Logan County Mayors hold final meeting of 2025

The Logan County Mayor’s Association met Wednesday evening in Bellefontaine for its final meeting of 2025.

Mayors from Zanesfield, Quincy, Rushsylvania, Russells Point, and Bellefontaine were in attendance.

The group heard a series of updates from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, Economic Development, Zoning, the Emergency Management Agency (EMA), and the Logan County Commissioners.

Commissioner Joe Antram encouraged the mayors to support and coordinate community efforts for America 250, the nationwide celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.

Antram shared the following with the mayors:

America 250 – Ohio’s 12 Monthly Themes for the 2026 Celebrations

January – Ohio’s Firsts and Originals: We’ll kick off 2026 by celebrating the unique contributions of Ohio, from Presidents to other Ohio originals and firsts.
February – Innovate Ohio: February’s focus will be Ohio innovators and innovators: historic and contemporary business and industry; people and companies past and present, National Inventors Day, and National Engineers Week.
March – Ohio Entertains: Music, Entertainment & Movies: We’ll celebrate Ohio’s contributions to music, entertainment, and movies, and more!
April – Ohio Moves: Transportation: Ohio moves the world on land and in space. We’ll celebrate Ohio’s impact on transportation. This will be an opportunity to showcase how Ohio has impacted the world, from canals to space and every mode of transportation in between.
May – Ohio Creates: Arts, Culture & Literature: May’s theme will celebrate Ohio’s amazing symphonies, artists, museums, and programming, among other experiences.
June – Ohio Outdoors: Exploring Ohio’s Natural Resources: State Parks, miles of trails for leisure and fishing – Lake Erie, Ohio River, 76 State Parks, and more!
July – Ohio Gathers: Statewide Homecoming & Picnics: Family, neighbors, and friends will gather for themed homecomings that will be both fun and educational.
August – Ohio Goes to the Fair: In 2026, Ohio State Fair and County Fairs will embrace the anniversary as we unearth the bicentennial time capsule and create a new one for the next generation.
September – Ohio Plays: Sports & Recreation: September’s theme will embrace sports of all sorts – from peewee to professional sports teams and Ohio’s incredible contribution to athletics.
October – Ohio Food & Farms: October is the month of harvest, and we’ll celebrate Ohio agriculture through all of the amazing Ohio fall activities.
November – Ohio Serves: Remembering Veterans, First Responders & Front-Line Heroes. We’ll recognize Ohio’s contributions of those who serve on the front lines today as federal, state, and local officers, and medical professionals. Veterans Day 2026 will be a special point of statewide recognition and commemoration.
December – Imagine Ohio: Future Ohio 2076: December’s theme will complete the year-long celebration by looking forward to the future to prepare for Ohio’s leadership in the next 50 years.

Key Events:

Ohio Goes to the Movies (February–May 2026)
Air & Space Launch (March/April)
Bridge Car Tag Show (April)
Newark to Denison Signature Event (April)
Picnic at the People’s House (Statehouse) (July 25)
Opening of the Ohio History Experience at the State Fair (August)
Partnership with Pro Football Hall of Fame (September)
Statewide Veterans and First Responders recognition and commemoration (November)
Day-long conference and gathering with futurists and other leading thinkers in Dayton (December)

There are 6 statewide tourism trails:

Air & Space – Launched spring 2024 (over 30 sites)
Great Byways – Fall 2024
Lake Erie, Ohio River & Canals – Spring 2025
Changemakers & Leaders
Ohio Moves (Transportation)
Inventions & Innovation

Logan County will hold a celebration parade in Bellefontaine on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

Deputy Chief Joe Kopus from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office shared highlights from the department’s annual Jail Garden Party, featuring produce grown in the more than three-acre inmate-tended garden.

The program, he said, not only provides food but also helps offset inmate meal costs.

Kopus also noted that the jail recently processed over 600 chickens to further reduce food expenses.

Lieutenant Ryan Furlong, also from the Sheriff’s Office, discussed the upcoming 911 Levy on the fall ballot.

He explained that while the measure isn’t an immediate necessity, passing it now will help prepare the county for future needs.

The levy will generate around 3.4 million, with 2 million of that going to dispatch salaries.

The rest would pay for equipment and software.

The levy would ease financial pressures on both the Bellefontaine Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office by freeing up funds currently spent on dispatch services—allowing more resources to be directed toward officers and deputies.

Furlong emphasized that the two agencies are currently competing to fill dispatch positions and that frequently the Sheriff’s Office operates with only one dispatcher on duty, a situation he described as potentially critical.

Brad Bodenmiller from the LUC provided a zoning update, sharing information about grants and support available to local communities.

From the Logan County EMA, Director Helen Norris reported that her department recently finalized its 2026 budget and is in the process of hiring an assistant.

She has received 51 applications and plans to begin phone interviews next week.

Ben Vollrath of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce introduced Jamison Thornton, the new director of the Logan County Visitors Bureau, who replaces Anna Louden.

Vollrath also reminded attendees that a short-term bed tax will go into effect on January 1, with property owners receiving notification by mail in the coming weeks.

In village updates:

Russells Point is seeking a new village administrator and hopes to break ground on its splash pad project later this year.
Rushsylvania announced its annual Turkey Raffle and the upcoming Memorial Park lighting, which will help kick off the holiday season. The village is awaiting word on a grant application and continues to explore opportunities for infrastructure improvements, including a water tower upgrade and utility rate review. The mayor also noted that very few homes in the village are vacant—an encouraging sign of community stability.
Quincy reported progress on water line repairs, many of which date back to the 1940s.
Zanesfield announced a Tri-Valley Fire Department turkey raffle planned for November and a tree lighting event with Santa.
Bellefontaine Mayor Dave Crissman shared that the city continues to grow, with new residents and businesses arriving. The holiday season kicks off on December 5 with the popular Downtown Christmas Parade. The Downtown Bellefontaine Partnership will again host Santa around the Courthouse, with dates to be announced soon. Chrisman said it’s an exciting time for the city, though aging water infrastructure remains a significant challenge.

Mayor Dave Crissman talks about the importance of these meetings: