. Any further comment or questions regarding that ordinance? Right. Go ahead. Call the role, please. Excuse me. Mr. Goodear. Yes. Miss Hamlin. Yes. Mr. Hart. Yes. Hazel Baker. Yes, Mr. Janick. Yes, Mayor Bailey. Yes, Vice Mayor Baitman. Yes. Sorry. Ordinance 9 is adopted by vote of 7 to zero.

Read the next ordinance, please. Ordinance amending the codified ordinances and zoning map of the city of B to change the zoning district classification of certain properties located within the RMF residential multif family zoning district to the special planning district SPD zoning district classification for special planning district 20 highlands of loveland. Thank you. All right. Any comments, questions on that ordinance? Very good. All right. Call the roll, please. Miss Hamlin, yes. Mr. Hart, yes. Yes. Miss Hazelbaker, no. Mr. Janick, yes. Mayor Bailey, yes. Vice Mayor Baitman, yes. Mr. Goodyear, yes. Ordinance 10 is adopted by vote of 6 to1. Want to read the next ordinance, please?

Ordinance amending section 115.07K of the codified ordinances of Ohio to increase the city manager spending authority. All right. And there is a redline version at the table. Yeah, council member Hamlin found that I was missing a word, so we would call that scribers. Thank you. Okay. Any further comment on this ordinance? All right. Call the RO, please. Mr. Hart, yes. Miss Hazel Baker, yes. Mr. Janick, yes. Mayor Bailey, yes. Vice Mayor Baitman, yes. Goodyear, yes. Hamlin, yes. Ordinance 11 is adopted by vote of 7 to zero. Mr. Kennedy,

so um this resolution is uh would authorize the submission of an application to the Ohio Department of Transportation for a uh funding to do a school travel plan. the uh the ODOT uh safe routes to school program is one of the most impactful uh programs to be used for um constructing sidewalks to encourage kids to walk to school. Um it fits in well with uh what we're doing in the city and it fits in well with the Claremont County pedestrian connectivity plan that the city put together. Um and it also works really well for the city because the way the school campuses are scattered throughout many sidewalks connecting can sage is a perfect example of safe routes to school project where sidewalks were inserted. Um so the problem with the safe routes to school plan is uh funding is that you need to do a school travel plan and I think we've struggled for years to get this done. uh through a conversation with ODOT last year they said I don't know why you're struggling with it apply for funding they the state will hire a consultant and it really is the best way to do it I found out Madiraa and many other communities have done it that way we applied in 2025 and we were not approved reached out to them uh to Tom who runs the program gave me some advice by no means will we be funded but I do feel like uh we we we're going to keep taking that step so This uh is simply a requirement for the uh the the application and it is simply authorizes sub submission. There's no funding um on this. They basically would hire the consultant, pay for the consultant out of the funds um and um with that then we could immediately apply for construction because we already have projects that are in the hopper and that actually helps our application. Uh, I I I'm not

not preaching and I'll this I'll shut up after this, but I can't tell you how many times we reference the master plans that the city has done when we're applying for grant funding. It's it's almost always does this, um, correlate with a plan of the city. So, um, so that's that. So, outside of that, I don't have anything. Thank you. Any questions or comments? Yes, M.

Um, I really appreciated the map in there. I'm I am a Claremont side uh resident, so I've mapped and walked those many of times. Um and so I appreciated that. I think um for the map, just really being able to call that connectivity to LEC, but Koi Parks on there called out really well. Um St. Clone whether they're relevant or not, but I think making sure that map shows that connectivity to those schools um I think would help in addition to the parks and everything that so but a lot of appreciation for that effort. Thank you. Any further comment?

