The Bellefontaine City Council heard from city residents about the most recent round of flooding experienced by the area this past weekend, as well as a $200,000 grant that will help offset construction of the Hoffman Pool project in their meeting Tuesday night.
Before the meeting started, Council Clerk Bonnie Patterson passed out an information sheet that addressed the severe rainfall that the city experienced since the first major rainfall on August 19th. According to the city’s weather station, the city experienced nearly five inches of rainfall in 24 hours, with the heaviest rainfall at 3.93 inches from 3 to 6 PM.
Then, on September 5th, the city got 5.05 inches of rain in 24 hours, with 4.35 inches falling between 2 and 5 AM that morning. In his comments on the rainfall, Service-Safety Director Wes Dodds said that these two dates have seen the most rainfall in 24-hour periods in the 132-year history of the weather station.
Dodds explained that the current infrastructure was simply overwhelmed, but while these events were far from typical, “we can’t control the rain, but we can control how we prepare.”
To that end, Dodds outlined several steps that the city is taking to address the flooding, including tasking city street and water department employees to actively inspect storm drains and sanitary sewer lines, looking for blockages and/or cracks in piping. Dodds said that all available resources will be used in the coming weeks and months to address potential trouble spots, including large vacuum trucks, cameras, and inspecting key drainage areas and cleaning any obstructions found.
Dodds also said that CSX Railroad has been working on drainage pipes north of the West Sandusky viaduct.
Dodds urged residents to report any flooding and damage to the city by visiting the city-wide reporting tool here.
In his report, Fire Chief Brian Wilson informed the council that Cummins notified him that the long-awaited parts for the city’s ladder truck have arrived and that work on the truck will be done soon. He also said that he was recently informed that a firefighter will be leaving in the next few weeks. Wilson said that he will be making an offer to a candidate in the near future.
In his report to the council, Parks and Recreation Director Rick Reed updated the status of the Hoffman Pool Project, stating that the buildings are completely gone and the pool has been completely removed.
He also urged the council to adopt a resolution that would allow the city to receive a $200,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Reed talks about the grant:
The council also considered several pieces of legislation:
Resolutions
R26-40 – A resolution authorizing the Superintendent of the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District to apply for and accept a Capital Improvement Community Parks, Recreation and Conservation Project Pass-Through Grant through the State of Ohio, Department of Natural Resources for the Hoffman Pool Replacement Project. Resolution adopted. The full text of the resolution is listed below.
Ordinances for 1st Reading
26-40 – An ordinance making Supplemental Appropriations and amending the Permanent Appropriations ordinance for purposes of Insurance Trust Fund. Motion to pass on first reading only passed. The full text of the ordinance is listed below.
Ordinances for 2nd Reading
26-37 – An ordinance making supplemental appropriations and amending the Permanent Appropriations ordinance for purposes of Group Insurance. Motion to pass on second reading only passed.
The next meeting of the Bellefontaine City Council will be Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 7:30 PM in council chambers.
Resolution No. R26-40
A resolution authorizing the Superintendent of the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District to apply for and accept a Capital Improvement Community Parks, Recreation and Conservation Project Pass-Through Grant through the State of Ohio, Department of Natural Resources for the Hoffman Pool Replacement Project.
Be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Bellefontaine, Ohio:
SECTION I: That the Superintendent of the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District is authorized and directed to apply for and accept a Capital Improvement Community Park, Recreation/Conservation Project Pass-Through Grant through the State of Ohio, Department of Natural Resources for $200,000 for purposes of the Hoffman Pool Replacement Project. Furthermore, the Superintendent of the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District is authorized and directed to execute whatever documents are necessary to effectuate the receipt of grant funds.
Ordinance No. 26-40
An ordinance making Supplemental Appropriations and amending the Permanent Appropriations ordinance for purposes of Insurance Trust Fund and declaring an emergency.
Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Bellefontaine, Ohio:
SECTION I: That Ordinance No. 26-07 passed March 24, 2026, providing for permanent appropriations for the City for year 2026, be and the same hereby is, amended as follows:
A. That account No. 690.861.51231 – Insurance Claims – Insurance Trust of said Ordinance No. 26-07, which now reads:
690.861.51231 – Insurance Claims – Insurance Trust “$1,600,000.00”
be, and the same hereby is, amended to read:
690.861.51231 – Insurance Claims – Insurance Trust “$2,625,000.00”
SECTION II: That this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure made necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the City of Bellefontaine, provide for its continuous, uninterrupted services, and to allow for said supplemental appropriations to be made at the earliest possible time; and it shall, therefore, be in force and take effect immediately upon its passage and signature by the Mayor.
