City Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay, before we start the meeting, we'd like to take a special opportunity to acknowledge Seth Timberman, who has been You want to go to We're going to talk about you and we'd like you to say a couple things, but uh he's been running our airport for quite a while. Uh Dr. Estrop is on the airport advisory board, so I'd ask like to have to him to make a few comments, but we do appreciate you being here and your service.

Thank you, Mayor Ru. Seth, it has been a real pleasure to work with you. You have done miraculous things at the airport to continue to move that operation forward as a strong economic development tool for the city of Springfield. You have not only significantly improved general aviation, and I've seen that in our advisory committee meetings, you've also worked with Tom and others to attract increasing interest in what's going on out at Springfield Beckley. I cannot on behalf of the city thank you enough. You will be missed, but we wish for you only the very best in your future endeavors.

Thank you. Yeah. I also want to say uh thank you to uh uh Commission for all the support, but also especially Tom and Brian for the support and trusting me, you know, when I came in and kind of giving me the reigns and uh all the stuff we've done out there. It's been exciting. Um I definitely going to miss it, but it was uh it was I was glad to be here for sure. Great. Thank you. Oh, we truly wish you well. Appreciate that. Thank you. Okay, we have a public m meeting, public hearing scheduled for 6:55. We're going to call that to order. Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Brown, here. Dr. Estro, here. Mrs. Hston, here. Mrs. Tacket,

here. Mr. Ruth, 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 6.72 acres located at 0 Selma Road being parcel number 30507002730035 from Springfield Township R1 single family residential district to city pie institutional and educational district was published in the Springfield News Sun a newspaper of general circulation. within the city. Attached tier 2 is a true and correct copy of the legal notice published on November 24th, 2025.

I move that the communication be ordered, received, recorded in the minutes, and filed. Second. The motion has been made and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Brown, yes. Dr. Estro, yes. Mrs. Hston, yes. Mrs. Packet, yes. Mr. R. Yes. Staff report.

Good evening everyone. So the subject parcel shown on slide was annexed in 2008 and had retained its Springfield Township R1 zoning designation. The parcel is undeveloped and has city sewer and detention services installed. Since uh the city cannot administer township zoning code, city staff is proposing the parcel be reszoned to a city institutional and educational district. This proposal will ensure that any new expansions or projects at this parcel can be regulated per city's zoning ordinance. The three surrounding parcels were recently zoned to the PIE district in December this year. The current zoning of Springfield Township R1 does not provide regulatory standards in case the parcel is proposed to be developed in future. The clar county comprehensive plan shows this area as institutional campus. The comprehensive plan's vision for this area is to have an institutional civic use. Staff's propos proposal of reszoning this parcel aligns with the character of surrounding properties. The purpose of proposed district states that it provides appropriate areas for the development of educational, religious and government facilities. The proposed district accommodates the characteristics of institutional campus as envisioned in the Clark County comprehensive plan. A zoning map from 1976 shows that the subject parcel was under Springfield Clark County joint vocational schools ownership. Over time, city acquired ownership of this parcel. East John Street is classified as 80 ft wide

secondary arterial public right by the clar county thare plan of 2018. The currently undeveloped parcel has a 15 in sanitary sewer line across it. As seen from the map, this parcel does not have any public street frontage. Overall staff recommendation is approval of request with no concerns and comments. There were uh there was a comment from city fire department uh recommending approval and commenting that all housing developments will need to comply with OFC and SFPC. At the regularly scheduled October 13 city planning board meeting, there were less than five members present and it failed to reach a quorum. So the Springfield codified ordinances 1128.01 01 states that the planning board's recommendation shall be provided within 45 days of the application and if the planning board does not submit a report within 45 days, it shall be considered to have submitted a report approving the proposed request. Since this application had passed 45 days, um there was a memorand memorandum attached with the staff packet for city commission's review showing that it's recommended approval by city planning board as well. Thank you.

There comments from commissioners. Have you received any concerns or complaints up to the time of this meeting tonight? Uh, no concerns or questions were received. Thank you. My comments from commission. Is there a motion to conclude the hearing? So moved. Second. Been moved and seconded. Clerk call the role.

Mrs. Brown. Yes. Mrs. Hston. Yes. Mrs. Packet. Yes. Dr. Estra. Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Thank you. Okay. The formal meeting for city commission is called to order. Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Brown, here. Dr. Estro here. Mrs. Hston, here. Mrs. Packet, here. Mr. R

here. Please stand for the invocation and the pledge. I think I just want to take an opportunity. Um there's just been a difficult uh loss of life for young people in our community. Uh two to three losses um unfortunate in our community. So I just want to take a moment of silence, pray and then we'll father I ask that you would be with the families of suffer. I ask that you would comfort them and be with God. I ask that you would give us grace and wisdom as we govern this city. Ask for peace for in your name. Amen. Is there a motion to approve minutes?

So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Brown? Yes. Dr. Estro? Yes. Mrs. H? Yes. Mrs. Packet? Yes. Mr. Ruth?

