London council schedules public hearing on natural-gas aggregation, reviews sanitation bid and several first-read items

At its meeting the London City Council scheduled a public hearing on Ordinance 140-26, which would authorize a governmental natural-gas aggregation program with opt-out provisions and ask the Madison County Board of Elections to place the question on the ballot under section 4929.26 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Council members debated scheduling and timing and agreed to a public hearing in July (council discussed July 2 and July 16 as possibilities) and noted the need to meet the county and state ballot timelines to have the question on the ballot by August. A council sponsor described aggregation as a step that allows the city to combine residents' consumption for brokered pricing; the ordinance does not set a supplier or rate, those would be determined later if voters approve aggregation.

In administrative reports the council heard that one company, Rumpky, was the lone bidder in the city's sanitation bid opening; according to the administration the proposed residential pickup rate would be $20.75 per month under a three-year contract with a two-year extension at the city's discretion. The administration said it had reviewed the bid and will meet with Rumpky to coordinate transition planning.

Several other items were presented on first reading and left on for further action: Resolution 135-26 (advertise surplus personal property including a dump truck; council asked whether a mechanic could inspect the vehicle before disposal), Resolution 137-26 (allow chief of police to sell a primary duty weapon on retirement/disability/death), Resolution 138-26 (allow fire chief to gift surplus helmet and badge on retirement/disability/death), Ordinance 139-26 (identify positions with residency requirements in the city policy manual), and Resolution 141-26 (request $21,000 appropriation to upgrade the council sound system; referred to Finance Committee).

The meeting closed with round-table remarks, community-event announcements and a motion to adjourn.

Next procedural steps: staff will prepare the public-hearing notice and required ballot paperwork for the natural-gas aggregation ordinance, Finance Committee will review the sound-system appropriation request, and administration will continue transition planning with the sanitation bidder.