City Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. The public public hearing scheduled for 6:40 is called to order. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts here. Mr. Riggsby here. Mrs. Tacket here. Mr. Wallace here. Mr. R here. Has proper legal notice been given for this hearing?

Notice of a public hearing for the purpose of considering the proposed amendment to the Melody Parks planned development for 409.3 acres located at 4025 East National Road was published in the Springfield News Sun, a newspaper of general circulation within the city. Attached here too are true and correct copies of the legal notices published on February 5th, 2026. I move that the communication be ordered, received, recorded in the minutes, and filed. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mr. Rickby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. R? Yes. Staff report.

Good evening everyone. The original plan development district was established in June of 2022. An amendment which added in three parcels to this was approved in 2024 and the applicant is requesting to amend the 2024 PD plan and text for Melody Parks development. The Clark County comprehensive plan shows this area as mixeduse high and low intensity. A mixeduse development that includes commercial and residential uses is envisioned for the subject parcels and will complement surrounding uses. City's zoning code was adopted May of 2025 and the applicant is proposing to clean up the text document to show current zoning classification language and also proposing other minor amendments. This text amendment will be applicable to all parcels included under this development including all future subdivision phases. Due to the scaleoff project, it was decided by the applicant to submit a phase-wise subdivision plat map as the project progresses. Till date there have been the following final plat approvals showing different phases as shown on this slide here with the most recent being approved in January this year. The current request is to revise the plan and text as explained in the following slides. The sub areas shown on the map are not the subdivision phases and each subphase has its own development standards. There is a copy of red line text enclosed with case packet. Out of the eight uh sub areas five show revisions. Sub areas 3, 4 and 8 do not

show any change. Sub areas 5, 6 and 7 highlighted on this slide show addition of low density multifamily use. Multif family use as proposed in sub area 7 and seen on the map is not along Titus road except for the area as shown on this slide here. Return reports from city staff show no concerns. City planning and zoning division recommends approval with notes. This proposed amendment is applicable to all parcels included in this development including the subdivision phases. Parcel numbers are subject to change as the project goes through subdivision plats or lots split. In regards to project phases, the final phases for project shall match the approved preliminary plat and PD development standards. Any future plat submissions will have to comply with building and site standards as stated in the most recently adopted development standards documents. Overall recommendation is approval of applicants request to amend the PD plan and text as presented. Any amendment or modification of an established PD district requires recommendation from the applicable planning board and city commission's final decision. Applicants request was heard by CEDA regional planning commission and was recommended approval with 4 to2 votes. Thank you.

Is the applicant present? Yes. If we could hear from the applicant, please.

Good evening. Zach Sugarman on behalf of the applicant. Um just want to say I we appreciate uh the city's partnership investment in this transformative project. Um, we believe it's off to a very successful start and we expect that success to continue, but we also know that we have a lot of hard work ahead of us as we build out the site. Um, we're in this for the long haul. We're taking a strategic long-term view. Um, hence our current request uh to this commission concerning the um approved multifamily use that's already on the site for sub areas five and six that this request. Um, now we're not changing the use anywhere on site. Um, but what this allows us to do is it allows multifamily to be built in additional strategic locations throughout sub area 5 and six. Um, all at the same density that's already approved um for sub area uh 4 um which gives us maximum flexibility and optionality respond the market. Um so as all as always we appreciate the city's support and respect request that uh the amendment. Thank comments from commissioners. Would anybody like to speak to this hearing only hearing? No comments. Is there a motion to conclude this hearing?

So move. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk call the role. Mr. Rickettts. Yes, Mr. Riggsby. Yes, Mrs. Tacket. Yes, Mr. Wallace. Yes, Mr. Room. Yes. The hearing schedule for 6:45 is called to order. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts here. Mr. Riggsby here. Mrs. Tacket here. Mr. Wallace here. [clears throat] Mr. R

here. Has proper legal notice been given for this hearing? Notice of a public hearing for the purpose of considering the proposed change in zoning for 28.37 acres located at 2683 Springfield Jamestown Pike being parcel numbers 3050700 3230000003 and 3050700 323000013 from Springfield Township Agricultural District to city P IE institutional and educational district was published in the Springfield News Sun, a newspaper of general circulation within the city. Attached here too are true and correct copies of the legal notices published on December 1, 2025 and December 13th, 2025.

I move that the communication be ordered, received, recorded in the minutes, and filed. Second. The motion's been made and seconded. Cler call the role. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Mr. Riggsby. Yes. Mr. Ricketts. Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Staff report.

The applicant here is requesting to reszone the two subject parcels as shown on slide from Springfield Township agriculture zoning to a city institutional and educational district. These parcels were annexed in 2016 and had retained their Springfield Township zoning district. The subject parcels are currently undeveloped and not in the flood plane boundary or the floodway. The clar county comprehensive plan of 2018 shows this area as mixeduse, low intensity and supports institutional civic uses. The proposed district accommodates the envisioned characteristics of institutional and civic uses. The proposed zoning district conditionally permits a government use. A public safety facility is considered as a government use. There is also a definition of the government use provided in the staff report packet. Springfield Jamestown road is classified as state road by the clar county thare plan of 2018. Per this plan any existing right ofway which may currently exceed the width required shall not be reduced. Uh Ohio Department of Transportation should be contacted for the appropriate permissions prior to commencing any activities that could impact right of way or operations of any state or federal highway. Written reports from city staff. City Fire Department commented that development needs to comply with OFC and SFPC regulation. City Planning and Zoning Division commented that any future site plan proposals will need to comply with the proposed district's dimensional and site development standards. A government use in the proposed district will need a conditional use permit from the city

board of zoning appeals. Overall staff recommendation is approval of applicants request. This case was heard by the Cedar Regional Planning Commission for a recommendation and there was a request put forth from the board members stating that the city board of zoning appeals shall require the applicant and county to look further into the cost of project the soil storm water and line of sight concerns to protect surrounding residential properties. Cedar Regional Planning Commission recommended approval for this request with a vote of 4 to1 and uh with that I would like to hand over to the county staff or the applicants in attendance who will be presenting additional case information.

Thank you.

Thank you. Charles Patterson, Clark County Commission. Appreciate the opportunity to speak with the commission this evening. Um the current property status, uh we entered into uh we have not purchased the property yet. Uh that would not have been appropriate at that time obviously. Um, so we have a letter of intent to purchase this property based on uh at that point over 8 months worth of work um plus the several years prior to that looking for the right property to be able to do this. Um, it's we also uh are having a letter of intent to acquire two additional properties uh that are not part of this resoning but are between a large parcel and Route 72. Um our our con closing is contingent on doing due diligence. One of the steps in that of course is making sure that it is approved for the zoning change to be able to do this. Um four parcels total, three of them are small sites up against 72 and then the larger site. Um, one of the main considerations of this property, uh, first of all, we needed at least 10 acres. So, we have we paid for a study, um, that would tell us what the feasibility is. So, we looked at keeping the new jail or the current jail, renovating it to meet state standards, adding on the additional beds. Um the the report basically said it wasn't feasible to do that. It was not financially feasible to do that. They said you should go out and build new someplace. So a 10acre site is a minimum that allows us to build on one single floor. It allows us to double the capacity of

the jail which is along the lines of what the feasibility study told us as well. They said somewhere between 450 and 750 beds is what we would need for the next 20 to 30 years. Um, we picked the lower number obviously because 750 is way outside of what we thought we would ever need uh even in 20 or 30 years here. So, we needed 10 acres plus and we certainly understand that wherever we put this in the city of Springfield, um there's going to be push back and so we wanted to have plenty of room to buffer around this facility so that we had the and we'll talk a little bit more specifically about buffers, but we wanted to have plenty of room to do that. Also plenty of room to be able to center the building or make it closer to the road and be able to add since they did say between 450 and 750. Uh we have enough acreage here if we need to add another wing or another pod, we have the ability to expand this jail in the future so that we're in 20 or 30 years not standing here talking about this same thing. Once again, um there are existing public utilities as you know, uh the southern interceptor runs right down through there. Um access, we believe that if we're going to locate public safety building that we need to have the sheriff's office on that site. So, wherever we put this, we're committed to putting 247 law enforcement on that site in addition to the corrections officers who would be there obviously 24/7 as well. Direct access of course to 70. We can get west on 70. We can get north on 68 within a couple of miles. Um, we can go east on 70. It puts us in a good

location. If you notice the initial map where the site is, um it is basically dead center east and west in the community and outside of the city so that we don't have to send patrol cars through the city to get north, south, east, or west. So that's about public safety as well, right? So we don't have stop lights and 35 mph. Um we can get up on the highway and go when we need to go. Um we looked at quite a few sites and we'll talk about that in a little bit. Um it is compatible uh as was stated earlier in the presentation with our comprehensive plan. 72 is one of those corridors that is prime. It has it has utilities. It has a state route. It is a place to begin to build away from as we expand the city limits. Um, at this point we have over 20 different sites that we've evaluated looking for the best place for us to be able to locate that. And at this point, I'm going to turn it over to Sheriff Clark. Thank you.