Yes. The city commission remains committed to creating a two conducive environment for constructive criticism and productive dialogue. Those wishing to speak must fill out a comment card, a um public comment card and provide their name, address for the record. They need to provide a state issued ID or driver's license and must be provided uh then filling out the card and that they are residing in Clark County and Springfield and so they can be permitted to speak during this period. Comment cards will be accepted up to 15 minutes after the start of the formal legislative meeting. Those who have determined to provide a false information will not be permitted to speak during this meeting and the next scheduled meeting. We're truly committed to making the meeting an environment where people have an opportunity to share ideas, thoughts, and concerns. While honoring first amendment principles, the city commission reserves the right to regulate the time, place, and manner of public comments to ensure the proceedings remain orderly, respectful, and conducive for con to constructive dialogue. While we fully respect the First Amendment rights of all individuals, disruptions or any conduct that impedes the orderly progress of the meeting will not be tolerated. Should any individual be escorted or asked to leave during uh that has had disruptive behavior on three separate occasions, they'll be notified that they're considered trespass and barred from attending future uh commission meetings. We'll go ahead and begin with our comment card. First one is James Blankin. Good evening. I just uh come to talk about the homeless tonight and about this warming center that shut down because of safety reasons. Now, my thing about that is um to me shutting down shouldn't be an option. I don't know why the professionals

couldn't work through the problem cuz there was a man that handled it last year with a lot of help, but he handled it. I mean, he had knives pulled on him. He had a gun pulled on him. Did he shut it down? He did not. My thing is he even offered his help to the people that was running this and they told him to leave it to the professionals. Well, if they're the professionals, we got problems. So, I guess all I wanted to say is I got a couple questions. One, why did you not go with Baron? He's been pleading, I think, all the way back from May about helping out, taking care of the homeless during these cold cold days. You know, that'd be question one. Question two is, did you even give him a reason? I don't think you did. So, I'd like to have an answer for that. And third is a personal question. I have a podcast and I would like to offer an opportunity to interview the three remaining that will be here, Mayor Rue, Mrs. Hackett, and Mr. to on on a day and time of that's convenient for you to have a conversation on my podcast and give some long form answers for I'm going to ask u my audience if they have questions they would like me to ask you and then I got some of my own so if that's possible I mean you don't have to answer me tonight on that but if you would my email address is on that for you. Just email me and let me know. We'll have answers for you in a little bit. Thank you, Chie Barnett.

Well, I just wanted to compliment all of you as especially um the outgoing city commissioners, uh Commissioner Brown, Hston, and Esdrop. Um I think you guys did a great job with a lot of ethics and resilience in these troubling times the last couple years. Um Tracy Tacket, you've been great. Um really enjoyed uh working with you and will continue to work and want to compliment uh Mayor Rue and and city manager hat um because it's been rough. So I really admire you all and appreciate all you've done and I look forward to working with all of you uh in the coming years. Thank you very much. Thank you. Don Holland, you hear me? All right. Today, I wanted to talk to you about my childhood in Springfield, Ohio. I have lived in Springfield for 18 years until I finally escaped through the military, and I'm happy I left. Um, my concerns are for my little sister and her upbringings. When I was her age, I can't remember a good time living here. I remember the crime around my home. My first issue is a site no child should have to see. When I was 11, I remember seeing a prostitution right outside my home. Um, at the time, seeing such a disgusting site didn't trigger me, but it did make me feel ashamed that this is my hometown. I can never bring my friends to my house without feeling embarrassment or ashamed by my environment. It's terrible that the people of Springfield express their issues to you and you ignore them. It's sad you don't desire change for the betterment of a community.

However, there is another issue I have a bigger issue with. This one really gets to me, especially when nothing was done by the Springfield Police Department. I was 15 years old when I was outside of a Home Depot on Beal and I was almost abducted. I was smart. Didn't leave my father's car. But I think, what if that was another child or even my 8-year-old sister? I made a police report and nothing was done. And I find that truly disgusting and anguishing. That nothing was done about this pedophile who is still on the loose today, still causing harm to our community and our children. My last issue is one problem that the city should have fixed decades ago. Now I'm 20. That is two decades. What the city has failed to do for two decades is take care of the homeless issue. I see them all over the city. I see them dealing drugs, littering, and making our city unsafe. How can you expect people to want to travel here when your streets are flooded with beggars and drug addicts? For my conclusion, I'll just say this. I don't come back for this depressing scenery. I come back to see my family. If it weren't for them, I would never come back to this sad, disgusting, depressing place you call city. Sandra Holland, uh, code enforcement. I have five people that I see underneath the department and do they ever drive or notice areas of out of compliance because an example was on North Street where a recliner sat there that the grass was even as high as this recliner and coming in main streets of North and Columbia where you see this and nothing's being done. So why are we

not driving around more and complaining about making Springfield beautiful? Uh, also parking enforcement. Why are we not dealing with again if you drive on Columbia, there's like three cars parked on the sidewalk? That's not safe for anybody who has to walk who are handicapped or the kids that would have to go to school last I think it was last meeting when they talked about shoveling. But what about these cars? And that night, the cops weren't there on Columbia last night because I had to I was late coming home and saw cops. They could have easily ticketed that car that was parked up on that sidewalk. Um, another thing I have is to talk about the parking of driveway. I'm told a skirt. Is there a way we can make a code that maybe I at least have 12 in because I've done with an unruly that I've tried to talk to the person or parking enforcement just tells me I don't have resources and to seeing my elderly neighbor I also have to deal with that and during the winter time if I hit that car that's my fault and then the other thing I have is the plants I love the flowers that are out here but 3 days after they were watered there's a dump truck afterwards dumping them all in that could have gone to like a senior center somewhere. Those flowers should have never they were still alive. They were still beautiful and you just dumped them in a truck. And the only reason why I got to see that is cuz I was dropping my daughter off to school and coming back. Those are my main concern is we do need to make Springfield beautiful again. But we're not going to make city of Springfield beautiful again. And I also think about the big businesses. We couldn't keep a dick. We couldn't keep a target. As I was just explaining, this is my first meeting and I just want to make Springfield a nicer place and we have stuff to do. Thank you.

Thank you, Eric Copeland. Well, I want to say thank you for all of you for serving. Obviously, I appreciate you and I will miss some of you. and Tracy, this is the last time you're going to be the only woman on commission. I don't know if these guys are up to it, but anyway, um I'm call I'm here because yesterday morning I was driving north on Bectal at North Street and it was clear that something was wrong with the light and I sat through it. I saw a car go from the the left lane over and just did something crazy and I thought, "What was that?" Well, then after I sat there through a couple of lights, I thought, "Oh, now I understand." Today I was coming through the same intersection and there was some person, I assume it was a man, in this cold, windy day clear up there on top of that light fixing it. And I just want to say thank you to you and to the city for taking care of those things. But that person that did it, I wanted to honk and say and and cars were going under him.

