Vandalia City Council Meeting - February 2, 2026

The Vandalia City Council met on February 2, 2026, and approved several resolutions, two emergency ordinances, and a board of zoning appeals variance. The meeting also included a city manager's report on employee service awards and extensive council comments recapping the city's response to Winter Storm Fern, which occurred January 23–27, 2026.

City Manager's Report

• Employee Service Awards Luncheon: Scheduled for Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the Vandalia Senior Center. Employees celebrating a service milestone in 2025 will be recognized, with a combined service total of 270 years.

Resolutions

• 26R-07: Authorized renewal of the intergovernmental cooperation agreement for the Business First Initiative (Montgomery County's Business Retention and Expansion Program) for a five-year term, at an annual fee of $1,500. Passed 5-0-1 (Councilmember Bradford abstained due to current employment).
• 26R-08: Declared intent to reimburse the water fund for the Damien Suter Romanus de Sales Water Main Replacement project using tax-exempt debt, enabling reimbursement from the Ohio Public Works Commission for a $500,000 award ($250,000 grant and $250,000 zero-interest loan). Passed 6-0.
• 26R-09: Awarded the bid for removal and replacement of certain curb and sidewalks to Coat Construction LLC at $464,921 (engineer's estimate $565,000). Seven bids were received. Passed 6-0.
• 26R-10: Awarded the bid for the Bristol Drive Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project to WD Excavating LLC at $52,795 (engineer's estimate $60,000). The project will replace two spans of sewer main and one manhole serving approximately 220 residences and a city park restroom, scheduled for completion before the Robinette Park splash pad opening. Passed 6-0.
• 26R-11: Approved the PUD final plan and record plans for Sections One and Two of the Towns at Castle Grove subdivision (14.515 acres at 600 Corporate Center Drive), creating 72 single-family residential lots. The Planning Commission recommended approval 4-0 on January 13, 2026. Note: The document mistakenly used "ordinance" instead of "resolution" in the title, but the enacting clause and form were correct. Passed 6-0.
• 26R-12: Accepted delegation of activities from Montgomery County for the 2026 Sanitary Sewer Cast-in-Place Pipe Lining Project, awarding $50,000 in CDBG funds. Passed 5-0-1 (Councilmember Bradford abstained due to current employment).

Emergency Ordinances

• 26-03: Vacated 0.463 acres of unnecessary right-of-way at the south end of Corporate Center Drive (part of the Towns of Castle Grove development) to the abutting landowner, maintaining all easements. A public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. Passed 6-0.
• 26-04: Approved supplemental appropriations for current expenses in six funds:
  • Street Fund: $34,440 for a feasibility study for Brown School Road and Little York Road intersection improvements.
  • Police Operations (Police Fire Street CIP Fund): $22,668.10 for MDT modems and antennas (5G capabilities via Verizon, with a credit rebate split evenly between police and fire).
  • Fire Operations (Police Fire Street CIP Fund): $17,810.65 for MDT modems and antennas (same 5G upgrade and rebate split).
  • Police Operations (same fund): $1,000 for a treadmill donation from VFW Post 5434.
  • Opioid Fund: $3,043 for a wellness service app (“One Morning”) for employees.
  • Fire (Facilities Improvement Reserve Fund): $27,150 for first-phase design of a Public Safety Training Center Master Plan.
  • Senior Center (same fund): $47,680 for preliminary plans and conceptual designs for senior center remodeling or updating. A public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. Passed 6-0.

Board Reports

• BZA 26-001: Granted a variance for a front yard fence at 401, 405, and 435 East National Road (St. Christopher Parish) to extend 20 feet beyond the front building line in a non-residential zoning district. The Board of Zoning Appeals recommended approval 4-0 on January 14, 2026. Passed 6-0.

Council Comments & Winter Storm Recap

• Councilmember Dugan thanked planning and zoning coordinator Ben Graham (departing to become city planner in Tipp City) and others.
• Councilmember Ford thanked neighbors for clearing his driveway during the storm.
• Councilmember Hathaway thanked Public Works for their work during the past week.
• Councilmember Avalodis Weaver moved to excuse Mayor Richard Herbst from the meeting (passed unanimously). She also thanked Officer Rich Somers (retired the previous Friday), wished Ben Graham well, and relayed a citizen's thanks from Bill Jarrett to police and fire for exceptional service during an emergency.
• Councilmember Bradford thanked Public Works, Police, and Kurt for keeping the council informed.
• Vice Mayor Falck (presiding) provided a detailed recap of Winter Storm Fern (January 23–27, 2026):
  • Montgomery County declared a local emergency and a Level 3 snow emergency (first in ~15 years).
  • Police: responded to 2 property damage crashes, 2 personal injury crashes, 3 private property damage crashes, numerous disabled vehicles/slide-offs, 8 hours of patrol overtime; 33 fire/EMS calls dispatched.
  • Fire (Jan 23–26): averaged 6 calls/day; (Jan 27–31): averaged 14.6 calls/day, including EMS with snow removal, water issues (leaks, frozen pipes), and a structure fire in Butler Township. Both stations fully staffed with 12 persons each day (60 hours overtime), providing two ALS medic units, rescue engine, ladder, and third medic.
  • Public Works: 6 water main breaks (ages 72–74 years) and 7 total breaks; 373.5 total hours (179.5 overtime); snow plowing cleared ~3,000 lane miles in 344 hours (226 overtime), with 42 hours of round-the-clock operations; 178 tons of salt, 1,600 gallons of liquid de-icer (beet heat), and 1,083 gallons of diesel fuel used.
  • Parks and Recreation: 154 regular hours and 93 overtime hours for snow maintenance at city facilities; Recreation Center and Senior Center served as warming centers during a Saturday power outage.
  • City management: daily Montgomery County EMA meetings, declared citywide snow emergency (Sunday Jan 25–Monday Jan 26 noon), Hyper-Reach messages sent to ~7,500 phones, all city buildings closed Monday Jan 26.
• Vice Mayor Falck also congratulated Kayla Sensenbaugh (Recreation Center facility manager) for being named to NRPA's 30 Under 30, Detective Tim Christian as Police Officer of the Year 2025, and Public Safety Specialist Mary Beth Dyke as Civilian Employee of the Year 2025. He expressed condolences to golf professional Ben Licklighter on the loss of his father, Sam Licklighter.

Key Outcomes

• All six resolutions and both emergency ordinances were approved unanimously (with two abstentions on 26R-07 and 26R-12 from Councilmember Bradford).
• The BZA variance was approved unanimously.
• Council recessed following the comments.