Good afternoon. I'm just going to real briefly talk about some of the site selection process that we wanted to do. Um, so we did consider multiple sites before selecting the 72 site. um upwards of over 20 have been vetted already and we're and we still have some that uh um um that are uh okay. So, um so one of the things that we looked at was um you know obviously location jail and the public safety building needed to be strategic within the county. Um, and one of the things we wanted to look at was easy access to I7 so we could get to the uh the interstate system so we could get across the county. Um, so we get across the county quickly and and be able to provide better service to uh all all residents of Clark County. This this uh so what we did was we went and I looked I just I redid it again today. We looked at several spots within the county and we kind of compared it to where we currently are at Spring View, where the jail would be located downtown and where this proposed site would be. And we looked at at those areas going to Nucleile, Northampton, the Northridge area, Park Lane, Enan, South Charleston, Kataba, and Tmont City. And taking the average response times of those three, this location alone is four and a 4.75 minutes quicker in response time than the other two sites, the current site we're at now and any downtown site we may look at. Um, so um uh we wanted to make sure we're in a place that was uh that was not densely populated. Obviously, if we're we're having to get in and out of an area pretty quickly and efficiently, we don't want to have to transition through heavily populated areas. We want to make sure that we can get up on I7 very quickly, and we want to to uh to try to get that uh that site um away from uh from densely populated areas. We want to get outside of of the densely populated areas again because of of the situation we're in downtown. Now, we've learned a lot from having the jail down in the downtown core at this point. Um again, you know, multiple stories

when you've built vertically, you know, we we find waste water runs down. That was that's been an issue down there. Um but just alone, the facility we have right now, anybody can walk right up facility that we have. So there's no buffer, there's no standoff, so anybody can walk right up. They communicate with the inmates. Um there's people who go by and yell and scream. There's contraband that gets brought into the jail and put in the jail because people have access to walk outside. So, by going to um this location that's that's kind of more open, it gives us the opportunity to create some standoff distance from the property. It lets us better protect the facility um and and restrict access to the facility itself. So, if you see here where where the proposed location is um and this is this is all subject to change depending on you civil civil engineers and that sort of thing. Um have trouble here. So, the proposed location allows us to to give some pretty good standoff distances from um um from the from the roadways uh and from the property perimeter. So, uh the general public won't have access to walk right up to the uh the facility and potentially get stuff in and uh and communicate with the inmates. It also gives us very good standoff distances from neighboring uh from neighborhoods. Um, we are I think it's I can't really 1,487 feet or 97 feet from the edge of Possum Woods and 210 2010 ft from Edgely Drive to the south. So, um, this is the facility, the proposed, the artist rendering of the facility that we're looking at. Um, again, anything here is subject to change depending on architectural design and that sort of thing. So, that's what we're looking at. And the reason we we do this, we we visited several facilities um when we

came to prepare for this and we we were looking to where to put it, how we wanted it to look. And what you're seeing is Warren County. Um Warren County is one of the sites that we we tried to model off what we want to do from Warren County, how their layout is and and where their their uh um where their position within their community. And as you can see here, the the where the Warren County, it's a thriving community around it. Um 685T um to the east is a subdivision. Uh 1,150 ft west is another subdivision. Uh 985 ft south is another subdivision. And it's 257 ft from an elementary school. So, um, you know, the purpose of showing this is is we want to to want people to understand that what we're building here is a very professional looking, very modern style building that does not look like a doesn't look like what you would see in maybe Shaw Shank Redemption. So, we want to we want to people to understand what we're what we're looking to build and we're wanting to build something that that will fit into the community and look professional, look very nice. Um, and with that, I'll turn it back over.

Sheriff. Yes, sir. Would this facility be more secure than our downtown facility?

Well, uh, yes. Uh, this facility would be a hardened facility. There will be no inmates. It'll be outside of the facility. Um, we don't have that now. In 2018, we did, you know, prior to 2018, we had an outside facility underneath the jail. Um, and, uh, there were some escapes from that fenced in area. Uh there's been no escapes from the inner hardened area of the jail since uh since its inception that I'm aware of. Um but this facility, there will be no out inmates on the outside of the hardened structure. Um and the facility that's downtown has the the outside facility has been since removed. So yes, this will be a more secure facility. Uh any inmate transfers will take place in a multi-vehicle sallyport that is also secure. So at any time there will be no inmates on the outside of the facility. You This is just another picture of the Warren County site road. Um,

is the London Correctional Facility similar to what we're seeing Warren? I understand there's new No, they're they're not maybe not by look, but I understand there's new housing developments [clears throat] going up now near in similar distance to what we see in Warren. Is that accurate when you were researching this? That is accurate. Um, that's a a state okay prison and not a local jail. So, they have multiple facilities. They have a a big fence around it. And yes, literally they are building brand new houses in a subdivision and you could hit a golf ball over the fence into this from where they're building the houses and selling them today.

Yeah. I I don't think you're allowed to do that. Um, as part of our due diligence, this is one step out of many steps. And so I I need the commission to understand this is the first step for us. If this is approved, uh, the next thing we have to do, um, we have a we have approximately a $4 million grant, just less than 4 million coming from the state of Ohio. they have agreed with us especially with their jail inspections that we don't meet the many of the standards um that we need to continue with this project. Now obviously the public said we don't want to fund it uh by raising our taxes and so we've had to take a step back. This is not going to be done in 3 years. It's going to take several more years for us to be able to collect the money. Um the project is not going to be the scope it was before. Obviously, we're going to have to build something smaller because we don't have that additional money. Um, so we understand that, but the state said, "Here is almost $4 million. We need you to go ahead and keep this process moving." So, purchase the property and then start to do the other things that we have to do. So, uh, we have to go to if if this is approved, we have to go to the board of zoning appeals, and that's where we talk about things specifically about, well, what does the buffering look like? And we're committed to the buffering, but we're happy to listen to the board of appeals. We're happy to listen to the the neighbors around it and see how can we best do that, what is the what is the right way to do that that's appropriate uh for not just now, but long term. Uh in addition to that we have to do geotech studies which means we have to do soil borings and make sure can this type of building go in that soil. We have to do uh drainage studies. We have to do a traffic study as was said earlier. Um we'll have to hire companies

to come in and do that and make sure you know can this exit and enter onto State Route 72? Is it appropriate? Are the sight lines correct? what would have to be done to make sure that those sight lines are correct? Because obviously we don't want to build something that puts public public safety in jeopardy when we're trying to do the opposite by by building a a larger jail. Um, and we would also have to come back to you and annex the other two smaller properties that border on 72 uh to make that work. There's also a property that's actually surrounded on three sides. We continue to talk with that homeowner. Um, one of our staff is in communication almost weekly uh with that individual to make sure that they have the most up-to-date information and um to build a rapport with them. If they choose to stay, they can do that and we'll do everything we can. uh if they choose not to stay, we'll work with that person as well uh to make that right. Uh

Commissioner, if we could go back, you brought this up, so I'm going to ask. You brought up the uh vote and I believe that you as a board uh examined analyzed the vote, did a survey recently. Is that right? That is correct.

Okay. And what was your analysis of the vote? Was based on tax, based on location? Um, I don't have the final results of that in front of me. Uh, but most people didn't want to pay more money and about half of the of the people said that they didn't like the location. Of course, that's one-sided because there wasn't, okay, do you like this location or this one? It was just, do you like that location? I would tell you that we're committed to put this because state law says the sheriff's office is supposed to be in the county seat. So, we're committed and Springfield's the county seat committed to putting these two things together in the city of Springfield. Now, there are hoops that we could potentially jump through and the state would wave that for us to be able to move this outside the city. We don't want to do that. We don't intend to do that. What that means is that we need to have some plot of land, 10 plus acres inside the city that meets our requirements that you zone appropriately for us to move forward.

Comments from commissioners. I have a quick comment uh question. Um, I've actually been downtown when your officers have had to respond to the west end of the county and it's no fun seeing them trying to go up [clears throat] uh north street uh in a hurry. Uh, just out of curiosity, how much of the population is west of city or county that you that you service? Do you have a percentage of that? I mean, is it approximately 25 to 30% of Clark County lives to the west of Route 68?

Okay. So, that's and that's that's why you you really need this access to what I'm Okay. Um, Sheriff Clark, can you talk about the delay and the costs since we've been talking about this so long, even before you and I were even in office? So, what has that looked like over time that the delays have cost us more and getting this done? And if it doesn't get done, some of the costs related to that that will increase for the taxpayers. So, when we had our first um real conversation about building this facility, which would have been around, I'm guessing 2018, um 2019, the original cost of this exact same facility size was about 65 million. Um Warren County, um when they opened theirs up, I'm sorry, Green County, I think, just did theirs for right around 70. Um we saw a significant price increase after CO and it's gone up exponentially since then. Um, the DLZ, our our consultants and and the people we talked to within the business are telling us that we we should expect price increases annually of upwards 10 to 12% per year. Uh, so I would imagine this project at this point, by the time we say go, we're looking at 125 to 130 million maybe. Um, it's it's hard to tell. It just depends a lot on what happens with the economy. Uh but that's what they're telling us right now is is you know 10 to 12% per year um in anticipated increases from uh from today forward.

And can I ask one more? Um I have shared with the community and you uh my experience of some of the ride alongs I've done with your department and Springfield Police Department. And one thing that really stood out to me was the repeat offenders. As we are arresting people, walking them into the jail, jail's full, they're leaving and they're going out and repeating again. This guy that night, the next week, he had a pattern of doing it because we weren't able to hold him. It increased crime in the community, the the delays of you guys being able to get to other offenses. Um, can you speak to some of that uh related to this? Yeah, just uh just two nights ago I was listening to the radio and we had a individual who was out at the speedway in Henan um and he had been trespassed the day before um and uh and charged with trespassing. He had been ordered in uh showed back up causing a problem on the same on the lot there that night and he was charged again that night and of course the jail uh couldn't take him again. So, um, when when there's no accountability for these lower-end crimes, it it it's, uh, um, there's nothing to stop these people from going back out and just recommitting. There's no there's no downside to it. There's just, you know, the just theft alone in the area. Um, I did an evaluation at the end of the the year that uh um um that uh was kind of startling about how much, you know, theft is just reported within Springfield. And a lot of it has to do with with the there's there's very little consequence at this point in Springfield with with theft because we just we are out of room. The prosecutors and judges are at their wits in on what they can do with with people. There's only so much diversion, so much only so much probation you can do and repeat offenders don't care about probation. Um so um um and on top of that with with you know punishment only goes so far without some

sort of rehabilitation. So we have to be able to rehabilitate these people um when when we hold them accountable and without proper facilities to do that we can't we can't punish somebody and expect them to change their behavior without some sort of rehabilitation. So um facilities that that have classroom sizes and have you know um programs that we can we can apply um will will help with our acidivism rate and will help with rehabilitating people that come through our system. I think one thing that you have said over time talking about this that also really stood out to me is that other people in other communities know you can go to Springfield and steal

and they won't hold you because we're full. Can you talk a little bit about that?

