City Council approves several new projects, rate changes, marijuana moratorium

Springboro City Council meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursday in Council Chambers to pass legislation and authorize budgeted expenditures related to the management and operation of our city, and the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. Here are just a few agenda items recently approved by City Council.

■ Annual appropriations ordinance: This ordinance authorizes budgeted expenditures for the calendar year 2024, totaling $56,870,492 for all city capital and operational expenses.

■ Permits, inspections and fees: An ordinance amending Chapter 1464 of the city’s code was passed, adjusting rates for certain permits and services. Changes include an increase of $2 per month for trash collection service and adjustments to charges related to planning, building and zoning, effective January 2024.

■ Water main near Heatherwoode: A contract with Ritter Plumbing Co. Inc. was approved for water main improvements through Heatherwoode Golf Club. This project consists of installing a water main through the golf course to create a connection from Villages of Creekside to the Heatherwoode Subdivision. This critical water system loop will provide another separate water main connection serving the southern portion of the city. The work will be completed this year, with the cost of improvements totaling $125,000.

■ Cannabis/marijuana issues: Council passed a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, consideration and/or granting of any zoning, occupancy, or other permits or applications relating to cultivators, processors or retail dispensaries of adult use cannabis within the city. Ohio passed Issue 2: an act to control and regulate adult use cannabis, which has legalized the use of cannabis for adults and established the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control. The division will be responsible for issuing rules on licensing and regulations for operators of adult use cannabis. This moratorium was imposed to provide time to review the regulations and licensing procedures set forth by the state, and assist the city in creating reasonable regulations to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community that are compliant with the newly implemented law.

■ Recreational trails grant: An agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was approved for a Recreational Trail Program grant of $150,000 to help fund the construction of a new multiuse trail in Clearcreek Park this year. The trail will tie into existing trails in the park, and connect to the city’s developing trail to the east in E. Milo Beck Park, and west in Hazel Woods Park. This new trail supports the development of the Central Greenway recommendations of Springboro’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan.

■ Generator replacement: Council approved a contract with Dryden Builders for the “Advanced Drive Generator Replacement” project. This project will replace a generator for the existing lift station at the south end of Advanced Drive. Dryden Builders was awarded the bid with construction costs totaling $180,994. This project will provide a reliable emergency power supply by replacing the existing 20+ year-old generator.

■ Wright Station building: Approval of the building elevations and footprint for a 7,000 squarefoot building at Wright Station (northwest corner of Ohio 73 and 741). The building will be located along the North Main Street portion of the development and provide new space for office and retail tenants. This new building will be the fifth constructed by the site’s developer, Synergy & Mills Development.