All right. I would just say I'm appreciate that we're moving forward on this. This sort of started as a a byproduct of actually trying just to get them sidewalks in front of St. Columbian and up to White Pillars, which is when we applied for this and and we're doing that. But I think from that effort came this idea that wow, we could really do a whole lot in Claremont County. So, I appreciate that we're moving this forward and hopefully we'll get there. Go ahead and read the resolution. Resolution authorizing the submission of a safe routes to school travel plan development assistance. Call the role, please. Miss Hazelbaker, yes. Mr. Jarnick, yes. Mayor Bailey, yes. Vice Mayor Baitman, yes. Mr. Goodyear, yes. Miss Hamlin, yes. Mr. Hart, yes. Resolution 12 is adopted by vote of 7 to zero.

Mr. Kennedy.

So, um this is sort of uh uh as as everyone knows, the city took on our public works department took on a project along uh Sweetheart Lane. We did other landscaping. Uh if many of you recall what those bushes used to look like, I always knew when I would get a call at some point in time where someone got poison ivy or so and so forth. So when we took out the bushes and we installed the trees and we basically peeled off this onion, we kept finding other items we needed to do. We went into the project with the goal of upgrading the electric over by where the ATM used to be um which uh shorts out on a often especially during events. Upgrade put dedicated vendor boxes. So that area that has now become one of the premier extensions of our downtown event space because of the businesses that are over there the hops and berries and eno if people want to be there. So everything made a complete sense with our initial project and our initial scope but it was one of the epitome of you know while we're doing this we really should do this and while we're doing this we really should do this and that's exactly what happened. Uh, I remembered a resident, I forget exactly who it was, commenting about the dark space uh, as you had on the bike trail towards the bike trail crossing uh, behind the that dumpster area and we're like, well, we own those uh, shepherd hooks. We added the shepherd hook lights. That area is perfect now as you walk towards Broad Street. Um, and then we realized that we really need the lighting to not be plugged into the event spaces. They should have dedicated uh, outlets at each of the trees. and now was the time to do it. So, I did this knowing that we would be exceeding the spending limit, but the timing we we needed to move forward and for various reasons, we really weren't able to put this whole piece back together um for

some personal reasons until now. So, uh, what we're asking now is for council to just go ahead and do the total project cost, which will allow us to pay off the contractor, Trevor Electric, for this work, which is I I can't tell you enough if this was anyone else, this would be a much more expensive project. Um, and uh, he Bob on his own uh, made the lights uh, brighter. Uh the goal was actually Mayor Barley's goal was to try to turn the heads on the go on the lights so they shine down on the trail, not on the parking lot. And Bob tried one and it wouldn't work. So he went in on his own, upgraded all the lighting fixtures. So we were able to put that light on without that. And um so long story short is uh I went I got the initial uh amount of 10,850. Um, I went ahead and paid them some additional funding up right up to the edge of my spending limit. And then at this point, we're we're asking for the balance. And because this was a 2025 expenditure being paid in 2026, the legislation includes a then and now certificate which is required by the auditors.

Okay. Thank you. Any comments or questions? Right. Read the resolution, please. Resolution authorizing additional expenditures associated with Sweetheart Lane electrical improvement and the director of finance to issue a then and now certificate. Call the role, please. Mr. Jick, yes. Mayor Bailey, yes. Vice Mayor Baitman, yes. Mr. Goodyear, yes. Miss Hamlin, yes. Mr. Hart, yes. Miss Hazel Baker, yes. Resolution 13 is adopted by a vote of seven to zero.

Kelsey Richards. Thank you, mayor. Um, every other year the city advertises to request bids for the street the annual street repair program and the selected contractor submits their unit prices for that year and the same unit pricing is extended for the following year and this has been the process the city has been following for the past 10 plus years. Uh it's a great program for the city to ensure that the same unit pricing is available for two years. And JK Mirror was a selected contractor for the 2025 street repair program and has submitted the written offer required to extend the same unit pricing for 2026 repair program. Um $880,000 was allocated for the 2026 annual road program. Last year in 2025, $800,000 was allocated for the road program, but $200,29.70 was not used due to weather and other delays. So the leftover funds from 2025 will be carried into this year, resulting in the total annual road program of 1,ion8,29.70. So staff recommends that city council adopt a resolution to authorize a renewal contract with Jerry Mir for the 2026 street repair program. Very good. Thank you. Any comments or questions?