So, we have seen we have seen some uh some of our repeat offenders are from surrounding neighborhoods that that that come into the area. Um you know you hate to say that but that that's just the truth of it. Um, I could tell you that uh um one of the sheriffs that that uh um when he came into office um you know they had a theft [clears throat] problem in his area and and uh they made some changes and they accept every theft every person who comes in or gets charged with theft goes to jail over there and uh they don't have a theft problem anymore. Um, word travels fast, you know. So, um, you know, if we take a stance and we take action, words are going to travel and word is going to travel fast and people are going to say, "Don't go to Springfield and do this because they're going to hold you accountable." So, but we have to make a stand and we have to decide when we've had enough.

And I think there's no denying there's a change as I'm sure everyone here shops on Beck Avenue seeing the change in theft from Kohl's closing down one side of the building so everybody enters and exits one area, stuff like that. Just things to consider. Yeah. When you go to Kroger and you need to buy toothpaste, how do you get your toothpaste in a secured lock facility or a secured secured area of the of the store? Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Sure.

Sheriff, I'm sorry. Yes, sir. Uh could you kind of talk about the current living conditions of the prisoners and if there are any have if there's been any kind of state mandates and what would that look like if we were forced by the state to do that? What would that look like financially?

Okay. So, um there hasn't been any mandates from state or feds. The state won't come in and mandate. The state inspects us. Um so so they will tell us that we're deficient if we aren't if we are or not deficient and what we're deficient in um the state of Ohio um I'm not aware of the state of Ohio coming in and mandating anybody to ability to do anything like that. What generally happens is is is through a a civil suit of some sort. Uh a judge will order the county commissioners and the sheriff to comply with current state law this this the Ohio minimum jail standard or be found in contempt. And that's generally what prompts it. Say, well, you have to do something. They're not going to come in and tell us we have to build a new jail because then that means they're probably going to have to fork over some money to do that. But they're going to tell us that we have to comply with existing state law. And we should comply with existing state law. So right now when when uh when I came in this morning, the jail count was 195, and that's actually pretty low for us. The jail's rated to hold 164 by by Ohio standards. Um we're generally my average daily population for 2025 was 200 inmates. Um and and what happens is we start putting that many people inside the jail. Um we can't separate people. So when tempers flare, things get heated, we end up having fights which ends up causing us people, you know, people to go to the hospital to get checked out, to get stitches, whatever. Um it creates uh a hoarding situation. People hoard food as which brings bugs in which brings um you know other other issues. They fight over food or you know there's there's all kinds of issues that that happen. hygiene issues. Uh when you've got 15 people on a pod that's supposed to be designed to hold 12 and the facilities are only capable of of 12 people, um that creates other problems. So, um stuff that we have to deal with every day, every day down there. Um, on top of that, you know, there's a there's a a a constantly maintenance issues we have to deal with with with pipe leaking and flooding and

and clog clog uh toilets and and broken ceiling tiles and broken the tiles on the floor that are hard to repair uh just simply because the age of the building. One of the big problems we're faced with right now is the mechanical locking system at the jail um that was put in um mid 2015 2016 um is outdated. So the parts for for the this system um to controls the doors, the locking and unlocking the doors is outdated. They don't mass make the parts anymore. So anytime the part anytime one of these panels breaks that controls it, I have to special order it. So those panels are $1,800 a piece. Um we've replaced two since I've been in office and there was one pending when I came in. It takes about 6 to 8 months to get them. They're $1,800 a piece. Luckily, we ordered an extra one. So just a couple weeks ago, the main computer that controls this went down and that was another $6,000 to repair repair that because it all has to be specially made. It all has to be handmade. So because they don't it it's an outdated locking system. But to update the locking system in there wouldn't be cost feasible. Um you know it would it would take you know I couldn't even imagine how much it would take to update all the locks inside that jail. So those are the kind of things that we're faced with. you know, the just putting a new roof on the jail that that it needs is going is going to create upwards of close to seven figures just to put a roof on the jail. So, the the costs are starting to nickel and dime death.

Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Yes, sir. I had just a brief question sort of a statement question was um you know we spend a lot of time talking about low-level low-level crimes that need to be incarcerated those sorts of things but I think we we tend to forget the public safety aspect of it that shoplifting can easily turn into assault can easily turn into you know we see it all the time. I I know, you know, I did a lot of years on the street uh in a different color blue, but still nonetheless, and I don't know how many times we went to see someone who was assaulted because they were they, you know, someone else was robbing a place and it turned violent. And so when we talk about, well, these are just low-level offenses. These are low, it's public safety. It's public safety. Could you could you speak to that just a little bit?

Sure. Uh so so the level of crime that we're seeing, a lot of it is narcotic based. So a lot of it's driven by narcotics. Um people are not going out to Home Depot and stealing a cart full of of of saws to feed their family. They're they're doing it to feed a a drug habit. Um you know, um now that's not to say that there's not people out who who do go out and uh and and have to steal to pro provide for their family. But in general, the people need to provide their family. They know there's resources available for that. Well, we see people breaking into houses, people fighting, people people stealing. Um, it's the driving the narcotic trade that's here in Clark County. And narcotics is is a is a huge burden on the taxpayer in this area. And and it it it's all linked together. So, yeah, these low-end crimes lead to larger end crimes because the the narcotics is what we're seeing drive the violent crime.

Thank Thank you, Sheriff. Thank you for the presentation. Are there any comments from the audience? if you would just please go to the uh microphone to your left or your right. [clears throat]

Thank you. Your name, please. My name is Olivia Glazier. I have lived in Springfield for about a year and a half. Um, thank you for letting me talk. I just want to say a couple things. I'm hearing a lot of talk about these people, prisoners, repeat offenders, and I want to reiterate to the citizens at large that repeat offenders, stealing, these are all things that are caused by inequality. So, a prison, I'm thinking about Miss Olivia. Yes.

And I'd like everybody to understand this. We need you to speak directly to the matter of zoning this property. Okay. And not to incarceration or incarcerated. Not that I disagree or agree with what you're saying, but this has to be specifically about the hearing about changing this zoning. Do you have anything specific on the zoning change? I do. Go ahead.

I'm thinking that so for zoning, I've read a little bit about what people are saying, right? They're saying that they're worried because it's by a school or we're neighborhoods that this is a big problem. I do want to reiterate though that if you can come and talk about the reason why we have reoffenders and things, I feel like as a citizen I should be able to talk about it as well. Um, and so I just want to say that we have statistics, we have data that says that people that are like the reality is of prison is it is not it's a band-aid for something that is a deeper

ma'am. I don't I'm not disagreeing. What I am saying is you can actually make that comment and the comments you're talking about during our open comment period, but I need to hear specific comments based on the zoning location and what we're talking about. Okay. the zoning specific not prison not people being jailed not incarceration about the zoning itself.

Sure. So the zoning is within an area that people have already taken note of as around people living. It's also I mean that is a huge chunk of land. That is a chunk of land that could be used for various other things, for housing for people, for a park if it's by a school. I'm thinking of other opportunities that the government could use to fund an area that fosters community things that can prevent crime like community oriented growing. So, thank you. And and the reason I'm also because the city of Springfield does not build a jail.

We're not in charge of the jail. It's not our It's not up to us whether a jail is built or not. It's up to how we zone this property for institutional for for use of of land to be able to build a jail. That's all. That's what I'm saying. I know. But but this is about the zoning only. Just zoning. Okay. So, do you have any other comments about that? There's other people I know that want to comment along with you. So, I need to hear about this zoning. Okay. I can be done. Okay. Thank you. and I encourage you to fill out a comment card and if you'd like to talk to us for three minutes about your thoughts, I'd be love to hear it. Next, please. Thank you.

U my name is Susan Sharp. I grew up in Springfield and when I graduated from Whittenberg, I left Springfield because Springfield is a brain drain. And if we want to change that and if we want to bring back and retain young professional families, we can't be known as the jail exit. And we Like my husband and I came back seven years ago and we moved to Springfield Township because we heard possibilities of what was going in on that property. We heard Kroger marketplace. We heard Bernard possibly a Ketarine Health Branch and those were attractive options for us. We wanted to be near those things. If you had told us a jail was an option, we would not have moved back to Springfield. That does not attract young professional families. If you want to change Springfield, you have to change our reputation and how we look. Otherwise, Beaver Creek and Centerville are more appealing to families. And I know that we need a new public safety building. I am not disagreeing with anything the sheriff said. I know it's needed. And probably everyone in the county is saying, "Not in my backyard." Because that's what we are all lined up to say is not in our backyard. But there has to be another location where putting in a public safety building is an improvement to a backyard because there are tons of dilapidated properties downtown. There are vacant lots downtown. There has to be something. I don't I it's hard to believe that every option has been exhausted in the downtown area, which would be close to the courthouse and the ER, which tends to be utilized, as he said, by the sheriff's office and the prisoners. So, that's all I have.

Thank you. Next comment. Please state your name.