Mhm. But I didn't want him falling off if I honk. So

thank you, Miss Copeland. Melissa Skinner. I haven't been here for a few meetings, but I do watch from home. But I feel like we pay some pretty big salaries to not just some, but a lot of the people that work in the city. And here we are again in the same boat we were in last year with our homeless people. I don't like seeing the trash that's collected through the park or anything else just like anybody else didn't. That's all those people have. I'm lucky enough that I have a warm house. I have a vehicle with heat. I don't have to be cold. And what happened to our morals and our family values of taking care of people? You know, we stand here, we go to the NAACP special meetings and there are comments being made from our city manager, our mayor. They're at those meetings on protecting people and we have to stand up for people and everybody has rights. Everybody has an opportunity. I realize that people aren't happy that the TPS or whatever is going to be come February and people need to go back. Then hopefully people will come back legally. I have people that have immigrated here. They're in my family. I love them. I wouldn't want to see them go back and they paid and they did the right channels.

But we have an issue that is so much deeper right outside these doors. They're they're sleeping down here by the library. They're up by my work. Um they're taking stuff off the building next door for my work. Um they travel through my parking lot during the day. Um I don't have an issue with them. I mean, I would try to help them out. They're, you know, getting in my dumpster, getting cardboard to write on. Um, but what are we going to do? I thought we had a plan. Um, I talked to Mrs. Cobbs right before she had the meeting with the Nehemiah Foundation and I thought that we had I thought there was supposed to be a P plan in place. either we need to get people on board that can be up to the challenge for this and or replace them and pay somebody else that's going to come in and do the job. We shouldn't be paying people these high salaries if the job's not going to be getting done. I hate to be mean. I don't want to be mean. I don't mean it meanly, but by golly, we've got problems and we need solutions. We need to quit standing here week after week and making excuses. We need a plan. And these people are somebody's family. Thank you, Miss Skinner. West Fabian, no problems. However, I would say that uh in recognition to of the change in leadership for our city that will occur in the coming year,

I do wish to express to the commission my thanks for your service in recent years filled with incredibly difficult challenges and often met with what sound to me as disrespectful and frankly dishonest and disingenuous oppos. position. You have risen above those circumstances and and expressions as best as one could hope. Some speak out claiming freedom of speech. One can do so. However, I learned long ago that with freedom comes responsibility. So we contend with those who speak saying what they will, posting what they will on the what I will call antisocial media without being held accountable. Nonetheless, what is being expressed is on the record and history will judge it all. The character of this community has in many ways been severely tested and continues to be. The truth is that even though through the noise many many kind and thoughtful people stand up in the moment. While I may not always agree with this commission, I count you as those who serve this city as among the many who seek to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly. May it be so. Thank you. What? Yeah, I'm going to um have answers for Mr. Blanken and then if any one of the commissioners want to speak to his concerns individually, we'll do that and then we'll move to the next card. Um Mr. Blanken, I just want to say that um you spoke about the warming shelter that was uh functioning last year for 90

straight days, which I've admired from here. I' I've given the credit to uh Baron for for taking that on last year. Um and there was a meeting that we did discuss funding for future homeless initiatives. One of them was a warming shelter and there was a discussion about red tape. Like why all the red tape? It keeps out the little guy. I believe he said it almost exactly. Not putting words in his mouth, but it was a it was that kind of discussion. And the thing that we that we have to stress is those the monies that come to and through the city are from the federal from the feds. So they come through here. So they're attached to red tape to us and we have to make sure that red tape continues to the organization that's going to be having those funds. Otherwise, we have a whole another group of people that are upset with us for misusing funds and misspending funds. That's not true. So we there's a lot of due diligence that has to happen. Um, so that organization that he diligently worked on actually he was not able to receive those funds nor did he apply because he didn't have an organization that a government entity take city of Springfield out of it could not could not actually give money to and we did encourage him to look into opportunities to do that. So maybe there would be an opportunity in the future that he could be a funding source. Um, and so so he did get a reason and yes, I'd be glad to be on your podcast in the future. I have no problem with that. Um, so other commissioners I've been on a lot of

any other commissioners want to answer him. You haven't had enough.

Um, I just want to talk a little bit about the homeless. So I think you may know I have a business down here and at the heritage center and the warming area and the library is right there. So folks are piled up there quite often and I try to connect with them. I talk to the downtown businesses all the time as they're going in there and I have realized for the past two years and really listening to experts, listening to the community and talking to the homeless, it's really complex. Um, I'm starting to identify some of these folks that don't want to go into the shelter. And even though I don't understand that it's not illegal to sleep outside, um we have to have a multifacet approach for folks. Um so I would love to talk to you after if you could um connect with me. I'm putting together kind of a a group to identify some certain homeless folks. Like I really want to focus on some of the youth. the health department came out and had a report that there's um you know kind of a shocking number of how many youth homeless we have in the community higher than the state and I would like to at least try to target down and see if we can do something with that. Um, in regards to the shelter, uh, the, um, warming shelter, I checked in with Nehemiah just to, to share out some of the things that they do need currently if someone was, um, interested in continuing to help them get through this winter. Um, the biggest donation needs right now is coffee, creamer, coffee cups, napkins, breakfast casserles, church and restaurant meal donations.

