Jan 20, 2026 City Council

[Call to Order]

[00:00:03]

CAN PASS IT DOWN SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE. GROVE CITY COUNCIL IS NOW IN SESSION. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. FOR ALL. CLERK, PLEASE READ THE ROLL. MR. AMAR. PRESENT. IS ANDERSON. HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE. STURM HERE.

[Approval of Minutes]

[Welcome & Reading of Agenda]

LONG TIME RESIDENT. HE IS RETIRING FROM OUR COMMISSION. CALLED AFTER 20 YEARS. AND. THE HIS SERVICE. AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT HERE. THERE ARE THINGS WELL. YOU DISAPPROVE.

WE PICKED UP TRASH DAYS. THE BOY SCOUTS, ALL THAT RECYCLING PROGRAM. THANK YOU RETIRING AND THAT WE DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE HIS SERVICE CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION, WHEREBY WILLIAM MEYERS HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY WITH DISTINCTION FOR 20 YEARS AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF GROVE CITY BEAUTIFUL. WHEREAS BILL JOINED KEEP GROVE CITY BEAUTIFUL IN 2005 AND HAS VOLUNTEERED THOUSANDS OF HOURS. AND I'D SAY THAT FOR HIM IS RIGHT ON T DURING THIS TIME, AT NUMEROUS EVENTS SUCH AS ECO FEST, SHREDDING DAYS, STREET CLEANUPS, CREEK CLEANUPS, AND THE FARMERS MARKET, TO NAME A FEW. WHEREAS BILL HAS MADE A GREAT IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY AND HAS HAS EARNED THE JUST AND JUSTIFIED, JUSTLY DESERVES THIS PUBLIC RECOGNITION. NOW, THEREFORE, I DO HEREBY EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO WILLIAM MEYERS FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND COMMEND HIM FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH HE HAS CARRIED OUT HIS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS A MEMBER OF THE GROVE CITY KEEP GROCERY BEAUTIFUL COMMITTEE.

ADDITIONALLY, AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION, A TREE WILL BE PLANTED TO IN HIS HONOR AND YOU WOULD HAVE A PLACE TO CHOOSE A TREE EXCEPT FOR YOUR YARD. BUT ANYWAY, BILL, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND YOU'VE BEEN A REAL. MAYOR STAGE. AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT'S BEEN A REWARDING AND FUN 20 YEARS BECAUSE YOU HAVE WONDERFUL LEADERSHIP FOR GROVE CITY BEAUTIFUL AND LINDA ROSSINI AND VOLUNTEERS ON THAT BOARD SPEND HUNDREDS OF HOURS EVERY EVERY YEAR DOING VOLUNTEER WORK FOR THIS COMMUNITY. AND THE MAYOR MENTIONED SOME OF THE PROJECTS. WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MEDICINE DROP AND THE SHREDDED DAY AND THE HAZARDOUS WASTE PICKUP AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY PROVIDES TO KEEP GROVE CITY BEAUTIFUL. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND WE HAVE A SLOT AVAILABLE. YEAH. CORRECT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA UNDER LANDS WE ARE WE HAVE ORDINANCE C01 26 ORDINANCE C02 26, ORDINANCE C03 26, ORDINANCE CO 426, RESOLUTION CR OH 126, RESOLUTION CR OH 226 AND UNDER SAFETY RESOLUTION CR OH 326. I WOULD MOVE TO REMOVE ITEM RESOLUTION CR OH 226 DUE TO THE FACT THAT, ACCORDING TO OUR

[00:05:03]

CALL THE ROLL. MALINGA. YES BARRY. YES YES. YES. BURROWS. YES. OMAR. YES. HENDERSON. YES.

ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT. IS THERE ANY OTHER CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA? NONE.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH LANDS UNDER CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BARRY, BEFORE WE

[Additional Item 1]

I AM YOUR AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS NATIONAL PRESIDENT. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT APWA, WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION MADE UP OF OVER 30,000 MEMBERS REPRESENTING A WORKFORCE OF 500,000. IT IS A TRUE HONOR TO JOIN YOU IN RECOGNIZING AN EXCEPTIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT BY THE GROVE CITY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THE SEWER, THE STREET, THE STORMWATER, THE SOLID WASTE, AND THE URBAN FORESTRY DIVISIONS. TODAY, WE CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSFUL ACCREDITATION BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION FOR A LEADER IN STEWARDSHIP, A LEADER IN PUBLIC WORKS. THE APWA ACCREDITATION PROGRAM IS A RIGOROUS PROCESS THAT RECOGNIZES PUBLIC WORKS AGENCIES THAT GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THEIR OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT. IT CONFIRMS THAT GROVE CITY NOT ONLY MEETS, BUT EXCEEDS NATIONAL RECOGNIZED PUBLIC WORKS PRACTICES. IT DEMONSTRATES A COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PUBLIC. YOU SERVE. IT BEGINS WITH A SELF-ASSESSMENT. WE EVALUATE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND PRACTICES AGAINST APU'S 124 BEST PRACTICE CRITERIA. THE APWA WHO EVALUATED DEPARTMENT ARE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS FROM OTHER ACCREDITED AGENCIES. I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT ACHIEVED 100% RATING AND IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE PRACTICES. TRULY, TRULY OUTSTANDING. SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO BE ACCREDITED? IT ENHANCES YOUR CREDIBILITY AND REPUTATION. IT COMMUNICATES TO STAKEHOLDERS, CUSTOMERS, AND THE PUBLIC THAT YOU ARE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TO UTILIZE BEST PRACTICES AND STANDARDS. IT DRIVES CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. THE PROCESS ENSURES YOU UPDATE AND REFINE YOUR PRACTICE, KEEPING CURRENT WITH INDUSTRY CHANGES AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES. IT ATTRACTS AND RETAINS TALENT. HIGH PERFORMING PROFESSIONALS WANT TO BE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE AND RECOGNIZED AS

[00:10:05]

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING REAL QUICK? NO. CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL. YEP.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. GREAT JOB I MEAN WONDERFUL I MEAN FLORIDA A LITTLE BIT BY IT,

[Ordinance C-01-26 Implement Sections 3735. 65 thru 3735. 70 of the Ohio Revised Code establishing and describing the boundaries of the City of Grove City Community Reinvestment Area #5 in the City of Grove City, Ohio. First reading. ]

[00:15:02]

SO THE 25% THAT'S UNABATED STILL GOES THROUGH TO THE TAXING JURISDICTION, 75% ON $50 MILLION ESSENTIALLY EQUATES TO AROUND $330,000 A YEAR OF DISTRIBUTION TO THE TAXING PARTNERS. WITH THAT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS PROJECT. CURRENTLY, THE REVENUE GENERATED BY THAT PROPERTY IS ABOUT 14,000 A YEAR. 14,000. OKAY, SO IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN RETURN ON THE CORRECT IN TERMS OF INCOME TAX AS WELL AS PROPERTY TAX. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE PROJECT.

