Lancaster · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lancaster public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Land development between Route 158 and Election House Road
Council Member Ailes warned colleagues that developers are again eyeing the land between Route 158 and Election House Road — the same spot that triggered flooding fears 43 years ago. He says expect a wave of resident calls if it proceeds.
Public Safety Budget Cuts
The police department wants IT upgrades, new cruisers, roof and garage door repairs, and more school resource officers; the fire department is prioritizing roof replacements (Engine House 3 first due to storm damage) and a new truck. Deputy Chief Caton is acting chief until his October 26 retirement.
E.D. Road TIF revenue notes
Two annual revenue notes — $495,741.20 and $153,799.75 — will pay down developer debt from the 2006 Ety Road TIF (Walmart/Menards). The TIF is expected to be paid off around 2029.
$1 million RED grant for Casto housing site
The city received a $1 million state housing grant to reimburse developer Casto for site preparation, with legislation introduced to move the funds.
Data center zoning rules postponed
The Code Enforcement and Zoning Committee has advanced a data center zoning overlay to the Planning Commission for review.
Eyman Avenue rezone to Advanced Manufacturing
A 1.8-acre parcel on South Memorial Drive is now zoned Advanced Manufacturing, locking in industrial use next to Biggs Group's existing 7.2-acre site. Supporters say residential use there was never realistic given floodplain and access issues.
Early payoff of 2012 water bonds
The water division wants to call its remaining 2012 water bonds early, freeing up cash ahead of bigger state loan payments — expected to save ratepayers at least $108,000 in interest.
Water infrastructure projects — Tiki Lane, backflow valves, Lawrence Street pump station
Three projects got final green lights: Tiki Lane waterline replacement, South Water Plant backflow valves, and the Lawrence Street pump station replacement. A sewer evaluation invoice snafu also surfaced — the project manager forgot to get a purchase order before work started.
Frederick Street sewer separation
The city's next EPA-mandated combined sewer overflow fix will separate storm sewers on Columbus Street and Wilson Avenue in phases, timed so construction finishes before the state route paving next spring — meaning Columbus Street shouldn't be torn up twice.
Early retirement of 2012 water bonds
The Division of Water wants to call its 2012 revenue bonds early, freeing up cash ahead of bigger OWDA payments and saving ratepayers an estimated $108,000 in interest.
County tax rate acceptance
The annual Schedule A real-estate tax collection rates — which the city cannot change — were accepted on an emergency basis to meet an October county deadline.
Solid waste district fees rising
Council approved the regional five-year solid waste plan update, but Council Member Knisley warned its generation fees will more than triple and likely raise residents' sanitation bills.
River Valley Boulevard intersection repaved
After residents complained about vehicle damage at the Whittier/River Valley four-way stop, Council Member Sollie and code enforcement got the mall to repave the deteriorated intersection.
Police funding for obligations and retirements
Two measures move money for the police department: about $95,550 to cover sick-leave buyouts, uniform allowances and overtime, and roughly $126,000 to cover retirements — including one tied to the unexpected passing of Officer Ray Hampbell.
Fire department overtime funding
The fire department is short-staffed, so council is moving $75,000 from salaries to overtime to cover contractually required overtime pay.
Cybersecurity recovery and antivirus upgrade
Following a ransomware attack, the city is deploying SentinelOne security software on 400-plus devices under an emergency sole-source purchase, with mandatory staff training due by end of September.
Sixth Avenue Bridge delay
The project must be rebid after the only bid came in more than 20% above the $2.4 million estimate; the city hopes raising the estimate to about $2.55 million will draw more competitive bids.
Job and Family Services concerns raised by resident
A Lancaster mother alleged falsified drug tests and abuse of her children in foster placements during an emotional public comment, asking council to review her evidence.
Cooperative Economic Development Agreement with Greenfield Township and Fairfield County
The city, Greenfield Township and Fairfield County are moving toward the city's first cooperative economic development agreement, laying out who serves a growing area north of the industrial park and setting up a future joint New Community Authority to share tax revenue. Councilors pressed on whether it commits the city to annexations — officials said no.
New full-time tax auditor position
The city income tax department is getting another auditor, funded through a resolution and a companion pay ordinance both passed the same night.
Arbor Valley Drive and 6th Avenue bridge progress
Council passed funding using school district contributions and street levy funds for this road project.
Flock license-plate camera system
Residents are pushing back hard on the city's 17 Flock safety cameras, filing records requests and demanding to know who runs the system and what happens to the data. Critics say roughly $200,000 a year could go to youth programs instead.
NOPEC municipal electricity agreement
The city's NOPEC contract expired about three years ago and the city has been paying below-market rates they can no longer sustain; a new ordinance kicks off a re-bid for municipal buildings that will mean higher rates.
East Main Street shoulder widening and sidewalk project
The city is spending $335,000 total on land acquisition for the East Main Street walkways, 90 percent federally reimbursed — but the property owners along the route don't want to sell, and Knisley warned eminent domain could be used.
