Council approves Mid Ohio appointments as member raises concerns about discolored water and project costs

The London City Council approved the mayor's requested reappointments to the Mid Ohio Water and Sewer District for two members, Tia Sexton and Mark Landis, with terms beginning March 28, 2026 and ending March 28, 2028. Councilors asked for brief bios and discussed scheduling Mid Ohio leadership — including director Tom Taylor — for an April briefing to answer questions from council.

Later in roundtable, Councilor Greg Eads told colleagues he had learned of a Feb. 2 discolored‑water event within city limits and criticized the pace and clarity of Mid Ohio's communications to residents. "My first concern was the lack of communication to the end users in the city," Eads said, adding that Mid Ohio's press release acknowledged a mechanical failure but did not state whether the water had been tested and declared safe to drink. Eads said he could not find an obvious signup for notifications on Mid Ohio's website or billing statements and urged regular updates or a board member briefing: "There should also be an alert section or at least a scrolling banner of ongoing alerts."

Eads also raised the East Side trunk project, saying bid openings showed expected costs near $22 million — about $6 million more than earlier estimates — and flagged unresolved easement transfers that could prevent the project from moving forward without additional processes such as eminent domain. City staff acknowledged easement questions remain and said further coordination with Mid Ohio would be necessary before construction could proceed.

Why it matters: The exchange pairs a routine confirmation of local appointees with substantive oversight questions about water quality communications, project cost escalation and easement status for a major utility project that may have rate implications for residents. Council requested Mid Ohio representation at an upcoming meeting so it can address these issues directly.

The council approved the appointments by voice vote; no formal vote on communication policy or the East Side trunk project occurred during the meeting.