THE FIRST IS KEN FLUTY. OKAY. NOW THIS IS MR. CHAIRMAN, THE MR. FLUTY YOU YOU CAN SPEAK AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT THE VOTE DOESN'T HAPPEN UNTIL FOR TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE ACTUAL VOTE HAPPENS. IF YOU IF YOUR SCHEDULE PERMITS TO DO THAT. OKAY. AND THIS IS THE I KNOW THAT I THINK THIS IS THE THE WRONG ITEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE CR 126 WHICH IS THE ONE INVOLVING THIS PROPERTY. BUT I BELIEVE YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE ONE IN REGARD TO THE VFW SIGN. CORRECT? OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. SO THAT OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. GOT IT. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A 126 JASON NORRIS. IS THAT THE SAME SITUATION WE WROTE CR OKAY.

YEAH. 126 IS ALSO THIS ONE. SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY WANT TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO RESOLUTION CR 120 WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION VERSUS OKAY, SO THAT SO I WILL CHANGE THOSE TO. SO AND THEN THE THIRD ONE WAS DAVID FLANAGAN. I ASSUME THAT'S THE SAME SITUATION. OKAY. GREAT. SO IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO. CO126 OKAY. IF NONE OKAY IT'LL BE SECOND

[Ordinance C-02-26 Authorizing the City Administrator to enter into a Community Reinvestment Area Agreement with MWI Properties, relative to property within Grove City Community Reinvestment Area #5. First reading.]

ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT? I DON'T THINK SO. IN THE SECOND READING WILL BE FEBRUARY THE

[Ordinance C-03-26 Approve a Special Use Permit for a Marijuana Dispensary for ACT Investments located at 3989 Jackpot Road. First reading.]

[Ordinance C-04-26 Approve the Rezoning of 4.13.:t acres located at 4 7 45 Big Run Road from SF-1 (single-family residential) to PUD-R (planned unit development - residential) with Zoning Text. First reading.]

[00:20:05]

[Resolution CR-01-26 Appeal the decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals granting variances for a Sign for American Legion, Paschall Post 164 located at 3363 McDowell Road. ]

OUR REQUEST WAS REQUESTED SO THAT WE COULD PROVIDE VETERAN COMMUNITY WITH GENERAL AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION, SUCH AS DURING THE RECENT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, THAT THERE WAS STILL RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR VETERANS, AS WELL AS FOR ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL. WE ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE OF EVENTS LIKE BLOOD DRIVES, PARADES, MEMORIALS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT WE ACCOMPLISH FOR THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE ALSO AGREED TO PROVIDE GROVE CITY WITH THE TYPE OF PUBLISHMENT OF EMERGENCY INFORMATION WHEN REQUIRED, THE SAME AS THE CURRENT FIRE STATIONS ARE PROVIDING. THE DENIAL OF THIS REQUEST WOULD PROVIDE A HARDSHIP TO OUR ORGANIZATION, AS THE SIGN HAS ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED BY AN ANONYMOUS DONOR FOR OVER $20,000 AND IS CURRENTLY STORED AT OUR POST. WE CANNOT GIVE THE SIGN BACK NOR THE DONATION. THUS, IF DENIED, THIS WILL MAKE US REALLY LOOK BAD TO THE ANONYMOUS DONOR AS WELL AS TO OTHER FUTURE DONORS THAT WE DO NOT UTILIZE WHAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO US, AS WELL AS TO HINDER US IN INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION OF WHAT WE ARE DOING THAT BENEFITS THEM. THE CURRENT SIGN THAT IS IN STORAGE HAS OUR NAME AND LOGOS ALREADY INSTALLED, THUS IT CANNOT BE USED BY ANOTHER BUSINESS. FINALLY, OUR CURRENT LOCATION IS NOT OUT AT THE STREET THE STREET FRONT AREA, BUT IS BEHIND OTHER COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES. THUS, THE SIGN IS VERY MUCH NEEDED TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF WHERE WE ARE SO THAT THEY CAN FIND US AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO EXIST. OUR CURRENT SIGN IS VERY OLD, LOOKS RUNDOWN AND IS NOT VERY INVITING. THIS NEW SIGN WOULD MAKE THIS AREA LOOK MUCH BETTER AND INVITE PEOPLE TO OUR ESTABLISHMENT. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PROVIDE A GAUDY SPECTACLE, JUST A WAY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC WITH SIMPLE TEXT MESSAGES THAT CAN BE CONTROLLED WITHOUT LONG WALKS, IN COLD AND WET ENVIRONMENTS, OR USE OF LADDERS TO PROVIDE THE MESSAGING IN A SOMETIMES QUICKLY CHANGING SITUATION. AND AS OUR LEADERSHIP IS MOSTLY OLDER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ALWAYS IN THE BEST PHYSICAL SHAPE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. OKAY, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS IT RELATES TO THIS RESOLUTION IS JASON NORRIS. IF YOU WOULD GIVE US YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE, SIR. THANK YOU. I'M JASON NORRIS. MY ADDRESS IS 2308 ZEINER CIRCLE SOUTH HERE IN GROVE CITY. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT SINCE 2011. I'M JASON NORRIS, THE FINANCE OFFICER FOR AMERICAN LEGION POST 164. I'M A BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ADMINISTRATOR, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, A FERVENT VOLUNTEER IN THE FOOD INSECURITY SPACE, AND A TEN YEAR VETERAN OF THE US ARMY. I'M ALSO A TRUSTEE IN THE VFW POST 8198, WHO OCCUPIES THE SAME SPACE AT THE AMERICAN LEGION AND GAINING MY ELIGIBILITY DURING AN IRAQ DEPLOYMENT IN 2009 AND TEN. A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF MY LIFE ADULT LIFE IS GIVEN IN SERVICE TO MY COMMUNITY. IN MY ROLE AS ADMINISTRATOR, I HELP MAINTAIN A DATA VISUALIZATION TOOL CALLED TABLEAU. I'M A CONTRACTOR FOR THE OHIO PLATFORM UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF OHIO. WE HELP

[00:25:01]

CHALKBOARDS AND MANUAL BLACK LETTERING DO NOT INSPIRE INNOVATION AND CERTAINLY DON'T FIT IN WITH THE CURRENT ROLE DATA PLAYS IN OUR WORLD. WHILE THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF OUR SIGN WOULD BE TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT OUR LEGION POST DOES FOR OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY, THE SIGN WOULD BE FULLY CAPABLE OF SHARING WITH THE CITY, AND TOWNSHIP ALSO DOES FOR OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS AT LARGE. I HEAR THE CONCERN FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, THE BUSINESSES TO THE NORTH, SOUTH AND EAST WITH THE WOOD COPS, BETWEEN THE BUSINESSES TO OUR WEST AND THE FLASHING LIGHTS. BUT ALL THOSE CONCESSIONS AND CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE ALMOST YEAR LONG PROCESS TO GET TO THIS VOTE TONIGHT. THE AGENDA TODAY GRANTS INVESTMENT RIGHTS TO OUT-OF-STATE INVESTORS, ADDS HOUSING INTO ALREADY BUSY SPACES, IMPROVES MARIJUANA AND HELPS LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT TODAY, I HESITANTLY AND SADLY SAY IT ALSO SEEKS TO PUNISH GROVE CITY VETERANS. SOME MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAVE OFFERED THEIR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE, AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE PREVIOUS SUPPORT THIS CITY HAS PROVIDED. I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE THE GREAT RELATIONSHIP THAT EXISTS.

