Urbana City Council holds public hearing on Tax Budget; passes street light ordinance

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The Urbana City Council held a public hearing on Tuesday to consider adopting the tax budget of the City of Urbana, Ohio, for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026. The tax budget now waits for it’s third and final reading in June before it can be voted on by council members.

Following the Public Hearing, the Council discussed and determined the need to authorize the Director of Administration, Kerry Brugger, to enter into a contract extension with Rumpke of Ohio, Inc. to provide residential curbside recycling services, city facility solid waste collection and disposal, and subscription-based curbside recycling for small businesses. This contract extension will run from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2027, under the same contract terms as the original contract. The monthly cost per residential unit or small business customer is $4.50 per month under this contract extension, with the city billing for this service on the city utility bill and remitting the payment to Rumpke for providing these services. Based on the current number of active residential units (4,090), extra cart rentals (40), and voluntary small businesses participating (33), the yearly contract cost with Rumpke of Ohio, Inc. will cost the city nearly $225,000.00 per year.

Brugger says that after an extensive investigation, he feels it would behoove the City to extend the current contract.

The Council also authorized Brugger to enter into a contract with Majors Enterprises, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $750,715.00 for repairs to the West Court Street Bridge to replace a load-posted, buried bridge with 96” reinforced concrete pipe. Urbana received three bids, with the lowest and best bid received from Majors Enterprises, Inc. Brugger was also given authorization to enter into a contract with True Inspection Services, LLC, in the amount of $79,457.12 for inspection services on the West Court Street Bridge Project.

Urbana City Engineer Tyler Bumbalough says the bridge is an underground bridge that was built in 1916 and is overdue for major repairs to allow today’s heavier vehicles to use it.

One ordinance was passed during the meeting. Ordinance 4626-25 is an ordinance expressing the City of Urbana’s intent to negotiate jointly with other cities in the region on a one-price schedule under which electric light services are furnished to the residents of the city for street lighting. The schedule would only cover the costs of service and maintenance.

The council will meet again on Tuesday, June 3.