OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Whitehall, Ohio/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Whitehall City Council Agenda and Regular Meeting - December 2, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, December 2, 2025
BodyWhitehall, Ohio
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 2, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Original source
Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:05

So C VG is the airport.

0:07

Yeah, it used to be.

0:08

Do you do that?

0:08

Yeah, yeah.

0:10

No, but now that I've retired.

0:16

That's how we have

Speaker 2

0:17

a council.

Speaker 1

0:17

We didn't

Speaker 2

0:18

vote.

0:18

We have the appended meeting.

Speaker 3

0:21

Good evening, everyone.

0:23

Time's a little bit away from me.

0:25

Welcome to the White House City Council agenda meeting for Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025.

0:30

We'll just quickly run over our agenda, which will start with a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:36

We'll then go into our roll call.

0:38

We do have one member that will not be with us this evening.

0:40

So I'll need somebody to make a motion to excuse the absent member and somebody to second.

Speaker 4

0:44

I'll make a motion.

Speaker 3

0:45

I'll

Speaker 4

0:45

second.

Speaker 3

0:46

Brown.

0:49

Thank

Unassigned speaker

0:50

you.

Speaker 3

0:52

We'll then have our approval of minutes, which will include the November 15th, 2025 agenda and special budget meeting present presentation meeting minutes.

1:08

Then move on to our standing committee reports.

1:12

I'm sorry.

1:12

I can make a motion to approve the minutes.

1:14

Oh well, thank you.

1:15

I blew right past that, didn't

Unassigned speaker

1:17

I?

Speaker 1

1:19

I'll second.

Unassigned speaker

1:20

Thank

Speaker 3

1:20

you, Ms.

1:20

Heck.

1:24

We'll then go into our standing committee reports.

1:26

And uh since Miss Elmer's not here, Mr.

1:29

Morrison, I'm gonna ask you to please take that committee.

1:34

And then the following officials reports have been filed in the council office since the last meeting.

1:39

And we have one is the treasurer's reports for September and October of 2025.

1:43

Under communications, petitions and claims.

1:45

We have no communications or claims that have been filed in the office since our last meeting.

Unassigned speaker

1:50

We

Speaker 3

1:50

then have our public hearing on orders 120, 2025, allowing a special permit under 112504 to allow a drive-through drive-through facilities on the property located at zero South Hamilton Road, parcel number 09008-433, property owned by Wright Pack Credit Union Inc.

2:08

and declaring an emergency.

Unassigned speaker

2:10

Do

Speaker 3

2:10

we know we'll be speaking on behalf of Jackie Welby?

2:13

Thank

Unassigned speaker

2:14

you.

Speaker 3

2:14

Um we'll then have our first poll public, and then we'll go to our verification of copies.

2:20

And then under our third reading, we have several items this evening.

2:23

First is ordinance 112025, an ordinance amending use regulations in tables 1103.02, table 1103.03, and table 1108.01, part two of the planning and zoning code.

2:37

This will be introduced by Ms.

2:38

Smith, seconded by Mr.

2:39

Dixon.

2:41

We then have ordinance 113, 2025.

Unassigned speaker

2:44

An

Speaker 3

2:45

ordinance authorizing the mayor to execute necessary conveyance documents to acquire the property located from the Plumis Housing Partnership Inc.

2:52

located at Zero Aetna Road, Whitehall, Ohio, and declaring an emergency.

2:56

This will be introduced by Mr.

2:57

Dixon, seconded by Ms.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Affordable Housing████████████████████20%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Zoning And Land Use██████████10%
Community Engagement███████7%
Economic Development█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Whitehall City Council Agenda and Regular Meeting - December 2, 2025

The Whitehall City Council convened for an agenda meeting (6:40 PM) and regular meeting (7:00 PM) on December 2, 2025. The council addressed a public hearing for a drive-through facility, adopted ordinances amending zoning to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs), authorized property acquisition and appropriations for the Etna Road TIF, and discussed various administrative matters including the safety director position transitioning to full-time. One council member was excused.

Approval of Minutes

  • The minutes from November 15, 2025 (Agenda & Special Budget Presentation), November 18, 2025 (Agenda & Regular Meeting), and November 25, 2025 (Agenda & Committee Meeting) were approved unanimously (6-0).

Public Hearing

  • Ordinance 120-2025: Public hearing was held for a special permit to allow drive-through facilities (ITMs) at 0 S. Hamilton Road, owned by Wright-Patt Credit Union. Economic Development Director Jackie Russell presented the proposal, noting the drive-through would face Hamilton Road, not nearby apartments, and feature downcast lighting. Council members raised concerns about headlight glare from vehicles and landscaping to mitigate it. Staff recommended favorable consideration; the item will go to Planning Commission on December 4, 2025. No opponents spoke.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Anna Waller (address not stated) spoke in support of ADU legislation but expressed concern that the ordinance as drafted does not limit the number of ADUs per parcel, which she stated is common in other municipalities. She requested a cap, noting Columbus recently passed ADU legislation by-right with no owner-occupancy requirement but with limits. She thanked the council for their work.

