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Record of Proceedings

Powell Operations Committee Meeting Summary – August 19, 2025

City Council & Boards — Tuesday, August 19, 2025
BodyPowell, Ohio
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateTuesday, August 19, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 50:17

Transcript — VerbatimClick a line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Okay, uh let's get started with the operations committee for Tuesday, August 19th.

0:06

You want to call the role, please?

0:07

Taylor Brown is absent.

0:09

Tom Counts.

0:10

Yeah.

0:10

Heather Carr.

0:12

Dean Miller.

0:13

And Tyler Herman is not present.

0:19

Okay, we have uh the minutes they were included in your materials.

0:22

So are there any additions or corrections to be made?

0:27

We'll approve the minutes by consensus then.

0:31

First item on our agenda is the unmarked veterans memorial.

0:36

Andy, you want to turn that over and look at your hand of that for us?

0:41

Yes.

0:41

Uh good evening.

0:42

Uh council, you may remember a few months back.

0:45

The daughters of the American Revolution came and gave a presentation to City Council.

0:49

They are looking to install three memorials across Delaware County, excuse me, across Delaware County in each of the cities for recognizing unmarked veterans' graves from the Revolutionary War.

1:02

Um so we've been meeting with them over the last few months to talk about the process.

1:07

Um everything would be paid for by Delaware County Veteran Services.

1:11

There's a committee that's made up of a number of veteran service representatives, county commissioners, representatives from each of the communities that's going to be reviewing uh design proposals for each of the memorials.

1:25

Um so really the the DAR is looking for two things from the city of POW.

1:30

First is a representative to serve on the committee to review the proposals that have been received.

1:35

I believe that there are three of them.

1:37

They're looking for one representative on behalf of the city, so either a council member, a representative of one of the committees, somebody that can weigh in on the perspective of what Powell as a community would like to see, and how that memorial can you know both recognize the veterans, the unmarked veteran graves, while also tying into uh the community in a in a nice way.

2:00

The other item that they are looking for is a potential location for the memorial.

2:05

Um now that's that kind of relates to a number of conversations that we're having around downtown.

2:11

We have the veterans memorial as part of the village green process, and we're starting that conversation with the veterans committee there.

2:18

Um and I know the veterans committee is as well as similar of DAR's intent and with with their memorials, so there could be an opportunity to align those.

2:28

If we're looking to see about potential locations, we might be able to have those groups work together to propose some ideas, look at other areas maybe within downtown that might be appropriate.

2:38

Uh we've talked a little bit about the Soyota Street extension, and there might be some opportunities either next to the historic cemetery or somewhere along there that could be a good location to not only um elevate and recognize the memorials, have them in a more prominent location, but also kind of tie a lot of those features together.

3:00

Uh so really I just wanted to get a little bit of feedback from you all if you have uh ideas for somebody who would like to serve as the representative for Powell.

3:08

Um, I would be happy to pass that along to Darr, and then similarly, how we want to approach the discussion about locating and identifying the location for memorial.

3:17

Their intent is to have the memorials all installed by Veterans Day of 2026.

3:24

So a little over a year from now, their hope is that they would have as part of that celebration, uh, you know, formally announcing and showcasing all the memorials across the county.

3:34

So with that, I'm happy to answer any questions you all might have.

3:36

Questions three, three different yes.

3:41

So City of Delaware PAL and Sunbury is where they're looking to locate them.

3:46

So do we want to tackle each of the questions?

3:49

Sure.

3:51

So as to who Tyler was if he had the time and would want to serve, he would be logical.

4:01

So maybe we should have that conversation.

4:04

Okay.

4:05

So I was also thinking about another person.

4:10

Um I don't know whether that would be that would work as well.

4:18

Okay.

4:19

Okay.

4:20

Yes.

4:21

So yeah.

4:27

Well, maybe let's start out with Tyler.

4:29

Okay.

4:33

Yes.

4:34

So did you have more questions?

4:39

Um on that issue, no.

4:42

And then as to the location.

4:45

I I like what you were saying, Logan, uh, as far as putting it somewhere closer to the cemetery, and maybe bringing in the veterans memorial as well to have one complete memorial to all of them.

5:01

So will all three of these of the same design, or are they going to be unique or the intent is that they would be unique to each community.

5:14

So there would be some common theme that would tie them across the county, but each one being located within one of the cities would reflect that city's character.

5:23

So there might be a component of it that is uniform, but then the rest of it is open to, you know, if PAL has it identified in this location, we want to, you know, incorporate different components of POW.

5:36

And have they identified height, width, depth?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety███████████████████████████████████35%
Veterans Affairs███████████████████████████27%
Public Safety█████████████████17%
Community Engagement███████████11%
Historic Preservation████4%
Procedural███3%
Public Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Powell Operations Committee Meeting Summary – August 19, 2025

The Powell Operations Committee met on August 19, 2025, to discuss four main agenda items: an unmarked veterans memorial, a railroad quiet zone request, the Rutherford Road speed limit, and an update on Passport to Powell. The meeting included presentations from staff and discussion among committee members.

Consent Calendar

  • The committee approved the minutes from the July 15, 2025, meeting by consensus without additions or corrections.

Discussion Items

  • Unmarked Veterans Memorial: Staff member Andy presented a request from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to install a memorial recognizing unmarked Revolutionary War graves in Powell. The DAR is seeking a city representative to serve on a design review committee and a location for the memorial, with installation targeted by Veterans Day 2026. Committee members discussed potential locations near the historic cemetery and along the Soyota Street extension, as well as coordinating with the Veterans Committee. Andy will connect with DAR and the Veterans Committee for further alignment.
  • Railroad Quiet Zone Request: Following a resident’s request, staff discussed the process and costs of establishing a quiet zone. Key points included the need for a federal assessment, potential safety improvements (e.g., quad gates, concrete islands), and estimated costs of several hundred thousand to a few million dollars per crossing. Staff noted that a quiet zone study would cost around $50,000 and that even after implementation, train engineers may still use horns at their discretion. The committee directed staff to research study costs and return with additional information.
  • Rutherford Road Speed Limit: Staff proposed reducing the speed limit on Rutherford Road from Liberty to Sawmill Parkway from 45 mph to 35 mph to improve safety, particularly for children and pedestrians. The city’s portion of the road should have been set to 35 mph upon annexation in 2002 but was never changed. Committee members discussed jurisdictional challenges with Liberty Township and Delaware County, the need for a speed study for the unincorporated portion, and enforcement options. The committee leaned toward pursuing a resolution and coordinating with other jurisdictions, but no formal vote was taken.
  • Passport to Powell Update: Melissa provided an update on the upcoming Passport to Powell event scheduled for Sunday, October 5, 2025, from 5-8 PM at Village Green Park. The event will feature multicultural performances, a passport activity for children, food trucks, and a laser light show funded by the Federation of Asian Indian Associations. No alcohol will be served. The committee expressed appreciation for the event's growth and planning.

Key Outcomes

  • Veterans Memorial: Staff to continue coordination with DAR and Veterans Committee; no formal decision on representative or location.
  • Quiet Zone: Staff to research and report back on the cost of a feasibility study.
  • Rutherford Speed Limit: Committee directed staff to explore a resolution and coordinate with county and township for a consistent 35 mph limit; further discussion expected at a future meeting.
  • Passport to Powell: Update received; no action required.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, uh let's get started with the operations committee for Tuesday, August 19th. You want to call the role, please? Taylor Brown is absent. Tom Counts. Yeah. Heather Carr. Dean Miller. And Tyler Herman is not present. Okay, we have uh the minutes they were included in your materials. So are there any additions or corrections to be made? We'll approve the minutes by consensus then. First item on our agenda is the unmarked veterans memorial. Andy, you want to turn that over and look at your hand of that for us? Yes. Uh good evening. Uh council, you may remember a few months back. The daughters of the American Revolution came and gave a presentation to City Council. They are looking to install three memorials across Delaware County, excuse me, across Delaware County in each of the cities for recognizing unmarked veterans' graves from the Revolutionary War. Um so we've been meeting with them over the last few months to talk about the process. Um everything would be paid for by Delaware County Veteran Services. There's a committee that's made up of a number of veteran service representatives, county commissioners, representatives from each of the communities that's going to be reviewing uh design proposals for each of the memorials. Um so really the the DAR is looking for two things from the city of POW. First is a representative to serve on the committee to review the proposals that have been received. I believe that there are three of them. They're looking for one representative on behalf of the city, so either a council member, a representative of one of the committees, somebody that can weigh in on the perspective of what Powell as a community would like to see, and how that memorial can you know both recognize the veterans, the unmarked veteran graves, while also tying into uh the community in a in a nice way. The other item that they are looking for is a potential location for the memorial. Um now that's that kind of relates to a number of conversations that we're having around downtown. We have the veterans memorial as part of the village green process, and we're starting that conversation with the veterans committee there. Um and I know the veterans committee is as well as similar of DAR's intent and with with their memorials, so there could be an opportunity to align those. If we're looking to see about potential locations, we might be able to have those groups work together to propose some ideas, look at other areas maybe within downtown that might be appropriate. Uh we've talked a little bit about the Soyota Street extension, and there might be some opportunities either next to the historic cemetery or somewhere along there that could be a good location to not only um elevate and recognize the memorials, have them in a more prominent location, but also kind of tie a lot of those features together. Uh so really I just wanted to get a little bit of feedback from you all if you have uh ideas for somebody who would like to serve as the representative for Powell. Um, I would be happy to pass that along to Darr, and then similarly, how we want to approach the discussion about locating and identifying the location for memorial. Their intent is to have the memorials all installed by Veterans Day of 2026. So a little over a year from now, their hope is that they would have as part of that celebration, uh, you know, formally announcing and showcasing all the memorials across the county. So with that, I'm happy to answer any questions you all might have. Questions three, three different yes. So City of Delaware PAL and Sunbury is where they're looking to locate them. So do we want to tackle each of the questions? Sure. So as to who Tyler was if he had the time and would want to serve, he would be logical. So maybe we should have that conversation. Okay. So I was also thinking about another person. Um I don't know whether that would be that would work as well. Okay. Okay. Yes. So yeah. Well, maybe let's start out with Tyler.

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