The Chillicothe City Council approved multiple ordinances on April 8.
One ordinance amended the city code regarding purchasing procedures. City Clerk Amy Hess reported that adjustments were made to the monetary thresholds.
For competitive bidding, the new guidelines state that for transactions exceeding $2,500 but below $25,000, bids should adhere to open market procedures. Transactions estimated over $25,000 require a formal, written contract from the lowest responsible bidder after public notice, altering the previous threshold of $10,000.
Open market procedures now apply to all transactions under $25,000, facilitating purchases, sales, and contracts without the need for newspaper advertisements or the formal contract procedures previously required for transactions above $10,000.
In emergencies, the mayor, or the councilman at large in the mayor’s absence, can authorize purchases up to $100,000 at the lowest available price. Should projected costs surpass $100,000, the city council may waive competitive bidding requirements and authorize procurement subject to final approval of the purchase price by the council. This updates the former cap of $25,000.
Two ordinances focused on the rezoning of properties. The property at 147 Brunswick Street was changed from light or limited industrial to mixed-use due to a zoning error, making it non-buildable as initially zoned. The property at 901 Bryan Street transitioned from high-density new multifamily residential to general commercial to facilitate the construction of a medical clinic.
Another ordinance revised the 2023-2024 budget. The General Fund increased by $126,626 to $7,047,248.20, the Tax Increment Financing Fund by $368,500 to $1,419,099, the Danner Reserve Fund by $3,582 to $16,281.94, the Streets Fund by $20,685 to $1,287,038.64, and the Police Sales Tax Fund by $1,185 to $420,609.22.
The council reviewed a police facility needs assessment, recommending the construction of a new police facility. The Chillicothe Police Department was instructed to proceed with planning.
Discussions on animal ordinance modifications focused on adding definitions, clarity on limitations, and an administrative fee for annual licenses. An updated ordinance will be presented later.
The council introduced the Chillicothe Mission, a Christian ministry dedicated to sharing the gospel and serving the needs of the community’s vulnerable populations.
An event at the YMCA North Gym on April 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. will showcase the Chillicothe Mission’s vision, featuring a free meal from the Blackwater Restaurant and Lounge and live music.