biggest volunteer needs. Even those who have not attended our orientation or training yet can help in the following ways. One, on site at the Salvation Army for setup at 5:00 p.m. Two, on site at the Salvation Army for cleaning and sanitizing CS for tear down 8:00 a.m. Trained volunteers can come alongside shift leaders for evening and overnight shifts. you can reach out to them directly to Aaron. It's a a r o nammia foundation.org and then he will connect uh you with the coordinators through sign up genius forms. So again um I'm I'm in talks every week about the homeless and and youth was the focus last week as I met with the city schools. So uh I would love to have you be a part of that conversation um if you want to connect with me. Thank you. Um, Mr. Holland, I believe you said you uh left the military. Is that right? Genuinely, thank you for serving. No joke. Appreciate your devotion to the US. Um, and I want to I think it was I I see the community differently. I don't I do see the problems. I don't see anything with rose color glasses. Uh, but it is my town and and like it is many of these people here and I do care about it. And so I think one of the things that you mentioned that we don't desire change. I don't desire change. Actually, we do. And that's a that's some of the reasons we're getting some of the push back is because there is so much change happening. Um is it cleaning the streets up or or moving trash off the sidewalk or moving people that continue to park their cars in illegal areas? No. And every community deals with the same types of individuals that don't want to abide by any code, any law or anything. They continue to uh be disruptive in in their communities. And that frustrates me as much as it would

frustrate you. Uh when you're growing up and sorry about the things you had to see. I do mean that. But um these these concerns are are our concerns and it's one of the reasons why I wanted to be involved with the mission. Uh and I I hope my hope for you someday is you can look at Springfield, maybe see it differently, but that's you know, maybe you will, maybe you won't. I understand that. Um so I know that you brought up the homeless concern as well as others. So, I just want to go ahead and address uh across the board with homelessness. We uh did not shut down any shelter as far as we closed a shelter because of security concerns for 2 days this year and it was a warming shelter uh that's open right now and uh and it is being run by volunteers. It also is being run by a small grant that the city did pass through. I believe 36 30 between 35 and $39,000

30,000 to for the initial operation uh of that to address the security concern or issue. So yes, they were having some security concerns. I will say um they've been averaging anywhere between 40 to 50 individuals a day or at night uh overnight. Um certainly there were some security issues or concerns thanks to PD uh and their members that stepped up and and did take some overtime shifts. Uh obviously that's not sustainable for them as they're run ragged. Uh we were able to work and uh Logan Cobbs and her team worked to secure a security contractor that actually started I believe last night was their first night uh to help address that issue which again is within uh the purview of us to be able to help uh Nehemiah who's taking on uh running the homeless shelter or warming shelter operation uh with an issue that they were encountering with addressing the security concern. So hopefully that is removed. Certainly, I I understand uh their hours, their warming shelter hours. Uh so, typically depending on temperature, uh they're only opening up during that 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. time frame, so not necessarily open all day. Um and and certainly there's individuals that are not going there. There's individuals that are uh either going to sheltered or not going to to shelter in. Um, I'll say right now we have um we talk about the plan. One was addressing through the winter months and getting a consistent and uh um with the Salvation Army and bringing them back online that facility uh which is uh a great use for that facility in our community. Uh Nehemiah, a contractor that went through the procurement process was able to be awarded some funds to get that going. uh we have uh the responsibility to procure uh any contracts or any uh project program dollars that are going out. Uh and as the mayor indicated, even more so with the federal funds that come to us and

and the procurement rules and regulations that relate to that. Um, and so we I would encourage if there's other groups, if there's other entities that want to help and assist in that homelessness, we put out RFPs uh for services like that that can help fund that can help pay for that. And we encourage any organization because we know, we have learned in the community. Uh, I've grown up here. We had IHN uh, Interfaith Hospitality Network. Many of you may remember when they started, uh, and they were in churches. That's how it started. Um, and then they became Sheltered, Inc. that has the two facilities. But as we know, homelessness has increased not just in Springfield, but across the country. Uh, I saw a number the other day of over 300% just in the last four years. It is a significant issue in our country. And we need more providers. We need more uh uh organizations that are willing to step up uh to do that. We need we have some funding uh hopefully it doesn't get cut at the federal level that's specifically to help address homelessness and we want to be able to procure and get that money into the community to provide those services. We know we can't just operate with one entity or one organization. We need multiple organizations willing to step up and and want to uh take on this effort. So, we'd encourage anybody to to reach out and inquire if they have uh an organization that that's the services. We can talk to them about uh the funding opportunities that we have. The county also has the county actually has more dollars than the city does uh through their temporary assistance for needy families program. Um so, helping get those dollars out in our community to provide those vital services to our most vulnerable. Brian, can I um ask you? So, we did not budget for security at this shelter, correct?

No. Originally, it felt um in working with our partner that that would not be an issue or concern. Uh that was obviously something that uh an issue arose and we had to step up and try to address that specific issue. And that's where uh again our PD folks and thank thanks to them for picking up those additional overtime shifts during that period uh as we were working to procure a contractor to provide those security services at the shelter. So I want folks to understand that we didn't budget for that which we we have to pull the money from somewhere. So what what is the tradeoff of those funds? Where would that come out of and maybe hurt a different program?

Yeah. So, CDBG dollars and our federal funds, oftent times uh those entitlement programs help fund uh projects and programs that serve low to moderate income individuals in our community. Uh we're able to pave uh some roadways if they qualify in certain neighborhoods. Um, we're able to fund different programs, uh, Springfield Promise, uh, neighborhood housing partnership, uh, vital community organizations and programs, a lot of it, uh, homelessness. I I think just in the last year, and Logan can correct me if I'm wrong, but we're upwards of over $500,000 that we've committed to, uh, between Sheltered, Inc. and and the Warming Shelter and and other services to assist and help uh, homelessness. Project Woman, another great organization that uh we're able to provide those funds through and as those dollars get utilized for one part of the pie, that means there's less money to go around for the rest of it. Not saying that that's not appropriate to put those to that slice of pie, but do understand that then there's ramifications of other programs and other uh funding pots that may get less or see less.

