CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Chillicothe City Council will hold first readings on 10 pieces of legislation at its Aug. 10 meeting: eight ordinances and two resolutions.
Fire Station 1 exhaust system
An ordinance would appropriate $4,380 for a replacement control panel for the diesel exhaust filtration system at Fire Station 1. According to the ordinance, the system failed in late 2025. The new control panel has been installed, and the ordinance states the invoice is now due for payment. The ordinance carries an emergency clause.
Old Chillicothe dump gas probe
An ordinance would appropriate $12,240 for a replacement gas-monitoring probe at the closed Seney Road Landfill. The ordinance states the city received a Notice of Deficiency from the Ohio EPA, which found that existing monitoring equipment tracking gas migration toward the Ross-Co Redi-Mix structure was not screened to the correct depth. According to the ordinance, the replacement probe, GP-11, was installed June 17, 2026, to a depth of 45 feet. A Construction Certification Report dated June 24, 2026, was submitted to the Ohio EPA Southeast District Office, which the ordinance states returned the landfill to full compliance. The work was performed under Change Order No. 5, dated April 27, 2026, to the city’s existing contract with Pandey Environmental, LLC. The ordinance does not carry an emergency clause.
Downtown solid waste containers
An ordinance would appropriate $10,000 for the purchase of downtown solid waste containers. The ordinance states the city launched a downtown trash pilot program in November 2024 and has been awarded a $5,000 reimbursable grant through the Ross, Pickaway, Highland & Fayette (RPHF) Solid Waste District’s 2026 Community Clean Up Grant program. The ordinance’s emergency-necessity clause states: “The reason for such necessity is to provide funds for use toward the purchase of three new sets of firefighter turnout gear upon the earliest possible date.” The document’s passage line is dated “2026” at the top of the ordinance and “2023” at the bottom, in the signature block.
Insurance premiums
An ordinance would appropriate $66,409 to cover increased costs of city-wide insurance policies, citing increased insurance costs and changes in the insurance market. The funds would be distributed across seven line items, including fire vehicle insurance, refuse insurance, recycling vehicle insurance, engineering insurance and a miscellaneous insurance line. The ordinance carries an emergency clause.
Hope Partnership Project
An ordinance would appropriate $40,000 in OneOhio Opioid Settlement funds for the Hope Partnership Project. The ordinance states the funds must be used for purposes approved under the OneOhio Memorandum of Understanding, and requires a signed Memorandum of Understanding between the city and Hope Partnership Project, financial reporting, and repayment of any funds spent outside approved purposes. The ordinance does not carry an emergency clause.
Fire Station 2 outbuilding
An ordinance would appropriate $12,000 from the Safety Levy Capital Fund for a new outbuilding at Fire Station 2, located at 100 University Drive. The ordinance states the existing outbuilding is more than 20 years old, built entirely of wood, and has deteriorated to the point of failure. The replacement would be a 12-foot-by-36-foot metal building, with the front half used for storage and the rear half used to house the station’s relocated weight room. The ordinance states that relocating the weight room frees up its current space so that firefighter turnout gear can be stored away from diesel exhaust. The ordinance states the quoted price includes a first responder discount, requires no deposit, and is payable in full on delivery. The ordinance carries an emergency clause.
Canada goose management
An ordinance would appropriate $15,000 for Canada goose management services at Yoctangee Park, citing concerns about park cleanliness, public health and visitor enjoyment. The ordinance states the city would retain a company called Geese Chasers. The ordinance carries an emergency clause.
Assistance House of Ross County
An ordinance would appropriate $20,000 from unappropriated general funds to the Assistance House of Ross County, Inc. The ordinance states the funds would be used exclusively to help eligible Chillicothe residents prevent homelessness, maintain housing stability and preserve access to essential utility services. The ordinance does not carry an emergency clause.
AEP easements at Yoctangee Park
A resolution would authorize the mayor to execute two easement agreements with Ohio Power Company, a unit of American Electric Power, for underground electric facilities to serve the new pavilion at Yoctangee Park. The first easement covers a 20-foot-wide strip across Ross County Parcel No. 30-5401018.600, shown on AEP Drawing No. 91836738. The second covers a 20-foot-wide strip across Ross County Parcel Nos. 30-5401024.600 and 30-5401018.600, shown on AEP Drawing No. 91932428. The easement document provided for the second parcel states the city would grant the easement “in consideration of $1.00” and other consideration. The resolution carries an emergency clause, which the resolution states is necessary to avoid delays in the Yoctangee Park reconstruction project.
ODOT transit grants
A resolution would authorize the mayor to file applications with the Ohio Department of Transportation for State Fiscal Year 2028 grants through the Federal Transit Administration, including formula grants for rural areas under 49 U.S.C. Section 5311 and the Ohio Transit Partnership Program (OTP2) grant, and grants for buses and bus facilities under 49 U.S.C. Section 5339. The resolution would also authorize the mayor to accept the grants if awarded and to execute a contract with ODOT upon project approval. The resolution carries an emergency clause, which the resolution states is necessary because the grant application must be submitted to ODOT before its deadline.
July 27 council meeting
According to minutes from council’s July 27 regular meeting, council passed three pieces of emergency legislation that night, each after voting to waive the standard three-reading requirement:
- Ordinance 36-26, appropriating $100,000 to the income tax refund line and authorizing the transfer of $25,000 back to the general fund.
- Ordinance 37-26, authorizing the city auditor to create Fund No. 999, the Payroll Clearing Fund.
- Resolution 08-26, declaring the necessity of submitting to Chillicothe voters the question of an additional 0.2% municipal income tax for the exclusive purpose of street paving, repairs and improvements, to be placed on the ballot at the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.
All three items were introduced, had the three-reading rule waived, and were passed the same night, according to the minutes. All members in attendance voted “yea” on each.
