[00:00:03] YOU JUST GAVE A THUMBS UP. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE FAIRBORN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR JULY 21ST, [I. Call to Order] 2025. WE'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. JULIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MR. KIRKPATRICK HERE. MR. ALLEN, MISS CHESS HERE. MR. FRITZSCHE HERE. MR. MCCUBBINS HERE. MISS REASTER HERE. MISS STANTON HERE. IS THERE A MOTION TO EXCUSE COUNCILMAN? ALLEN SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY. COUNCILMAN ALLEN IS EXCUSED. OKAY. NEXT UP. JOEL, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU ALSO PLEASE SILENCE ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES? WE APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM IS TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 7TH, [IV. Minutes – Consider approval of the minutes of the July 7, 2025, Work Session, and the July 7, 2025, Regular Meeting.] 2020 WORK SESSION. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS, OR DELETIONS TO THOSE MINUTES? HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 7TH, 2025 WORK SESSION ARE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. NEXT WE HAVE THE JULY 7TH REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THOSE MINUTES? HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 7TH, 2025 REGULAR MEETING. ARE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. WE HAVE NO PRESCHEDULED BUSINESS THIS EVENING, SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO OLD BUSINESS. [V. Old Business] AND WE HAVE ORDINANCE 1625. IS THERE A MOTION TO READ ORDINANCE 1625? FOR THE SECOND TIME BY TITLE ONLY. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? ORDINANCE 16 DASH 25 ADOPTING A DEBT MANAGEMENT BOND POLICY FOR THE CITY OF FAIRBORN HILLARY BROWNING, FINANCE DIRECTOR. PRESENTING. GOOD EVENING. TONIGHT, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, IS A DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICY. AND WE'LL JUST BRIEFLY GO OVER THE TOP POINTS. THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR THE DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICY IS TO FUND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND EQUIPMENT, STRENGTHEN OUR FISCAL HEALTH, ENSURE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS IN TIMES OF NEED, MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE THE CITY'S CREDIT QUALITY, AND TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYER INVESTMENT. THIS IS JUST A TIMELINE OF THOSE PROCESS STEPS THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO FAR. IN MARCH I MET WITH OUR MUNICIPAL ADVISORS, BRADLEY PAYNE ASSOCIATES, OUR BOND COUNSEL, WHICH IS SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS. TO DISCUSS OUR LONG TERM DEBT ISSUANCE NEEDS. WE ALSO MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO DISCUSS OUR CURRENT DEBT OBLIGATIONS. WE RESEARCHED DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICY FROM PEER CITIES AND FROM CITIES THAT ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST DEBT RATINGS DEBT BOND RATING IN OHIO. SO OUR OUR PEER CITIES WERE MIAMISBURG, HILLIARD AND FOREST PARK. AND THE ONES THAT HAD THE TOP TIER BOND RATINGS WERE UPPER ARLINGTON AND THE CITY OF CENTERVILLE. WE ALSO REVIEWED BEST PRACTICES FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND INCORPORATED THEM INTO THE POLICY. ON MAY 19TH, WE PRESENTED YOU A WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS OUR CURRENT DEBT OBLIGATIONS, AS WELL AS OUR CURRENT POSITIONING, OUR BOND RATINGS, AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, ONE OF WHICH WAS TO ADVANCE A DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICY AS THE CITY HAS LET DEBT. BUT WE DO NOT ACTUALLY HAVE A DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICY IN PLACE THAT WOULD PRESCRIBE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. THE STRATEGY BEHIND OUR DEBT ISSUANCES, THE TYPE OF DEBT INSTRUMENTS THAT WE USE, ETC.. SO ORDINANCE 16.25 ADDRESSES THAT FIRST RECOMMENDATION. THAT POLICY WAS ALSO REVIEWED AND EDITED AND APPROVED BY BRADLEY PAYNE, BY SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS. EDITED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY MANAGER AND FINALLY APPROVED BY OUR CITY SOLICITOR. SO WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? THE FIRST IS SO THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK TO EVALUATE OUR DEBT ISSUANCES WHEN THEY ARE PRUDENT, AND THE TYPE OF DEBT INSTRUMENTS THAT WE USE FOR OUR PROJECTS. IT CREATES A REPLICABLE AND A SUSTAINABLE BOND ISSUANCE PROCESS. SHOULD I NO LONGER BE HERE? [00:05:01] SHOULD WE HAVE A DIFFERENT FINANCE DIRECTOR? THIS POLICY WOULD BE THEIR GUIDEBOOK TO RUN SHOW ON OUR DEBT PROCESS. IT ALSO ESTABLISHES LIMITS TO ENSURE THAT OUR DEBT CAN REMAIN AFFORDABLE. IT CREATES GUIDELINES FOR REGARDING OUR DEBT STRUCTURING PRACTICES FOR EACH OF THE TYPE OF BONDS THAT WE USE. IT ADOPTS BEST PRACTICES AND IT CLARIFIES ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. IT ESTABLISHES CRITERIA TO EVALUATE FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. BECAUSE BOND ISSUANCES ARE DRIVEN BY THE GENERAL ECONOMY AND INVESTORS CONFIDENCE IN OUR DEBT. WE HAVE TO REALLY CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS BEFORE WE ISSUE THAT DEBT. AND IT MATCHES OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS WITH THE BEST AND MOST AFFORDABLE FINANCING MECHANISM. AND THAT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE A BOND BAND THAT COULD BE A LOAN, THAT COULD BE A STATE FINANCING MECHANISM, IT COULD BE CASH. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY LINING UP OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE DEBT INSTRUMENT AND BEING REALLY STRATEGIC ABOUT WHAT WE DO. SO THIS IS A PICTORIAL CHART OF THE POLICY. AND IT BASICALLY SHOWS WHAT TYPE OF PROJECT OR WHAT TYPE OF CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEN THE FUNDING SOURCES OR THE MECHANISM THAT WE WOULD USE TO FUND THOSE THINGS. SO EQUIPMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT DOESN'T HAVE A USEFUL LIFE OF TEN YEARS OR MORE. WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IT ONLY BE CASH OR LEASE, FOR EXAMPLE. WHEREAS IF IT WAS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT HAD A LIFESPAN GREATER THAN TEN YEARS, LIKE A GREAT EXAMPLE WOULD BE A MEDIC OR A LADDER TRUCK THAT OPENS UP OUR FINANCING ABILITIES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE A LIFESPAN THAT ARE LESS THAN TEN YEARS ARE ACTUALLY NOT CONSIDERED TO BE CIP. SO WE RECOMMEND CASH OR A SHORT TERM DEBT OBLIGATION AND SO FORTH AND SO ON. SO WE START TO LOOK AT OKAY, THINGS THAT ARE GREATER THAN 5 MILLION. THAT'S WHEN WE START TO GET OUT THE BIG BONDS. THAT'S WHEN WE START TO LOOK AT DEBT ISSUANCES. WE'RE REALLY ALIGNING THE NEED WITH THAT PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT PROJECTS THAT PARTICULARLY BENEFIT A PARTICULAR RATEPAYER, LIKE A TIF DISTRICT OR A SPECIAL DISTRICT, WATER REVENUE BONDS, THAT WE BE SPECIFIC ABOUT THAT DEBT INSTRUMENT SO THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE BEARING THE SUSTAINABLE COST OF THAT LONG TERM DEBT. OUR DEBT POLICY ALSO ESTABLISHES PARAMETERS FOR EVALUATING, ISSUING AND MAINTAINING THAT DEBT. WE HAVE CERTAIN NOT JUST FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT LEGAL AND TAX OBLIGATIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. AND THE POLICY PRESCRIBES HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT. IT ALSO PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO LEADERSHIP, YOU ALL TO THE CITY MANAGER AND TO FACILITATE A REPLICABLE DEBT ISSUANCE PROCESS. THEREFORE, I WOULD RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF ORDINANCE 1625 AND I WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS. OKAY. ORDINANCE 1625 DOES REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING, SO WE WILL OPEN ORDINANCE 1625. ANYONE WISHING TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK TO THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. JAMES CHESS 455 CORONADO DRIVE. JUST A QUESTION. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT BOND RATING? ANYONE KNOW? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. OUR CURRENT BOND RATING IS A TWO. WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST BOND RATINGS IN THE STATE OF OHIO. THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF MUNICIPALITIES IN OHIO THAT HAVE THAT DOUBLE A MOODY'S GOLD RATING. THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE UPPER ARLINGTON, DUBLIN, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS. I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE IT. SO WE'RE DOING VERY, VERY WELL. DAYTON. KETTERING. MIAMISBURG. THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME DEBT RATING AS THE CITY OF FAIRBORN. DOES THAT ANSWER THE QUESTION? I HOPE IT DOES. OKAY. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK TO ORDINANCE 1625? PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. OKAY. WE WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS. AND WE'LL START WITH COUNCILMAN RITCHIE. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. I'M GOOD. THANK YOU. I'M GOOD. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I DO HAVE A COMMENT FOR THE CITIZENS. AND THAT IS EXACTLY TO REITERATE WHAT YOU JUST SAID, THAT DESPITE THE LACK OF A FORMAL POLICY OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE DONE WELL WITH OUR DEBT MANAGEMENT, AS EVIDENCED BY MOODY'S INCREASING OUR DEBT RATING TO AA2 IN THE LAST YEAR, SO WE'RE DOING WELL. THANK YOU. YES. NO QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THIS PROCESS IN PLACE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. LET ME JUST ADD THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN BY PEOPLE NOT DOING SOMETHING. YOUR STAFF HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO HELP US TO GET TO THIS POINT. [00:10:02] SO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS. THEY WORK INCREDIBLY HARD TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S FISCAL HEALTH. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION NOW TO WAIVE THE RULE REQUIRING THAT ORDINANCES BE READ ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS? AND ORDINANCE 1625 BE READ FOR THE THIRD TIME BY TITLE ONLY. SO MOVED. SECOND. JULIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MR. FRITZSCHE. YES, MISS. REASTER. YES, MISS. CHESS. YES, MR. MCCUBBINS. YES, MISS. STANTON. YES. MR. KIRKPATRICK. YES. ORDINANCE 16 DASH 25, ADOPTING THE DEBT MANAGEMENT AND BOND POLICY FOR THE CITY OF FAIRBORN. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE COORDINATES. 1625. SO MOVED. SECOND. JULIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. YES. MR.. MCCUBBINS. YES. MR.. CHESS. YES. MR.. FRITZSCHE. YES, MISS. STANTON. YES. MR. KIRKPATRICK. YES. ORDINANCE 1625 IS DULY ADOPTED. MOVING ALONG. IS THERE AN OR IS THERE A MOTION TO READ ORDINANCE 1725? FOR THE SECOND TIME BY TITLE ONLY. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? ORDINANCE 17 DASH 25, AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND FAIRBORN CODIFIED ORDINANCES 126. 04A AND 126. 03A TO ALIGN WITH THE OHIO REVISED CODE, SECTION 9.17, AND ALLOW FOR AN ONGOING REVISIONS, AS OHIO REVISED CODE 9.17 IS UPDATED ANNUALLY. HILLARY BROWNING, FINANCE DIRECTOR, PRESENTING. GOOD EVENING AGAIN. OKAY, SO WE'RE NOW DISCUSSING AMENDING OUR CODE OF ORDINANCE SECTION 126 .03 AND 126 .04, SO THAT WE CAN BECOME IN PROCUREMENT ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE OF OHIO. SO OUR CURRENT COST THRESHOLD FOR THE OPEN MARKET PROCEDURE IN CITY ORDINANCE IS $50,000 IN 2023. THE STATE OF OHIO ACTUALLY INCREASED THE STATE'S CONSOLIDATED BID THRESHOLD TO 75,000. AND THAT BID THRESHOLD APPLIED TO COUNTIES, MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS, LIBRARIES, FIRE AND AMBULANCE DISTRICTS, WATER AND SEWER DISTRICTS, AND REGIONAL AIRPORTS. AT THAT TIME, THE STATE OF OHIO ALSO INSTITUTED A 3% COST ESCALATOR. AND THIS WAS REALLY A RESPONSE TO THE HISTORIC INFLATION THAT WAS SEEN IN THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BECOMING VERY CHALLENGING TO BUY ANYTHING LESS THAN 50,000, ESPECIALLY IN THE GOVERNMENT SPACE. AND SO THIS THIS ONE INTO EFFECT. THE STATE HOUSE TOOK ACTION ON THAT AND IT WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2023. AND SO THE 3% INCREASE, THE FIRST ONE WENT INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY OF 2025. AND THE CURRENT THRESHOLD NOW STANDS AT 77,002 50. IF PASSED, ORDINANCE 1725 WOULD INCREASE TO THE CURRENT STATE THRESHOLD OF 77,002 50. AND WE WOULD ALSO INSTITUTE THE SAME ESCALATOR, THAT 3% ESCALATOR THAT THE OHIO, THE STATE OF OHIO HAS HAS PRESCRIBED EXPENSES GREATER THAN 77,002 50 WOULD NEED TO FOLLOW THE OPEN MARKET PROCEDURE PRIOR TO PROCEEDING. THEY WOULD ALSO REQUIRE RESOLUTION FROM COUNCIL. ALIGNMENT WITH THE OHIO REVISED CODE IS BENEFICIAL TO STAFF. IT REDUCES CONFUSION, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH STATE FUNDED PROJECTS. AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS DO GET A LOT OF STATE FUNDING. SO IT'S VERY CHALLENGING WHEN YOU HAVE A 50,000 MARK FOR SOME THINGS AND A 77,002 51 MARK FOR ANOTHER. THIS BRINGS US INTO ALIGNMENT. AND MANY CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE ADOPTED THE STATE STANDARD, INCLUDING OTHER OTHER CITIES IN GREENE COUNTY, XENIA AND BEAVERCREEK, AND MANY OF THE COUNTIES AND MANY OF THE CITIES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY AS WELL. AND WITH THAT, I RECOMMEND PASSAGE FOR ORDINANCE 1725, AND I WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS. OKAY. ORDINANCE 1725 ALSO REQUIRES A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK TO ORDINANCE 17 1725, PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. OKAY. SEEING NO ONE COME FORWARD, WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE'LL COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH QUESTIONS. AND WE'LL START WITH COUNCILWOMAN. CHESS. YEAH. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. IS THE OPEN MARKET PROCESS THE BIDDING? IS THAT WHAT THAT IS? IT'S BIDDING OR THE USE OF A COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BID FOR YOU. BUT YES, THERE'S OPEN MARKET PROCEDURE FOR THAT, OR YOU HAVE TO MAKE A GOOD SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION. IF IT'S TRULY A SOLE SOURCE PRODUCT, THAT WOULD BE THE ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT. IT HAD TO BE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY, PERHAPS A CYBER SECURITY SOFTWARE, BUT EVEN THOSE WE CAN BUY THROUGH COOPERATIVE EXCHANGE. SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THREE OPTIONS. [00:15:02] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. NO QUESTIONS. BUT THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY PREVIOUS QUESTIONS. YOU'RE WELCOME. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. THANK YOU. AGAIN, THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO PREPARING THIS. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE RULE REQUIRING THAT ORDINANCES BE READ ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN ORDINANCE 1725, BE READ FOR THE THIRD TIME BY TITLE ONLY. SO MOVED. SECOND. JOEY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MR.. MCCUBBINS. YES. MR. REASTER. YES. MR.. CHESS. YES. MR.. FRITZSCHE. YES. MRS. STANTON. YES. MR. KIRKPATRICK. YES. ORDINANCE 1725 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND FAIRBORN CODIFIED ORDINANCES, SECTIONS ONE, TWO, 6.04 A AND 126. 03A TO ALIGN WITH HIGH REVISED CODE SECTION 9.17 AND ALLOW FOR ONGOING REVISIONS AS PER THE OHIO REVISED CODE, SECTION 9.17, AS IT IS UPDATED ANNUALLY. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION NOW TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 1725? SO MOVED. SECOND. JULIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MR.. CHESS. YES. STANTON. YES. MR.. FRITZSCHE. YES. MR.. MCCUBBINS. YAY! MR.. REASTER. YES. MR.. KIRKPATRICK. YES. ORDINANCE 17 DASH 25 IS DULY ADOPTED. NEXT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE 1825. IS THERE A MOTION TO READ ORDINANCE 1825 FOR THE SECOND TIME BY TITLE ONLY. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. ORDINANCE 1825, AN ORDINANCE SUPPORTING THE PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN JOINT OR COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAMS OR CONTRACTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, OR SERVICES. HILLARY BROWNING, FINANCE DIRECTOR, PRESENTING. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN SO LONG, HILLARY. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? YOU KNOW, IT'S A SPREADSHEETS. THEY TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO WORK ON THE ORDINANCE 1825. WE ARE SEEKING PERMISSION TO JOIN TEN COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAMS. WE'RE ASKING YOUR PERMISSION BECAUSE THE OHIO REVISED CODE DOES REQUIRE US TO BE MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PRICING AND TO MEET THAT OPEN BID REQUIREMENT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PRIOR ORDINANCE. SO THESE THREE ORDINANCES, THEY REALLY GO TOGETHER LIKE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAMS. THESE ARE OTHER STATE AGENCIES. SOMETIMES THEY ARE COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT. SOMETIMES THEY'RE FORMED AS AN AGENCY OF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO PIGGYBACK ON THE CONTRACTS THAT THEY THEN LET. SO WHAT THEY OFFER US IS ENHANCED COMPLIANCE WITH BIDDING REQUIREMENTS. OFTENTIMES, BIDDING REQUIREMENTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING. WE DON'T HAVE A DEDICATED PROCUREMENT STAFF. I'M TECHNICALLY THE PURCHASING AGENT. AND SO USING THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAMS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO PIGGYBACK ON THOSE BIGGER GOVERNMENTS THAT DO HAVE THOSE BIG PURCHASING PROGRAMS THAT WE SO SMALL CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE ON OUR OWN AND DON'T HAVE THE STAFF OR TIME TO DO IT'S OFTEN REALLY COMPLEX TO PARTICIPATE IN AN OPEN MARKET BID AND PARTICULARLY FOR DIFFICULT TO BUY COMMODITIES. USING THOSE CO-OPS CAN LEVERAGE THE BUYING POWER OF BIGGER CITIES, SOMETIMES BIGGER STATES, AND SOMETIMES ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER. AND THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GET BETTER PRICING FOR THE GOODS THAT WE CURRENTLY BUY. WE WANT TO SAVE MONEY. WE WANT TO EFFICIENTLY DELIVER SERVICES AND GOODS TO OUR RESIDENTS AND CUSTOMERS, AND WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE AVAILABILITY OF GOODS FOR OUR STAFF, PARTICULARLY IN THE COMMODITIES SPACE. CHEMICALS, IN PARTICULAR PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT, WATER SUPPLY AND TREATMENT EQUIPMENT, AND CYBERSECURITY SOFTWARE ARE ALL PRODUCTS THAT WE COULD BUY FASTER THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE MARKETPLACE. AND THEN WE ALSO WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT. THESE ARE CO-OPS THAT ALLOW US TO BE TRANSPARENT AND ETHICAL IN OUR PURCHASING PROGRAMS. AND THAT IS ALL TO THE BETTER AND TO THE PUBLIC TRUST. THESE ARE THE TEN COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE ASKING TO JOIN. NASPO VALUEPOINT IN PARTICULAR IS A NEW PROGRAM TO US. WE'VE NEVER USED THEM BEFORE, BUT THEY ARE NATIONAL LEADERS IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CYBERSECURITY REALMS. PUBLIC SAFETY, PARTICULARLY FOR THINGS LIKE BALLISTIC VESTS, AMMUNITION AND OTHER COMMODITIES THAT WE NEED FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CYBERSECURITY SOFTWARE THAT CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING TO PURCHASE AND VERY EXPENSIVE. THE SOURCEWELL SERVICE COOPERATIVE CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA IS ONE THAT WE'VE PARTICIPATED IN THE PAST, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE NECESSARILY LIKE IT WRITTEN THAT WE WERE MEMBERS. AND SO ADDING THEM TO THIS ORDINANCE SATISFIES THAT REQUIREMENT. [00:20:03] I'M RECOMMENDING ALSO THE NATIONAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ALLIANCE AND CPA. THEY SPECIALIZE MORE IN THE SERVICES CONTRACTING SPACE. SO SHOULD WE EVER NEED SOME CONSULTING SERVICES THAT MIGHT BE THE COOPERATIVE THAT WE MIGHT CHOOSE FOR THAT PARTICULAR COMMODITY. NPP GOV IS A GOOD KIND OF ALL AROUND HOUSTON-GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL BY PROCUREMENT HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THEY PLAY VERY WELL IN THE CHEMICAL SPACE, SO WE'RE HOPING TO USE THEM ON THE WATER SIDE. WATER AND SANITARY AND SEWER. OHIO DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. ODORS. THAT IS THE COOPERATIVE EXCHANGE THROUGH THE STATE OF OHIO OR OHIO BUYS IS HOW IT IS SOMETIMES KNOWN AS WELL AS ODOT. WE ALREADY PARTICIPATE IN SWAP 4G. JUST ADDING THAT TO THIS ORDINANCE TO BE SAFE. BUT WE BUY OUR ROCK SALT FOR SNOW REMOVAL SERVICES FROM SWAP 4G. OMNIA PARTNERS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A VERY UNIQUE ONLINE INTERFACE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SHOP DIFFERENT PROVIDERS FOR THE SAME COMMODITIES TO DRIVE DOWN YOUR PRICES. AND THEY ALSO OFFER COMMODITY PRICING FOR SOME OF THE BIGGEST BRAND NAMES AND BRAND NAMES IS SOMETHING THAT AS A GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BUY FOR BRAND NAMES. SO USING COOPERATIVE LIKE OMNIA SO THAT WE CAN DRIVE DOWN PRICES ON THOSE THOSE BRAND NAMES, LIKE A DELL COMPUTER OR STAPLES, OFFICE SUPPLIES, ETC. THAT IS REALLY HELPING TO DRIVE DOWN THOSE PRICES. WE'RE ALSO SEEKING AUTHORITY TO USE THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. SHOULD THEY HAVE A CONTRACT THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL? AS WELL AS ANY CONTRACT OFFERING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE STATE OF OHIO OR ITS AFFILIATED AGENCIES. FOR THOSE REASONS, WE RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF ORDINANCE 1825. AND THOSE ARE THE OVERVIEW OF THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE HOPING TO UTILIZE THROUGH PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE. AND I WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING THAT. WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 1825. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. SEEING NO ONE COME FORWARD, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE'LL COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR QUESTIONS. STARTING WITH COUNCIL AND FRITZSCHE. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS. BUT I DO HAVE A COMMENT. IT SEEMS LIKE A NO BRAINER. ANYTIME WE CAN CUT COSTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INTO BUDGET SEASON. IT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I FEEL THE SAME EXACT WAY. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. THANKS, HILARY. DO WE KNOW IF THESE COOPERATIVES HAVE A POLICY OF BUYING AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS FIRST AND OR OTHER THINGS LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES, LIKE SMALL BUSINESS, MINORITY BUSINESSES, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THE ONES THAT ARE FEDERALLY COMPLIANT WILL BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE FOR EVERY CONTRACT OFFERING. SO USING THE CO-OP DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY SINGLE CONTRACT IS GOING TO BE USABLE. YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR CHOICE BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT BIDS THAT THEY'VE UTILIZED. AND SO IF THE BID SPECIALIST SPECIFIES BUY AMERICAN, THEN THAT WOULD THAT WOULD BE THERE IN THAT SPECIFIC CONTRACT. SO IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON THE CONTRACT THAT YOU'RE USING. BUT OBVIOUSLY LIKE GSA DOES HAVE CERTAIN BUY AMERICAN PROVISIONS. SOURCEWELL ALSO USES A LOT OF BUY AMERICAN PROVISIONS. SO IT'S JUST GOING TO REALLY DEPEND ON THE CONTRACT AND THE COMMODITY THAT YOU'RE BUYING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO GAZE INTO YOUR CRYSTAL BALL ON THIS. HOW OFTEN WILL WE USE THIS? IS THIS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO USE A LOT NOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IT? I VERY MUCH HOPE SO. I'VE ALREADY GOT THREE DIFFERENT ONES LINED UP WAITING IN THE WINGS. SO IN PARTICULAR, AGAIN FOR POLICE AND FIRE. SO SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED SOLE SOURCE, WE COULD HAVE BOUGHT CHEAPER THROUGH THE CO-OP. ONE OF THOSE IS CALLED STRYKER MEDICAL. WE USE THEM EXCLUSIVELY IN OUR EMS OUTFIT. AND BECAUSE WE'VE HAD OUR MEDICS UPFIT IN THIS WAY, WE CANNOT THEN GO AND UPFIT THEM WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PRODUCT. AND SO THAT THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN BETTER PRICING. AND WHEN IT CAME TO MY DESK, I HAD HAD VERY IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS WITH FIRE CHIEF AND WANTED TO ADVANCE THIS PARTICULAR LEGISLATION. THERE'S NUMEROUS EXAMPLES IN WATER AND SEWER. AND AS YOU KNOW, I'M PUT EARNEST EFFORT INTO SAVING MONEY IN WATER IN PARTICULAR, AND DRIVING DOWN THE COSTS ON CHEMICALS AND EQUIPMENT FOR WATER IS PARAMOUNT. SO WE'LL BE ADVANCING A COUPLE OF PURCHASES. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME CYBERSECURITY SOFTWARE WAITING, WAITING TO BE PASSED BY A RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT'S A LARGE DOLLAR PROCUREMENT. SO I DO HOPE THAT YOU WILL SEE MORE ACROSS YOUR DESKS AND THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DRIVE [00:25:02] DOWN PRICES IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TAXPAYER. EXCELLENT. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS. THANK YOU. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION NOW TO WAIVE THE RULE REQUIRING THAT ORDINANCES BE READ ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS? AND ORDINANCE 1825 BE READ FOR THE THIRD TIME BY TITLE ONLY. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL. JULIE. MISS REASTER. YES, MR. FRITZSCHE. YES, MISS. CHESS. YES, MR.. MCCUBBINS. YES, MISS. STANTON. YES. MR. KIRKPATRICK. YES. ORDINANCE 1825, AN ORDINANCE SUPPORTING THE PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN JOINT OR COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAMS OR CONTRACTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, SUPPLIES OR SERVICES. IS THERE A MOTION NOW TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 1825? SO MOVED. SECOND. JULIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MISS REASTER. YES. MISS. STANTON. YES. MISS CHESS. YES. MR. FRITZSCHE. YES. MR.. MCCUBBINS. YES. MR. KIRKPATRICK. YES. ORDINANCE 1825 IS DULY ADOPTED. NEXT WE WILL MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS. [VI. New Business] IS THERE A MOTION TO READ ORDINANCE 1925 FOR THE FIRST TIME BY TITLE ONLY. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. ORDINANCE 1925 FIRST READING AN ORDINANCE LEVYING ASSESSMENTS FOR COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT UTILITY INVOICES, WEED MOWING CHARGES, AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT CHARGES. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE WILL SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 1925 FOR AUGUST 4TH, 2025. NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. OKAY. NEXT WE WILL MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS. IS THERE A MOTION TO READ RESOLUTION 25 DASH 25 BY TITLE ONLY. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. RESOLUTION 25 DASH 25. RESOLUTION DECLARING IT NECESSARY TO RENEW A LEVY OF AN EXISTING 4.4 MILL PROPERTY TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF POLICE SERVICES, OPERATIONS AND EQUIPMENT, AND REQUESTING THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO CERTIFY MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. WITH MICHAEL GEBHART, CITY MANAGER, PRESENTING. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THESE TWO PRESENTATIONS WILL BE VERY SIMILAR. THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO RESOLUTIONS FOR EACH OF THE 4.4 MILL LEVY RENEWAL REQUESTS THAT WE'LL HAVE ON THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 BUDGET OR BUDGET BALLOT. EXCUSE ME. THIS FIRST RESOLUTION IS FOR POLICE SERVICES, OPERATION AND EQUIPMENT. WHERE WE ARE REQUESTING THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO CERTIFY THE AMOUNTS. AND THEN THE AUDITOR WILL SEND THEM BACK TO US. SO THIS LEVY WAS LAST APPROVED ON NOVEMBER 2ND OF 2021. IT'S A FIVE YEAR LEVY. AGAIN THE PURPOSE OF THE LEVY IS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PROVIDING AND MAINTAINING VEHICLES, COMMUNICATIONS, OTHER EQUIPMENT, BUILDINGS, BUILDING SITES USED DIRECTLY IN THE OPERATION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PAYMENT OF SALARIES OF PERMANENT AND PART TIME POLICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL, AND EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS REQUIRED BY SECTION FOR PERSONNEL UNDER SECTIONS 1.4, 5.45 OR 7.42 .33 OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE. AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO RESOLUTIONS TO PLACE THE ITEM ON THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 GENERAL BALLOT. THE SECOND RESOLUTION WILL COME NEXT WEEK AT YOUR SPECIAL JOINT MEETING WITH BATH TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES AND THE FAIRBORN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. THAT MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 5:30 P.M. ON MONDAY, JULY 28TH AT THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO ATTEND. BUT WE'LL GO INTO A SPECIAL SESSION JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR COUNCIL TO REVIEW AND HOPEFULLY APPROVE TWO RESOLUTIONS THAT WILL FORMALLY PLACE THE BALLOT REQUESTS ON THE NOVEMBER 4TH 2025 BALLOT. SO THIS ONE AGAIN REQUESTS THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO CERTIFY MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE REQUEST TO RENEW THE 4.4 MILL PROPERTY TAX LEVY. THIS RESOLUTION IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. AGAIN, THE COUNTY WILL CERTIFY THAT RATE. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS IS THIS. THIS. NO NEW TAXES. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING ADDITIONAL. YOUR PROPERTY TAX WILL NOT GO UP IF IF THESE LEVIES ARE APPROVED. AND SO THIS RESOLUTION THOUGH, IS THE FIRST OF TWO, THE NEXT ONE FOR, FOR FIRE EMS WILL BE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S ALSO A 4.4 MILL LEVY. SO THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO RESOLUTIONS TO PLACE THE RENEWAL REQUEST BEFORE THE ELECTORS ON THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 BALLOT, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCIL HAS. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL START COUNCIL QUESTIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU MIKE. NO QUESTIONS. [00:30:03] JUST AN EMPHASIS THAT IT IS A RENEWAL. IT'S NOT A NEW TAX. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. NO QUESTIONS, NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. DITTO. RENEWAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION NOW TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2525. SO MOVED. SECOND. JULIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MR. MCCUBBINS. YAY! MR. FRITZSCHE. YES. MISS CHESS. YES. MISS REASTER. YES. MISS STANTON. YES. MR. KIRKPATRICK. YES. RESOLUTION 25 DASH 25 IS DULY ADOPTED. IS THERE A MOTION NOW TO READ RESOLUTION 26 DASH 25 BY TITLE ONLY. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. RESOLUTION 2625, A RESOLUTION DECLARING IT NECESSARY TO RENEW A LEVY OF AN EXISTING 4.4 MILL PROPERTY TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, OPERATIONS AND EQUIPMENT FOR CITY OF FAIRBORN, AND REQUESTING THE COUNTY AUDITOR TO CERTIFY MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. MICHAEL GEBHART, CITY MANAGER PRESENTING YOUR HONOR, COUNCIL GOING TO BE THE EXACT SAME PRESENTATION, EXCEPT WE'RE TAKING POLICE OUT AND WE'RE PUTTING FIRE AND EMS IN. AGAIN, THIS IS A 4.4 MILL LEVY RENEWAL. NO NEW TAXES. THIS BOTH OF THESE LEVIES WERE ORIGINALLY PASSED BEFORE 2011, AND THE ELECTORATE HAS BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO APPROVE RENEWALS EVERY FIVE YEARS. AND SO THIS IS THE SECOND OF THE TWO RESOLUTIONS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT TO CONTINUE THAT PROCESS FOR NEXT WEEK. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL START COUNCIL QUESTIONS WITH COUNCILWOMAN CHESS. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, MIKE. THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU MIKE. I HAVE NONE THANK YOU MIKE. NO QUESTIONS HERE EITHER. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26 DASH 25. SO MOVED. SECOND. JULIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MR.. CHESS. YES. STANTON. YES. MR.. FRITZSCHE. YES. MR.. MCCUBBINS. YES. MR.. MR.. YES. MR.. KIRKPATRICK. YES. RESOLUTION 26 DASH 25 IS DULY ADOPTED. NEXT WE WILL MOVE ON. IS THERE A MOTION TO READ RESOLUTION 27 DASH 25 BY TITLE ONLY. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. RESOLUTION 27 DASH 25, A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF FAIRBORN CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A BINDING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE GREENE COUNTY, OHIO, COMMISSIONERS FOR THE DELEGATION OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR THE ENHANCED USE LEASE PROJECT SITE. MICHAEL GEBHART, CITY MANAGER, PRESENTING. I WAS SUPPOSED TO PRESENT, BUT HE TOOK THIS ONE FROM ME. I WAS HERE. THIS IS THE LAST ONE. THE BACKGROUND ON THIS. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH SYNERGY BUILDING SYSTEMS HAS ENTERED INTO WHAT THEY CALL AN UL, AN ENHANCED USE LEASE FOR A LITTLE OVER 20 ACRES WRIGHT-PATTERSON ALONG NATIONAL ROAD. I BELIEVE IT'S GATE EIGHT B THAT COMES IN OFF OF NATIONAL ROAD. THEY'LL ACTUALLY CARVE THE PROPERTY OUT, MOVE THE FENCE, AND NOW IT'S BEING INCLUDED INTO BATH TOWNSHIP. AND SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT. AND FOR THE PURPOSES OF BEING CONSISTENT WITH PLAN REVIEW AND PERMITTING SYNERGY HAS ASKED THAT THE CITY OF FAIRBORN PERFORM THOSE TASKS RATHER THAN GREENE COUNTY. AND GREENE COUNTY HAS AGREED THAT IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE WATER AND SEWER THAT'S BEING REVIEWED BY OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WOULD ALSO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE REVIEWING BUILDING PLANS AS WELL AS STORMWATER RETENTION PLANS. SO IT JUST MADE MORE SENSE IF ONE ORGANIZATION WAS DOING ALL THAT. SO THIS RESOLUTION WOULD AUTHORIZE ME TO SIGN AN MOU WITH GREENE COUNTY SO THAT WE COULD PROVIDE BUILDING, PERMITTING AND INSPECTION, FIRE CODE COMPLIANCE REVIEW, STORMWATER REVIEW, AND RELATED SERVICES. ALL OF OUR FEES WOULD BE IN PLACE THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY PAY TO US FOR PERMITS AND THE REVIEW OF THOSE AND THE INSPECTION PROCESS. SYNERGY PLANS TO DEVELOP FIVE NEW BUILDINGS WITH UP TO 1200 BASE RELATED EMPLOYEES OVER THE NEXT FIVE PLUS YEARS ON THAT SITE. AND AGAIN, FOR THE CONTINUITY OF DESIGN REVIEW, SYNERGY HAS REQUESTED THE CITY OF FAIRBORN PROVIDE AND REVIEW PROVIDE REVIEW FOR ALL THOSE PROJECTS. AGAIN, WE'LL WE'LL CHARGE THEM AS WE DO ANY ANYONE WHO APPLIES FOR A PERMIT OR PLANS REVIEW THROUGH US. AND SO THIS WILL HELP SPEED THAT PROCESS ALONG. AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL [00:35:07] REVENUE COMING INTO THE CITY. AND WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2725. AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. WE'LL START COUNCIL QUESTIONS WITH COUNCILMAN PRITCHETT. NO. THIS MAKES SENSE. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. I HAVE NONE, THANK YOU. NO, I HAVE NONE EITHER. THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS. YOU ANSWER MINE WITH THE FEES. YEAH, THAT WAS ONE OF MINE, TOO. I DO HAVE IT. JUST. AND I WAS THINKING IT'D BE FOR MY. I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE OF YOU, BUT, YOU KNOW. SO THIS IS WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BINDING AND A NON-BINDING MOU. IS THAT JUST IF YOU DON'T GET IT DONE, YOU CAN GET SUED RIGHT AWAY. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE BOTTOM LINE IS TYPICALLY YOU'LL DO AN MOU JUST TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE CORE OF THE AGREEMENT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. AND THAT SERVES AS THE BACKGROUND FOR DRAFTING THE CONTRACT ITSELF. BUT IN THIS CASE THE THE SCOPE OF WHAT THE SERVICES ARE IS SO STRAIGHTFORWARD. WE JUST KIND OF KEPT IT IN A SIMPLIFIED MOU FASHION IN ORDER TO HAVE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER SIGN IT, AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DO NOT EVEN NEED TO APPROVE THIS. BRANDON. HUDSON. WHAT'S HIS NAME THERE FOR A SECOND? HE'S ABLE TO SIGN IT AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. SO AND THIS IS ALL PART AND PARCEL OF THE NON-BINDING MOU THAT WE DID, WHICH WAS A COOPERATIVE EFFORT WITH BATH TOWNSHIP, GREENE COUNTY SYNERGY AND FAIRBORN. SO OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET ALL THESE DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD. SO IT'S A GREAT IDEA. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2725. SO MOVED. SECOND. JULIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MISS REASTER. YES, MISS. STANTON. YES, MISS. CHESS. YES, MR. RITCHIE? YES. MR.. MCCUBBINS. YES. MR. KIRKPATRICK? YES. RESOLUTION 27 DASH 25 IS DULY ADOPTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. OKAY, NEXT WE WILL MOVE ON TO CITIZENS COMMENTS. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD. PROVIDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES. OKAY. SEEING NO ONE COME FORWARD, WE WILL CLOSE CITIZENS COMMENTS AND MOVE ON TO CITY MANAGER COMMENTS. [VIII. City Manager Comments] GOOD EVENING, YOUR HONOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. FEW COMMENTS TONIGHT. I WANT TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO AN ONGOING PROBLEM ON COLONEL GLENN IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE TEXAS ROADHOUSE AND BOB EVANS IS WE HAVE A VERY OLD SECTION OF WATER MAIN THERE THAT IS DUE TO BE REPLACED. AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MAIN BREAKS OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR. THE THE MAIN IS MORE THAN 18FT BELOW GROUND. AND SO IT IS AN ABSOLUTE BEAR TO WORK ON THAT LINE. OUR GUYS HAVE BEEN OUT THERE, IF NOT THREE TIMES, AT LEAST TWO, WHERE THEY HAVE WORKED OVERNIGHT AND INTO THE WEEKEND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESTAURANTS THERE AND THE HOTELS HAVE WATER SERVICE. AND SO THEIR DEDICATION IS, IS I CAN'T ASK FOR A BETTER GROUP OF GUYS. AND THEY DO IT AND THEY DO IT PROFESSIONALLY AND THEY DO IT WITHOUT COMPLAINT. AND SO TO TERRY ADKINS AND AND ALL OF HIS CREW FOR WHAT THEY DO. PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THEY'RE OUT THERE REPAIRING WATER LINES, WHETHER IT'S 90 DEGREES OR WHETHER IT'S TEN BELOW. AND SO THOSE GUYS DON'T GET ENOUGH PATS ON THE BACK. SO THEY WERE OUT THERE WITHIN THE LAST WEEK DOING THE SAME REPAIR WORK, AND THEN THAT LINE WILL BE REPLACED HERE SHORTLY. BUT IT'S IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT AND I WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT FOR DOING THAT. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, EMILY GAY. SHE THINKS I'M JOKING WITH HER, BUT IT IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. SHE RECEIVED TWO OHIO VALLEY EMMYS FOR BEST NEWSCAST AND BEST TEAM COVERAGE OF THE LOGAN COUNTY TORNADOES. PRIOR TO LEAVING TO BECOME OUR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER IN THE SUMMER OF 2024. SO CONGRATULATIONS. YOU CAN SEE THAT IN HER OFFICE IF YOU'D LIKE TO. IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER HELD AN EMMY. SO THAT WAS. THAT WAS GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS. THE FREE ON FRIDAY CONCERT SERIES WRAPS UP THIS FRIDAY WITH THE ANNUAL FAIRBORN CIVIC BAND PLAYING THAT'S THE 25TH AT 7 P.M. AT ATHERTON AMPHITHEATER IN COMMUNITY PARK. THEY ALWAYS DO AN OUTSTANDING CONCERT. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING THAT. THAT'S THIS FRIDAY AT 7 P.M.. THE FAIRBORN CITIZENS ACADEMY. YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE ON THAT THAT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY. THERE ARE ABOUT EIGHT SPOTS LEFT OF THE 15. [00:40:02] THE ACADEMY BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD, FROM 6 TO 8 P.M. AND GOES FOR NINE WEEKS. AND IT'S AN OUTSTANDING WAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CITY. AND SO I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED TO GO TO THE WEBSITE AND APPLY FOR A SEAT ON THAT ACADEMY. FUTURE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS FOR THE REST OF THIS MONTH. WEDNESDAY THE 30TH, FROM NOON TO ONE AT GIOVANNI'S ON MAIN STREET. SO IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO A MEMBER OF COUNCIL, THAT'S WEDNESDAY, JULY 30TH, FROM NOON TO ONE AT GIOVANNI'S. SEE, EMILY IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT FUTURE EVENTS, THE LAST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT I WANTED TO NOTE THE PASSING OF LORI VENABLE. LORI WAS A CHAMPION FOR FAIRBORN AND LED THE FIGHT AGAINST THE BIODIGESTER AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE RESIDENTS OF BATH TOWNSHIP AND FAIRBORN. SHE LEAVES A REMARKABLE LEGACY. WHETHER YOU AGREED WITH HER OR NOT, SHE LOVED THIS COMMUNITY AND SHE FOUGHT FOR IT. LORI WAS A FRIEND. WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT WE RESPECTED EACH OTHER AND LEARNED FROM THE OTHER'S POINT OF VIEW. I'LL MISS MY DISCUSSIONS WITH HER AND I PRAY FOR HER FAMILY FOR PEACE AND HEALING. IT'S A HUGE LOSS. BUT LORI LED THE FIGHT AGAINST THE BIODIGESTER, AND AND THAT'S WHERE SHE AND I REALLY GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER. AND SHE AND I WOULD TALK FAIRLY FREQUENTLY ABOUT ALL KINDS OF STUFF, AND WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE, BUT BUT WHAT A GREAT PERSON AND WHAT A LOSS. SO MY CONDOLENCES TO MARILYN AND HER HUSBAND AND HER FAMILY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT WE WILL MOVE ON TO COUNCIL COMMENTS, [IX. Council Comments] AND WE'LL START WITH COUNCILWOMAN CHESS. THANK YOU. FIRST, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EMMY. THANK YOU. YOU DESERVE THE AWARD, I'M SURE, FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH W H I. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. OKAY. ALSO, MY CONDOLENCES ALSO GO OUT TO MARILYN MCCAULEY AND HER FAMILY IN THE PASSING OF LAURIE. WE BECAME VERY CLOSE, AND IT IS REALLY HEARTBREAKING. HOWEVER WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE FOR HER IF SHE NEED US, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE LOVE HER AND WE'RE HERE IF SHE NEED US. AND ON ANOTHER NOTE, I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING TO THE PUBLIC AND ALSO TO COUNCIL. AND IT'S ABOUT MY MOVE HERE, SO BEAR WITH ME. IT'S VERY SHORT. IT'S NOT LONG. THE MOVE TO FAIRBORN, OHIO. I MOVED TO FAIRBORN, OHIO AROUND ABOUT NOVEMBER THE 18TH, 2019, AND IT WAS A LEAP OF FAITH FOR ME. AND BEFORE ARRIVING I HEARD WHISPERS AND CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY REGARDING FAIRBORN HISTORICAL REPUTATION. SOME LOCALS EXPRESSED WORRIES, CITING ITS PAST AS ALLEGEDLY THE LAST, ALLEGEDLY AS THE LAST SUNDOWN TOWN IN OHIO. NOW, THIS CREATED A SENSE OF APPREHENSION BEFORE I EVEN UNPACKED MY BOXES. NOW, IRONICALLY, MY FATHER AND MOTHER IN LAW MOVED HERE AROUND 1976, I BELIEVE, WITH THEIR FAMILY, AND I RECALL MY MOTHER IN LAW STATING THAT SHE WORKED ALONGSIDE MARY MCCAULEY ON COMMUNITY PROJECTS. HEARING THIS, MY SENSE OF APPREHENSION BEGAN TO SUBSIDE, ALONG WITH MY FEARS QUICKLY BEGINNING TO BE DISSIPATED. I WAS MET WITH UNEXPECTED KINDNESS AND GENUINE WARMTH FROM MANY RESIDENTS. NEIGHBORS OFFERED HELP, SHARED STORIES, AND MADE ME FEEL INSTANTLY WELCOMED. IT WAS A REFRESHING CONTRAST TO THE INITIAL ANXIETIES AND SOLIDIFIED MY BELIEF IN THE POWER OF HUMAN CONNECTION. THE EXCITEMENT REACHED A PEAK ON JULY THE 20TH, 2020 WITH THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED IN DOWNTOWN FAIRBORN. MY VISION WAS TO CREATE A SPACE THAT ADDRESSED COMMUNITY NEEDS AND FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING. THIS EVENT MARKED A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS REALIZING THAT DREAM AND CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO FAIRBORN FUTURE. NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THE JOURNEY HASN'T BEEN WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES. I'VE EXPERIENCED INSTANCES OF RACIAL INTIMIDATION THAT WERE BOTH DISHEARTENING AND UNACCEPTABLE. THESE INCLUDED COMMENTS TARGETING MY SOUTHERN DIALECT, SUBTLE YET CLEAR INTIMIDATION DURING MY CITY COUNCIL CANDIDACY, AND MORE DIRECTLY, THE USE OF RACIAL SLURS AND THE SPREAD OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS. RECENTLY, A LETTER WAS DISTRIBUTED TO MY COLLEAGUES REGARDING A TAX ISSUE THAT WAS BEING ADDRESSED. THE CORRESPONDENCE INCLUDED SOME QUITE DEROGATORY REMARKS ALLEGATIONS AND IT WAS SIGNED ANONYMOUS. I REALIZED THAT THESE TACTICS ARE DESIGNED TO CAUSE ME TO TUCK TAIL AND RUN, [00:45:03] BUT I'M NOT THAT EASILY INTIMIDATED. ALTHOUGH THESE EXPERIENCES WERE SOMEWHAT TROUBLING, BUT THEY ALSO FUELED MY DETERMINATION TO ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. IT REINFORCED THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEAKING OUT AGAINST BIASES AND WORKING TOWARDS A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE. PLEASE BELIEVE ME, I AM WELL AWARE OF MY SURROUNDINGS, AND I'M AWARE OF MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HIDING BEHIND SHEETS OF PAPER AND EMAILS. THERE HAS BEEN SIGNED ANONYMOUS. I AM ALSO MINDFUL OF THE POLITICAL AGENDAS, NOT JUST FROM THOSE MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT ALSO FROM OTHERS WITH WHOM I HAVE COLLABORATED. THIS ELECTION YEAR BRINGS AN ABUNDANCE OF CANDIDATES, SURPRISING THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE, SURPASSING THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE SEATS. MY JOURNEY AS A BOUTIQUE OWNER HAS ALSO PRESENTED ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES, INCLUDING NAVIGATING COMPLEX TAX ISSUES, WHICH HAS BEEN RECENTLY RESOLVED. IF YOU NEED A COPY OF THE ME RESOLVING THAT ISSUE, I HAVE A COPY. I'M SORRY I LOST MY PLACE THERE. FURTHERMORE, I FACE A PERSONAL HEALTH BATTLE WITH BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS IN 2024. I WAS AT A POINT WHERE I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO RESIGN, AND BY DIVINE INTERVENTION, I AM STRONGER NOW THAN I'VE EVER BEEN IN OVER FIVE YEARS. THESE DIFFICULTIES HAVE TESTED MY RESILIENCE, BUT THEY HAVE ALSO STRENGTHENED ME AND DEEPENED MY APPRECIATION FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY. DESPITE THESE MINOR OBSTACLES, I REMAIN COMMITTED TO SERVING FAIRBORN AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. I AM DEDICATED TO ENGAGING WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT PRIORITIZE SERVICE. NOW, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND OTHER CITIZENS, I AM COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE CLEANLINESS OF FAIRBORN. I