At Monday night’s meeting of the Plain City Village Council, Mayor Darrin Lane offered his annual State of the Village address.
“We look forward to a strong 2019 for our village,” Lane said.
Lane began the speech noting the village added about 100 new homes in 2018, with construction costs of about $20 million.
He said development and investment activities continue at “a strong pace.”
He said there is a lot of interest in the village by developers and business owners.
“I don’t know how many people stop in the office every day,” Lane said.
He added that Plain City, “continues to see an upward movement of revenue and income.”
The mayor explained the village’s recently adopted comprehensive plan will, “guide and manage growth for the years to come.”
“Now the village is embarking on the exciting journey of implementing that plan,” Lane said.
As part of that, the mayor explained the village is “the final stages of garnering approval from the EPA (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency) to partner for the extension and expansion of future water and sewer needs as it continues to grow.”
Before the meeting closed, council approved a final reading of the legislation approving a petition to allow Columbus to supply water and sewer service to Plain City.
Plain City’s approval was the last step before the application is submitted to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The City of Columbus and Madison County have already approved the petition.
OEPA officials have said that since the plan does not include any portion of Union County outside the village, Union County’s approval is not necessary. Union County officials say they disagree and have been unwilling to sign the petition unless it includes a written assurance that Columbus will not annex Union County land.
In his speech, Lane said water and sewer rates have stabilized with no increase proposed.
The mayor also said 2019 “marks a significant investment by the village in infrastructure, development and improved services.
Lane highlighted improvements being made or ready to begin on Maple, Main and Gay streets.
He said improvements are being made at the park and the village pool.
Lane said plans are moving forward for a new municipal building to house village offices and the police department.
He also noted progress of the police department. He said a storage facility was built to house equipment and evidence and the new K-9 program is “proving worthy with criminal arrests of those from outside our village increasing.” The mayor said Police Chief Dale McKee has also “successfully incorporated more outreach programs.”
As part of her report, council president Kerri Ferguson said the village is moving forward with a plan to create a charter commission.
“We will be looking for charter members in the future,” Fergusson said.
Village solicitor Paul Lafayette said he is looking into the process and timelines of a charter commission.
“There isn’t a lot of guidance in the statutes regarding the charter issue,” Lafayette said.
Ultimately, it will be up to village residents to approve the creation of the charter committee and its members.