Smart water meter transition
The city will have to switch to smart water meters because the equipment for reading them manually is being phased out.
Rising Park Shelter Restoration
The city is asking the state capital budget for $500,000 to restore the deteriorating Rising Park shelter; without the full grant, the project likely won't move forward.
Prosecution service contracts
The city's prosecutor contracts with Reynoldsburg, Pickerington, and the county bring in about $257,000 a year; new agreements are being negotiated with a roughly 3 percent bump before they expire December 31.
Marijuana dispensary moratorium review
A resident asked council to lift the city's moratorium on cannabis, arguing Lancaster is losing consumer spending and tax revenue to other cities and that 52% of local voters supported Issue 2 in 2023.
Concentration of sober-living homes on one street
A new resident on East Mulberry Street says three sober-living facilities have landed on his block in under a year, including one with occupants wearing ankle monitors near playing children. He wants to know if there are limits per block.
Police Chief Departure
Lancaster's police chief is packing up and heading south for a new gig, which means the city is officially on the hunt for a fresh top cop to run the department.
Bowers Park construction moves forward
Council committed $1.5 million from the parks fund to bid and build Bowers Park this fall, with a $1.3 million engineer's estimate. Unused funds return to the unencumbered balance.
Fire Department mutual aid modernization
The fire department's mutual aid rules hadn't been updated since 1952; Council modernized them to match current best practices with surrounding departments.
Zoning corrections for former LAP site and commercial properties
Council fixed a 2023 zoning error that wrongly turned manufacturing land residential, and restored commercial zoning to several businesses that had faced hardship. The changes passed unanimously after public hearings.
Liquor permit decisions
Council took up a first reading to expand the downtown DORA north toward the Shoemaker Mills Memorial area to boost local businesses. Final text comes back at the next meeting.
Zoning map change and code overhaul
Council fixed a 2023 zoning mistake by rezoning the old LEP property back to advanced manufacturing and rewrote parts of the zoning code to reduce hardships on business owners. Both passed unanimously after unopposed hearings.
Bike path paving near Olivedale
Spire's Paving started repaving the bike path between Toner Road and Bovey Road near Olivedale this week — a $30,777 budgeted project expected done by week's end.
Registered sex offenders at family-friendly events
Residents urged Council to adopt local safeguards after sex offenders were allowed at family-friendly businesses and events. Council President Porter responded that criminal law is set at the state and federal level and Council handles matters of local concern.
Public Works department reorganization pay changes
With LDOT and Engineering merged into one Public Works Department, council finalized pay adjustments for roles absorbing the duties of the eliminated superintendent position.
St. Mary School resource officer
Council fast-tracked a contract putting a dedicated police officer at St. Mary School starting with the 2026-2027 school year, waiving the usual third reading to get it done before classes begin.
Ewing Woods TIF agreement on Sheridan Drive
Council approved a tax-increment-financing agreement with developer Ewing Woods LLC to support its Sheridan Drive development — a tool that redirects some property-tax growth to pay for project infrastructure.
Stricter floodplain construction rules
New buildings in flood-prone zones must sit higher — 1 foot 3 inches above base flood elevation, and lowest floors at least 4 feet up in AO zones — spurred by the Vava Fairfield senior living project.
Wastewater plant odor complaints
Residents in the third, fourth and fifth wards keep reporting smells from the wastewater plant. Council members Smiley and Cohen both raised it; Water Pollution Control's Curtis is preparing clearer public explanations of what's being done.
City Council Agenda
A resident blasted council for cutting public comment time from five minutes to three, calling it a silencing of the very voters who put them in office.
Combined sewer overflow compliance and rate risk
Two more combined-sewer projects — Frederick Street ($1.58M) and Columbus Street/Wilson Avenue — move forward, required by Ohio EPA under the city's NPDES permit.
Lucas chest compression device for fire department
The police department is hunting for grant money to buy high-tech AEDs for cruisers that can communicate with each other while helping residents in cardiac emergencies.
Mosquito control approach
Resident Debby Rockwood asked the city to rethink fogging, saying it only kills adult mosquitoes and harms pollinators, and pushing dunks and larval control instead.
Rezoning for 316 Sylvan Avenue and 1117 West Mulberry Street
A request from JFM Excavation to rezone the old Lancaster Electroplating site back to advanced manufacturing, with a public hearing set for August 10.
BP Energy gas supply partnership
Lancaster Municipal Gas is teaming up with BP Energy for expertise managing its complicated gas supply program, tied to the Port Authority's $300.5 million gas bonds.
Southwater plant energy efficiency grant
A $256,000 state energy grant will fund plant upgrades, with a design-build contract to be negotiated quickly — funds must be spent by January 31, 2027.
Two-year council terms
Council members' short two-year terms came up repeatedly as a possible reason to look at a charter. Law Director Hall pointed out the city can already switch to four-year terms through a simpler state-law process (ORC 731 and 733) without a charter.