Hello Worthington! Here's your recap of what happened at June 1's City Council meeting. Below are brief summaries of the most significant discussions. For those interested in the full details, we've included links to longer articles where appropriate.
Closing this week: The Worthington Together comprehensive plan survey closes Wednesday, June 3. This is the public's last chance to weigh in through the current online survey at worthingtontogether.org. After it closes, the community committee will finalize its recommendations, which go to a joint meeting of the Municipal Planning Commission and City Council on July 6, then to the Planning Commission, and likely back to Council in September, so additional chances to comment are still ahead.
Recycling renewed with Rumpke
City Council awarded Worthington's recycling-processing contract to Rumpke, the only company to bid, in an agreement that runs from 2027 onward and keeps the city's net recycling cost roughly where it sits today. Rumpke can charge the city up to $35 per ton to sort the material and pay back up to $20 per ton, depending on commodity-market prices; residents aren't billed separately, since the cost runs through the city's operating budget. The vote sets up a larger decision still coming this year, when the city rebids its overall waste collection and weighs whether to add curbside food-waste pickup.
In Other News
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Around the City
New sidewalks coming to Worthington Council pointed residents to COTA's May LinkUS progress report, which includes a fully funded Worthington Sidewalk Gaps project: 1.33 miles of new sidewalk to close gaps and improve safety and connectivity, with the entire $1.43 million covered by LinkUS. Design runs through 2026 and 2027, and construction will be phased between 2027 and 2029.
Sanitary sewer repairs are headed out to bid. Council granted permission to bid a sewer rehabilitation program, with about $200,000 budgeted in 2025, to fix sewers flagged through camera inspections for cracking, water infiltration, and root intrusion, plus several spot repairs. The city hopes to award a contract before its July recess.
The outdoor pool's cost did not just go up. City staff clarified that recent news coverage referred to a cost increase that was actually settled last year when construction contracts were approved, not a new increase, and that it does not add to the property-tax amount voters approved. Construction continues.
Ozem Gardner House rehab nearly finished. The Cemetery Board reported the rehabilitation is nearly complete, with a few site-plan surprises being resolved, and is on track to open for tours this fall.
Boards & Commissions
- Two reappointed to the Community Relations Commission. Council reappointed Charles Fannin and Shawna LaRue Moraille, whose terms expired at the end of May.
- New Communications Director. Aubrey Hale was introduced as the city's new Communications Director. She started May 26, joining Worthington from the City of Grandview Heights, where she was Director of Administration.
Looking Ahead
Public hearings set for June 15. Council teed up four items for public hearings at its June 15 meeting: a final plat and right-of-way dedication at 1012 High Street; funding for a traffic-signal battery-backup program; replacement of 28 benches on the Village Green; and a rezoning of 700 Morning Street from low-density residential to a Veterans Memorial district (the American Legion Leasure-Blackston Post 239 site).
E-bikes back on a future agenda. Council noted that e-bikes will return as a discussion topic at an upcoming meeting.
Upcoming Dates
- Wednesday, June 3 (TODAY!) — Last call for input: the Worthington Together comprehensive plan survey closes. Weigh in at worthingtontogether.org.
- Monday, June 15, 7 p.m. — City Council public hearings on the four items introduced June 1 (see "Looking Ahead" above). At the Worthington Municipal Building, 6550 N. High Street.
- Tuesday, June 16 — Parks & Recreation Commission. The commission advises the city on parks and recreation programming
- Monday, July 6 — Joint meeting of the Municipal Planning Commission and City Council on the Worthington Together recommendations, the next step after the survey closes.
Thanks for reading this summary of the City Council meeting, you can watch the original full video here