Why not? Thank you. Okay, Miss Skinner, your comment about um morals and values. I assume you're talking about the community, not just the people sitting up here. And secondly, um please don't make comments from your seat. And secondly, uh the issues that the community has. Uh you've heard us discuss those tonight. It's the fact that that I I attended the NAACP meeting that was talking about immigration is something I would go to because I care about the human being that it's affecting just the human being just like I care about the homeless individuals that are being affected that are cold right now and that need shelter. Those are things that have been uh have taken more um more of my time and concern over the last uh weeks and months than than in the past because they're issues that are are are what we need to address and and what takes more time. But there are so many so many concerns and issues in in the governance of a community that everything needs the attention. So to be judged to go to a meeting because we're discussing human being issues, you're going to find me at the every one of those meetings that I can attend. So I care about the human being. I care about the the fair treatment of human beings, whether they're homeless individuals, displaced individuals, people that are here that were brought here under one policy that changed to another. They're going to get my care and concern as a leader in the community. And so you'll find me in those conversations. Uh and and and that's that's where I will be. And so uh we are addressing homelessness. We are uh working on you know the plan has been such an ambiguous term over the last uh 2 3 four years. But honestly, we're there is a uh we we are working to put something in place that will be a sustainable long-term uh plan and goal in an organization that that can sustain long-term um homeless displaced individual care to our community. We are doing that. It's in place and u not in place, but we're working to put it in place every so it's a concern of everybody that's sitting up here. Everybody pays attention to this issue and we all are concerned about it. So,

it's nothing that is ignored. We hate the fact that we see the same people that you see driving by the individuals. We we don't like to see it either and we like to get them helped as much as possible. Are there other comments from commissioners?

Yes, actually I do. I think Rob um maybe the problem with the meeting that you went to may have been that it was at an NAACP meeting. You know, that's probably the most problematic part of that. So, um, sorry about that for you. Um, so I feel like you you can't win and you know, in any situation that you are put in as a commissioner, right? Because even after tonight with all of that data that was just shared out, it's still going to be, well, you know, they don't do anything for homeless individuals. Well, you know, they sit up there in those big comfy chairs and blah blah blah blah blah. But there was just so much data that was given to support everything that the city does to to help individuals who are experiencing homelessness. Um, so I just want everybody to remember that and as you guys continue to serve, just keep your heads up because that is what I was mostly sick of because it doesn't matter what you do or what you say, you're still late viewed as doing a horrible job. So you guys keep your heads up. I am super excited to not deal with that anymore. So you guys, I I just wanted to say that from the bottom of my heart. Thank you guys.

Okay, we're going to go ahead and go ahead, Dr. Astrop,

for my final report on federal funding and state funding. Nothing has changed. Not a thing. Uh I heard on the public media last night that of five appropriation boards currently uh appropriation bills before Congress, the House of Representatives, that's the United States House of Representatives, has not taken up one. So our status for funding for 2026 remains unknown at this point. and the advice we're getting. We're making our best decisions in terms of what might happen, but it's a guess. So, I wish I had better news to provide to you in terms of my final report. Unfortunately, the House has its version, the Senate, the US Senate has its version, and the president has his version, and that has not changed for several months now. So, thank you. Uh, I hope we can do better as a country and a state in our near future.

Dr. E, before you wrap up, what was the total loss of federal dollars? What was the total cut again? As I recall, it was like 2.5 million. Yeah. Um, for the county. Okay. For the city, it was a little less uh than that, but I think the whole county and the health district, as I recall, took a big cut. They had to lay off several staff members there. That obviously affects the well-being of our community. Where we're seeing it is primarily in the community development department and uh the programs associated with that. You Brian, you were

Yes, that's correct. Uh so primarily the focus the entitlement programs that we receive that are administered through the community development department and fund uh a lot of our uh again not for profofits. Uh you're correct the health department had one of the biggest uh hits um with a a grant that went away or funding that was pulled. Uh if you recall too, there was the uh youth gun violence grant. Oh, that's right. That OIC violence. Um and that was a substantial amount of uh money that was pulled back. U again DOJ I believe pulled back over 35 communities uh grants that were run through that same cycle. And you know, and I do just want to say again, you know, that that's what you guys voted for. So I just want to go on the record. Um so yeah there's that. Okay, other comments from commissioners. We do we will have a time at the end to uh have commissioner special recognition. U we'll hear from our departing commissioners and current. Uh we're going to go ahead and continue with first readings by fit only.

Amending the zoning map of Springfield, Ohio by reszoning 6.72 acres located at 0 Selma Road, Springfield, Ohio from Springfield Township, R1 Single Family Residential District to City Pie Institutional and Educational District. So moved. Author me first readings. I'm ready to go. That's right. Sorry. We'll continue

authorizing an amendment to the billing services agreement with Acumen Billing Incorporated for medical billing services and accounts receivable activities to update the contractor's legal name to EMS Management and Consultants Incorporated. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract for the demolition of 325 West Columbia Street with Tony Smith doing business as Tony Smith Wrecking and Trucking for an amount not to exceed $98,900. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with the Shelly Company for the 2026 North Murray Street paving CDBG project for an amount not to exceed $497,35. authorizing the city manager to enter into an amendment to the contract with Windstream to provide telephone services at the new fire station located at 50 North Thompson Avenue to increase the contracted amount not to exceed $1,584 or a total amount not to exceed $164,67652 for the three-year term.