I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THE WORK THAT OUR MEMBERS DID IN THE APPLICATION AND VARIANCE BOARD PROCESS IS NOT UNDERMINED HERE TONIGHT BY A DESIRE TO STAY IN THE PAST. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT OUR OUTLAY OF TIME, SIGNIFICANT FUNDS AND COUNTLESS HOURS TO THE INSTALLATION OF OUR SIGN ARE NOT THROWN AWAY. I HOPE THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL LET OUR VARIANCE STAND AND INSPIRE INNOVATION. I THANK YOU FOR OUR TIME. THANK YOU. OKAY, THE NEXT INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO THIS RESOLUTION IS DAVE FLANAGAN. YIELD AT THIS TIME? OKAY. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION FROM OKAY. THE SPONSOR. YES. YES. THANK YOU. IF BEFORE YOU BEGIN, MR. BURROUGHS, I JUST WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD. MR. HELLINGA, PRIOR TO BEING ON COUNCIL, WAS ON BZA AND APPROVED THIS VARIANCE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO CONFLICT WHATSOEVER WITH HIM CONTINUING TO STAY ON TO HEAR THIS, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED AND JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. THANK THANK YOU. I WROTE MY STATEMENT DOWN JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED REGARDING WHY THIS WAS APPEALED BY MYSELF AND WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS IN FRONT OF COUNCIL. SO, SO JUST BEFORE THE CASE, I DON'T WANT TO MISS ANYTHING. THIS IS WHY I WROTE IT DOWN. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR VETERANS WHO ARE HERE THIS EVENING, ESPECIALLY THE MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FELLOW VETERANS. I COME FROM A FAMILY OF VETERANS WHO SERVED BOTH IN VIETNAM AND WORLD WAR TWO. SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING VENDORS, HAVE HAD VETERANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO ME. I REGULARLY PARTICIPATE IN AND SPONSOR LOCAL EVENTS THAT BENEFIT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS MASH PANTRY, HONOR FLIGHT, SHEPHERD INSURANCE, SALUTE TO SERVICE MEMBERS, WHICH IS HELD AT THE AMERICAN LEGION, LIMA COMPANY, AND NAVY SEALS. I ALSO HELP HOST VETERANS LUNCHEONS AND SUPPORT FUNDRAISING EVENTS DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED. GIVING BACK TO OUR VETERANS IS NOT OPTIONAL FOR ME, IT IS RESPONSIBILITY AND A SMALL WAY AND A SMALL WAY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT WE GET TO ENJOY EVERY DAY. THAT IS WHY IT IS DISAPPOINTING WHEN FALSE INFORMATION IS SHARED ABOUT MY INTENTION IN APPEALING THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS RULING, IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT I USE THE AMERICAN LEGION BY MARCHING IN A MEMORIAL DAY PARADE WITH CAMPAIGN SIGNS. LET ME BE CLEAR I HAVE NEVER MARCHED IN THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE, WITH OR WITHOUT CAMPAIGN SIGNS, AND I WOULD NEVER SUCH USE A MEANINGFUL AND SACRED EVENT AS A CAMPAIGN PLATFORM. PERIOD. I APPEAL THE RULING REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF A NON-CONFORMING SIGN WITH A PROHIBITIVE ELECTRONIC SIGN FOR SEVERAL IMPORTANT REASONS. FIRST, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD OUR CITY CHARTER AND ORDINANCE, AND I BELIEVE THIS DECISION DESERVES ADDITIONAL REVIEW BY THE COUNCIL HERE THIS EVENING. SECOND, THE BZA APPROVAL INCLUDED 11 ADDITIONAL STIPULATIONS TIED TO THE DESIGN, WHICH RAISED SERIOUS CONCERNS.

THIRD, I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT COUNCIL TO HAVE AN OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THIS RULING ALIGNS WITH OUR CURRENT SIGN CODE AND WHETHER THE CODE NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED MOVING FORWARD. AND FINALLY, I WANTED TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS THAT WOULD MEET THE AMERICAN

[00:30:01]

SHE WORKS WITH AMERICAN LEGION POST ALONG WITH OTHER FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HER FIRST QUESTION IS ALWAYS WHETHER A SIGN COMPLIES WITH LOCAL CODE. LOCAL CODE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT GUIDANCE WAS NOT FOLLOWED IN THIS CASE. WHILE THE SIGN PURCHASED IN 2024 FOR APPROXIMATELY $20,000 CANNOT BE RETURNED, SHE HAS OFFERED TO HELP FUND ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT WILL BE WILLING TO PURCHASE IT. I ALSO EXPLORED ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION, INCLUDING A NEW CHANGEABLE LETTER SIGN. THAT OPTION WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 6 WEEKS TO PRODUCE, COSTS AROUND $8,000, AND INCLUDE ONE YEAR OF FREE FINANCING. GRANT FUNDING COULD ALSO HELP COVER THAT COST, AND PROCEEDS FROM SELLING THE ELECTRONIC SIGN COULD BE USED FOR INSTALLATION LANDSCAPING, WHICH IS ALSO VALUED FROM 4 TO 6 PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS. MY GOAL THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS HAS BEEN SIMPLE. TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN LEGION, FOLLOW OUR CITY ORDINANCES, AND FIND A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR THEM AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HOPE THAT ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THE MAYOR TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WORKS. IS IS THERE ANYONE ELSE ON CITY COUNCIL? SURE. THANK YOU. CHAIR. FIRST, I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE VETERANS FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY. I APPRECIATE THE WORK MISS BURROWS HAS DONE BEHIND THE SCENES IN INVESTIGATING THIS AND FINDING SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. I THINK THE HARD PART HERE, AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE SEEN AS PUNISHING VETERANS. AS IT WAS STATED. I ALSO AM IN THE SPACE OF SETTING WORRYING ABOUT SETTING A PRECEDENCE FOR OTHERS WITH NONCONFORMING SIGNS. I THINK YOU BROUGHT UP SOME FAIR POINTS ABOUT THE DIGITAL AGE AND OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE TAKEN THIS ON, AND IT MAKES ME THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO REVISIT OUR SIGN CODES, BECAUSE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWABLE VERSUS IT BEING VARIANCES DONE BY OUR BZA TO POTENTIALLY LEAD TO THIS, AND I'VE VALUE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS HAS NOW COME IN FRONT OF COUNCIL. I THINK WE SHOULD, AS A COLLECTIVE AND AS A CITY, BE TRULY LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE SIGNS WE WANT TO ALLOW. BUT UNTIL THAT WORK IS DONE AND UNTIL A LARGER STATEMENT IS MADE, I WOULD HOPE THAT MAYBE FROM WHAT MISS BURROWS HAS IDENTIFIED, THAT THERE COULD BE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LEGION TO LOOK INTO ADDITIONAL OR POTENTIAL VIABLE OPTIONS. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS VOTE WILL GO TONIGHT. I WOULD HOPE THAT IT WOULD STILL LEAD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK FOR OTHER VIABLE OPTIONS AND GIVE US TIME AS A CITY TO MAYBE REVISIT OUR CODES AND REALLY IDENTIFY IF DIGITAL SIGNS SHOULD BE THE WAY FORWARD. BUT THEY'RE CURRENTLY NOT RIGHT NOW, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THINGS RIGHT AND NOT SETTING PRECEDENTS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE SUBJECT? YES, SIR. SO I OBVIOUSLY I'D BE CONCERNED ABOUT YOU KNOW, YOU SAY YES TO ONE. YOU GOT TO SAY YES TO EVERYBODY. BUT I QUESTION ON THE THE STIPULATIONS THAT ARE LAID OUT HERE. THERE WAS 11 OF THEM. HOW WOULD THOSE STIPULATIONS IN PLACE, HOW CLOSE DOES IT COME TO THE ACTUAL ALLOWABLE TODAY AS IT SITS TODAY? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THESE STIPULATIONS ARE PUT IN HERE TO TRY TO GET IT TO THAT POINT. HOW CLOSE TO CODE IS IT