My name is Susan Paige. Exit. Uh 54 off of I7 at Route 72 is the main exit to Springfield. It has been known for its safe residential areas like Pawsum Woods and Rayar Estates and for its ease of access to Clark State, Wittenberg, and Cedarville University. The proposed location for the jail on 30 acres of agricultural land is in close proximity of residential and educational facilities. It is within a mile of Pawsum Woods, 1 and 1/2 miles of Rayar and 1 mile of Limerest. Risen Christ Lutheran School is 1 and a half miles away. Clark Shauni Schools 2 miles away. Park State and the STEM school expansion three miles and the CTC 3 and a half miles. To put a superersized jail complex that close to residential streets and schools is irresponsible, especially because Clark County does not need that many jail cells. When I was on a committee studying the current jail several years ago and making recommendations to the city, we toured the jail, interviewed sheriff and police department members, workers, and jail inmates. We were surprised at how little space in the jail was sales. Most of it was taken up by police and sheriff's offices. Many of the inmates were juveniles who had been put in the jail for committing crimes like theft and burglary. We were told that renovating the jail would be too expensive. So then we looked at blighted areas in downtown um in Springfield where a new jail could

be built. But the police and sheriff's uh offices did not want to move the jail because they said it was close to the courthouse and made transporting prisoners to the courts safer and more secure. So then we suggested moving the offices for police and sheriffs, except for what they needed for security, to Spring View and getting another estimate for remodeling the jail into more sales space. But that didn't happen. To put an oversized jail in at exit 54, Route 72, the main exit into Springfield, would be destroying the view of the area as a safe place with educational opportunities for families who are looking at moving to Springfield. Instead, Springfield would be looked at as a high crime rate area where no one would want to live. There are safety concerns because of a rise in prisoner escapes using residential homes and schools for protection. Um, there are also safety concerns because there was just an article in the Springfield News Sun on January 23rd that Ohio's prisoners all Ohio's prisons all have a shortage of correctional officers. And then adding all the extra cells and running them out to other counties would also increase the number of inmates that we have. Traffic on Le's Lane and Route 72 would be disrupted with the noise of sirens from police chases and and uh make it hard for Clark Shauni school

buses go down Route 72 to get to Clark Shaune. And a lot of Cedarville students use 72 to get to Cedarville University. remodel the current jail or build a new jail on blighted property downtown. Clark County residents already turned down the jail on Route 72 by an overwhelming 78% vote. It's time Clark County and Springfield listen to its citizens. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please don't applaud. Next speaker, go ahead.

Good evening. My name is Marty and I oppose the proposed resoning of the South Limestone property. My primary concern is the impact this project would have on the surrounding residents. This property directly borders the backyards of eight privately owned homes and just one field away, there's roughly a dozen more homes whose rear property lines would face this facility. Placing a large public safety complex directly against established residential backyards in my view is socially irresponsible and it's unfair to the families who live there. Statements have suggested that this facility may actually make the area safer. However, previous comments have described the inmates housed in Clark County as the worst of the worst. At the same time, residents have been told that when individuals are released, they cannot be forced into a vehicle and may leave the facility on foot. That means people could be walking directly through nearby residential areas and past private homes. For a facility of this type to be placed immediately next to established backyards raises serious safety concerns for the families who live there. Other county facilities have been cited as being located near homes or schools, but they're not comparable. In those cases, the facilities are not directly bordering private backyards. And at least one example, the nearby homes are part of a new development where the buyers get to choose to move there. The residents of Springfield Township are not given that choice. Response time has never been presented as a problem with the current location or as a reason for the new facility to be built. At a publicformational meeting when residents raised concerns about noise lighting traffic and patrol vehicles leaving on cause, an officer stated that deputies do not remain stationed at the public safety building during their shift, that they're already patrolling the county. Though, if that's the case, response time should not be used as justification for choosing this specific location. I also used Google Maps to compare route times from proposed sites to several locations across the county. Some routes

were slightly faster from the proposed sites while others were faster from more central areas. So overall, there was no clear advantage. Additionally, this property was annexed in 2016 through CEDA agreement with the intention of generating revenue for Springfield Township and the Clark County Local School District. If the property is reszoned for this use, it would become exempt from property taxes, eliminating that eliminating that benefit for the township and the school district. So beyond the location and financials concerns, I also believe our county should prioritize rehabilitation and prevention before incarceration, not only after someone enters the justice system. Investments that address underlying issues earlier strengthen public safety and reduce the need for larger correctional facilities in the future. Finally, a project of this size deserves meaningful public involvement. Residents have repeatedly asked for public hearings. Yet, the only Q&A session that was scheduled was at the end of the workday. Our community deserves a process that is transparent, accessible, and responsive to the residents who will be most directly affected.

Thank you. Next, please. If you could please hold your applause. I know there's many agree and there's a lot of good comments, but let's just let them speak and we'll move to the next. Thank you.

Uh, good evening. First, I want to say thank excuse [clears throat] excuse me. Thank you for having this hearing. It's the first real chance we've had to be heard publicly. So, I really appreciate that our own county commission hasn't really given us that opportunity. My name is Dustin. I live in Springfield Township on Old Clifton Road. I'm here to speak in opposition to the proposed reszoning for the new jail. My objections are based on legal and ethical concerns, land use issues, and the site's location. Regarding legal and ethical concerns, both Sheriff Clark and Commissioner Writtenhouse have personal connections with the land owner, Mr. Armstrong. While I'm not accusing anyone of wrongdoing, these relationships create a clear conflict of interest. Complicating this further, Mr. Armstrong is an elected Green Township trustee in Clark County. Regarding land use and location, the proposed site is part of 100 acres annexed in 2016 for commercial development. Most anticipated was a Kroger marketplace on the east side of State Route 72. When the Kroger deal fell through in 2018, Tom Fransen, assistant city manager and director of economic development for Springfield, said, quote, "We still think that's a good fit for that area and the city." The chamber and the county were all in that meeting with the owners. We've all said we'll do what we can to market and promote it for that type of use. My question is what has been done in the last seven years to market and promote this property for commercial development? Commercial development would have benefited residents and directly supported Springfield Township through CEDA income shares and the Clark County School District through property tax. The proposed jail risk undermining potential econom economic development for the remaining 70 acres. This site is also adjacent to at least eight private homes and within one mile

of six Springfield Township neighborhoods including Lime Crest, Psome Woods, Green Hedges, Rayar Estates, Shny Acres, and Fallen Timbers. Safety and logistics are concerns, including inmate release and ongoing transportation of those inmates. Moving the jail from downtown removes an important institution that supports law enforcement, business, and government operations. For these reasons, I respectfully ask you to vote no on the reszoning of these properties. Reszoning this farmland for a jail puts private homes in our community at risk. Please protect our neighborhoods and vote no. Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you. Next speaker. [snorts]

Hi, my name is Maria Lepincott. Good evening, Mayor Rue, city commissioners, Sheriff Clark, and members of the community. I am speaking tonight as a concerned constituent regarding the proposed location of the new jail. But first, I want to make something very clear. I do believe Clark County needs a new jail. And I also strongly support our law enforcement officers, the men and women who work every day to keep our communities safe and who are often just a phone call away. Truly, thank you. I'm still clapping, but thank you. The site currently being considered sits in a rural residential area located near a large public elementary school and high school along with several smaller private schools. There are no existing sidewalks and poor road lighting. This presents a danger to released incarcerated people attempting to leave on foot and those without transportation attempting to visit their loved ones. The reason this land was even considered adjacent to the city is because nearby property was previously annexed and reszoned for what residents were told would be a Kroger marketplace. Many residents supported that project because it would bring tax revenue and provide a convenient grocery option for the community. Those same residents had no idea that this annexation would later be used as the doorway for placing a jail next to their neighborhood. There are also practical concerns. Even with virtual court hearings, there will still be situations where inmates must be transported to appear in court, and that longer commute will ultimately fall on taxpayers. When the hospital was built, leaders emphasized choosing a central location that could better serve the entire community while also improving a struggling part of the city. If that principle applied to a hospital, it should also apply to the jail, another facility that serves the entire community. A facility that has been boasted to improve property values could be better utilized in one of the multiple blighted areas around Springfield. Some examples being the

empty warehouses east of Spring Street Bridge or the previously mentioned location on Bert Street. And finally, the landslide vote against this tax levy shows the resident what the residents want more. We want transparency and more discussion about this issue. This community is not asking you to abandon the project. We're just asking you to slow down, reconsider the location, and include the public in a more transparent and collaborative process. I have also brought with me a petition signed with 378 signatures collected in less than one month from residents who oppose this location. That number represents far more people than can even fit in this room tonight. I would approximate that 90% of people ask were happy to sign. Decisions like this shape our community for decades, and the residents who live here will remember who stood with them when this decision was made. I respectfully ask the city commissioners to please listen to your constituents and vote no. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Next speaker.

Hi, my name is Sheila Bogs and I live on Hedgely Road. Um, I've been down here since 2018 and I moved where I did because I liked the area. I liked um the quietness. Uh, I our neighborhood was an older neighborhood which is starting to move out. Younger families are coming in. I can tell you straight up if I was a younger family, I would not move there if I knew a jail was going there. Um, I will be able to see the new jail out off of my front porch, whereas the other people across the street from me, it's going to be right in their backyard. You talk about buffers, there's no buffer that's going to cover that. I'm sorry, it's not. Um, also, I want to say thank you very much to our our service people. I do appreciate everything you do. But I do have a comment. You um it was said that building the jail here is going to be more efficient. Um, I have a hard time believing that because it seems that anytime that we've had to call, you know, for emergency services or what have you, they've had no problems um fulfilling our needs. So, I it's I don't know. It's hard to believe that this has been working inefficiently for the last 10 years or however long this jail's been here. Uh, the other thing was you were talking about walking right up to this jail. What's the difference? If they walk right up to this jail or they walk right up to my front door because they can walk out of the jail, they have that right. There's no transportation from there. Where are they going to go? They're going to come in our neighborhood. I don't want that. Um, a lot of comparisons to the other communities that have built new jails and so forth. I think that's really hard to do because there's different different circumstances. Our times have changed. There's a lot more robberies.

