The Bellefontaine City Council met Tuesday evening, moving forward with the potential sale of the Armory building located on the corner of E. Lake and S. Main while also hearing updates from City officials, community leaders, and residents.
Council approved the first reading of an ordinance authorizing the sale of the Armory property to Wawa Corporation for $550,000. The offer includes demolition and removal of the existing structure at the company’s expense. The motion passed on first reading, with council members Wes Easton and Mick Lyle voting against it. Easton said he would prefer the City obtain an independent appraisal before proceeding.
In his report, Mayor David Crissman encouraged greater participation in the upcoming Memorial Day parade, noting that additional entries are needed to ensure a strong tribute to fallen service members.
Service-Safety Director Wes Dodds thanked the over 60 volunteers who took part in the recent Earth Day and Downtown Spring Cleaning event and commended those working on improvements at Harmon Field.
Law Director Josh Stolly reported that the City is reviewing potential legislation regarding golf carts and e-bikes, ensuring any future ordinances align with state definitions before being presented to council.
Police Chief Chris Marlow announced a Police Memorial Parade and Event scheduled for May 9 as part of National Police Week. He also noted that the department is actively interviewing candidates for open positions and that the City’s K-9 units, including therapy dogs and Pyro, have been recertified.
The Police Memorial Parade and Event will begin at the intersection of Auburn and Main headed north. There will be a special flag raising at the intersection of Columbus and Main. The parade will continue to Brown Park where the memorial event will take place with Judge Estes as the keynote speaker.
Logan County Chamber of Commerce President Ben Vollrath provided updates on local education and workforce initiatives, highlighting the upcoming Bellefontaine High School “Three E’s” signing day, where graduating students will announce whether they plan to enroll in college, enlist in the military, or enter the workforce. He also noted the expansion of Majestic Plastics into the former AccuSport Building. The move will allow for the hiring of additional quality candidates.
Downtown event coordinator Olivia shared details on upcoming events, including a Mother’s Day Mom’osa Stroll event being held on Saturday, May 9th from 10am-2pm and the Pineapple Palooza that will take place on Saturday June 6th starting at 2pm, both aimed at boosting downtown activity.
Additionally, the Council’s Rules Committee announced it was decided to not suspend the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) during the Top of Ohio Cruisers Hot Summer Nights event in August.
During the citizens comments portion of the meeting, Tom Rynolds spoke in support of ongoing improvements at Harmon Field, emphasizing the positive impact the project will have on local youth and the broader community. He also praised the recent KidsFest event held at Bellefontaine High School. Rynolds expressed interest in working with local officials and organizations to introduce parenting classes aimed at supporting families and benefiting children in the community.
Tom Stevens, representing the Logan County Chronicle, also addressed council. A former reporter for the Bellefontaine Examiner, Stevens said he hopes to continue fostering a strong relationship with City officials in his new role. He added that the Chronicle is expected to begin printing and distributing editions in early May.
Several ordinances were given various readings:
Ordinances for First Reading:
26-20: An ordinance authorizing the Service-Safety Director and Mayor, on behalf of the City of Bellefontaine, to sell that certain City-owned real estate known as the Armory pursuant to Section 721.28 of the Revised Code. Motion to pass on first reading only. Council members Wes Easton and Mick Lyle voted no. Motion carried.
26-21: An ordinance making supplemental appropriations and amending the Permanent Appropriations Ordinance for purposes of revolving loan housing incidentals and West TIF construction. Motion to pass on first reading only.
Ordinances for Second Reading:
26-15: An ordinance making Supplemental Appropriations and amending the Permanent Appropriations Ordinance for purposes of Capital Equipment-Recreation Improvement. Motion to pass on second reading only.
26-17: An ordinance authorizing the Service-Safety Director to seek proposals and/or advertise for bids and enter into a contract with the selected contractor and/or bidders for the 2026 Citywide Street Resurfacing Project 2026-01R. Motion to pass on second reading only.
26-18: An ordinance authorizing the Service-Safety Director to advertise for bids and enter into a contract for the 2026 Street Painting & Striping Project 2026-2R in the City of Bellefontaine, Ohio. Motion to pass on second reading only.
Ordinances for Third Reading
26-13 – An ordinance authorizing and granting to Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio, Inc., its successors and assigns, a gas franchise in the City of Bellefontaine, State of Ohio, for a period of twenty-five (25) years, automatically renewing for additional periods of five (5) years. Ordinance adopted.
26-14 – An ordinance vacating a portion of that certain North-South public alley between lots 2781-2786 on the west and lots 2792-2796 and that certain 0.173-acre tract owned by Logan County Metropolitan Housing Authority on the east in the City of Bellefontaine, Lake Township, Logan County, Ohio. Ordinance adopted.
The council will revisit pending legislation and continue discussions on community initiatives at future meetings.