[00:35:06]

AND I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WAS IF THAT PROPERTY WERE EVER TO BE SOLD OR VACATED, THE SIGN WOULD COME DOWN. SO THIS WAS NOT FOR ANY OTHER FUTURE LOCATION. I TOO, AM A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE VETERANS AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE PEOPLE ON THE BZA HAVE DONE THIS FOR A LONG TIME. ONE OF THE MEMBERS IS JOHN BRANDT, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE OHIO BUILDING STANDARDS ORGANIZATION. SO THEY REALLY SET THE STANDARDS FOR THE FOR THE WHOLE STATE. THE OTHER IS WAS AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR THAT'S BEEN HERE. HIS FAMILY'S BEEN IN IN GROVE CITY FOR YEARS AND YEARS. AND MYSELF, WHO'S BEEN IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS FOR 40 YEARS. SO ONCE WE RECEIVED THESE STIPULATIONS FROM THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I PERSONALLY HAS WHERE WE SETTING A PRECEDENT SO SOMEONE COULD COME IN AND SAY, OKAY, I'M, I'M OPENING UP A BAR, A PIZZA JOINT, AND I WANT TO PUT A FLASHING SIGN OUT FRONT. I SPOKE TO THE ATTORNEY ON THE BZA AND HE SAID, NO, THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY. A PROBLEM, THAT YOU YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMEONE BRINGING IT UP. BUT IT WASN'T A MAJOR FACTOR, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD. IF WE MAKE AN EXCEPTION HERE, IS IT SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR OTHER OTHER BUSINESSES? THE OTHER THING THAT WE LOOKED AT IS THIS WAS NOT A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, SO IT WASN'T A MONEY MAKING BUSINESS IN OUR OPINION. SO IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. IT WAS MORE IN A CATEGORY OF MAYBE A SCHOOL OR A CHURCH OR OR WHATEVER, BUT PROVIDED A SERVICE TO OUR, TO OUR VETERANS. SO I JUST THOUGHT THAT AND MY CONCERN WAS BECAUSE IT WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BZA, AND I DID VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS WHILE ON THE BZA THAT THERE WASN'T A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

BUT I HAVE NO FINANCIAL INTERACTION WITH THE WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION, SO I JUST THOUGHT IT'D BE GOOD TO GO THROUGH THE THE PROCEDURE THAT WE WENT THROUGH TO COME UP WITH THIS. IT'S A VERY, VERY UNUSUAL SITUATION. I WAS ON THE BZA, AS I SAID, FOR 11 YEARS, AND I'VE, I CAN ONLY LESS THAN A HANDFUL OF ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T AGREE WITH BECAUSE MANY TIMES WE TURN THEM DOWN AND THEY COME TO CITY COUNCIL AND SAYS, WELL, WE DON'T THINK YOU'RE FAIR TURNING US DOWN, THAT THAT WASN'T THE CASE. BUT AND I UNDERSTAND AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT MISS BURROWS MADE AND I UNDERSTAND HER CONCERNS. BUT THERE ARE TEN

[00:40:04]

BUT THAT'S AN ANTIQUATED THING. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS MAYOR. MR. THANK YOU. I'M A MEMBER OF THE POST 164 BUT I'M NOT IN CONFLICT BECAUSE I'M NOT ON THE BOARD.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE FLASHING SIGNS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE MANY, MANY OF THE YEARS OVER MY MY SPAN HERE AS MAYOR. I'M BASICALLY AGAINST THEM. BUT I RATIONALIZE THIS 1 IN 2 WAYS.

ONE, IT'S ALREADY A CHANGEABLE SIGN BECAUSE IT HAS THE ABILITY TO GO OUT AND HAVE THE LETTERS CHANGED. THEY CAN PUT ANY COLOR THEY WANT TO IN THE BACKGROUND WITH THAT PARTICULAR SIGN. BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THE BZA SYSTEM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO IS TO BRING NON-COMPLYING SITUATIONS INTO COMPLYING. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 11, I THINK THERE'S LIKE 3 OR 4 OF THEM THAT ARE HOUSE KEEPING TO GET THIS THING, NO MATTER WHAT SIGN THEY PUT ON IT. HERE'S HOW IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. AND SO WE WANT TO CORRECT THAT. IT'S ALSO A LOWER SIGN, AND IT'S ONE THAT HAS BEEN DISCIPLINED AS TO WHAT IT CAN DO AND CANNOT DO. IT'S ALSO A PUBLIC SERVICE. AS AN EXAMPLE, I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF HAVING SCHOOLS HAVE CHANGEABLE SIGNS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO ANNOUNCE EVENTS. IT'S A NONCOMMERCIAL ENTITY, AND I THINK THAT WE DO HAVE TO COME IN TO A DIFFERENT AGE HERE. AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR INSIGHTS FROM ANYONE ON THE COUNCIL HERE? NO. OKAY. SO DO I CALL FOR THE VOTE OR DO YOU CALL FOR YOU DO. OKAY. SO ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, I WOULD CALL FOR A VOTE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION CR01-26 APPEAL THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS GRANTING VARIANCES FOR A SIGN FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 164, LOCATED AT 3363 MCDOWELL ROAD. MR. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION SECOND? YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YEAH. SO THIS ONE'S A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE IN VOTING. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE VOTING FOR. YES. HERE WOULD OVERTURN THE DECISION AND NOT ALLOW THE SIGN THAT'S ON THE RIGHT. A NO VOTE WOULD AFFIRM OR ALLOW THE BZA DECISION TO STAND, AND THEY WOULD GET THE DIGITAL SIGN. SO YES. IS NO DIGITAL SIGN? NO IS DIGITAL SIGN. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? ALL RIGHT. SORRY. IT'S JUST USUALLY WE ALWAYS MAKE MOTIONS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. SO A YES IS A YES THAT APPEALS ARE WEIRD. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ALL CLEAR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I CALL THE VOTE? DID YOU GET A SECOND? I DID, THANK YOU. SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION KR 126, WHICH WOULD OVERTURN THE VARIANCE FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION SIGN. MR. BERRY. NO. MR. HOLT. YES. STURM. NO. BURROWS. YES. OMAR. YES. ANDERSON. YES.

