Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Whitehall City Council held a committee meeting on September 22, 2026, beginning at 6:30 PM. The meeting featured a presentation and proclamation on Suicide Prevention Month, followed by discussions on two ordinances: one concerning financial disclosure and ethics training (postponed) and another establishing contracting provisions for minority business enterprises (MBEs). Council also heard updates from multiple committees and entered executive session to discuss economic development assistance.
Ordinance 092-2026 (Second Reading, adopt 10/20/2026) – Creating Chapter 170 to establish minimum city contract awards to minority businesses. A lengthy discussion ensued:
Two add-on appropriations were presented for first reading (to be adopted October 6):
Yes. You know, you're saying he has not exactly. So I'm taking his questions. I think we looked at you. She's trying to return to her. Welcome to the White House City Council Committee meeting of Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026. There are no pieces of draft legislation on the agenda. Tonight we have a presentation by the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Team. We appreciate it. So good evening, everyone. My name is Jessica Cannon, and I currently serve as the director of the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition, which is also known as the FCSPC. I'm really honored to be here with you all this evening during National Suicide Prevention Month to share information about the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition, also known as the FCSPC, and to advocate for the formal recognition by the City of Whitehall to formally recognize September as National Suicide Prevention Month. And we're extremely grateful for the support from the Columbus Foundation, Central Benefits, as well as the Adam H. Board of Franklin County, as without them our work would not be possible. As someone with lived experience, this work is extremely personal to me. I'm passionate about using my experiences to help foster a more compassionate, kind, and supportive community. And I believe that by working together, we can ensure that individuals in Whitehall and Franklin County as a whole have the resources and understanding they need during their most difficult moments. The FCSPC bridges central Ohio organizations together to enhance the overall efficacy of collective suicide prevention efforts. So we work to increase communication coordination and collaboration efforts to prevent suicide and to bring hope and support to those affected by it. So we work to prevent suicide through education awareness and partnerships with our community. The coalition currently focuses on six target populations, the black and African American community, youth, older adults, the LGBTQIA plus community, veterans, as well as the refugee immigrant new American communities. So these groups have been identified as being at a higher risk for suicide, and we do work to tailor our initiatives to meet their specific needs as a community. However, we do remain flexible and data-driven in our approach and ready to adjust our priority populations depending on what needs we're seeing in our community. So this initiative, which is under the umbrella of the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition and Mental Health America of Ohio, aims to actively engage and uplift youth voice and suicide prevention efforts. We hope that by empowering youth to take an active role in suicide prevention. We hope to create a new generation of advocates who are knowledgeable, passionate, and prepared to make a difference. In this training equips individuals with the skills to recognize the warning signs that someone may be at risk for suicide, engage them in supportive conversations, engage them in supportive conversations, and most importantly, refer them to resources. So again, our goal is to build a network of trained community members who can offer timely and compassionate support to those in need. And then if anyone is curious about learning more about the coalition's work, you can visit our website at www.franklincounty spc.org. And I really just want to thank Mayor Bivens as well as uh Council Representative Harkar and the White Hall City Council for the opportunity to come together to this meeting and share the vital work about the coalition. We believe that through collaboration, education, and partnership, we can make a meaningful difference in preventing suicide and promoting hope throughout our community. I also have these 988 cards, National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, that I'm going to leave with the hopes that you all can distribute them or refer them to individuals in need. And we really look forward to continuing to work alongside community leaders, organizations, and residents to build a stronger and more connected and supportive community for all. Thank you, everyone, for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to this important cause. I'll now welcome Pastor Howard Washington, FCSPC Vice Chair and Pastor of Second Baptist Church to share a little bit more. Good evening to Mayor Bibbins to the White Hall City Council. It's good to be with you tonight. And thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening and consider a proclamation for recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in the City of White Hall. This recognition is meaningful because it communicates to residents who may be struggling, to families who may be carrying grief, and to neighbors who want the help from Whitehall to be committed to reducing the stigma, encouraging connection, and promoting care. I have served as pastor of Second Baptist Church for 20 years now, since 2006, and I volunteer with the Franklin County Suicide Prevention Coalition as vice chair. In that capacity, I have seen how often families and individuals turn to trusted community leaders before crises is fully understood while a crisis is unfolding, and also after a loss has been endured by a family. Those moments have taught me that suicide prevention is not only a clinical issue, it is a community responsibility. So when I speak about suicide prevention, I speak from years of pastoral experience, from community engagement, and from personal experience with families who have been affected by suicide. As a young person, I learned of a loved one's suicide attempt, and I saw how silence can take hold in a family. There have been few words at that time. There was little expect explanation and no clear way for younger family members to understand what had happened or how to respond. That experience left a lasting impression on me.