The Bellefontaine City Council met in regular session Tuesday night and passed an ordinance to sell the Armory to the Wawa Corporation. Council member Wes Easton, the lone no vote, was consistent in his opposition to move forward with the sale.
In his report to the council, Service Safety Director Wes Dodds read a prepared statement regarding the heavy rainfall the city experienced in the last few days. According to Dodds, the city experienced over five inches of rain in three days.
I’ll just say that was the deepest I have ever seen water in the Red Pines and White Pines area; it was nearly up to the mailboxes. – Service Safety Director Wes Dodds on recent flooding in the city.
Dodds reassured citizens that it is important to have a plan to ensure taxpayer money is used in the best possible way to combat future flooding. He pointed to improvements made by city crews after last year’s flooding, including dredging and clearing retention ponds. “It’s clear,” said Dodds, “that additional evaluation and improvements are necessary moving forward.”
Dodds discusses the recent flooding:
City Law Director Josh Stolly updated the council on legislation regarding golf cart operation in the city limits. Stolly said that the State of Ohio has definitions that must be kept in mind when deciding whether to allow golf carts or similar vehicles to operate in the city. He said that he forwarded an initial legislative draft to council member Jenna James and the Rules Committee for their input.
Fire Chief Brian Wilson relayed to the council that the city’s new engine is in service and was called to service within the first six hours. He said that as the crews are working with the truck, minor gremlins are being identified and corrected. He also said that the medic unit that the city ordered in 2023 should be completed by July.
Wilson also said that the FCC license for the system has been approved, and work is continuing to get the department’s new alert system installed and operational:
In the legislative portion of the meeting, several pieces of legislation were presented for consideration:
Legislation for First Reading:
- R26-24 – A Resolution Authorizing the City of Bellefontaine to make application to the Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation, for an Ohio Airport Improvement Program Grant for SFY 2027. Resolution adopted.
- R26-25 – A Resolution Accepting the Ohio Airport Matching Grant Contract For Funding Through the Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation, to rehabilitate airfield lighting at Bellefontaine Regional Airport and authorizing the Mayor and/or Service-Safety Director to execute all documents relevant to this project. Resolution adopted.
- 26-26 – An ordinance authorizing the purchase of certain real estate located at 112 N. Elm for future municipal needs and purposes. Motion to waive the three-reading rule by Springs approved. Motion to pass on first and final reading by Springs approved. Ordinance adopted.
- R26-27 – A resolution in support of the City of Bellefontaine permitting the installation of a vintage phone booth in the public right of way located at 144 S. Main St. in the City of Bellefontaine. Resolution adopted; Davis abstained.
Ordinances for 2nd Reading:
- 26-22 – An ordinance making supplemental appropriations and amending the Permanent Appropriations Ordinance for purposes of capital equipment at Myeerah. Passed on second reading only.
Ordinance for 3rd Reading:
- 26-20 – An ordinance authorizing the Service-Safety Director and Mayor, on behalf of the City of Bellefontaine, to sell that certain city-owned real estate known as the Armory pursuant to Section 721.28 of the Revised Code. Ordinance adopted; Easton voted no.
The next meeting of the Bellefontaine City Council will be on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 7:30 PM in council chambers.