KALINGA. NO. MOTION IS APPROVED. THE VARIANCE IS OVERTURNED. YEAH. OKAY. IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE? MR. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. OKAY. THAT CONCLUDES THE OUR NORMAL AGENDA. WE HAVE A MAYOR'S REPORT, SIR. NEW BUSINESS. I'M GOING TO DO THAT. I WAS GOING TO WE CAN WE CAN DO NEW BUSINESS FIRST WE HAVE WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THE THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS

[00:45:01]

GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. SURE. KYRA. MY NAME IS KYRA. PAUL, 4315 PROMENADE AVENUE.

YOU KNOW, I AM HERE TO WHAT RESOLUTION I'M ADDRESSING. THIS ORIGINAL RESOLUTION WAS DRAFTED BY MR. RANDY HOLT AT A TIME WHERE TENSIONS, UNREST AND FEAR ARE PLAGUING OUR CITY DUE TO SOME OF THE VERY AGENCIES THAT WERE MENTIONED IN THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION. YOU STATE THAT THIS CITY WILL COMPENSATE AND SUPPORT OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM BECAUSE OF A NEW BARGAINING UNIT AGREEMENT. I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC. WHAT THIS AGREEMENT DIDN'T INCLUDE WAS STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. SO WHY ARE WE INCLUDING THIS IN A RESOLUTION FOR GROVE CITY, YOU SPEAK OF NARRATIVES THAT VILIFY AND DEMONIZE OUR OFFICERS ONLY PUTS THEM AT GREATER RISK. WELL, PERHAPS WE SHOULD FOCUS ON ACTUALLY VILIFYING AND DEMONIZING LITERAL NAZIS THAT WERE WALKING DOWN OUR STREETS TWO YEARS AGO TO INCITE FEAR AND TERRORIZE RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE FROM SURROUNDING LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT WERE ENJOYING A COMMUNITY EVENT FOR AN ACTUAL, MARGINALIZED GROUP HERE IN OUR CITY. I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE REALITIES OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE HOW WE SHOULD BEHAVE TO OUR POLICE. I ALSO FIND THE TIMING OF THIS RESOLUTION INTERESTING. IT STATES THAT HAVING COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND RESPONDING TO ASSIST IN ANY LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IS TOP PRIORITY IN THEORY AND IN NORMAL TIMES.

SURE. NOW NOT SO MUCH. WE ARE ALL WATCHING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND YOU'RE A SITTING MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL, WHETHER YOU'RE ELECTED OR HIRED, THEN YOU'RE PRETTY WILLFULLY IGNORANT. THERE WE ARE, WATCHING PEOPLE BEING RACIALLY PROFILED FOR WALKING DOWN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS, WORKING AT TARGET, PICKING UP THEIR CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL AND MORE. THEY'RE BEING STOPPED, HARASSED AND RIPPED OFF OF OUR STREETS. THEY'RE BEING KIDNAPED. ICE IS ROUNDING PEOPLE UP BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, AND I THINK WE HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM ON OUR HANDS. DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN GROVE CITY USED TO BE A SUNDOWN TOWN? DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE TOLD THE PEOPLE OF GROVE CITY THAT WERE BLACK THAT THEY COULD GO LIVE IN THE VILLAGE OF URBANCREST? THAT WASN'T LONG AGO. AND NOW WE TREAT THOSE CITIZENS THERE IN THAT VILLAGE LIKE SECOND CLASS CITIZENS. THAT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO. BUT HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT VILIFYING AND DEMONIZING AND ASSISTING FEDERAL AGENCIES LIKE ICE WHEN THEY'RE WHEN THE NEED ARISES. MAYBE THAT WASN'T THE INTENTION WITH THIS RESOLUTION, BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IMPACT ALWAYS WILL OUTWEIGH OUTWEIGH YOUR INTENTION. I WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF YOU SITTING UP THERE TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOUR CHILDREN WERE TEN OR YOUNGER. SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE THEM. I WANT, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA REALLY EXPLAIN THINGS TO THEM IN A WAY THAT THEY'LL UNDERSTAND. AGE APPROPRIATE.

NOW IMAGINE TELLING YOUR CHILDREN THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CLAIM TO BE PROTECTING THIS COUNTRY, BUT IN FACT, THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE LIKE THEM AND THEIR DADDY THAT THEY COULD BE A TARGET OF RACIAL PROFILING. THEY ARE A TARGET FOR HAVING MORE MELANIN IN THEIR SKIN, KINKY OR CURLIER HAIR OR AN ACCENT. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, I'M THAT PARENT. I'M HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH MY CHILDREN. I'M EXPLAINING TO THEM THAT BECAUSE THEY AND THEIR DAD LOOK LIKE A CERTAIN WAY, THAT ICE COULD BE HARASSING THEM AND THAT THAT'S THEIR REALITY. FOR ME, THIS RESOLUTION WAS TONE DEAF AND UNNECESSARY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AND YOU DID. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE FEEDBACK, ALL OF YOU, AND CHANGING THIS RESOLUTION. I, I REALLY HOPE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? YOUR NAME, SIR? YOUR ADDRESS? MY NAME IS REVEREND RONALD CAMPBELL. I AM A RESIDENT IN WARD TWO, 4193 MAPLE GROVE DRIVE HERE IN GROVE CITY. AND YOU'RE SPEAKING UNDER NEW BUSINESS. THANK YOU. YES. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORS. I HAVE SERVED AS AN ORDAINED PASTOR IN THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS, AND I AM A GRADUATE OF LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, THE HOME OF THE MORAL MAJORITY. I MENTIONED THIS BACKGROUND BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE I'M COMING FROM. I'M A WHITE, HETEROSEXUAL, CHRISTIAN, MALE FATHER OF SIX, AND A HUSBAND.