City manager, you'd like to bring it explain any of the first readings? Uh yes. Uh so as I talked about, one of the things that we've been trying to do with our CDBG funds as well is to be a force multiplier on top of our neighborhood street paving program. So some roads are eligible if they fall within those low moderate income uh neighborhoods. And so we're able uh in 2026 to move forward with the paving of North Murray Street. Uh you'll see a later item on uh emergencies that is a uh change order. We were able to do a portion of South Belmont uh this year uh through these funds, South Fountain as examples. So, we're trying to leverage additional dollars. We know we're well behind. Another thing that we're responsible for is roadways and we're way behind because we had nine years without a neighborhood streets paving program. Uh we were able to bring that back and we want to leverage additional dollars as well and pave even more roads uh that we can to catch up. Any comments from commissioners on first readings only? No comments from the audience on first readings only. We'll continue with second readings. Confirming and approving a cooperative operating agreement with the board of county commissioners of Clark County, Ohio for the maintenance and lease of the municipal court county offices building.

So moved. Been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners? from the audience. Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Brown, yes. Dr. Estrop, yes. Mrs. H. Yes. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mr. Rue, yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into a subreient agreement with Miami Valley Fair Housing Center Incorporated to provide CDBG funding for fair housing services in an amount not to exceed $34,385. I'll move. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners? Dr. Estro?

Um, is this 2025 money? 2024. 2024. So, we're not worried about the federal appropriations around this, not around this specific contract. Okay. And what what will we get for our dollars on

Yeah. So this uh they have as part of our entitlement funding uh through HUD uh we're required to provide fair housing services which includes uh they have to do uh 10 discriminatory tests around housing. Um and then this will also offer three fair housing uh um training sessions uh to landlords, tenants, realators, community members uh that addresses the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Very good. Thank you. The comments from commissioners from the audience. Clerk, call the role. Dr. Estro, yes. Mrs. Hston, yes. Mrs. Packet, yes. Mrs. Brown, yes. Mr. R, yes.

Authorizing the city manager to enter into amendment number one to the subreient agreement with project woman of Ohio for comprehensive solutions for addressing homelessness to re allocate funding among line items. So moved. Second. Been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners from the audience clerk call the role. Mrs. Hston, yes. Mrs. Packet, yes. Dr. Estro, yes. Mrs. Brown, yes. Mr. R,

yes. Authorizing an additional expenditure for the purchase of one vers SST40 bucket truck from utility truck equipment for an amount not to exceed $15,000 for a total amount not to exceed $195,633 through the Ohio Department of Administrative Services pursuant to Ohio's Cooperative Purchasing Act in accordance with the provisions of section 125.04 of the Ohio Revised Code. So moved. Second. Is there it's been moved and seconded. The comments from exiting commissioner Dr. Estro.

Could we have purchased this truck through Navastar International? No, we could not. No, thank you. That's all the show. I ask that question of every truck purchase we make because I want to make sure that we've taken tried to take advantage of a local manufacturer. Absolutely. Comments from the audience. Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Dr. Estro, yes. Mrs. Brown, yes. Mrs. Hston, yes. Mr. R. Yes.

Confirming and approving a development incentive agreement, single family residential development to provide pursuer services to real property outside the city limits located at 2036 Troy Road. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Are the comments from commissioners? I could hear a little bit more about this maybe from Chris. Yeah. Chris, do you want to talk about the DAS and why they would be connecting? I just really would like to have one more Chris. A little more Chris before you go.

Yeah, just one more. They're uh so this is a residential property on Troy Road out towards what we would refer to as Lawrenceville. Their septic system failed. There's a sewer line that's been in existence out there for close to 20 years that they were able to connect to. So, they work through this development incentive agreement and really it it sets forth the rates they pay for sewage, any fees they pay for us um above and beyond those rates and then says if there's ever an opportunity um to annex, if they're ever contiguous to the city, they would have to cooperate with us in those annexation proceedings. Thank you. Comments from the audience. Cler call the role. Dr. Estro.

Yes. Mrs. Brown. Yes. Mrs. Packet. Yes. Mrs. Hston. Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Amending ordinance number 9190 passed March 12, 1991 and commonly known as the codified ordinances of the city of Springfield, Ohio by enacting chapter 190 entitled fire division under the administrative code. So move. Second. been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners, Dr. Estrop. Yes, thank you. Uh, this brings us into compliance with the decision made by the voters.

Yes. So, this is related to the charter items uh that were on uh the ballot in November. Specifically, this one addresses one of those, which is uh lateral entry for the fire division. We have lateral entry process set for police and have for some time. Uh the voters approved the charter amendment to allow that uh for the fire division. This ordinance sets the requirements uh to qualify for lateral entry as well as the process for actually being hired through the lateral entry process. Very good. Thank you. Comments from the audience. Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Brown, yes. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mrs. Hston, yes. Dr. Estro,

yes. Mr. R, yes. Approving the establishment of services to be furnished to the property owners related to the 4.6223 acres located in Morfield Township, Clark County, Ohio, proposed for annexation to the city of Springfield by petitioner Premier Property Sales Limited and declaring an emergency therein. So move. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners from the audience? Cler, call the role. Mrs. Packet, yes. Mrs. Hston, yes. Mrs. Brown, yes. Dr. Estro, yes. Mr. R, yes.

Authorizing the city manager to enter into a consulting and services agreement with MAPS Incorporated for computer consulting services in connection with the computer software system in use in the Clark County Municipal Court Clerk's Office for an amount not to exceed $200,000 and declaring an emergency therein. So move. Second. Been moved and seconded. Other comments from commissioners from the audience cler call the role. Mrs. Hston, yes. Mrs. Brown, yes. Dr. Estra, yes. Mrs. Packet, yes. Mr. Ruth,

yes. Confirming and approving change order number two to the contract between the city and AMB Asphalt Corporation for the South Belmont Avenue CDB paving project to decrease the contract in an amount not to exceed $114,318.36 for a total amount not to exceed $377,134.76. Authorizing the city manager to execute said change order number two and declaring an emergency therein. Moved gladly. Second. It's been moved and seconded. There comments from commissioners. Dr. Estro.