Discussion Items

  • Ordinance 112-2025 (ADU Zoning): Council and staff discussed additional parameters for ADUs. Economic Development Director Russell confirmed that staff will return in January 2025 with supplementary standards including: limiting the number of ADUs, requiring permanent foundation-based structures (not RVs/trailers), and possibly owner-occupancy or same-owner requirements. She noted that enforcement of owner-occupancy is challenging; Westerville and Dublin only enforce upon other code violations. Councilman Dixon expressed trust in staff and noted council retains the right to repeal legislation. The ordinance was introduced and adopted after debate.
  • Safety Director Position (Transition to Full-Time): Mayor Bivens explained the move from part-time to full-time is driven by the need for emergency management planning following 2025 emergencies (flooding, oil spill, gas leaks). The change is reflected in a budget amendment to Ordinance 118-2025.
  • Utility Rate Increase: Director of Public Service Casey Rowlands reported that Columbus utility updates may increase Whitehall residents' water/sewer bills by $4–$8 per month starting 2026, pending confirmation.
  • Budget and Appropriations: Ordinance 118-2025 (2026 general fund budget) was amended to reflect the safety director salary change but will be voted on at the December 16 meeting. Multiple other ordinances were read by title only.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 112-2025 (ADU zoning amendment) was adopted 6-0. Staff will bring additional standards in January 2025.
  • Ordinance 113-2025 (authorizing property acquisition from Columbus Housing Partnership at 0 Etna Road) was adopted 6-0.
  • Ordinance 114-2025 (appropriation of $375,000 from WIMPITE Fund 279 to Etna Road TIF expense account) was adopted 6-0.
  • Ordinance 132-2025 (supplemental appropriation of $244,259.79 from State Highway Fund 211 to highway materials account) was adopted 6-0 after suspension of rules.
  • Ordinance 118-2025 (2026 appropriations) was amended but not adopted; will be voted on December 16, 2025.
  • Other ordinances (119, 120, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, Resolution 048) were read by title only and will proceed to further readings.

Other Reports

  • Mayor Bivens acknowledged street department crews for clearing 4.5 inches of snow (record for December 2), thanked seniors for attending the final Coffee & Chat, and noted the senior center and police department serve as warming centers.
  • City Auditor Steve Quincel reported engaging Julian & Grube for transition assistance and announced that the city received the inaugural VIP Impact Award from Software Solutions for excellence in use of their software.
  • Treasurer's Report: General fund balance $7.7 million as of October 31, 2025 (48% increase year-over-year).
  • Economic Development Director Russell reported the comprehensive plan with OHM is underway; public engagement begins January 2025.
  • Community Date Board: Announced upcoming events: Winter Wonderland (December 5), Snow Globe Social (December 6), Breakfast with Santa (December 13), and leaf pickup schedule changes.

Council Comments

  • Council members thanked the service department for snow removal, congratulated staff on the award, and noted World AIDS Day. Councilman Brown encouraged continued community engagement.
  • Councilman Morrison and others praised the ADU ordinance as a step toward diverse housing and affordability.

Meeting Transcript

So C VG is the airport. Yeah, it used to be. Do you do that? Yeah, yeah. No, but now that I've retired. That's how we have a council. We didn't vote. We have the appended meeting. Good evening, everyone. Time's a little bit away from me. Welcome to the White House City Council agenda meeting for Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025. We'll just quickly run over our agenda, which will start with a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. We'll then go into our roll call. We do have one member that will not be with us this evening. So I'll need somebody to make a motion to excuse the absent member and somebody to second. I'll make a motion. I'll second. Brown. Thank you. We'll then have our approval of minutes, which will include the November 15th, 2025 agenda and special budget meeting present presentation meeting minutes. Then move on to our standing committee reports. I'm sorry. I can make a motion to approve the minutes. Oh well, thank you. I blew right past that, didn't I? I'll second. Thank you, Ms. Heck. We'll then go into our standing committee reports. And uh since Miss Elmer's not here, Mr. Morrison, I'm gonna ask you to please take that committee. And then the following officials reports have been filed in the council office since the last meeting. And we have one is the treasurer's reports for September and October of 2025. Under communications, petitions and claims. We have no communications or claims that have been filed in the office since our last meeting. We then have our public hearing on orders 120, 2025, allowing a special permit under 112504 to allow a drive-through drive-through facilities on the property located at zero South Hamilton Road, parcel number 09008-433, property owned by Wright Pack Credit Union Inc. and declaring an emergency. Do we know we'll be speaking on behalf of Jackie Welby? Thank you. Um we'll then have our first poll public, and then we'll go to our verification of copies. And then under our third reading, we have several items this evening.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com