Hello Worthington! Here's your recap of what happened at the December 1st City Council meeting. Below are brief summaries of the most significant discussions, with links to full articles where you can dive deeper.
Council Approves Full Pool Project with All Upgrades
In the evening's longest discussion, council approved all six optional upgrades to the outdoor pool project, bringing the total cost to just over $19 million. The additions include a splash pad, a second water slide, additional bench seating, epoxy restroom flooring, a covered concession area, and additional tree screening along State Route 161. The extra $1.1 million beyond the revised budget will be financed through a future bond issuance. Construction means there will be no outdoor pool operations during summer 2026.
Swim Inc. Lease Agreement Introduced
An ordinance authorizing the city to lease the new outdoor pool to Swim Inc. for operations was introduced and is scheduled for public hearing on December 8th. The nonprofit, which has operated Worthington's pool for 70 years, will handle day-to-day operations and set membership rates to cover operating costs—maintaining the current model without taxpayer operating subsidies. The city has secured two seats on Swim Inc.'s board and established oversight provisions in the lease.
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Workforce Housing Incentive Program Advances
Council moved forward with an innovative tax abatement program designed to encourage affordable housing development while protecting the city's tax base. The program requires new mixed-use developments to generate commercial payroll to qualify for residential tax incentives—a unique approach among Central Ohio communities. Staff will bring a formal resolution for adoption on December 8th.
Historic Fourth Championship for TWHS Field Hockey
Mayor Scott Holmes presented Resolution 46-2025, honoring the Thomas Worthington High School field hockey team, who won their unprecedented fourth consecutive state championship, a first in Ohio high school field hockey history. The team dominated this year's state tournament, outscoring opponents 23-1 across five games and finishing the season 22-1. Head coach Terri Simonetti-Frost called this championship run, her ninth in 27 seasons at Thomas, the toughest yet.
In Other News
Budget Approved: Council passed the 2026 operating budget and approved funding for several community organizations including the Historical Society, Worthington Partnership, McConnell Arts Center, Chamber of Commerce, and Veterans Alliance.
Capital Improvements: The 2026-2030 Capital Improvements Program was adopted, adding $1.1 million in bonds for the pool project upgrades and $250,000 for Kenyon Brook sewer improvement design work.
Dispatch Services Renewed: Council approved a three-year renewal of the city's 911 and dispatch services contract with Dublin's Northwest Regional Emergency Communication Center.
Trail Towns: Worthington was selected as an inaugural member of the Trail Towns of Central Ohio pilot program, facilitated by MORPC.
Recycling Update: City Manager Stewart reported that SWACO recently bid out the project for recycling processing, which determines where recyclables go after collection, but encountered issues with the bids that were received. Consequently, SWACO recommended that participating communities reject these bids, and the City of Worthington has indicated its support for this rejection. The project will now be rebid, and city staff intends to bring the new results back to the City Council once the process is complete.
Upcoming Dates
- December 19: Worthington Together comprehensive plan survey closes
Thanks for reading this summary of the City Council meeting. You can watch the full meeting video here.