Yes, Mr. Hart. Um, just for clarity here. So, this is the same rate as last year. So, which means when we come back in 20 the when we when we when will we renegotiate will be end of 26 or end of 27. So, we will if we um do this it will be for 2026 pricing this year. Then next year would be uh the whole new bid for to get new either JK or new contract. And that would we would be doing that process like November, December. That would be beginning next year. Okay. Yes. Any other questions, comments? All right. Read the resolution, please.

Resolution authorizing the city manager to enter a contract with JK Murp for the city of Lovelin 2026 street repair program. Thank you. Call the role, please. Mayor Bailey, yes. Vice Mayor Baitman, yes. Mr. Goodyear, yes. Miss Hamlin, yes. Mr. Hart. Yes. Miss Hazel Baker. Yes. Mr. Jarnick. Yes. Resolution 14 is adopted by vote of 7 to zero. Mr. Witch.

Thank you, Mayor. Um, as part of the 2026 capital budget, um, one of the areas we identified um, that needed upgrades was our cyber security posture um, here at city hall as well as all the other facilities throughout the throughout um, the city. Um and as you know we've been with Velcore um our third part third thirdparty IT u management company since 2012 and most recently in 2024 we reuped a contract with them. Um they currently provide us with two kind of two services that they call total care and total backup. Currently these pretty much give us technicians on site for 16 hours a week. Um they help us with project implementation. They provide 247 assistance. They do minimal um kind of anti- fishing um spamware um uh catching you know things in our emails that kind of stuff. So right now kind of our posture with cyber security is pretty minimal. Um I would say it's you know average as far as what other people are doing. Um we need to we need to take that step up. Um which involves a a whole host of other things. um specifically it kind of all envelops into one thing which is 247 monitoring uh behind the scenes. So when I say currently we they provide 247 service that's basically we can pick up the phone if I'm here at 7 o'clock at night they're going to answer and they're going to help me through whatever's going on with my computer or our network or whatever the 247 monitoring that they're offering. Um, and it's it's a whole host of other things, but the most important thing is there's this whole new world where there's an AI type of thing behind the scenes that's looking at all the different things that are happening within our network. Okay, so tendencies, things that are quite frankly above my head. Um, but we have

we have full faith and full, you know, full uh, you know, full faith in Velor that what the product they're offering us and that they're willing to, you know, enter into contract with us would serve all those purposes. Um, some of the other things, real important things, um, are user awareness training. They're going to provide that to our staff um, on a on an annual basis. Um, one of the other big things is what's called penetration testing. Um, so several times a year they're essentially going to plant uh something in our system and see how we react sort of thing. So obviously it's not real. Um, but how how are we going to react? How how are we set up? Um, you know, our imple how do we how do we um, you know, contact them, how do they handle it, all that good stuff. So it'll be tabletop sort of exercises. Um, so all of this stuff, and I've outlined them kind of in a in bullet points in your memo, and I'm not going to read through all of them, but those are those are, you know, there's 15 different items that they're providing in addition to their service that they currently give us. Um, it's not cheap, and we talked about this at the beginning or when we did our our budgeting process. Um, we're looking at an annual cost of around 90 a little north of $90,000. Um, but keep in mind because this is obviously a citywide thing, we're able to spread this amongst many different funds. Um, because this impacts all of our facilities, all of our funds, all of our operations. Um, so it's not a not as big of a hit as it seems. Um, we have committed to this um, by passing back in November. When I say committed, we committed to the city taking steps forward. uh back in November as part of um I believe it was House Bill 95 um every every government entity had to had to implement a cyber security policy and as part of that policy these are the things these are

the steps we need to be taking. Um so with that I'll open it up to uh any questions um with regards to that contract. Any questions comments Mr. Hart?