There's a lot more drug use. There's, you know, different things that come with the change of time. Um, yes, we need to learn how to deal with that. I think there's a better way. I think the jail needs to be centralized in downtown, closer to the hospitals, so forth. Uh, [sighs] what's my other thing? a question on what it was said is it has to be in within the city of Springfield or Springfield Township. I don't know where that fall. Now, we were said at one uh one meeting that eventually Springfield Township will no more. It will all be Springfield, city of Springfield. I don't like that idea either. So, that's what I have to say. Thank you very much. I vote no. I hope you agree with me.

Next speaker, please. Thank you. Hi, my name is Katherine Baldridge and uh I was born and raised in Springfield, went to Springfield City Schools, graduated Wittenberg, taught at Springfield City Schools and Springfield Christian. Um 20 years ago I decided to move to Springfield Township and to be out in the rural area and I live in Pawsum Woods and I would be able to see this jail from my house. Um that is not why I moved to the county. Uh, I believe that it should not be zoned from agriculture to industrial and educational um for the purpose of a jail. It was it was going to be different enough that the Kroger and possibly the Menards was going to be right in my backyard, so to speak. Um, that was going to be way different than what we had bought our house and wanted to raise our children in that area. Um, and I just I feel like this would be an open door to then who knows what's going to happen to the rest of the acreage right there. What else is going to be coming into our neighborhood? I know that we can never do that. You know, we can't foresee the future, but we know what what you're trying to do right now and we don't feel like it would be safe for the lots of children and residential area where I live and then also the schools and things around. Um, so I would hope that you would also vote oh for this zoning reszone.

Thank you. Next speaker, please.

Hello, my name is Deb Dasher and I live at 260 West Pawsum Road and I've lived there well in the Pawsum area for over 50 years and I moved there because I wanted to be there. I didn't want to be in the city of Springfield. Um, and maybe I've got the cart before the horse here, but somewhere along the discussion, they talked about the flood plane and the due diligence of this whole process. So, I don't know where the runoff situation and the water situation comes along because when this concrete thing goes in and this building goes in and it's all flat now instead of up, there's going to be a lot of runoff. Well, I don't live a,000 feet away from it. I don't live 500 feet away from it. my land touches all the way around it. So, I don't have a lot of choice about where that water is going to go. So, I just need to find that out. Um, the other thing is if this zoning is approved for this PIE, I don't know who's aware of what that means because once it's approved, if this deal falls through, a home for the aging can go in there, a nursing home can go in there, an adult daycare center can go in there, an assembly hall, a child care center, clinic, a college or university, a community center, educational institution, major utilities and public service facility, park and recreational professional office, religious land use, technical school, accessory building. Those are the things that could go in right now if this is approved. Then there's conditional uses that somebody can come in and say, "Well, we'll make these conditions that we can do this." So that's other things that could go in there. And then there's temporary uses. Temporaries, like I likened it to, okay,

there is a flood and we need a helport to get a a helicopter in there to pick somebody up. That would be a temporary use. A conditional, if conditions were set up and everybody approved it, then something else could go in. But all this other stuff that I mentioned could go in right now if this is passed. So obviously my votes a no. Thank you.

Thank you for your comments. Other comments, sir, go ahead right to the podium. Yes, my name is Jeffrey Smith and uh I've been a resident of Springfield since 2017. I'm I'm not a native of Springfield, but I myself have grown up in what is statistically one of the most uh dangerous cities in the US. one of the top 10 most dangerous cities in the US. And I moved here to Springfield to that neighborhood cuz my property directly uh is adjacent to this proposed site. It will literally be in my backyard. Anyway, um I moved here because it was quiet, because there was no riff raft, no who or whatever roaming the streets, nothing. That's why I came here and I wanted to keep it that way. But for the most part, um, what I have been hearing so far has not been uh, uh, really convincing as far as I'm concerned as far, you know, to this here uh, project. And for the most part, there's been an absolute lack of transparency on this issue um, with the city officials and whatnot. there was a seems to be a lot of cloak and dagger but um behind the scenes with the with these uh some sort of backroom dealings. But anyway, um I my first notification of this was this past August. I received a letter in the mail stating that uh they wanted to build this proposed jail back there. And you know, they did not consult with any of the residents there prior to that. you know, they had a small private meeting a little little after that. Uh, a few about a week or

two after that, but nonetheless, they did not um we were totally in the dark. We had no idea what was what was going on with this uh until that letter arrived. And and then soon after that, that was when um there was a media notification and things of that nature to to come about of this. And also as far as um the uh I don't think a lot of people are aware but the the owner uh the one uh who currently owns that property right now Mr. Armstrong is he is he not a a trustee of Green Township? Is that a conflict of interest in some sort of way? So um so I think that has uh some bearing in this as well. So there's there there are a lot of uh moving parts in this that and and those moving parts are kind of uh sticky and filthy and and not only that but um this this whole thing um since you know I worked really hard to get where I am today and I don't want to be reminded of all the crime and filth and you know murder that I've moved away from when I come home every day from hurt. That's that's that's the bottom line.

Thank you. We are not on the top 10 list for big cities or small cities in the United States of the most dangerous. So, I just want to make sure that gets out there, Jessica. Yeah. Okay. Trying to listen to all of it. Go ahead, Diane. [laughter] It can get confusing at times, can it not?

Hi, Diana Daniels. I live in uh on Hedgeley Road, which is um Green Hedges. we just call it Edgeley Road. Um the analogies that are being made between um the facilities that you've looked at like in Warren County are different from our circumstances at the selected location or what you're proposing uh because of the topography. Um when you have a flat piece of ground, you can have great buffer zones by planting shrubs and situating the facility in such a way that it does not impact um existing um home sites and can be situated in such a way that it does not impact new ones. The unfortunate thing is possum woods is not a hill. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, you can do to mitigate the fact that there are going to be 12 homes that are going to be looking down on it like I'm looking down on her. There's no way that you can you can mitigate that. The safety issue is still a concern for me. Well, not really because um I can do 10 out of 10 right like that, no problem. So, that's not an issue for me. The elephant in the room that is of concern to me is the timeline. And I say that because we're looking at probably 5 to seven years before completion of this project. What are we going to do in the meantime? It's going to be awfully difficult to mitigate crime or to have some way of giving folks a timeout if it's going to take seven years to get there. So that is a a topic for discussion. Uh I think that we haven't had that discussion. if we wait seven years, where are we going to be in terms of our crime rate? So, and I would implore Sheriff Clark to kind of look at that situation because that could probably be an easier pill, but um that's something we need to talk about. So, thank you very much for your time. Appreciate you.

Thank you. Next speaker.

Hello everybody. My name is Kevin Elliot. Um, another one of the little men in the group here, but um, I'm definitely against this in my backyard. Uh, I reside in Ramar States Estates. Um, me as a child, 2000s, 9090s, give or take, Christmas neighborhoods rolling through there, you know, fun, happy, pleasant place to be around. Um, obviously it slowly died off a little bit, but we're trying to bring that back up. Um, trying to keep families out in the neighborhood, shiny schools. My children both go to shiny schools. Um, and now we're looking at Shauny School District 2 now having a problem too to operate. I know that's not really your guys's fault, but now that we're going to put a jail out there, I don't want to live next to that. That's definitely in my backyard. That's less than a mile away. And if you're going to release prisoners out there, too, I worry about my kids them being out there, you know. Um, so I don't I'm not against the anything to do with the sheriff's department. I have plenty of people, friends. Now, I'm working at the school now at CTC, student resource officers, everybody in the sheriff's department, we know quite a bit. Um, I'm not opposed to that. It's the location. Take one of these dumps downtown, tear the block down, and build a jail. I mean, I don't understand what the biggest proposement is for 30 acres of land out there to only use 10 possibly and then have another 100 possibly available to just destroy the outside of town out there. I used to live downtown. I had a dump street that I hated living there. Worked my butt off downtown Bill Marines for 22 years just to be able to move outside the township and then buy a nice house in a nice neighborhood and continue to have that nice neighborhood. Uh like I said, I I do Santa Claus out in Rayar, you know what I mean? Like I am Santa Claus. So me to do that and now go to have a jail out there and then run the neighborhood back down again. You know what I mean? There's a lot of pride out there in that side of town. If we can't have a Kroger's, why have a jail? You know what I mean? We had to drive through the dumps of Springfield to come

even to get into town just to be able to have some groceries or drive clear on the other side of town to get Walmart for groceries. You know what I mean? Like, let's put something that we could actually used out there instead of having a jail. And like I said, I'm I'm not against the sheriff's department, not Gary Police Department, anything like that. Just the wrong location. Thank you. Other comments. How everybody doing? Um, I don't live out there. What's your name? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Shane Ramy. I'm sorry about that.

