Mayor updates Master Plan to City Council

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The Bellefontaine City Council met for the first time in 2025 and dispatched a light agenda.

In his report to the council, Mayor David Crissman updated the council about the status of the Master Plan approved by the council in early 2024. Mayor Crissman said that the committees that were formed are continuing to meet, and he hopes to update the council about projects the committees have green-lighted by the spring. Mayor Crissman talks about the status of the Master Plan: 

Having officially been in office for a year, Mayor Crissman reflects on his first year: 

Bellefontaine Police Chief Chris Marlow updated the council about staffing issues. He said that after the recent promotion of Sgt. Lapp to Lieutenant, there is currently an open sergeant position, and Marlow expects to begin the process of filling that opening by March. Newly hired officer Maguire Stratton has started his training, which will last for several months.

He also informed the council that the next Citizen’s Police Academy is scheduled to begin on February 6 and will conclude on March 24. Marlow said that applications will be taken until the end of January and there are a few spots left.

In his report, Fire Chief Brian Wilson informed the council that two new assistant chiefs have been sworn in.

Randy McCully serves as the department’s Fire Prevention Officer and Nathan Alexander is currently in charge of the ‘C’ shift. With the addition of four new firefighters, the department is at full strength, but according to Wilson, that comes with a caveat. Wilson said that two firefighters are getting ready to attend EMT school and four firefighters are preparing for paramedic training. Wilson said that the department is handling the staffing issues well, and the firefighters are doing excellent work.

City Engineer Jim Bischoff informed the council that work on the Summit Street water project is progressing despite the frigid cold temperatures. He also urged the council to visit the newly completed Water Department building. He also updated the council that a firm has been hired to replace a leaking fill pipe in the city’s water tower on the city’s north side. Bischoff said that the pipe was discovered to be leaking in December, and when the pipe was inspected, it was learned that the pipe had been repaired several times, so it was decided to replace the pipe completely.

One ordinance was given its first reading:

  • 25-01 – An ordinance that would authorize the Service-Safety Director to accept certain real estate from the Logan County Commissioners in the vicinity of Cooper Avenue.

The next meeting of the Bellefontaine City Council will be Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 7:30 PM.