LIMA — Lima City Council met Monday for the last regular session of 2022. A number of ordinances, resolutions and committee reports were on the agenda.
Ordinance 240-22 was on its second reading. It would authorize the auditor to make a one-time payment of a discretionary bonus to city workers who performed essential work during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. It was passed with six votes for and one (Council President John Nixon) against.
Nixon, who has not favored the ordinance since its inception, feels there are better ways to spend the taxpayers’ money. A lot of people went to work every day through the pandemic and they are not being compensated, he said.
Another ordinance, 265-22 on its second reading, would authorize Mayor Sharetta Smith to apply and receive funds from the Bloomberg Philanthropies for the public arts challenge. It also passed with a 6-1, again with President Nixon the only nay vote.
Ordinance 278-22 will make preliminary appropriations for current and ordinary expenses for the city beginning at the first of the year until the annual appropriation ordinance is in force.
There were five ordinances allowing the mayor or city employees to enter into contracts with businesses such as Shelly Company and to contract with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc for a study of bio solids management at the wastewater treatment plant.
Ordinance 281-22 was placed on a second reading. There were some concerns about entering into a two-year contract with Re-Deck of Northwest Ohio. Concerns were brought up by Council President Dixon and councilor Carla Thompson. It was decided it was best to move the ordinance to a second reading allowing time for concerns to be addressed.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