Um Mr. W if if you would. Um so you kind of briefly kind of remind us all of the u impetus for not only this level of protection but this company that we're proceeding with if you would. So um you've heard recently the most the most uh the one that comes to mind that hit home was city of Middletown recently. um nothing, you know, nothing of their fault, but they someone got behind the scenes and basically crippled their whole their whole system. And they have, to my knowledge, they're still battling a couple small nuance things right now. But what the hackers essentially did was give them bits and pieces as they paid ransom. um their ransom payments have they've from what I understand they've been over a million dollars um in ransom that that they've been they've been held up held accountable for. So that was that's not necessarily the only thing we were thinking about this before this happened last year with Middletown. The interesting thing with Middletown is they they also have a third party IT vendor. I'm not quite sure who it is, but when they when this all went down, they actually contacted Velor, which is our third party, that Velor has no contract with them, no nothing. They contacted them to come in and help fix the situation, and from all accounts, they did a heck of a job helping them out. Um, so which gives us great confidence in Velor. um for them not to even be under contract with someone and for them to be known on the street this kind of a street um that they're they're big boys and they they can really handle these things um puts a lot of confidence in us. So, you know, and Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Medler and all his staff, we we truly value. They do a great job. I I joke around Mr. Kennedy and I, we're always, there's supposed to be a help desk ticket that we're supposed to use,

you know, but we just call our two techs. I mean, and they're on it right away. Um, so we really do enjoy working with them. Um, so that was kind of the impetus to all this going. Um, but obviously House Bill 95, I think it was 95, you know, put all this into effect also that, you know, we really need to be thinking about this. Thank you for the additional context. Any other comments or questions? All right. Uh, read the resolution, please. Resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Bellor Services for cyber security upgrades and services. Call the role, please. Vice Mayor Baitman, yes. Mr. Goodyear, yes. Miss Hamlin, yes. Mr. Hart, yes. Miss Hazelbaker, yes. Mr. Janick, yes. Mayor Bailey,

yes. Resolution 15 is adopted by a vote of seven to zero. Mr. Warich,

thank you, mayor. Um, this piece of legislation in front of you is basically a formality type of thing with ODOT. This is the Love of Madiraa improvements phase one project. Uh, remember we renamed these so that they were a little less confusing. This is the project from the city limits to Oasis. This is the sidewalk project. Um, that will start this year. Um, keep in mind first piece of that is Duke moving their poles. So, we're on them. This will go out to bid uh in on March 1st of 2026. So this March. Um this is the this legislation is the final piece that we have to sign with ODOT that basically says we understand what we're going to owe for this construction. Um the final the final uh tally for us and what we'll be required to pay is $442,1020. Um, this has gone up a little bit because the the construction estimate did go up a little. It's gone up about $18,000 from the last time you've seen it. Um, but with that, this is uh simply a contract with ODOT. Um, basically committing those funds.

Thank you. Any comments or questions? Read the resolution, please. Resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an LPA O. at project agreement for the lovely madiraa road phase one project. Call the role please. Mr. Goodyear. Yes. Miss Hamlin. Yes. Mr. Hart. Yes. Miss Hazelbaker. Yes. Mr. Jarnick. Yes. Mayor Bailey. Yes. Vice Mayor Baitman. Yes. Resolution 16 is adopted by vote of 7 to zero. Mr. Kennedy.

So um the for you tonight is the request to set public hearing for request uh for sale of property. uh city's uh codified code section 107.01A uh dictates that whenever the city would be selling property, they must a do it via ordinance and b uh do it uh following a public hearing at which time the uh which coincides with the city manager deeming the property is no longer needed for municipal purposes. What I'm requesting tonight is that city council set a public hearing for February 10th, 2026 to consider the sale of of approximately 10 acres of land owned by the city which includes uh the single uh the parcel Boi Park uh which is approximately 9.5 acres and the corresponding um public rideway which is city street owned and maintained by uh the city commonly called Tiger Trail. Uh the sale would include the city being granted an easement. There is a pump station and a water man in that area. All of those items have been taken into consideration while we've uh worked through this uh process with the school district. Um at that point in time uh at the night of the public hearing, I would uh have an ordinance uh available for first reading.