STRIVE TO PROVIDE SMALL BUSINESSES WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO FLOURISH AND EXPAND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, I UPHOLD MY MORAL RESPONSIBILITIES, ENSURING THAT MY COMMITMENT TO SERVICE ALIGNS WITH STRONG ETHICAL PRINCIPLES. I STRIVE TO REPRESENT ALL RESIDENTS AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY. I AM COMMITTED TO CONTINUING MY EDUCATION THAT WILL ONLY ENHANCE MY ABILITY TO SERVE EFFECTIVELY. THIS COMMITMENT IS DRIVEN BY A DEEP SEATED BELIEF IN SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND A GENUINE DESIRE TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE FOR EVERYONE. DESPITE THE NEGATIVITY I HAVE ENCOUNTERED, I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN AND EXPERIENCE THE VAST MAJORITY OF FAIRBORN RESIDENTS ARE GOOD, KIND HEARTED PEOPLE. IT IS THIS BELIEF THAT SUSTAINS ME AND MOTIVATES ME TO CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CITY. I AM COMMITTED TO SERVANT LEADERSHIP, COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT AND FOSTERING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING FAIRBORN FOR EVERYONE. NOW MY TIME AT FAIRBORN, FILLED WITH BOTH CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS, HAS PROFOUNDLY INFLUENCED ME AND BOLSTERED MY DETERMINATION. SO I AM COMMITTED TO BEING A VOICE FOR THOSE WHO FEEL OVERLOOKED AND WILL WORK DILIGENTLY TO HELP FAIRBORN REALIZE ITS POTENTIAL AS A WARM AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR ALL. WHILE I MAY TAKE MY TIME ADDRESSING CERTAIN ISSUES AS A CLASSIC SAM AND DAVE SONG GOES, HOLD ON, I'M COMING. THIS IS OUR MISSION. THIS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTED SERVANT LEADERS, AND I BELIEVE IN THE FOUR PRINCIPLES. I LIVE BY THESE FOUR YOUR PRINCIPLES EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE. I LIVE A LIFE THAT MATTERS. I LOVE SOMETHING GREATER THAN MYSELF. GREATER THAN MYSELF. I LEAVE FROM WHEREVER I AM. AND I LEAVE PLACES BETTER THAN I FOUND THEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SYLVIA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS. YES. ON A SOMBER NOTE. MANY CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO LAURA VENABLE, HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN. DEFINITELY. FAIRBORN LOST A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITY. WITHOUT HER, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE CLEAN AIR THAT WE'RE BREATHING TODAY. SO THANK YOU, LORI, FOR EVERYTHING. FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED, THERE'S A VERY INTERESTING CEREMONY THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW AT THE DAYTON VA. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IN THIS DAY AND AGE, THERE ARE VETERANS OUT THERE THAT DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWN LIVING RELATIVES. AND TOMORROW WE'RE GOING TO BURY FOUR FOR VETERANS WHO DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWN LIVING RELATIVES. SO ANY OF YOU INTERESTED IN GOING OUT THERE TO SEE THAT IT'S TRUE? IT'S TRULY A TOUCHING AND AMAZING CEREMONY TO WATCH. IT'LL BE AT 9:00 AT THE DAYTON VA CEMETERY. I'D RECOMMEND GETTING THERE EARLY SO YOU CAN HAVE A RELATIVELY DECENT PLACE TO PARK. OTHERWISE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE WALKING A LONG WAY. LAST WEEK, WE WERE ABLE TO BE PRESENTED WITH AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF [00:50:05] FAIRBORN, AND THIS HAS SPAWNED SOME COMMENTS REGARDING THE STATUS OF OUR STREETS IN THE CITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW. YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND LOOK UNDER THE I BELIEVE IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PORTION AND FIND THE STREETS DEPARTMENT. ANYWAY, YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR THE STREETS DEPARTMENT AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THIS STUFF WE USE IN THE CITY OF FAIRBORN, WHAT'S CALLED A PAVEMENT RATING SYSTEM. AND ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THIS PAVEMENT RATING SYSTEM IS CALLED REMAINING SERVICE LIFE. A LOT OF FACTORS GO INTO WHEN THE COMPANY COMES OUT AND DOES THIS EVALUATION OF ALL THE STREETS IN FAIRBORN, AND THIS YEAR THEY USED A DIFFERENT RATING SYSTEM. 0 TO 20 ZERO BEING ZERO YEARS LEFT ON THAT ROAD AND 20 BEING IT'S A BRAND NEW ROAD. BASED ON THOSE RATINGS THE CITY RACKS AND STACKS, THE THE STREETS AND THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO GET THE MOST ATTENTION ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE LOWEST RATING. WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO ALSO, IF WE CAN, IS STAY A YEAR AHEAD OF THESE. SO IF WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A MAJOR OVERHAUL ON A STREET AND WE CAN BUDGET FOR THAT, THAT'S THE STREET WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS YEAR TO DO THINGS LIKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR DO THE THE MAJOR STREET REPAIRS TO IT. YOU CAN THIS PAVEMENT RATING SYSTEM WAS UPDATED IN 2024. AND THIS WILL BE THE CORNERSTONE FOR OUR 2025 TO 2027 STREETS PROGRAM. THE STREETS PROGRAM, JUST AS A REMINDER, IS A STREET LEVY THAT WE PUT ON THE BALLOT TO 0.2 5% INCOME TAX OR 0.25% LEVY ON TAX FOR TEN YEARS. AND THAT GENERATES ABOUT $2.5 MILLION A YEAR FOR OUR STREETS PROGRAM. THAT MONEY GOES TO NOTHING BUT STREETS. WE BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE PASSED IT AS A STREET LEVY, WE CAN'T USE IT FOR ANYTHING BUT STREETS. SO PLEASE, WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT OUT THERE THAT WE'RE NOT USING THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO FOR THE STREETS, KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE COVID 19 AND THE COST OF CONSUMABLES, WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO BUY WITH 2.5 MILLION FIVE YEARS AGO IS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO BUY TODAY. THAT'S JUST AN UNFORTUNATE FACT. SO KNOW THAT WE DO PAY ATTENTION TO THE STREETS. IT'S A LONG PROCESS. IT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. WE DO ENCOURAGE FOLKS THAT IF YOU DO NOTICE A STREET THAT HAS PROBLEMS SUCH AS POTHOLES AND STUFF, GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND REPORT IT SO WE CAN GET IT IN RECORD AND WE CAN GO LOOK AT IT. AND THE LAST THING I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH IS THE FAIRBORN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. I ENCOURAGE FOLKS THAT REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW A FULL SERVICE CITY RUNS TO PLEASE ENROLL AND ATTEND THIS ACADEMY. I ATTENDED THIS ACADEMY IN 2017, AND THE EDUCATION THAT I RECEIVED AND THE THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT THE CITY WAS PHENOMENAL. I CAN'T SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF IT. SO PLEASE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND AND MAYOR THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MR.. OKAY, SO FIRST, YEAH, I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION AND CONDOLENCES ABOUT LORI VENABLE. SIMILAR TO MIKE'S SITUATION LORI AND I MET REGARDING THE BIODIGESTER AND OF COURSE, ANYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE PHONE TALKING ABOUT THAT. AND I JUST GOT TO KNOW WHAT A LIKE A FIERCE AND A FUNNY FIGHTER THAT SHE WAS. AND I DON'T THIS MAY I MIGHT BE PUTTING AHEAD OF IT, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS I, I THINK I'M GOING TO REACH OUT TO HER FAMILY, AND I THINK SHE WOULD MAKE A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A MEMORIAL IN OUR NEW MEMORIAL PARK. FOR WHAT SHE DID FOR THIS CITY. THIS. IF SHE HADN'T. AND I WILL SAY, AS A CITY WE WERE NOT STEPPING FORWARD QUICKLY ENOUGH. AND LAURIE RALLIED THE PEOPLE AND BROUGHT THEM HERE AND HELPED US GET OVER THAT LINE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THAT THAT GOT US THAT CLEAN AIR THAT YOU DISCUSSED. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE SAW IT WAS AMAZING. SHE SHE'S VERY INSPIRATIONAL THAT SHE DID THAT FOR US, SO I WOULD LOVE THAT IF I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE A DONATION TO HAVE A MEMORIAL FOR LORI, AND FOR THAT WHAT SHE LED AND HOW SHE HELPED OUR CITY IN OUR NEW MEMORIAL PARK. AND THEN JUST TODAY I HAVE A SHORT VERSION OF MY UPDATES. I JUST, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO KEEP GIVING UPDATES ON THIS SUSTAINABILITY PLAN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I RAN ON. I WANT TO DELIVER IT TO YOU PEOPLE. SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE PUSHING IT FORWARD. [00:55:01] SO THE LAST TIME I GAVE AN UPDATE, IT WAS JULY 7TH. SO SINCE THEN LIKE, JUST IN OUR WORK SESSION TODAY, WE HAD A PRESENTATION BY THE CITY AND THE THE FAIRBORN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY BOARD ABOUT THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION COMMUNITY WILDLIFE HABITAT CERTIFICATION. A LOT OF WORDS FOR THE CITY. SO THERE'S BEEN AGREEMENT ON THAT. THAT'S IT'S IT'S THAT'S A IT'S SOMETHING THAT BOTH PARTIES, AS FAR AS THE CITY AND THE BOARD HAVE AGREED TO WORK TOWARDS. SO THAT WAS EXCITING. THAT WAS THE FIRST THE FIRST THING KIND OF ACROSS THE LINE. AND THEN LET'S SEE TWO OF THE TWO OF THE UPCOMING ONES THEN WILL BE TREE CITY USA AND SEOUL SMART BRONZE DESIGNATION. AND THEN ALSO AS I MENTIONED BEFORE CLINTON, CLINT AND I ARE LOOKING INTO EXPERTS EXPERTISE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ALSO LOW AND NO COST OPTIONS FOR THAT EXISTS OUT THERE TO RENOVATE BUILDINGS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY. SO WE'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS ON THAT WITH MEETINGS WITH SINCLAIR. I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE ON MY NOTES HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS GIVE IT TO JULIE AT THE END SO SHE CAN STICK IT ON THERE. SO IF YOU WANT TO READ A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE BULLET POINTS IT'S IN THERE. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH, I JUST I WANT TO GIVE MY CONDOLENCES AS WELL TO MARILYN, RUSS AND THE REST OF THE LOWER EAST FAMILY. LIKE LIKE MANY OTHERS, I MET LORI DURING THE WHOLE BIODIGESTER THING AND JUST. GOT A, YOU KNOW, LEARNED A LOT ABOUT A VERY AMAZING WOMAN AND GOT A GREAT FRIEND OUT OF THE DEAL. SO THANK YOU, LORI, FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE NEXT WEEK, THE LUNCH WITH COUNCIL 12 TO 1 AT GIOVANNI'S. THERE'S THERE'S LOTS OF CHATTER OUT THERE THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET AHOLD OF US. WE MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE IN SO MANY WAYS. SO, PLEASE, I KNOW IT'S A CHALLENGING TIME FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T WORK IN THE CITY OR NEAR THE CITY. WE HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP, SO PLEASE COME AND ENGAGE WITH US. REACH OUT TO US IF YOU SEE US AT KROGER, STOP US. UNLESS I HAVE ICE CREAM IN MY CART. AND THEN IT'S CRITICAL MATTER. BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US. AND THEN I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT RODNEY SAID ABOUT THE CITIZENS ACADEMY. I DID NOT ATTEND, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THERE'S ALSO LOTS OF CHATTER ABOUT, WELL, THE CITY THIS THE CITY THAT THEY DON'T DO THIS. THEY DON'T DO THAT. THIS IS AN AN AMAZING WAY FOR YOU TO REALLY GET A FOUNDATION AS TO WHY THE CITY DOES THE THINGS THAT THEY DO, HOW THEY DO THEM, THE METHOD TO THE MADNESS. SO PLEASE, WE HAVE A FEW OPENINGS LEFT. PLEASE GET YOUR APPLICATIONS IN AND DO THAT. AND THEN LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH LORI IN MY PRIOR POLITICAL CAREER AT THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING ADVENTURE WORKING WITH HER. AND I SAY THAT SERIOUSLY, BUT ALSO LIGHT HEARTEDLY. THERE'S NO DOUBT SHE COULD BE CONTENTIOUS, BUT THERE'S ALSO NO DOUBT THAT HER DRIVE AND HER PASSION WAS ROOTED IN LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND FOR HER FRIENDS AND FOR HER FAMILY. SO MY CONDOLENCES. REST EASY. OKAY. A NUMBER OF THINGS, DATES AND THINGS TO GO OVER. AUGUST 9TH. CHRISTMAS IN ACTION IS COMING UP. IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. THIS IS WHERE A GROUP OF FAIRBORN CITIZENS, A LARGE GROUP OF FAIRBORN CITIZENS, WILL BE MAKING HOME REPAIRS TO LOW INCOME SENIORS AND FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT THERE AND REALLY HELP SOME FOLKS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR HOMES, THEIR CASTLES. SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, YOU CAN CONTACT THE SENIOR CENTER. FRED POMEROY COORDINATES THE VOLUNTEERS. ALLEN COORDINATES THE EFFORTS OVERALL AT THE SENIOR CENTER. SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT THEM FOR MORE INFORMATION. IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL. IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND IT'S MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE HOMES OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THOSE REPAIRS. A LOT OF OTHER THINGS COMING UP. SWEET CORN FESTIVAL, AUGUST 16TH AND 17TH. IT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS IN FAIRBORN. FOR THOSE WHO LIKE THE MUSIC OF FAIRBORN IT IS COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER ON THE 19TH. CORRECT. GOT THE RIGHT DATE FOR THAT? AIR FORCE MARATHON ON SEPTEMBER THE 20TH. THE CAR SHOW ON SEPTEMBER 21ST. AT THE TAIL END OF THE CAR SHOW IS THE HEELS FOR HEROES PROGRAM. TO RAISE MONEY FOR OPERATION FAIRBORN CARES. [01:00:01] WE'RE LOOKING FOR TEAMS FOR THAT. WE'VE GOT A CHALLENGE OUT FOR FOLKS, AND THEN A BIG EVENT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THAT EVENING ON SEPTEMBER 21ST IS HONOR FLIGHT. THE HONOR FLIGHT THIS YEAR IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST. INSTEAD OF LEAVING FROM THE DAYTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, IT WILL ACTUALLY BE LEAVING FROM WRIGHT-PATT AIR FORCE BASE, THE AREA WHERE THE C-17'S PARK THE 445TH AIRLIFT WING IS COORDINATING THIS. YOU'LL SEE MORE INFORMATION IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO ABOUT HOW TO GET TICKETS FOR THE BIG CONCERT THAT'LL BE GOING ON THAT EVENING. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR, MAJOR EVENT. I ALSO WANT TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO MARILYN MCCULLY AND HER FAMILY AT THE PASSING OF LORI. A VERY ACTIVE PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY. LET'S MAKE SURE WE KEEP HER FAMILY IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. AND WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS, THE JOINT MEETING WITH THE FAIRBORN SCHOOL BOARD AND BATH TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES THAT'S COMING UP NEXT WEEK. AND I'LL CLOSE BY. CONGRATULATIONS TO EMILY GAY. SHE HAS BEEN WITH US FOR A YEAR NOW, AND SHE HAS CERTAINLY MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE. A LOT OF THESE NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE GOT COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS, SOME OF THE OTHER ACTIVITIES TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY MORE WITH THE STAFF AND THE COUNCIL. THOSE HAVE BEEN INITIATIVES THAT EMILY AND MIKE GEBHART HAVE WORKED VERY HARD ON TO MAKE HAPPEN. SO CONGRATULATIONS, EMILY, ON EMILY, ON YOUR EMMY. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO SAY THAT IN ONE SENTENCE. SO WELL DONE. WE'RE PROUD OF YOU. YOU DONE GOOD. SO, OKAY, AT THIS POINT, IF THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL BUSINESS, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND. JULIE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. MR. CHESS. YES. MISS REASTER. YES. MR. FRITZSCHE. YES. MR.. MCCUBBINS. YES. MISS STANTON. YES. YES. MR. KIRKPATRICK. YES. CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THIS EVENING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.