Bellefontaine council approves grant applications, emergency contracts and new firefighter position; income tax hike approved

The Bellefontaine City Council on its regular evening agenda approved multiple resolutions and ordinances enabling grant applications, emergency equipment contracts and personnel changes, and adopted a 0.267% income tax increase earmarked for parks and recreation.

Council adopted a resolution authorizing the police chief to apply for the FY2024 COPS hiring program grant to fund four officers. The resolution notes a total grant amount of $312,128.08 with a city match requirement of 20 percent ($62,422.02). The motion to adopt was seconded and passed on a roll‑call vote with all members recorded as voting yes.

The council also authorized an application for a 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to replace a responder drone. The discussion noted the grant would cover about $75,000 with a 25 percent local match; the resolution passed by roll call.

A separate resolution to apply for Ohio’s Airport Improvement Program for SFY 2025, in the amount of $498,750 with a city match of $26,250, was approved.

On appropriations, the council approved supplemental appropriations totaling $38,500 for fire department repairs, maintenance and incidentals and related line items.

Council moved to create a new firefighter position in the Bellefontaine Fire Department, authorized the Service Safety Director and fire chief to take necessary hiring actions, declared the ordinance an emergency, and waived reading requirements; the motions and final adoption were recorded as passed.

The governing body also approved emergency contracting to replace or recondition wastewater equipment: authorization to contract with RDP Technologies Incorporated for lime‑feed screw conveyor and related parts, and authorization to contract with Alfa Laval (reconditioning the belt filter press and associated components). Those emergency measures passed on the record after motions to waive the three‑reading rule.

On third reading, council adopted an ordinance that amends the city’s income tax code to levy an increase of 0.267 percent for park and recreation operations and capital expenditures; the ordinance was declared an emergency and adopted by recorded vote.

All items on the legislative agenda were taken with formal motions, roll‑call votes and the frequent use of motions to waive the three‑reading rule; no final vote tallies showed opposition on the record.