I'M A FOURTH GENERATION CORRECTIONAL OFFICER AND A PROUD MEMBER OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY. I HAVE HUGE RESPECT FOR THE MILITARY. MY GRANDFATHER AND TWO OF MY GREAT GRANDFATHERS WERE PROUD COMBAT VETERANS IN WORLD WAR TWO WHO FOUGHT TO DEFEAT FASCISM. I WAS RAISED TO RESPECT THE BADGE, THE UNIFORM AND THE VALUES THEY REPRESENT. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON THE AFOREMENTIONED RESOLUTION OF KR 0326. I

[00:50:04]

FASCISM IS ON THE RISE IN OUR COUNTRY AND WE MUST BE VIGILANT. MY GRANDFATHERS FOUGHT AGAINST IT ABROAD, AND WE MUST NOT LET IT TAKE ROOT THROUGH OVERREACH AND INTIMIDATION. I IMPLORE YOU TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY, STAND WITH OUR LOCAL POLICE. STAND WITH OUR LOCAL FAMILIES. FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE SET BY OUR NEIGHBORS IN WORTHINGTON AND YOUR OWN RECENT LEADERSHIP. AMEND THE LANGUAGE. LET'S KEEP OUR OFFICERS FOCUSED ON GROVE CITY AND NOT WASHINGTON, D.C. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? PLEASE COME FORWARD. YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL NAME ADAM SIGRIST. ADDRESS 1419 RIVER TRAIL DRIVE, GROVE CITY, OHIO. 43123 KR 0326. I CAME HERE WITH REMARKS. I CAME HERE WITH A SPEECH. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE THAT SPEECH ANYMORE BECAUSE I SEE THAT LANGUAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED ON 0326, AND THAT LANGUAGE IS EXACTLY WHY I'M HERE. SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL. AT THE SIGNAL THAT DISCUSSION HAS TAKEN PLACE ALREADY BEHIND THE SCENES, SOMEONE'S ADVOCATING FOR A VOICE THAT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE MINE, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS REMOVED, BECAUSE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WE WENT OUT OF OUR WAY TO SAY LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT'S NO SECRET THAT THEY'RE HERE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO PREACH ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LISTEN. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T ASKED ALREADY, GO OUT AND ASK YOUR CONSTITUENTS WHO IS DISAPPEARED AND WHERE ARE THEY? AND LOOK CLOSELY. FOLLOW THE BREADCRUMBS, BECAUSE I AM CONFIDENT BEYOND A REASONABLE SUSPICION, YOU WILL FIND VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN OUR LOCAL DETENTION CENTERS. YOU WILL FIND CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS IN THEIR APPREHENSION, TACTICS, SQUASHING OUR FIRST AND FOURTH AMENDMENTS. THESE ARE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. AND NUMBER THREE, YOU WILL FIND CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THAT ARE UNLAWFULLY DETAINED AND BEING TARGETED WITH EGREGIOUS BOND REQUIREMENTS. SO MY ASK FOR YOU IS TO PLEASE LISTEN. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENING, GO OUT AND FIND THE FIND THE BREADCRUMBS. GO FIND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE DISAPPEARED, BECAUSE I CAN ASSURE YOU THEY ARE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE CHARLES AUSTIN. I'M JUST GOING TO GO DOWN THE LIST SINCE. ALL ARE WELCOME TO SPEAK. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHARLES AUSTIN. I LIVE AT 4285 BROADWAY, LOT D7, HERE IN GROVE CITY, OHIO. I WAS GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THINGS INVOLVING ICE AND BUT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS DID, YOU KNOW, WERE ELOQUENT AND PRETTY MUCH COVERED WHAT I WAS GOING TO COVER. BUT I WILL SAY THIS, I THINK ABOUT THE PRIMARY ELECTION COMING UP, AND I GUESS IT'S MARCH AND NOVEMBER. IS THAT WHEN THE PRIMARY IS MARCH MAY, IT'S MAY. OKAY, OKAY. BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE BEING HARASSED AT THE POLLS. AND THAT IS A DEEP CONCERN OF MINE,

[00:55:07]

THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS THE DAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY, AND YOU ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND HOW PRECIOUS IT IS. I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT YOU KNOW, IF IT'S THAT PRECIOUS, WE NEED TO PROTECT IT. AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I GOT TO SAY. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS, CHARLES. JACOB DILLY. MISS JACOB DILLY HERE. JACOB, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD? I'LL SAVE YOU SOME TIME. THREE. SIX. NINE. FIVE. HOME COMER DRIVE. RIGHT? YES.

ALL RIGHT. LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HERE TONIGHT, I CAME PREPARED WITH REMARKS. OBVIOUSLY, I KNOW THAT LANGUAGE HAS BEEN CHANGED, BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE THESE REMARKS.

AND SO I WILL. MY WIFE AND I CHOSE TO SETTLE DOWN IN THE CITY THAT I GREW UP IN AND AROUND, BECAUSE I KNEW THIS WAS A WALKABLE, AFFORDABLE, FAMILY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S NOT SYMBOLIZE A FAMILY FRIENDLY COMMUNITY. A GOVERNMENT THAT SHOWS SUPPORT TO A FEDERAL GOON SQUAD THAT ROUTINELY TEARS APART FAMILIES BASED ON THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN. NOW, THE RESOLUTION WAS VERY CAREFULLY WRITTEN, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY NOT MENTIONING ICE BY NAME AND COUCHING YOUR SUPPORT IN THE SUPPORT OF ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU CAN VERY EASILY VILIFY SOMEONE THAT WAS OPPOSED TO THE RESOLUTION AS BEING ANTI-POLICE, AS BEING ANTI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. AND SO LET ME BE CLEAR, THE ONLY FACET OF THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION THAT I OPPOSED, AND LUCKILY THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED IS THE CITY SUPPORTING THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OF ICE AND DHS. LIKE IT OR NOT, GROVE CITY'S IMMIGRANT AND NONWHITE POPULATION IS GROWING. 65% OF NEW RESIDENTS SINCE 2015 ARE NONWHITE, AND THEY ARE ALL VALUABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, OPENING BUSINESSES, WORKING JOBS, BUYING OR RENTING HOMES, ENJOYING OUR PARKS, AND CHOOSING GROVE CITY AS A PLACE TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES AND BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS CITY CHOSE TO CELEBRATE THIS DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT WHEN IT COMMISSIONED THE DIVERSITY COMMISSION IN 2022. SO TO PASS THE RESOLUTION AS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN, WHICH INCLUDES THE SPORT OF ICE, WOULD BE A SLAP IN THE FACE TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY WHO HAVE CHOSEN GROVE CITY, INCLUDING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. SUPPORT IS NOT ABOUT SUPPORTING PUBLIC SAFETY. AS OF DECEMBER, 73% OF THOSE DETAINED BY ICE HAVE NO CRIMINAL RECORD, AND 5% OF THOSE WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD HAVE A VIOLENT CONVICTION. IT'S NOT ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. BECAUSE OF THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION. MANY OF THOSE APPREHENDED ARE FULLY US CITIZENS THAT HAVE BEEN RACIALLY PROFILED BECAUSE THEY WERE GIVEN THE ABILITY TO RACIALLY PROFILE PEOPLE BY THE HIGHEST COURT IN OUR COUNTRY.