Uh, I don't live out there, but I will speak for them because I I understand their pain because I don't believe we need a county jail out there either. I think there's too many properties. There's too many brown fields in Springfield that we can use, but we're not looking at them because we're rushing to just do something that, you know, we want instead of what we need. There's a lot of places here we can build it. But as I understand it, we already gave the sheriff's office a substation out in New Carile and we got them a facility over on Spring View and there's a lot of acres back there. What are they doing with that? What are they What is going on out here? We don't need to reszone that. If we're going to reszone that, we got to make our city look better. Make it look good. You know, every city I go to, you go to another city, you know, there's things to do. There's nothing on limestone. And we don't need a jail on 72 right off the highway. That's that's a eyes sore. And you know, I ain't got nothing against law enforcement, you know. They know me, I know them, you know, but there's I don't have nothing against them. I'm just saying there's there's better spots in Springfield. Like we said, we got a lot of eyes sores in our own city that we could use. Now, even now, I heard Green County was brought up. They built their jail back in the same exact spot. You know, they just took it and rebuilt it right in the same exact spot. They didn't move it nowhere. They made it better. We can do that, too. We got a lot of spots. There's there's a a big spot over there on uh like somebody said on Bird Street and Sheridan and all them spots and you know there's right downtown when you go over to overpass, you look on either side, there's a whole bunch of land here that we can build our county jail here. We going to resone that spot out there by the highway. We need to have something that's going to bring jobs, something that's going to bring something in that that helps the community, builds the community, not a display or a weaponry against the community like this is what we do. No, we need a something that says this is a

good city. Come live here. We don't need we need a welcoming site out on 70, not a jail. I understand all the problems about jail and there's going to be crime and there's people and they need something better. I agree with that. But let's build let's come to the community, you know, speak to the people and let's build somewhere. So, you know, let's come to a common ground. Don't just try to force it on us like, oh, we're just going to build it here. No, there's a lot of spots you can build it. Might be cheaper in the city, you know. That's all I wanted to say. Thank

other comments. Just real quick, my name is Steve Hillard and earlier this evening, Commissioner uh Rickettts, uh you asked, I believe, the sheriff a question regards the demographics who live north of 78 and [clears throat] or 68 rather and

oh west. Okay, I'm sorry. And the response is 25 to 30% that do. So completing that equation, that means that 70 to 75% of that same demographic does not live west of 68. And the other comment I have is, and as we all know, and you know, we've all heard from time to time in regards to the conditions of our prisons, they're not perfect by any means, but compared to most foreign countries outside of the US, they are country club. I mean, they're in a lot better shape than a lot of foreign countries. So, that's all I have. Thank you. Are there any other comments for this hearing? Thank you. If you go to the microphone, state your name.

I'm Itty Bitty. So, I'm going to lower the mic. Um, hi, my name is Angie Bishop, and I've been going back and forth whether to speak, but I do feel like I need to speak my mind. So, thank you for this time. Um, again, my name is Angie Bishop, and I do live in Pawsum Woods. I am a Springfield native, born and raised, and extremely active in the community. Um, I've worked at High Street Church of the Nazarene. I have worked at Shaunie High School and I'm a Shaunie grad. I've invested a lot in this community. I love this community in Springfield. And it makes me sad that we're here tonight. Um, I want to thank all of the law enforcement. We appreciate your care for our county and our residents. So, a deep heartfelt thank you. Um, this is not an easy discussion to have a lot of opinions. My greatest concern is for our children. Possum Woods, the neighboring neighborhoods um are seeing an influx of younger families moving in. I personally have two grandchildren that live in my neighborhood in Pawsum Woods. I want to feel safe to know that I can walk the street and not encounter a criminal who was just released walking back to their residence. I want to be insured that we can walk in confidence. And if we don't want to lock our doors at night, we can feel confident in knowing someone's not going to break in the night to cause us harm. We are entrusting you, the commission. We are entrusting our law enforcements and our leaders with a great responsibility. We do we know you do not take it lightly and we appreciate again the platform to

speak our minds and our voices and I do implore that you please vote this usage down for tonight. Thank you so much. Thank you. Are there other comments? [clears throat]

Uh my name is Samuel Lawson. I live on Possum Road. I've lived out there since 1972. [clears throat] We moved out there because the city of Springfield at that time was starting to ignore the laws of their city. loud noises, race cars tearing up the streets and stuff. It's a very peaceful area out there and the sheriff's department where it's at. When they built that, it should have been built five stories high anyway to have room for these criminals that our judges keep putting back on the street. We've got other institutions right here. Butler County, you can rent space down there and send some of our criminals down there. You pay city of Springfield, the township pay for [clears throat] the emergency people to carry Narcan. Let them die. You do not need to take care of these people that have no regard for the citizens of Springfield or this county. Repeat offenders are going to be repeat offenders. Sir, I need to make sure we're talking about the zoning only. I hear your opinions.

I want the jail out behind me. I can hear four-wheelers driving across that property. It's not secure. They come in from 72. They come in from down below. They do run their spoiler wheelers out there. And there are people that cross that boundary back there. I've seen them. I've called the sheriff's on him back in the 70s and 80s because he's back there just shooting off weapons and stuff. So, it's not a secure area. No matter what you think out there, the city of Springfield has been trying to annex out around there to get taxed out and that's all you're trying to do. Thank you.

Thank you. Just to be clear, the city of Springfield doesn't seek annexation. Private property owners have a state right to ask if their property would be annexed and if and if it is a property that can be annexed in the city. We are legally obligated as a as a municipality as a government to answer that question with a yes or no affirmative or that invisible line down Clifton Road so you could build that housing out there. That didn't go through. Matter of fact, you could have built that jail out there where you're building that housing project. There isn't anybody around there. There is. That that's true. Nobody but those houses that you want. Thank you. And screw Charie.

Okay. I don't Anyway, the comments. Hi, my name's Kassiff. Susan, you've already spoken. There's no need to speak more. Go ahead. It was a long time. Go ahead. No, go right ahead.

Um, my name's Kay Vassiff. I live out in 2nd. um lifelong citizen of Springfield Township and uh I was very concerned when I heard that you're planning to build a jail out there. Um and I don't know about any of the rest of you, but I know my husband and I just got a big property tax increase in our uh in our bills here recently. And I just am concerned what's going to happen when I go to sell my property and the all of a sudden my property isn't worth what it is now because there's a jail a mile away. That's my big concern. And also just make aware that uh no tax increases or levies or anything got passed this last time be because of this issue. And if this goes through, I have a feeling there's not going to be very many more increases to come for a long time because I think a lot of people here feel like I do and they're getting they're you guys are doing something we don't want. So, thank again just to be clear, this is just about zoning. Your comments were all about zoning, but we are not the city of Springfield is not building a jail. Okay, other comments. Okay. Is there a motion to conclude the hearing?

So moved. Second. Been moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Ruth? Yes. Public comment period for the city commission is called to order. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts, here. Mr. Riggsby here. Mrs. Tacket here. Mr. Wallace, here. Mr. Rue,

here. City commissions re remain committed to creating a conducive environment for constructive and productive dialogue and engagement for our community. Those wishing to speak need to fill out a public comment card and provide their name and address for public record. The state issued ID and driver's license must be provided when filling out the card and only those residing within Springfield and Clark County will be permitted to speak during the public comment period. Comment cards will be accepted up to 15 minutes after the start of the form of this time. Those who are determined to provide false information will not be able to speak at this meeting or the next regularly scheduled meeting. Truly are committed to making sure meeting environment is where we can have the opportunity to share thoughts, ideas, and concerns. While we fully respect the first amendment right of all individuals, disruptions or any kind of conduct that impedes an orderly progress of the meeting will not be tolerated. Should any individual be escorted or asked to leave due to disruptive behavior on three separate occasions, they will be notified that they are considered trespassed and barred from attending future further city commission meetings. As a reminder, this the citizen participation guideline allows on legislative agenda items. Each citizen may comment up to three agenda items per meeting with a total speaking time of three minutes for all agenda matters. The only comment card I have is Mr. Shane Ramy.

[clears throat]

How everybody doing? Uh I have a I have a I don't know if you guys handle the uh the traffic camera I mean not cameras but uh traffic light system but uh they're taking that traffic light that in where Colombia and Lagunda meets and it's very dangerous right there because there's a building on the corner and you have to ease out over the double lines where they have for the stop sign and I've seen a lot of near accidents. I live in that area. There's no, you know, there's a lot of kids in that area. there's no crosswalk or whatever. I don't know why they want to take that light down, but that that light is very necessary like as far as safety thing is because when you're coming up Colombia, you have to ease out and it's not like a straight four section. It's like a curve right there and you have to ease out past this building that's on the corner and you're over all three lines. You know, you got the solid and the two crosswalk. you had to go in the crosswalk to even see the traffic coming from Main Street coming down the hill on Laganda. So I would suggest that whoever took that they put that light back up because that is a very very very dangerous intersection because you got the traffic coming down Lagunda and you don't know if they're going to turn right there and come up to go to the overpass or and you got to go around this building to see. So, it's very dangerous right there. And there's a lot of kids in that area. And there's a lot of um or Haitian people in that area, too. And they're not, you know, they're not up the traffic speed. So, that I just want to know if we can put that light back. I don't know if y'all responsible for that.

So, that light [clears throat] did not meet warrants, uh, which is a standard set through ODOT on whether a traffic uh, light is required at a signalized intersection. And so part of the evaluation process though is exactly what we're going through which is it was signed that that light was going to go. It was flashing for a period of time. Now they're bagged and our staff and engineer are evaluating that to see if if that light can be removed. So that that is the steps and process. So, I appreciate your feedback and and comments on that and we'll take note of that as part of again that evaluation process that is a part of uh looking at traffic signals and whether they can or cannot be removed. Okay. Okay. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you for your time,

Tina Seabold. Good evening. I just wanted to sorry um I just wanted to tell real quick that um I just have a lot of empathy for the city commissioners. I thank you for all the work that you're doing, but I was at the county commission meeting last Wednesday. I missed the opening dial the the four to five open question period, but I was there for the regular meeting. And in the community comments, there was not one mention of people being upset about where the jail was potentially going to be located. Um there was a lot to talk about Sloopy for this this meeting. it was four. I know there's been a lots that have been against. So, I just feel like every decision in this community seems to fall in your guys' laps and however you decide it comes back to looking like Springfield City Commission isn't supporting this or isn't supporting that when a lot of these decisions are actually made by other entities within our community. So, I just wanted to say that as sitting here tonight, I just have a lot of empathy for you guys and I don't envy any of you having to sit up there. So, um, good luck and, uh, thank you for all your service.

You have two more minutes. You can go right ahead. [clears throat and laughter] Keep going.

