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 Meeting — August 4, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, August 4, 2026
BodyWhitehall, Ohio
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 4, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 59:57

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Department of

Speaker 2

0:01

Canada is saying what?

0:03

So

Speaker 1

0:05

I

Speaker 2

0:05

was

Speaker 1

0:05

at

Unassigned speaker

0:05

the first quarter.

Speaker 1

0:06

I'm sure

Unassigned speaker

0:09

animal.

Unassigned speaker

0:10

So you're under

Speaker 1

0:11

the

Unassigned speaker

0:16

good

Speaker 3

0:16

evening, ladies and gentlemen.

0:17

Welcome to Whitehall City Council Agenda meeting for Tuesday, August 4th, 2026.

0:24

We will go over the agenda.

0:26

Uh first we'll start with uh call order formal silence pledge of allegiance.

0:32

We will have uh roll call.

0:34

Here's everyone is here.

0:36

We will have approval amendments uh July 7, 2026 agenda and regular meeting minutes, July 14th, 2026 committee and committee meeting minutes, July 21st, 2026 agenda and regular meeting minutes, July 28th, 2026 special meeting minutes, July 28th, 2026 committee meeting minutes, and I will need a

Speaker 4

1:04

president.

1:04

I'll make a motion,

Speaker 3

1:06

Nixon we have a second.

Speaker 2

1:08

I'll second

Speaker 3

1:15

thank you.

1:15

Then we will move to standing committees reports, excuse me, and then move on to official reports, and then we will go to there has been no official reports filed in the council office since the last meeting.

1:38

Then we move to communications petitions and claims.

1:41

No communication petitions or claims have been filed in the council office since the last meeting.

1:48

Then we will have our first poll public, then we will go with verification of copies.

1:54

Uh roll call whether each member of council was given a copy of each item of legislation listed on the agenda prior to the meeting, including any add-on legislation.

2:06

Then we will move to uh third reading.

2:10

There's no legislation for third reading uh before tonight.

2:15

So we will then move on to second reading.

2:18

We have ordinance 40 or 64 2026, which will be title only, amending the zoning map attached to chapter 1101.06 of the 2023 codified ordinance of the city of Whitehall, and as subsequently amended, changing the zoning on property located at 4870 Poth Road parcel number 0908399 and 090-0075.

2:56

Excuse me, from the community crossroads district CCT to the industrial district IND, property owned by the Whitehall Community Improvement Corporation and declaring an emergency.

3:16

It is also by title only.

3:18

It's amending the zoning map attached to excuse me, chapter 1101.06 of the 2023 codified ordinance of the city of Whitehall, and as subsequently amended, changing the zoning on property located at 265 North Hamilton Road, parcel number 090-008397 from community crossroads district C C D to Industrial District INDD, property owned by

Unassigned speaker

3:54

uh

Speaker 3

3:55

B Corps Defender OH1MO5 LLC and declaring an emergency.

4:03

We also have ordinance uh number 66026, which is also by title only, amending the planning and zoning code to limit the construction for operation of gas stations.

4:21

That is all of our second reading ordinances.

4:26

We will move to our first reading ordinance, which is ordinance 073 2026.

4:34

It's up for first reading, suspend and adopt.

4:38

Uh we'll be introduced by Councillor Elmore.

4:42

Amending ordinance 129-2025 authorizing and approving the following changes to 161.38 and declaring an emergency.

4:53

Councilor McCain, can I get a second?

Speaker 5

4:55

Yes.

4:56

Thank you.

Speaker 3

4:56

Okay, thank

Unassigned speaker

4:57

you.

Speaker 3

5:02

We will then move on to ordinance number 7074 2026.

5:09

Uh first reading, suspend and adopt, also to be introduced by Council of Almore authorizing and approving a supplemental appropriation in the amount of 80,000 dollars from unappropriated monies and the general fund to the code enforcement salary account 101.600 point 5101 and declare it in emergency.

Unassigned speaker

5:36

And

Speaker 3

5:36

councillor Brown is going to give me a second.

5:39

Brown, thank

Unassigned speaker

5:40

you.

Speaker 3

5:43

That will move us on to ordinance number seven oh seventy-five twenty twenty-six, which is also a first reading suspended adopt, introduced by councillor Elmore, uh authorizing excuse me, appropriation transfers in total uh thirty thousand dollars consisting of the amount of fifteen thousand dollars from the assistant to the director of neighborhoods expense account 101.204 point 51300 and 15,000 from the safety director salary expense account 101.960 point 51000 to the city planner expense account 101.209.51500 and declaring an emergency.

6:33

Council Morrison can I get yes.

6:36

I will do that.

6:37

Thank you, sir.

6:39

We will move to the last piece of uh legislation forward this evening, which is resolution 34 2026, which would be title only authorizing the execution of community reinvestment area agreement between the city and the associated plumbing and hydraulics contractors, AP HC of the central of central Ohio, or a designee and declare an emergency.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Historic Preservation██████████████████████22%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Wildlife Management███████7%
Zoning And Land Use██████6%
Economic Development█████5%
Workforce Development█████5%
Public Engagement████4%
Veterans Affairs████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Whitehall City Council Meeting — August 4, 2026

The Whitehall City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chamber. President Pro Tem Larry Morrison presided, and all seven council members were present. The meeting included the unanimous approval of prior minutes, committee and officials' reports, public comment on deer management, the suspension of rules to adopt three fiscal ordinances, and the introduction of zoning and community reinvestment resolutions. Mayor Bivens provided a detailed update on infrastructure investment, development impacts, and a recent community health initiative.

