Whitehall City Council Committee Meeting – April 14, 2026

The Whitehall City Council Committee Meeting was held on April 14, 2026, immediately following a special meeting at 6:30 PM. The meeting started at approximately 6:40 PM and adjourned at 8:39 PM. The agenda featured a presentation on anti‑human trafficking, a proposal to amend council rules on member attire, second readings of ordinances to create a city planner position, and a resolution to apply for a grant to develop an active transportation plan. Standing committee reports were also delivered.

Public Comments & Testimony

Yolanda Rory, Associate Manager for the Anti‑Human Trafficking program at the Salvation Army of Central Ohio, provided a detailed presentation on the organization's work. She described the Central Ohio region RISE coalition, which comprises over 100 organizations and 300 individuals. The Salvation Army manages the 24‑hour National Human Trafficking Hotline for Central Ohio (1‑888‑373‑7888) and offers services including a drop‑in center, case management in jails, trauma and addiction groups "Seeking Safety", a tattoo‑removal partnership with the Ohio Attorney General's initiative, and free community trainings. Ms. Rory presented statewide statistics from the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force dashboard, noting that 2025 saw a drop from 567 survivors in 2024, possibly due to underreporting. She discussed differences between sex and labor trafficking, the grooming process, and underreporting among male victims. Council members asked questions about reporting, prevention, and how the public can help. Ms. Rory encouraged attendees to save the hotline number in their phones.

Discussion Items

Dress Code and Council Rules Councilmember Elmore proposed adding a rule to the council rules requiring professional or business‑casual attire for council members while seated on the dais, specifically prohibiting T‑shirts and backward‑worn ball caps with political slogans. Councilmember McCann publicly apologized to Elmore for a heated exchange the previous day, acknowledging she was correct. Other council members supported the amendment, noting it provides clear expectations for new members. The matter will be brought as a motion at the next voting meeting on April 21.

City Planner Position (Ordinances 027‑2026 and 028‑2026) Director of Development Sarah Russell presented a proposal to add a city planner to the personnel table, to be filled on an emergency basis. She explained that the current development staff (four people) is overstretched across economic development, building, and zoning. Intern Curtis Nutter has been functioning as a de facto planner for three to four months and would be hired full‑time. His current pay is $20/hour for 27–30 hours per week; the new planner position is budgeted at $69,000 annually, below the MORPC median of $73,000–$75,000. The position will be funded from the general fund (confirmed by the auditor). The companion ordinance (028‑2026) adjusts the payroll clerk's pay. Both ordinances received a second reading and will be voted on at the April 21 meeting.

Detention Facilities Zoning Amendment (Ordinance 022‑2026) This third‑reading ordinance would amend the planning and zoning code to require special permits for the construction or operation of detention facilities. Community Standards Chair McCann noted he will be absent on April 21 due to a professional training. The amendment is expected to be adopted at that meeting. According to the agenda, a public hearing is scheduled for the April 21 council meeting.

Active Transportation Plan Grant Resolution Director Russell requested council approval to apply for a technical assistance grant from MORPC to create an active transportation plan. The plan would identify safe routes for walking, bicycling, and transit and is a prerequisite for larger federal Safe Streets grants. Extensive debate occurred:

• Councilmember Dixon questioned the use of taxpayer dollars, arguing the city managed without such studies for decades and that borrowing from the future is fiscally irresponsible.
• Councilmembers Adkins, Harcar, and McCann supported the grant, citing safety concerns. Russell noted that Whitehall is missing 10 miles of sidewalk and that 19 pedestrians were struck by vehicles in 2025, with a total of 202 pedestrian strikes between 2012 and mid‑2023.
• Russell clarified that MORPC membership dues are already paid, so the grant effectively recaptures city contributions. She will provide the match percentage and a breakdown of funding sources before the April 21 vote.

Standing Committee Reports

• Administration and Financial Management (Chair Elmore): No drafts or pending legislation.
• Community and Elder Advocacy (Chair Harcar): Harcar announced a free QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training at the Senior Center on April 30, 5–7 p.m. Interested residents should email her. She also discussed her participation in a human trafficking conference and reiterated her commitment to standing with survivors.
• Community Standards and Enforcement (Chair McCann): Presented the third reading of Ordinance 022‑2026 (above).
• Economic Development (Chair Dixon): No new legislation. Dixon reminded members to complete a survey he emailed; the active transportation grant was debated in this committee.
• Infrastructure, Maintenance and Services (Chair Brown): No drafts or pending legislation.
• Public Safety (Chair Morrison): No drafts or pending legislation.
• Parks and Recreation (Chair Adkins): Adkins listed upcoming events (candlemaking for Mother's Day, baseball opening day, Arbor Day, Healthy Kids Day, Live Birds). Dixon suggested using "dusk" as a closing time on park signs rather than specific times. The Parks and Recreation Commission meets the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers.

Key Outcomes

• The proposed dress‑code amendment will be introduced as a motion at the April 21 council meeting.
• The city planner position (Ordinance 027‑2026) and companion pay change (028‑2026) will be voted on April 21; the emergency clause will allow immediate implementation.
• The detention‑facility zoning amendment (022‑2026) is expected to be adopted on April 21.
• The resolution to apply for the MORPC active transportation grant will be considered for approval on April 21; Director Russell will provide match details and funding source information before the vote.
• Councilmember Harcar will host a free suicide prevention (QPR) training on April 30 at the Senior Center, 5–7 p.m.
• Bulk trash pickup is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15 (the day after the meeting).