Fairfield City Council Regular Meeting – October 26, 2026

The Fairfield City Council met at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 5350 Pleasant Avenue, Fairfield, OH. Mayor Tim Meyers presided, and Councilmember Adam Kraft offered the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilmember Leslie Besl was excused by voice vote. There were no agenda modifications and no request for executive session. A pre-meeting Council-Manager Briefing at 5:30 PM reviewed the 2027 Annual Operating Budget. Council adopted the Safe Streets and Roads for All Plan, appointed Douglas Meece to the vacant At-Large seat, approved a TIF agreement amendment, and authorized Public Utilities contracts and related appropriations.

Consent Calendar / Approval of Minutes

• Special meeting minutes of October 12, 2026, and regular meeting minutes of October 13, 2026, were approved without changes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Elaine Decker, a resident of Twin Lakes in Fairfield, asked council to investigate helping the HOA with a research fund, noting financial challenges and potential impacts on property values for 128 units and adjacent new development. Mayor Meyers acknowledged her letter, explained that help would be difficult because the association is an HOA, and said the city would review it without making promises.

Special Presentations

• Mayor Meyers proclaimed October 26, 2026, as Purple Monkey Project Day. The Purple Monkey Project, formed in October 2021 after the passing of 10-year-old Reagan Banas, has invested more than $200,000 in Southwest Ohio, awarded 20 continuing education scholarships, presented 88 Reagan Banas Spirit Awards, and impacted youth in 17 schools.
• Arleace Green, Public Affairs Specialist for the Office of Disaster Assistance, Small Business Administration, was listed for a special presentation but did not address the meeting.

Council Reports

• Councilmember Kraft reported Halloween on the Green had 45 vendors and 1,400 attendees, and the final movie in the park drew about 850 people; the movie was 'Casper.'
• Councilmember Pennington reported Public Works crews tested leaf equipment, leaf pickup starts the following week, and the Great Miami River Trail Extension contractor will mobilize at Marsh Park.
• Councilmember Paullus praised the first 2027 budget review and highlighted the city's expanded social media work by Alex, Benjamin, and Brianna Wolf.

Old Business

• Zoning Map Amendment: Council heard the second reading of an ordinance amending Section 1130.01(B)(2) of the Codified Ordinances; the Planning Commission had issued a recommendation on October 14, 2026. No final vote was taken.
• Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Plan: Council held the third reading and adopted the plan dated October 11, 2026, by voice vote.

New Business

• Council voted to read all new business by title only before considering the following items.
• Appointment: Council appointed Douglas Meece to the At-Large Councilmember seat for the unexpired term under Section 3.10 of the City Charter, effective November 9, 2026, by roll-call vote with all five present members voting yes. Councilmembers praised his Parks Board leadership, and Councilmember Pennington noted 13 or 14 resumes were submitted.
• TIF Amendment: Council approved an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 95-26 to authorize the City Manager to execute a Development and Tax Increment Financing Agreement with NP Butler County TC, LLC, an affiliate of NorthPoint Development, LLC, for the Butler County Trade Center speculative industrial park at Jacquemin Farm (transcript also refers to it as 'Shockman Farm'). Staff described it as a name change to a subsidiary with no material changes. Suspension of readings was approved, and the ordinance was adopted.
• Liquor Permits: Council approved motions not to request hearings on liquor permit applications for Jay Madhusudan Investment LLC, 4613 Dixie Highway (Class C-2), and Mountains and Meals LLC, 6600 Dixie Highway, Unit N (Class D-5).
• Public Utilities Contracts: Council approved three contracts, each with suspension of readings:
  • Benchmark Land Management, LLC, for the River Road Sanitary Sewer Extension, installing approximately 1,000 feet of low-pressure sewer force main and extending service to nine properties currently using septic systems; four bids were received.
  • TBH Construction for the Thunderbird Lane BCWS Water Interconnection, creating an additional connection between the city and Butler County water systems; seven bids were received.
  • Ashcraft Contracting, LLC, for the Fairfield WWTP Waterline Replacement, replacing more than 3,000 feet of aging water lines and rerouting a raw sludge pipeline; six bids were received. For each, staff recommended the listed contractor as the lowest and best bidder.
• Contractual Appropriations: Council approved an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 148-25 with contractual appropriations totaling $1,388,103: $25,000 for asphalt and concrete repairs (existing contract, Public Utilities); $206,839 for River Road Sanitary Sewer Extension; $139,470 for Thunderbird Lane BCWS Water Interconnection; and $1,016,794 for Wastewater Treatment Plant Waterline Replacement. Suspension of readings was approved.
• Non-Contractual Appropriations: Council approved an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 148-25 with non-contractual appropriations totaling $253,830: $13,984 for Wastewater Division-Admin Insulation; $8,000 for the 2026 Annual Drainage Program; $5,196 for Town Center Improvements; $12,000 for Water Division installation services and materials; $78,000 for guardrail replacements and upgrades at various locations; $60,000 for right of way services for the River and Groh Roundabout and River Road West Multiuse Trail; $9,705 for concrete crack sealing; $10,025 for Wastewater Treatment Plant concrete repairs; and $56,920 for CAC Theater equipment procurement. Suspension of readings was approved.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted the SS4A Plan.
• Appointed Douglas Meece to the At-Large Council seat.
• Approved the TIF agreement amendment with NorthPoint/NP Butler County TC, LLC.
• Approved both liquor permit non-hearing motions.
• Awarded Public Utilities construction contracts to Benchmark Land Management, TBH Construction, and Ashcraft Contracting.
• Approved $1,388,103 in contractual appropriations and $253,830 in non-contractual appropriations.
• Next meetings: November 9 (briefing 5:30 PM, regular 7:00 PM), November 23 (briefing 6:00 PM, regular 7:00 PM), and December 14 (briefing 6:00 PM, regular 7:00 PM).