The Winchester City Council convened for its regular meeting on January 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM, addressing several key agenda items, including budget updates, school board reports, and public hearings on proposed ordinances.

The meeting commenced with a report from the council, highlighting the successful budget workshop held the previous Saturday, which was well-attended and prompted engaging questions from participants. Residents were encouraged to visit the city’s budget webpage for ongoing updates.

Following this, the council received a report from the school board, which had met the night before. The board recognized Mary Kate Cornish as the division teacher of the year for her work in teaching English as a second language at Daniel Morgan Middle School. Additionally, the school board reported a clean audit and approved a mid-year pay increase of 1.5% for certified teachers, amounting to $430,000. They also reviewed and approved the capital improvement plan for 2025 through 2029.

The council then moved to public hearings, beginning with the second reading of an ordinance amending various sections of the city’s motor vehicles and traffic code. Corey McKnight presented the ordinance, noting that the only update since the last meeting was the addition of a table of fines for clarity. The public hearing was opened, but no comments were received. The council subsequently voted unanimously to approve the ordinance.

Next, the council addressed another public hearing regarding the issuance of water and sewer system revenue bonds, not exceeding $14 million, to fund capital improvement projects for the utility system. Harry Eisenach confirmed that there were no changes since the first reading. During the public hearing, resident Jack Dansley raised concerns about the materials used in sewage lines and potential environmental risks associated with microplastics and PFAS. The council acknowledged his questions but did not provide immediate responses.

The meeting concluded with the council's commitment to addressing the raised concerns in future discussions. Overall, the session highlighted the council's ongoing efforts to engage with the community and address critical infrastructure needs while recognizing achievements within the local education system.