CITIZENS ARE BEING STOPPED WITHOUT CAUSE AND ASKED FOR PAPERS PROVING CITIZEN CITIZENSHIP LIKE WE ARE LIVING IN A FASCIST REGIME. THE DEMONIZATION OF SCAPEGOATING OF HARD WORKING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IS FURTHERED BY ISIS ACTIONS AND THEIR PROPAGANDA. AND IF YOU WERE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR SUCH AN AGENCY, IT WOULD SHOW THAT YOU SHARE. AND THEY'RE VERY RACIST GOALS. IF YOU WANT TO PASS A RESOLUTION SHOWING SUPPORT FOR OUR POLICE OR HIGHWAY PATROL OR OUR STATE'S NATIONAL GUARD, GREAT. DO THAT. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE IT. WE HAVE A GREAT POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE IN GROVE CITY, BUT DON'T LUMP IN THAT INTO THAT SUPPORT. SUPPORT FOR ICE AGENTS WHO GET FLOWN IN WITH BARE MINIMUM TRAINING OR SCREENING TO TERRORIZE OUR COMMUNITY AND RIP APART STRUGGLING FAMILIES WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AND THIS COMMUNITY FOR OPPORTUNITY. STAND UP FOR YOUR RESIDENTS AND DON'T GIVE IN TO THE HATE. FOCUS ON THE WORK THAT CONTINUES TO MAKE GROVE CITY A WELCOMING PLACE FOR ALL AND NOT A DIVISIVE, PERFORMATIVE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER HERE, CHAD. I THINK GIVEN THE TENOR OF THE PAST FEW MINUTES, WE'LL PASS TO THE YOU'RE GOING TO PASS. CHAD CAME HERE FOR THE YMCA. SO YOU'LL COME AT A DIFFERENT MEETING. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT COVERS EVERYBODY THERE, MAYOR.

[Call for Dept. Reports & Closing Comments]

AND WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY WAS YESTERDAY. I KNOW WHEN WE

[01:00:02]

[01:05:01]

DEFINITELY. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS? ALL RIGHT, MR. SMITH, ANY BUSINESS FOR THE COUNCIL? NO, SIR. THANK YOU, MISS KELLY. COUNCIL RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR A TRANSFER OF A LIQUOR PERMIT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AT 2360 STRINGTOWN ROAD. THIS IS JUST A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP. THE SAFETY DEPARTMENT DID NOT HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS. YEAH. DO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WISH TO REQUEST A HEARING ON THIS ISSUE? SEEING NONE, I WILL MARK IT. SO THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? NO, SIR. CLOSING COMMENTS, MISS BURROWS. YES. ON A MORE BRIGHT NOTE REGARDING OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR WONDERFUL POLICE DEPARTMENT, I WANTED TO REMIND AND BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT WE OFFER A CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY HERE IN GROVE CITY. I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING AND BEING A GRADUATE OF THIS IN 2025, ALONG WITH KIM OVER THERE, I SEE IS A GRADUATE AS WELL. THIS IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO FILL AN APPLICATION OUT. YOU DO HAVE TO BE 18 OR OLDER AND LEARN ABOUT ALL THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES HERE IN GROVE CITY. IT'S REALLY, TRULY INSIGHTFUL AS THE THE BEST WORD TO USE. THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 18TH AND THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY TEN WEEK, TEN WEEKS OF EDUCATION AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCES TO LEARN ABOUT THE DIVISION, ITS CAPABILITIES, PROGRAMS, BASIC LIFE SUPPORT WITH THE JACKSON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. SO PLEASE CHECK IT OUT. IT'S ON THE GROVE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE AND THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. MR. STRUM. ANY CLOSING COMMENTS? NO, NOT THIS EVENING. MR. OMAR, DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING COMMENTS, SIR, I DO, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAME AND SPOKE TONIGHT IN REGARDS TO RESOLUTION CR ZERO 326, I HEAR YOU, I STAND WITH YOU. AND AS A NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBER, I WILL SPEAK UP AND ADVOCATE FOR UNDERREPRESENTED AND MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE BEING ATTACKED THROUGHOUT THE NATION. I DO ALSO WANT TO ECHO WHAT MAYOR STAGE STATED TO ACKNOWLEDGE DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY, WHICH WAS YESTERDAY. DOCTOR KING CHALLENGED ALL OF US TO LEAD WITH COURAGE, FAIRNESS AND COMPASSION AND TO REMEMBER THAT JUSTICE IS SOMETHING THAT WE WORK TOWARDS EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE JUST TALK ABOUT. SO YOU ALL EXEMPLIFIED THAT HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAY THIS, THAT IT'S BUILT INTO OUR MESSAGE AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS WE CARRY OUT OUR TERMS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. AND I ALSO DO WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK GROVE CITY POLICE OFFICERS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, NOT JUST TO PROTECT US, BUT TO ALSO WORK TO HELP BUILD COMMUNITY. I ALWAYS GET HAPPY WHEN I SEE OUR OFFICERS THROUGHOUT GROVE CITY INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE AND NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, CONDUCTING TRAFFIC STOPS, BUT REALLY HELPING SHAPE GROVE CITY INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY. SO THANK YOU, MISS ANDERSON. THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS AS WELL.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MLK DAY YESTERDAY AS WELL. AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE ALL HONOR DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AND HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND SERVICE TO OTHERS. AND MAY HIS LEGACY CHALLENGE US NOT JUST IN WORDS, BUT IN ACTION, TO BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT IS ROOTED IN DIGNITY, UNITY AND HOPE FOR ALL. AND ON TOP OF THAT, I WANT TO THANK ALSO OUR SPEAKERS THAT DID COME IN AND STILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK. I KNOW AS SOMETIMES THE AGENDA CHANGES, MAYBE SOMETHING PUSHES OUT OR YOU THOUGHT IT WAS FOR FIRST READING BUT YOU STILL WANT TO SPEAK. I REALLY THINK EVERYBODY WHO STILL TOOK THE TIME TO SPEAK, AND I KNOW ALL OF THAT, IT GOES INTO AND THE WORDS YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU WOULD STILL COME FORTH AND, YOU KNOW, BRING YOUR WORDS TO US.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WITH THIS NEW COUNCIL, I AM NOW THE CHAIR OF THE PARK BOARD AND OUR THE FIRST PARK BOARD MEETING OF THE YEAR WILL BE THURSDAY. SO EXCITED FOR THAT. AND THEN I KNOW MR. BERRY WILL TALK ABOUT OUR UPCOMING WORK SESSIONS, BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THERE

[01:10:01]

I'VE HAD PEOPLE IN MY CLASS FROM PALESTINE, SOMALIA, EGYPT, VENEZUELA, ALL OVER THE WORLD.

OKAY, SO I HAVE A HEART FOR THOSE PEOPLE, OKAY? AND EDMUND BURKE SAID THAT THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH IS FOR SOME GOOD MEN TO BE QUIET. SO I CAN'T BE QUIET. AND I'M APPALLED AT THE FACT THAT MANY OF OUR GOOD FEDERAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE DEMONIZED, CALLING GOONS, GOON SQUAD PEOPLE, NAZIS AND OTHER AND FASCISTS. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. THAT FUELS THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING IN COUNTRY AND THE COUNTRY IN CERTAIN AREAS. AND I SAT HERE AND I LISTENED TO ALL THIS, ALL THE CANNED LEFT WING STUFF, AND I'M APPALLED. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. MR. HOLT. MR. HOLT, THE KNOCKING. ORDER, PLEASE. ORDER, PLEASE! ORDER, PLEASE! ORDER, PLEASE! MR. HOLT. NAZIS. SO, RESOLUTION. I'M GOING TO SPEND MY TIME ON CR 0326 AND TELL YOU THE STORY OF HOW I GOT IT HERE AND WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. SO, THREE WEEKS AGO, WHEN WE PASSED THE FOP CONTRACT. I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT'S A GOOD THING. AND WE TYPICALLY IN MAY PASS A RESOLUTION TO SHOW GROVE CITY POLICE SUPPORT. AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF WAITING TILL MAY. SO MY NAIVE SELF STARTED WRITING SOME OF THE WHEREASES IN THAT RESOLUTION, AND I REFLECTED UPON MY OATH OF OFFICE. AND IT'S THE SAME OATH OF OFFICE THAT IS TAKEN BY ALL CITY OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES AND POLICE, AND THAT IS TO SUPPORT AND OBEY ALL CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS. THAT'S WHEN I PUT THAT IN KR 326. IT'S IN MY OATH NOW.

SINCE THEN, OBVIOUSLY WE GET A LOT OF INPUT FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE, BOTH SIDES, SOME SUPPORT, SOME DON'T. THAT'S TOTALLY UPON AN INDIVIDUAL TO DO THAT. THAT'S FINE. BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE IT WORSE THAN IT NEEDED TO BE IN GROVE CITY, AND MAYBE PUT THAT IN THERE AND SPECULATE AND ALL THAT. SO THAT'S WHY I'VE RESUBMITTED ZERO 326 WITH ONLY GROVE CITY COMMENTS. BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT A RESOLUTION UP HERE THAT HAD CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL AND HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER NOT VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE THEIR OATH OF OFFICE SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPORT ALL THE LAWS OF THE LAND. SO I'VE TAKEN THAT OUT.

NOW, WHAT I WANT TO READ ARE JUST A COUPLE POINTS TO SHOW YOU THAT AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, GROVE CITY ALREADY WORKS WITH ALL KINDS OF STATE AND FEDERAL OPERATIONS. I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES. MANY, MANY CRIMES LIKE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, DRUG TRAFFICKING, AND ORGANIZED THEFT, CROSS JURISDICTIONAL LINES, JOINT OPERATIONS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF DISRUPTING THESE NETWORKS AND PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. GROVE CITY'S OWN POLICE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MULTI-AGENCY OPERATIONS AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING, DEMONSTRATING TANGIBLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS

[01:15:03]

COLLABORATING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS COUNTY SHERIFF, OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, FBI, AND OTHERS MEANS A UNIFIED FRONT AGAINST THREATS, WHETHER IT'S RURAL OR URBAN. AND THIS WILL CONTINUE. COOPERATION WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT ENFORCEMENT. IT'S ABOUT PREVENTION, PROTECTION, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WITHIN THE LAW TO KEEP GROVE CITY SAFE AND PROSPEROUS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

MR. BERRY, I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY EXTEND WHAT YOU'VE HEARD UP HERE, MRS. MISS ANDERSON. AND FIRST OF ALL, WE YOUR VOICE CAN ALWAYS BE H WANTE WANT YOU TO VOICE YOUR OPINION IN AN ORGANIZED WAY, WHICH YOU ALWAYS DO AND AND EVERYTHING. BUT I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT WE DO APPRECIATE IT. WE DO WANT EVERYBODY TO BE HEARD. WE DO WANT YOU TO COME WITH YOUR COMMENTS. AND AS MISSY MENTIONED, WE DO KNOW THAT IT TAKES AN AMOUNT OF COURAGE AND ORGANIZATION ON YOUR PART TO PREPARE THOSE COMMENTS, AND WE REALLY RESPECT THAT. BUT AS A COMMUNITY, MY TURN, MY TURN, MY TURN AS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS ALWAYS AS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS ALWAYS LED WITH KINDNESS TO OTHERS, I WANT TO CONTINUE DOING THAT. AND AND HAVING EVERYBODY PLEASE, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF YOUR OPINIONS, YOU KNOW, LISTEN TO EACH OTHER EVEN IF YOU DON'T AGREE. ALWAYS BE KIND AND AND AND COURTEOUS TO THE TO OTHER PEOPLE AND WHICH WE WHICH WE HAVE ALL TRIED, WHICH WE ALL TRY TO DO. AS FAR AS OUR NEXT MEETINGS, I WANTED TO KIND OF OUTLAY THAT A LITTLE BIT TO YOU. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY THAT ARE GOING TO START AT 530. THE FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE A GOALS MEETING THAT WE ADDRESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY HAVE THE COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION TALK ABOUT THE GOALS FOR 26, 27 AND GO OVER THOSE, AS IT'S ALSO BEEN COMMENTED UP HERE. AS SOON AS WE GET DONE WITH THAT, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO TAKE 1 OR 2 MEETINGS. IT COULD BE A THIRD MEETING. AND IN MARCH WE'RE GOING TO DELVE RIGHT INTO THE THE RECREATION CENTER. THAT COULD HAPPEN AT THE SECOND MEETING. WE WILL DEFINITELY LET YOU KNOW AT THE END OF THE FIRST MEETING IF WE'RE READY TO DO THAT AT THE SECOND MEETING.

SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT. I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THE CONVERSATION WILL GO AND HOW MUCH MORE CONVERSATION WE'LL NEED. YOU GOT. EVERYONE IS ABSOLUTELY INVITED TO THAT. AT THE END OF EACH OF THOSE MEETINGS, WE'LL DEFINITELY HAVE OPEN COMMENT FROM THE FROM THE FROM RESIDENTS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS WE AS WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK COUNCIL DID I COVER EVERYTHING THERE AS FAR AS THE NEXT MEETINGS, I THINK I DID. I JUST AGAIN WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT AND

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.