Okay. So, we're just you're just asking for a motion at this point to set a public hearing. Yes. Is there any comments or questions before we do that? Someone care to make the motion? Move we set a public hearing for the September February 10th, 2026 regular council meeting to consider the sale of Boy Park and Tiger Trail. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Call the role, please. Miss Hamlin. Yes, Mr. Hart. Uh, on advice of the city slow, I'm going to abstain based on my appointment. Miss Hazelbaker, yes, Mr. Jinick. I abstain as well. My relationship with the school. Mayor Bailey. Yes. Vice Mayor Baitman. Yes.

Mr. Goodyear. Yes. 7 to zero. Mr. Medler.

Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, council. So, before you is the fourth quarter 2025 financial reports. We have put a bow on 2025 and very pleased with where we finished up with the general fund. General fund finished with revenues half a million dollars higher than expenses. So we have no deficit there. General fund did quite well. This was driven mostly by income tax which saw the city bring in over $7 million for the first time in its history. So I think it was just a few years ago we were saying that about the $6 million range, but now look where we are with with seven. So that was driven primarily by a very strong January 2025 with some business revenues that came in. Things kind of um I don't say go down, but kind of leveled out towards the end of the year. So that we were very pleased though to finish with about $7.2 $2 million in income tax for the year investments. So those rates have been coming down the past couple years. We're by no means getting to the 2000 range where we were getting less than a percent. Things are still just a little bit under 4%. We're seeing the range in the threes which has been pretty good. Our estimate for investment income into the special projects funds was $450,000 for the year and we came within 8/10en of a percentage point of that. So I' I'd call that pretty good to be within 1% of your estimate. So moving on, uh property taxes remain strong with some increase over the prior year as I I believe we mentioned last quarter. We're keeping an eye on that with various legislations throughout the state. Keep an eye on that with our with our

finance commission. Fire and EMS funds have been strong through the year thanks again to our 22 levy that has really stabilized our revenues with fire. If you look on that that chart that we have, some of the funds are kind of up and down. One of them has gone down because in 2024 we had sold the previous ladder truck. So, we didn't get that $200,000 bump that we got in 2024. Revenues have been up in fund 29, which is the fund that we are using to receive and spend funds for the fire station that's building down the road. That should be done later this year. Downtown TIF continues to be strong with the historic Loveland TIFF payments coming in. enterprise funds. That's something we're keeping an eye on and we talked about with the finance commission last week. Going to be looking at the the long-term health of our different funds in there. We saw last year when we increased the storm water fees. That's really helped out that fund. Water main replacement fund which came online a couple years ago has really helped out with funding our waterline replacement projects to not have to do debt issuances. something that's been, you know, very helpful, not having to that out. Even if you're getting 0% loans, which we typically get with OPWC, it's still good not to tie up your funds. So, having the WMR fees has been really helpful to us. So, it's kind of the the highle explanations for 2024. As I mentioned, we had closed the year and we will begin the process of going through our audit later in this year. Last year we had the state come and do their review. Every 10 years you're required to have the a state-run audit.

That went very well. Last year we they had some uh definitely in-depth questions for us and we did a very good job with staff answering all the questions that they had and having no real major material problems there. Now we have a new group coming in for a five-year contract that's going to help us with our audit later this year. Thank you, Mr. Hart. And as our rep to uh finance commission, you have anything you want to add?

Um yeah. Um I would say one kudos to to Mr. Mel Medler and uh the entire finance commission. The gentleman do great work on that commission. Um Mr. Medler earlier in the year kind of said he felt like we were going to go over the 7 million threshold and he got a couple of side eyes that night. But as per usual, Mr. has his thumb on the pulse of everything and and kind of knows what's going on. He's done a nice job and I'm glad he I'm glad he pointed to the enterprise funds questions that came up during the u I I don't know if I'd go as far as to call them a concern, but but we definitely talked about watching those things as we um the the gentleman the finance commission continued a great job uh inclusive of Mr. Blair, who's with us tonight, asking penetrating questions and not really pulling any punches and, you know, having a um having a candid conversation about where where our finances are in the city, which is kind of the only way to do that with one of the most important things we do, which is watch over our residents money. So, um kudos to all all included are all involved in that process and uh we continue to continue to work hard to make sure we're being good stewards of the taxpayer money.

Very good. Any comments or questions, Mr. Vice Mayor Baitman. Thank you. Um, thanks Mr. Medler. I appreciate uh these updates. It's always nice to get the overview from from like Mr. Hart said the the person with their finger on the pulse. So, regarding the enterprise funds, I just had a quick question, maybe you could illuminate a little bit around the PAS remediation fund 67 a little bit um you know how that like how that's collected and also many any plans for attribution and kind of the budget versus the year-to- date. Just trying to understand a little bit like what what comprises that.

Well, as far as money coming in, you know, we had a easement from a water tower. I believe it was a year or so ago that gave us some some funding there. Also, other settlements uh specific to this that come in get put directly into this fund for for safekeeping and just for transparency to show people that we're that money going in is only to be spent for this purpose. It's not going to be absorbed in anything else. It's not going to go to any salary or general fund or anything like that. So I mean that's really what I can talk about as regard to the money coming in.

Okay. That I just wanted to know if that was like like and you answered the question the settlement uh funds would were going there and then it's sort of by dedicated in that pile it's uh earmarked exclusively for just as the name says remediation of pasure. So thanks thanks for that explanation. Any further questions or comments? Right. Thank you very much Mr. Medler. I think what we need then is a motion to accept the fourth quarter 2025 update. Anyone? I'll move that. So moved. Second. Second. Call the role, please. Mr. Hart, yes. Baker, yes. Mr. Janick,

yes. Mayor Bailey, yes. Vice Mayor Baitman, yes. Mr. Goodier, yes. Mr. Hamlin, yes. Motion carries seven to zero. Are we good on your income tax update? I would just make a a quick comment about it. So, as as I mentioned, January 25 was very strong. Uh January 26 was strong as well, just didn't see that same bump that 25 had. So, I think we're still in very good shape, but we're going to keep an eye on 26 as we go throughout the year. Okay. Thank you.

All right. Um I don't have any announcements evidently. Does anybody else have any announcements? Anything to report? Mr. Hart? Yeah, I would uh I think I would be remiss if we didn't send out a thank you to our public works department for the hours and hours and hours of work they have put in here over the last couple days. I my wife works in downtown Cincinnati and she called me from leaving leaving from work and said uh roads are horrible. I said well honey they are just wet here and I'm almost dry actually. So just get just get to a level and you'll be fine. They continue to do a great job. Thank you. Anything else?

All right. And we do need a motion for executive session. We need someone other than Miss Hamlin to read that.

Okay. I'll make a motion for executive session under Ohio Revised Code section 121.22 G2 to consider the purchase of property and under Ohio Revised Code section 121.22G8 22G8 to consider confidential information related to the marketing plan, specific business strategy, production techniques, trade secrets, or personal financial statements of an applicant for economic development assistance under Ohio law which is necessary to protect the interests of the applicant or the possible investment or expenditure of public funds to be made in connection with the economic development project that is related to a request for economic development assistance. Thank you. Is there a second? Call the role, please. Miss Hazel Baker, yes.

Mr. Janick, yes. Mayor Bailey, yes. Mr. I'm sorry. Vice Mayor B. Yes. Get used to it. I promise. That's okay. I'm not used to it. Mr. Goodyear. Yes. Miss Hamlin. Yes. Mr. Hart. Yes. Motion carries. 7.

Are we on? Can we get a motion to adjourn? Second. Second. Call the RO, please. Mr. Janick, yes. Bailey, yes. Vice Mayor Baitman. Yes. Mr. Goodyear. Yes. Hamlin. Yes. Mr. Hart. Yes. Miss Hazelbaker. Yes. And carry seven to zero.