Just very pleased that we got a change order that decreased. What was the major reason for the decrease? I believe it was quantity related. uh the quant this is a final change order and ups and downs and ultimately less quantities of materials were needed which drove the price down. Super. Thank you. Miss from the audience. Cler, call the role. Mrs. Brown, yes. Dr. Estro, yes. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mrs. Hston, yes. Mr. Ruth, yes. confirming purchases and the obtaining of services for the city and providing for payments therefore and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second.

Been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Cler call the role. Dr. Estro. Yes. Mrs. Packet. Yes. Mrs. Brown. Yes. Mrs. Hston. Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Amending ordinance number 25-138 to revise the transfer of monies authorized and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. Been moved and seconded. You want to go ahead and explain this uh Katie?

Certainly. Mayor and commissioners. Um, so this aligns with the 2026 budget when we reviewed the 2025 revised budget as far as the transfer of monies that would be moved from the general fund and other funds to support many of those other funds. So the general fund can be used for any proper public purpose, which means it can be used to support any other fund and keep it whole. Um so the big change here as we discussed when I presented the budget is over the last decade the general fund has supported the airport fund. Um in evaluating the budget this year the airport fund was able to give back $400,000 to the general fund. So this is revising that final transfer of monies for 2025 to move those monies back.

Welcome. Comments from the audience. Cler called the role. Ms. Packet. Yes. Mrs. Brown, yes. Mrs. Hston, yes. Dr. Estro, yes. Mrs. or Mr. Rue, yes. Sorry. Providing for the transfer of monies among various funds and declaring an emergency therein. So move. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Comments from commissioners from the audience. Cler call the role. Mrs. Brown. Yes. Mrs. Hman. Yes. Dr. Estro. Yes. Mrs. Packett. Yes. Mr. R. Yes. authorizing the oh sorry we have

22 emergency items added to the agenda so I'll move down to those providing for supplemental appropriations within various funds and declaring an emergency therein move second been moved and seconded comments from commissioners from the audience call the role Mrs. Hston yes Dr. Estro yes Mrs. Packet. Yes. Mrs. Brown. Yes. Mr. Rue. Yes. Authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement by and between the city of Springfield, Ohio, and AFSCME Local 1608, Ohio Council 8, AFL CIO, and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second.

Been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Cler, call the role. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Dr. Estrop. Yes, Mrs. Brown. Yes, Mrs. Hston. Yes, Mr. R. Yes. Go back up to the emergency resolution authorizing the fiscal officer to establish super blanket purchase orders as authorized in resolution number 6152 and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. Been moved and seconded. Are there comments from commissioners from the audience? Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Hston, yes. Dr. Estro, yes. Mrs. Packet, yes. Mrs. Brown,

yes. Mr. R. Yes. And um 28825. I'm sorry. Reappoint resolution. Reappoint. Yes. Reappointing Michael F. Adamson to the board of health of Clark County Combined Health. So move. Second been moved and seconded. Comments from commissioners. Appreciate Michael continuing to serve. Comments from the audience. Call the role. Dr. Estrop. Yes. Mrs. Packet. Yes. Mrs. Hston. Yes. Mrs. Brown. Yes. Mr. R. Yes.

For uh the news that's here. Uh three of our commissioners are exiting. There's some familiarity. We're having a little fun, but at the same time, that's what you saw. Okay. I'd like to say a few words about our three commissioners leaving. I know the other commissioners would like to. Um Crystal, uh I often found ourselves sometimes on different sides of the issue, and that was precisely why your leadership mattered. You listened with sincerity, you spoke with conviction, and you consistently advocated for voices that are too often unheard. You're passionate, principled, and unafraid to stand firm. Springfield is better because you showed up and fully served with authent. You were appointed to serve. You served with integrity, maturity, and brought maturity to this commission. You were clear, thoughtful, and steady through your approach. You asked good questions, communicated well, and brought balance to many important conversations. Your presence strengthened this body, and your service deserves rec. And Dr. E, Dr. Estra, I'm going to miss you. Known to many as Dr. E, he was dependable partner from uh the day that we joined the commission together. We were elected at the same time. We did not always think alike, but we were always moving in the same goal and direction. Do uh we wanted to do the best for Springfield. His energy, his experience, his willingness to step into difficult conversations made the work of this commission and our work uh and making our decisions so much better and and it's been an honor to serve with you, too. So just as as for my comments, I just want to thank the three of you for serving and serving so well and just truly appreciate your time and what you

gave up from your family and your business and your work and your and um just thank you for being great commissioner. Those are my comments. I'm going to end mine with an applause because I appreciate you. Mr. T, would you like to say

I won't drag you on and on and keep you all night, those long nights here, but I've really enjoyed working with all of you. I've learned so much from you. I appreciate your personalities and the individual uh individualism that you brought to this commission. Uh, I thank you as a colleague, but also just as a Springfield citizen for serving, and I wish you all the very best. Thank you. Okay, Commissioner Hson, do you have any comments?

Sure. Um, I will just I just wrote a few things down. Um, just I want to thank my husband, my mom, and just friends for their continual support over the last two years. uh hasn't been easy at times as we all know especially juggling two small children and a full-time job. Um also would like to thank the fellow commissioners for appointing me and taking a chance on me uh having faith in me when I was 30 years old and uh sometimes questioned if I should be up here. So thank you for that and um would like to end with just saying good luck to the future commissioners and um I know you do a great job. So, thank you. Sure. Um, man, I have learned so much. The the biggest piece that I've learned is absolutely watch what you pray for because I probably about four years ago, 5 years ago, I was really praying for patience, right? And I it was a on my computer screen, you know, and I just, you know, one of my bracelets when you chose your word for the year, patience. And then I was talked into she talked me into this and she said, "Crystal, the time is now for you and all these things and oh man, and you've done enough community service. Your name is great." Well, not so much anymore soon, but I appreciate you. I appreciate you because you did push me out there. I appreciate you have for having faith in me. And then I especially want to thank my husband um and also my mom, my my cousin Autumn who's always here and just the entire community that supported me and just everybody. It was a really rough time for me, especially oftent times being the only woman for some

years and happily being joined by um Bridget and Tracy and becoming I want to say was this let me look to Karen. Is this uh legendary? Is this like the first Oh, okay. Yeah, this is history right here that you see the first time ever that there has been a majority women. So Tracy, again, you'll be fine. So you're ready for this and all the things that you do. And I just want a special shout out to you because we go way back to all of our service through the Democratic uh party, the Clark County Democratic Party. And so it's just been a joy to be able to serve with you on this level as well. Dr. E, I'm not going to continue to point you guys out, but I just appreciate you guys and Bridget just being able to sit here um and get to know you, you know what I mean, because you know where we started. So, yeah, I was a little salty, but um to get to know you better, you know what I mean? And to I have just a great amount of respect for you. So, I um appreciate that time that we had got to share. So anyh whos I'm going to end it at that because I think we're trying to catch something later on. So I'm going to shut it on up. I appreciate you guys. Thanks everybody. Dr. Trum, I would just like to express my appreciation for having the opportunity to serve the people of Springfield. Uh, it has been an honor and a privilege to represent the people of this community and I want to thank all the commissioners I've had the privilege of working with and trying to move our community forward. I also want to thank all of the supporters who supported me in two elected and in particular my

biggest supporter, my wife Virginia. Thanks to all of you for giving me eight years in this office and I hope I have represented you well. Thank you very much. I think uh Mr. Lethal is here would like to make some comments. Oh, Charlie in the Chocolate Factory. Is that what that was? Oh, yeah. I was there for those shows. convocation. I wanted to thank Mayor Rue for moving this to the end of the meeting so I had to sit through all of this. Appreciate that. It

was special for you.

Yeah. I guess I'm here tonight to publicly receive the praise or the blame for playing a major role in bringing Dave and Virginia estrop to Springfield. Personally, I think I'll happily accept the praises Dave and Virginia have turned into what I consider to be exemplary community citizens and vocal committed advocates for what is best for our entire community and the vocal committed advocates for our diverse population. While I was on the school board, we hired Dave as superintendent of the Springfield City Schools in 2009 until his retirement in 2015. And what a great decision that turned out to be. Dave brought excitement, passion, and a can do attitude to the position. He enjoyed making work fun and helped to build staff morale at a tough time. As you can see, he even dressed up in crazy costumes for convocation.

Always.

He never shied away from calling out the challenges that the overabundance of federal and state rules created without the necessary funding to go with it. Unlike me, he did the criticism in creative ways while still being able to make his point of view known. He and Virginia were out and about and approachable while always working to get more and more community members involved in our public schools. Meanwhile, he championed the best ideas to help the most kids. He worked with the Ohio legislature in trying to develop a fairer funding model for public schools. Something of which the court of course the state has not only not accomplished but in fact has gone the opposite direction in continuing to undefund public schools. He worked closely with the board and treasurer to go from being under state oversight to building up the cash reserves of the district. That financial stability let the district add programs and set the stage for his successor to continue to build upon. He brought in experts from across the country to implement best practices. Started programs like online education, iPads and laptops for all staff and students. Started an innovative internship program which is now run by the chamber and is now countywide. Under Dave's leadership, we built a new bus depot bus depot to better serve the district.

Most importantly, Dave led the initiative to apply and successfully receive a straight A grant from the state of Ohio that brought in 11.2 million. The end result of receiving this grant allowed the district to save, renovate, and reposition the former South High School facility that has now become a beacon in our community. Something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. This allowed for the development of many innovative programs at the dome. It also provided a home for the Global Impact STEM Academy. Even though Dave and every school board member at the time recognized that Giza would financially hurt the Springfield City Schools, Dave and the board recognized that more opportunities for more students was what was most important for our community. And of course, we were able to develop partnerships that created the John Legend Theater. What a game-changing asset was added to the Springfield community. Then after either becoming bored or losing all of his senses, Dave decided to run and won a seat on the city commission and four years later won a second term. For the past eight years, Dave has been a voice of reason, a voice of compassion, a voice looking for common ground to keep our city moving forward. Dave has always walked the talk and has always been willing to put himself on the firing line, so to speak. Abraham Lincoln seemed to be talking about Dave

Frop tonight when he said, "I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives, and I'd like to see a man live so his place will be proud of him." Well done, Dave. and thank you for your many years of outstanding community service and doing what was right and what was just even when it might not be the most popular thing to do. We appreciate you. Thank you very much, Ed. I've Virginia and I feel very fortunate to have found our way to Springfield and call you not only a an fellow civic leader, but more importantly, a friend. Thank you for being here tonight and thank you for all the kind words and thank you. It has been an honor and a privilege not only to serve on this city commission, but as superintendent of the Springfield City School District. We got a lot done, a lot more than we ever thought we could get done. Frankly, we got it done with one simple model. We worked together. We pulled together to get it done. And when we did that, we accomplished things that none of us individually could have accomplished. So, thank you all for being part of this. It's been a real pleasure and honor. Thank you all very much.

We have some gifts that we'd like to give you from the city. Well, the eulogy you just read was pretty good. So, very nice. Very nice.

VERY NICE. AND WE'LL ASK after we adjourn if we could have the three commission over here and get photos. Is there a motion to adjourn the meeting? Move. Been moved and seconded. Clerk call the role. Mrs. Brown? Yes. Dr. Estro? Yes. Mrs. Hston? Yes. Mrs. Packett? Yes. Mr. Rim? Yes. Thank you for coming.