Well, I will encourage, I guess I will say real quick, um, I would encourage all the community to, uh, I know that they're talking about doing another citizens academy this fall. Um, I would really encourage everybody to try to be a part of that and really understand what the city is responsible for and what other entities in our community are responsible for because the city commission does not control everything that happens in Clark County. It's just not their it's not their that's not what they do. And yet their meetings are attended by more people. More people come up and speak from what I've noticed than any other entity is school boards, county commission. Um, so again, I just attend the academy and really learn about the city government and what they do with our community. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for saying that. I have one more comment card. Mark Aerman. Sorry, that's a Marty. Marty, I was writing fast. Sorry, Marty. Thank you.

So, uh, just a a short thing I forgot to mention earlier. So, um I just wanted to add that as a resident of Springfield Township with the proposed location, um the concern is especially important because of the several recent developments that we've had. There's like four recent developments that the township um already is um we don't get the taxes, the property taxes because due to the tiffs and the CRAAS, they would redirect or reduce portions of the property tax revenue um which would otherwise go to the township and the school district. And so I think because of that um residents are particularly sensitive to the decisions that further reduce the tax base intended to support our local services and schools. And I hope that you will also consider that. Thank you.

Of course. Of course. Thank you. Okay. Is there a motion to conclude uh the comment period? So move. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Rue? Yes. We'll be taking a 3 to 5 minute break. Thank you for being here. We'll continue with our formal meeting after that.

All the bills. Welcome back. The formal meeting of city commission is called to order. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts. Mr. Rickettts here. Mr. Riggsby here. Mrs. Tacket here. Mr. Wallace here. Mr. RI here. Please stand for the invocation and the pledge.

God, we thank you that we get to come tonight and help govern this city. And I ask that you would give us wisdom and that you would give our city peace in your name. Amen. Algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republicy.

Is there a motion to approve minutes? So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wiggby? Yes. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Clerk, proceed with first readings by title only.

Amending the Melody Parks planned development for 409.3 acres located at 4 4025 East National Road, Springfield, Ohio. Amending the zoning map of Springfield, Ohio by reszoning 28.37 acres located at 2683 Springfield Jamestown Pike, Springfield, Ohio from Springfield Township Agricultural District to City Pie Institutional and Educational District. Confirming and approving amendment number three to the grant agreement with the Federal Transit Administration to increase grant funding in an amount not to exceed $300,000 for operating assistance. Authorizing an additional local matching expenditure in an amount not to exceed $300,000. Authorizing the city manager, law director, and the director of finance to perform all acts and execute all documents they consider necessary to fulfill the city's obligations under said granted amendment and to comply with all relevant local, state, and federal legal requirements, confirming and approving all related expenditures incurred from December 1, 2025. authorizing the purchase of two Ford Police Interceptors of the newest model year available from National Autofleet Group for an amount not to exceed $15,51312 through Sourcewell pursuant to the Sourcewell contract purchasing cooperative program in accordance with the provisions of section 9.48 of the Ohio Revised Code. Confirming and approving change order number one to the contract between the city and Peterson Construction Company for the Erie Express Pump Station Free Treatment Facility Project to increase the contract in an amount not to exceed $562,35 for a total amount not to exceed $8,930,35

and to extend the contract completion date to May 27, 2027 and authorizing the city manager to execute said change order number one.

Thank you. Before we ask for comments or ask for the uh city manager, I'd like to make a motion that we would postpone item 261-25 amending the zoning map of Springfield, Ohio by reszoning 28 and 30 28.37 acres located at the Springfield Jamestown Pike Road and Springfield Township Bay Agricultural District and to city PIE Institutional Educational District for consideration at the second reading. by the city commission to April 7th, 2026. Is there a second? Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby?

Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Rue? Yes. Thank you. Is there uh Brian, is there anything you'd like to explain on first readings?

Uh just to speak. I know we talked about both of the reasonzoning items that are on there. Uh the grant agreement with uh FTA is our annual allotment that we allocate uh for operational expenses uh for our transit service and as you know we uh transition to the microtransit service. Uh so this is continues to be consistent with past years even with that change uh in service delivery uh purchasing two uh new police cruisers uh of the newest model year uh this year. And uh we saw just a slight increase in the the total cost from last year which was good to see because we have seen a substantial cost increase as it relates to cruisers uh just over the last um 3 [clears throat] to 5 years. And then the final one is uh related to uh our wastewater treatment plant and replacement of the dome over our digtor which is 64 years old. Um, and so, uh, we're adding it to this larger project with Peters Peterson Construction. Uh, and hopefully we can get at least another 64 years out of the next one.

Thank you. There any comments from commissioners on first readings? The comments from the audience on first readings only? You'd like to go to the microphone, please, sir. Thank you. Just state your name. Uh my name is Steve Yard and at the risk of sounding down the Federal Transit Administration is that like the um lack of better term the van system that replaced the city buses. Is that what you're referring to or what is this referring to?

So FTA is our transportation or our transit system funding. It's been our funding for a long time. The feds provide uh a significant amount actually to provide for the services. Yes, we transitioned uh last year to our microtransit or the field trips uh but that is still uh a part of that transportation network and public transportation network that is funded by FTA. So is this strictly going towards field trip then the 300,000 this is going to pay for that public transit service in our community. Has has anything been done in reference to the comments that were questions that were uh raised late last fall as to the identification of the vehicles or the lack thereof?

The numbers are on there. Uh each uh van is identified by a number. So if you have a complaint, uh you can go through field trips and uh provide the number of the vehicle. If you see an erratic driver or something, you can send that information to uh via transportation who runs or operates the field trip system. uh they can actually pinpoint and and identify and and look for corrective action. Okay, great. Thank you.

This has been a highly successful initiative, this field trips initiative and even the state of Ohio is looking at seeing how uh the spring city of Springfield has uh responded to this type of and its writers has responded to this type of transit system. So, it has been a successful program. Lots of wrership. Other comments from the audience on first readings? Thank you. will continue with second readings authorizing a contribution to Gammon House Incorporated in the amount of $1,000 to support the 2026 Junth and Father Fest celebration. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are the comments from commissioners from the audience?

Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Riggsby, yes. Mrs. Packet, yes. Mr. Wallace, yes. Mr. Rue, yes. authorizing the city manager to enter into a community reinvestment area agreement by and between the city of Springfield, Ohio and Core for Connection LLC and granting a community reinvestment area tax abatement. So move second been moved and seconded. Are the comments from commissioners from the Andy?

Yeah, I just wanted to say I'm really glad to see that this is this is happening. Um I think this was a result of uh maybe some miscommunication. Uh Core for didn't know that they had to apply for that for the benefit and uh that it was automatically granted to residences but not to businesses and once they found that out they moved through the process and now uh something's being done that's very good for the community. Yes. The comments from the audience. If you go to the microphone please. This will be your second. Yeah. Um the dollar amount I was just curious as to the tax the is the area tax abatement what what type of uh dollar amount is it are we

you want to explain this

so it's a 15-year 75% uh tax abatement on the improved value so what happens is the auditor will set an improved value based off of the improvements that the owner made. So, there was a base tax valuation. They'll continue to pay that. And then when the auditor assesses the property, which they probably have not uh finalized that assessment or that new assessed value since the project was just recently completed, um, and then that will determine how much benefit they receive for their investment on the project. So, they will continue to pay the base value of the land in the building that was was there. uh they will see 15ear 75% tax abatement on the improved value uh that is generated from the improvements they made.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Call the role. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. R? Yes. Approving general salary increases for non-bargaining unit employees pursuant to section 175.03C 03C of the codified ordinances of the city of Springfield, Ohio, and authorizing the city manager to do all things necessary to implement such increases. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners from the audience. Cler call the role. Mrs. Tucket. Yes. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Riggsby.

Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a crop land lease agreement 2026 to 2030 with Raven Farms LLC to lease 5.0 acres at 5721 Platsburg Road of which 4.8 acres are tillable farmland and confirming and approving related services provided by Raven Farms LLC from January 1, 2026. So move second. Been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners from the audience or call the role. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Yes. Mr. R.

Yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a crop land lease agreement 2026 to 2030 with Burner Farms to lease 308.758 acres in the vicinity of the city's water treatment plant of which 224.354 acres are tillable farmland and confirming and approving related services provided by burner farms from January 1, 2026. So moved. Second and moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners from the audience or call the role. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. R? Yes.

Authorizing the city manager to enter into a crop land lease agreement 2026 to 2030 with Clark's Farm Market LLC to lease 103.889 889 acres in the vicinity of the city's water treatment plant, of which 99.159 acres are tillable farmland and confirming and approving related services provided by Clark's Farm Market LLC from January 1, 2026. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners? From the audience? Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Mr. Ricketts. Yes. Mr. R. Yes.

Authorizing the city manager to enter into a crop land lease agreement 2026 to 2030 with PLM Farms Limited to lease 37.99 acres at the Springfield Beckley Municipal Airport of which 34.89 acres are tillable farmland and confirming and approving related services provided by Clim Farms Limited from January 1, 2026. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are the comments from commissioners from the audience? Clerk, call the role. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Rue? Yes.

Authorizing the city manager to enter into a crop land lease agreement 2026 to 2030 with Joseph Hegel to lease 74.466 466 acres at the Springfield Beckley Municipal Airport of which 42.933 acres are tillable farmland and confirming and approving related services provided by Joseph Agel from January 1, 2026. So moved. Second. Been moved and seconded. There comments from commissioners from the audience. Ma'am, would you like to hear the podium, please? Thank you. Just say your name for the record. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Katherine. Um I'm just not really sure. I wasn't here at the last meeting. Um what this really is crop land lease agreement, the Springfield Beckley airport and how that would affect it. So why don't you explain all these that we've been voting on? They're very similar.

Yeah. So all of these items are related uh either to the airport or surrounding properties of the airport or uh out on our wellhead protection area. So up north. Um these are areas that are uh not developed or anything. And so working with uh area farmers uh to continue to maintain and and farm these properties uh seems like a a good use of the the land. Uh so these crop land lease agreements are working directly with those farmers to to continue to farm those fields. Uh the wellhead protection area certainly is protecting just that the wellhead. Uh so we don't want to see development there. And then the airport is 1,800 plus acres, uh, which a lot of it, um, you know, outside the runway zones and stuff is farmland that, uh, can be farmed.