Consent Calendar

  • The Council unanimously approved minutes from the meetings held on July 7, 14, 21, and July 28 (Special and Committee meetings).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • The Council read a written statement from Ward 1 resident Jeff Delburn into the record regarding the city's deer management strategy.
  • Position: Mr. Delburn opposed the previously proposed residential bow hunting program and criticized the recently adopted feeding ban (Ordinance 49-2026) as an ineffective "educational gesture." Citing Worthington's experience, he argued that feeding bans do not reduce herd size and advocated for a professional, controlled culling program using trained marksmen.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor Michael T. Bivens' Report:
    • Infrastructure: Reported a cumulative $48 million investment in roads and subsurface infrastructure since he took office. He announced a $1.2 million project on Dony Avenue and a $1 million federal grant for sidewalks, which will be subject to community input.
    • Workforce & Wellness Pavilion: Celebrated over 15,000 attendees at the recent food truck festival, noting that health screenings at the event led to two individuals being sent for immediate medical intervention.
    • Development and Schools: Addressed resident concerns about school crowding by stating that only 77 of the 3,444 students in Whitehall Yearling schools reside in new developments built over the past five to six years. He affirmed his commitment to developing "at the pace of school growth."
    • DLA: Congratulated DLA Land Maritime on its deactivation and reactivation as DLA Weapons Support.
  • Director of Public Service Casey Rowlands:
    • Recognized the Seasonal Labor Apprentice Program participants for their work, including painting 101 fire hydrants and 251 hydrant-zone curves.
    • Requested favorable consideration of the ordinances related to code enforcement funding.
  • New Legislation Introduced (First Reading / Title Only):
    • Ordinances 064-2026 & 065-2026: Propose rezoning properties at 4870 Poth Road and 265 North Hamilton Road from Community Crossroads District (CCD) to Industrial District (INDD).
    • Ordinance 066-2026: Proposes amending the zoning code to limit the construction or operation of gasoline stations.
    • Resolution 034-2026: Authorizes a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) agreement between the city and the Associated Plumbing & Hydronic Contractors (APHC) of Central Ohio. Councilor McCann noted the irony of this agreement following the mayor's report that plumbing is a high-demand job field.
  • Community Date Board / Founders Day:
    • Jack Long of the Whitehall Historical Society presented plans for the inaugural Founders Day celebration. The event will be held on October 18, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Whitehall Community Park, featuring a car show, food trucks, music, children's activities, and a historical presentation.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance 073-2026 (Salary Table): ADOPTED (7-0). Amends the salary table to allow for future salary adjustments.
  • Ordinance 074-2026 (Code Enforcement Funding): ADOPTED (7-0). Approved a supplemental appropriation of $80,000 from the general fund to cover salaries for a newly hired code enforcement officer and existing staff.
  • Ordinance 075-2026 (Budget Transfers): ADOPTED (7-0). Approved transferring $30,000 from the Assistant to the Director of Neighborhoods and Safety Director Salary accounts to the City Planner expense account.
  • Council Vacancy: Councilor Elmore announced that the appointment process to fill the President Pro Tem seat will be transparent, with an emphasis on listening to resident input.

Meeting Transcript

Department of Canada is saying what? So I was at the first quarter. I'm sure animal. So you're under the good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Whitehall City Council Agenda meeting for Tuesday, August 4th, 2026. We will go over the agenda. Uh first we'll start with uh call order formal silence pledge of allegiance. We will have uh roll call. Here's everyone is here. We will have approval amendments uh July 7, 2026 agenda and regular meeting minutes, July 14th, 2026 committee and committee meeting minutes, July 21st, 2026 agenda and regular meeting minutes, July 28th, 2026 special meeting minutes, July 28th, 2026 committee meeting minutes, and I will need a president. I'll make a motion, Nixon we have a second. I'll second thank you. Then we will move to standing committees reports, excuse me, and then move on to official reports, and then we will go to there has been no official reports filed in the council office since the last meeting. Then we move to communications petitions and claims. No communication petitions or claims have been filed in the council office since the last meeting. Then we will have our first poll public, then we will go with verification of copies. Uh roll call whether each member of council was given a copy of each item of legislation listed on the agenda prior to the meeting, including any add-on legislation. Then we will move to uh third reading. There's no legislation for third reading uh before tonight. So we will then move on to second reading. We have ordinance 40 or 64 2026, which will be title only, amending the zoning map attached to chapter 1101.06 of the 2023 codified ordinance of the city of Whitehall, and as subsequently amended, changing the zoning on property located at 4870 Poth Road parcel number 0908399 and 090-0075. Excuse me, from the community crossroads district CCT to the industrial district IND, property owned by the Whitehall Community Improvement Corporation and declaring an emergency. It is also by title only. It's amending the zoning map attached to excuse me, chapter 1101.06 of the 2023 codified ordinance of the city of Whitehall, and as subsequently amended, changing the zoning on property located at 265 North Hamilton Road, parcel number 090-008397 from community crossroads district C C D to Industrial District INDD, property owned by uh B Corps Defender OH1MO5 LLC and declaring an emergency. We also have ordinance uh number 66026, which is also by title only, amending the planning and zoning code to limit the construction for operation of gas stations. That is all of our second reading ordinances. We will move to our first reading ordinance, which is ordinance 073 2026. It's up for first reading, suspend and adopt. Uh we'll be introduced by Councillor Elmore. Amending ordinance 129-2025 authorizing and approving the following changes to 161.38 and declaring an emergency. Councilor McCain, can I get a second? Yes. Thank you. Okay, thank you. We will then move on to ordinance number 7074 2026.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com