CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Chillicothe City Council will consider legislation Monday night that would redirect $40,000 toward outside engineering services, establish a 10 mph speed limit in city parks and provide funding for a social worker working with the police department.
Council’s regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, with five pieces of legislation on the agenda, including two emergency measures.
Among the new proposals is an ordinance transferring $40,000 from the Engineering Department’s department head salary account to a fund for outside engineering contracts.
According to the proposed legislation, the city’s engineer has retired, leaving the department in need of outside professionals to conduct inspections, provide technical reviews and assist with projects requiring a licensed engineer.
The measure states that several grant opportunities under consideration require engineering certifications or inspections before applications can move forward. The funding would come from money already appropriated for the vacant city engineer position.
The ordinance includes an emergency declaration intended to allow the transfer to take effect immediately if approved.
Council will also consider a separate emergency ordinance appropriating $6,000 to replace a failed data collection device and associated software used by the Engineering Department for surveying and other duties.
Proposed speed limit in city parks
Council is scheduled to hear the second reading of legislation establishing a uniform 10 mph speed limit on streets, drives and other roadways within Chillicothe’s city parks.
The proposal, introduced by the Safety Service Committee, is intended to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, children and other park visitors.
If approved, the city would install speed limit signs at park entrances and other locations where officials determine additional notice is necessary.
Drug response funding
A third reading is scheduled for an ordinance accepting and appropriating funding through the Ohio Attorney General’s Drug Abuse Response Team grant program.
The grant would support the city’s partnership between law enforcement and behavioral health providers by funding a contracted licensed social worker within the Chillicothe Police Department.
The proposed ordinance states that the money would reimburse costs the city has already incurred. The grant covers the period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
The council agenda lists the funding at $61,000, while the proposed ordinance specifies $61,100.
Transit funding changes
Council will also hear the second reading of a resolution allowing the city auditor to make annual transfers between the city’s Transit Fund and Transit Reserve Fund without seeking separate council authorization each year.
The measure follows requirements established by the Ohio Department of Transportation for transferring net proceeds from certain incidental transit activities into reserve accounts.
City officials say the change would simplify accounting procedures while maintaining compliance with state requirements.
Data center concerns remain in background
Monday’s meeting follows a Sept. 28 session during which several residents raised concerns about potential data center development in Chillicothe, including questions about land use, health and the future of the former paper mill property.
During that meeting, Mayor Feeney told residents that the city’s building department had not received any zoning applications for data centers.
No legislation specifically addressing data center development appears on Monday’s published agenda.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