So, when you say wellhead, is that to help with the water usage out there to get city water out there? Is that what No, well protection is, uh, mostly north of the uh, water treatment plant. Okay. And so, it's protecting that well uh, field that is uh, the aquafer. Uh so we want to protect the land over top of it so nothing can seep into the ground that would impact the aquifer which ultimately would impact uh the water coming into the water treatment plant. Cler call the role. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. R.

Yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a crop land lease agreement 2026 to 2030 with Jeremy and Taylor Rener Farm to lease approximately 589.04 04 acres at and near the Springfield Beckley Municipal Airport in Clark County, Ohio, of which 505.1 acres are tillable farmland. And confirming and approving related services provided by Jeremy and Taylor Rener Farm from January 1, 2026. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes.

Mr. R. Yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a development incentive agreement single family residential development to provide pursuer services to real property outside the city limits located at 2490 Crayville Road. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners from the audience. Cler call the rule. Mr. Riggsby. Yes. Mrs. Sackett. Yes. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. R. Yes.

Authorizing the city, excuse me, authorizing the exercise of the city's option to renew the contract with Polydine Incorporated for the purchase of Liquid Polymer for an amount not to exceed $84,120. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Comments from commissioners. What is the the liquid polymer used for? That's to dry out uh the sludge. um you know as we look to field apply it but try to condense the uh liquid and moisture out of uh the sludge so that then it can be applied. Okay, that's what I thought from the audience. Cler call the role. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mr. Rickettts,

yes. Mr. Wallace, yes. Mr. Riggsby, yes. Mr. Room, yes. Emergency emergency ordinances, please. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Rumkey of Ohio Incorporated for the removal of catch basin debris, trash, and grit for a period of 3 years with an option to renew for two additional one-year periods for an amount not to exceed $377,538 for the initial 3-year period and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. Been moved and seconded. comments from commissioners. Let's explain this just a little bit. Brian.

Yeah. So, uh, as we collect the catch, bracing, debris, trash, grit throughout, uh, we take it back to our yard and, uh, put it in a dumpster. Uh, the previous contract that we held, uh, that contractor used 12 yard dumpsters. Um, Rumpky will be using a 20-yard dumpster, providing a 20-yard dumpster. Um, so if you look at the contract amounts, it's a 35% increase over the previous contract, but we believe as this is a not to exceed amount that we will actually see uh a significant uh decrease in terms of the number of times they have to come out and actually pick up the dumpster because we're using a 20 yard as opposed to a 12.

Excellent. Thank you. Comments from the audience or call the role. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. Wiggby. Yes. Mr. Rue, yes.

Authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement into agreement number 43936 with MS Consultants Incorporated for the CLA CR33-1.35 sidewalks, also known as CLA Beckal Sidewalks, P number 118643, for an amount not to exceed $17,165 and declaring an emergency therein. Second been moved and seconded. Are the comments from commissioners from the audience? Cler call the role. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Yes. Mr. Ricketts. Yes. Mr. R.

Thank you. Yes. I'm tired. I'm sorry. [snorts] Hi. [laughter] Authorizing the exercise of the city's option to renew the general professional engineering services agreement with Carpenter Marty Transportation Incorporated for professional engineering services for an amount not to exceed $500,000 and declaring an emergency there. So moved. Second. Been moved and seconded. Comments from commissioners from the audience. Call the role. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Hi, Mr. Rickettts. Yes, Mr. Wallace. Yes,

Mr. Ruth. Yes. Providing for supplemental appropriations within various funds and declaring an emergency therein. So, move. Second. Been moved and seconded. Uh, Miss Katie, you want to explain a little bit here?

Certainly, mayor and commissioner. So, supplemental appropriations essentially means budget dollars. So, you we are asking for you to approve those budget dollars for expenditure. Um, there are two funds that we're requesting supplemental appropriations. First, $450,000 in the street maintenance and construction fund, and that's to fully appropriate the street fund that was presented to you in the 2026 budget. Um, secondly, $1.24 million in the sewer fund for three sewer projects on East Home Road, East View Heights, and West High Street. These projects were originally estimated at about $4.5 million and expected to require debt financing, but that estimate included pavement restoration that was later determined not to be necessary. As a result, when we bid out these projects, they came in significantly under budget um which allows us to fund them directly versus looking at debt financing for the 1 um excuse me, $24 million. So essentially too, just in the interest of transparency, commission approves every budget dollar that is appropriated, whether that's through approving a grant agreement or these supplemental appropriations here tonight for our legislated funds like the street fund, the general fund, and the sewer fund. Um, but it is commission is authorized and required to approve every dollar that is appropriated for expenditure.

Thank you. You're welcome. Comments from the audience. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Riggsby, yes. Mr. Ricketts, yes. Mr. Wallace, yes. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mr. Rof, yes. Confirming purchases and the obtaining of services for the city and providing for payments, therefore, and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded, Miss Katy.

Certainly, mayor and commissioner. So, under the city's charter, if the city receives a good or service without a purchase order in place and that amount exceeds $100, then city commission is required to approve um that expenditure. Some examples include prior year invoices for purchase orders that have been closed um or just those routine items where purchase order wasn't increased um after it was fully exhausted. Um so again just reiterating that this is a requirement of the city's charter um for commission to approve these um payments. It's an emergency so that we don't hold up payment to our vendor who has already provided that good or service. Um and then this list along with um the previous item for supplemental appropriations. The full detail for both is available on the city's website the Friday before a commission meeting. So, I just had Warren's voice in my head uh because when I first got elected, he would ask a question that he already has known for 25 years and he would say, "I just asked for the new guys." So, they would hear your answer.

Always happy to repeat the answer. Comments from the audience. Clerk, go ahead. Thank you.

I'm just curious as to what type of services this is referring to. So, an example, many of these on the list tonight are for utility bills. So, um Ohio budgetary law requires us to close blanket purchase orders by January 31st, and those are blanket purchase orders for the prior year. So, when those purchase orders are closed, that money is not earmarked or encumbered to pay those invoices. So when additional invoices for utilities come in for through December and we go to pay those, we don't have the monies earmarked anymore because Ohio budgetary law required us to close those purchase orders. So commission is approving those payments outside of those dollars that are earmarked or reserved through a purchase order.

So is that what is that why it's considered an emergency then? Because of the fact that the we've already the electric utility has already been provided. we have a bill with a due date with Ohio Edison. Um so again an emergency because the good or service has already been provided to the city. So um it's our fiduciary responsibility honestly to pay that vendor timely versus making them wait 6 to 8 weeks to go through the process of a first reading a second reading and then waiting 14 days to issue payment to them when they've already provided the good or service.

Okay. Thank you. So we ask uh we'll ask the commission we'll ask every now and then for Miss Katie to explain um items like uh 0926 and 1026 for the very reason you've asked to that this public would understand that one sentence what we're doing within that. So it's just important to repeat that every now and then that we're folks understand what we're doing. Certainly. Cler call the role. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. Rue. Yes. Is there any new items on the agenda? There are none. Okay. Uh commission announcements and acknowledgements. I

I just have one would like to let the public know um Ohio Means Jobs and the Springfield Partnership are uh collaborating for their 16th Clark County job fairs April 14th and from 11:30 to 1:30 is for high school seniors. So, dress to impress young young men and women. And then from 1:30 to 4:30 is for adults. And that's at the Holland Beck, which is 275 South Limestone Street, Springfield, Ohio. Go ahead.

Okay. Um, I just want to congratulate the community and our Springfield Fire Department on opening fire station number five last week. and for all the city staff, including our city manager who worked on that project to complete it. Uh it's a beautiful station and it's uh definitely a staple of the community and a reflection of how much we appreciate our fire department. I also want to thank everyone that came out to celebrate International Women's Day last Friday. We had hundreds of women show up. Um thank you to the Meyers Market for being a partner with that and letting us use the space. It was the eighth year that we have done that. And in conjunction with that and kind of tied into it, I want to go ahead and thank the city staff who have worked for our next meeting which will be um geared towards women's month. And so I encourage all of our female citizens to come in and and just uh be a part of that on the 24th.

Uh I'd like to just make an announcement. On April 25th, there's going to be a Springfield community cleanup day. It's free. That's pretty key to me. Um, you can bring unwanted household items, yard debris, furniture, electronics, clothing, tires, general trash. Uh, they do need volunteers to help with traffic control and direction, surveys, and check-in, as well as some other duties. If you'd like to volunteer for it, you can go to our website, springfield.gov. gov. Uh, in order to participate in the uh, trash disposal, you must show proof of residency. Uh, the other thing I have to say, just to sort of piggy back on to what Commissioner Tacket has or vice mayor Tacket has said, uh, I attended the, uh, new station 5 opening, uh, this is a magnificent thing for our community. Uh, I don't know how many of you were familiar with the old fives, but it was backed down off of commerce. Uh, tough to get into, tough to get out of. This is going to help improve response times to the communities. Uh, every one of our engine houses is not just busy, they're super busy. We're one of the busiest fire departments in the state of Ohio. Uh, really exceeded only by one or two other departments. So, every second that we can shave off of response times means that it's a quicker time for an ambulance or a fire truck to get to your house. Um, this asset is going to be something that the community will use for many years to come and it's going to provide a place for our firefighters, the men and women who serve our community to live in a much much better condition. So, I just want to congratulate really the city and the fire department on this uh milestone achievement. Also, our fire department has been voted the best in the state. So, that's something I'm going to say until I probably run out of breath.

Mhm. That's awesome. Is there a motion to conclude the meeting? So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Cler, call the role. Mr. Rickettts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr.