Mason City Council on Jan. 13 approved a package of ordinances and resolutions that update city fees, accept subdivision work, authorize service agreements with local nonprofits, approve multiple fleet purchases and formally backed the Ohio Municipal League’s challenge to an AT&T tariff filing at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

The most consequential finance-related action was Ordinance 2025-1, which establishes the city’s 2025 fee schedule by applying a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) — previously set for city wages — to fees and charges for services. City Manager Eric said the COLA “initially applies to wages for non-union employees” and that the fee schedule is the administrative vehicle to apply that 2.5% change to user charges; minor rounding adjustments may be applied to avoid fractional-dollar fees.

Council also took routine development actions: Ordinance 2025-2 accepts the public improvements for the Ainsley subdivision (19 single-family lots, Ainsley Drive) contingent on a standard one-year maintenance bond, and Ordinance 2025-3 approves the final plat for the Ivy Lane subdivision (approximately 15 acres, 37 single-family lots) after planning commission contingencies are satisfied.

Two longstanding nonprofit service agreements were renewed. Ordinance 2025-4 authorizes an $8,000 service agreement with the Mason Historical Society (a program relationship dating to 1993 that includes certain membership benefits for community center premier members). Ordinance 2025-5 authorizes an $8,000 service agreement with the Warren County Humane Association (the city’s participation began in 2002); councilmembers discussed whether the annual $8,000 cap should be revisited and noted that such a change would likely go to the finance committee.

Council approved five fleet-related ordinances (2025-6 through 2025-10) to replace older equipment and vehicles: an Alamo Mantis boom mower ($319,383), a 2026 Freightliner M2 dump truck ($112,295), a truck bed/salt V-box and automated ground-speed salt controller ($154,940), a package of light vehicles including one Ford F-350, one Ford Maverick hybrid and two Ford Police Interceptor utilities ($186,182), and a Toro Groundmaster mower for golf course operations ($106,118). Staff said the 2025 budget included contingency for fleet replacement and that purchases would draw from the general fund except the golf mower, which is charged to the golf fund.

On taxation and cash flow, Resolution 2025-3 authorized the city to request tax advances from the county auditor under Section 321.34 of the Ohio Revised Code; City Manager Eric said the authorization enables local cash flow improvements and earlier interest return to local taxpayers.

Council added and unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-4 — presented by the Ohio Municipal League (OML) — in support of the OML’s challenge to AT&T’s tariff application at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Eric described the issue as affecting relocation costs in the public right-of-way: the filing under consideration would, if allowed, shift certain utility relocation costs from utilities to local roadway projects. He warned that the change could “have enormous impact on lots of communities throughout the state” and said the resolution was intended to alert state decision-makers before the commission’s scheduled consideration.

Votes were recorded by roll call for the ordinances and resolutions. Many items drew only brief staff explanation and unanimous council approval during the meeting.

What council did not decide: the meeting recorded multiple informational items (a city manager report, community recognitions and a presentation by the Warren County Park District) and set a public hearing date (Feb. 10) for a rezoning read previously (Ordinance 2024-101 around Heritage Presbyterian Church). No new public hearings were held during the session.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025-1 (Congratulating Mason High School Girls Tennis Team): adopted after suspension of rules (roll call recorded as affirmative).
- Resolution 2025-2 (Congratulating Mason High School Boys Cross Country Team): adopted after suspension of rules (roll call recorded as affirmative).
- Resolution 2025-3 (Request county auditor to make tax advances pursuant to Ohio Rev. Code §321.34): adopted (roll call recorded as affirmative).
- Ordinance 2025-1 (Establish 2025 fee schedule; declare emergency): adopted (suspension and adoption same night).
- Ordinance 2025-2 (Accept public improvements for Ainsley subdivision; release performance bonds): adopted, contingent on standard one-year maintenance bond.
- Ordinance 2025-3 (Approval of final plat for Ivy Lane subdivision): adopted, subject to submission of required subdivision contract and performance bond and a public-access easement on open space B.
- Ordinance 2025-4 (Service agreement, Mason Historical Society, $8,000): adopted.
- Ordinance 2025-5 (Service agreement, Warren County Humane Association, $8,000): adopted.
- Ordinance 2025-6 (Purchase of Alamo Mantis boom mower, $319,383): adopted.
- Ordinance 2025-7 (Purchase 2026 Freightliner M2 dump truck, $112,295): adopted.
- Ordinance 2025-8 (Truck bed, snowplow, V-box and automated ground-speed salt controller, $154,940): adopted.
- Ordinance 2025-9 (Vehicles: F-350, Maverick, 2 Interceptor utilities, $186,182): adopted.
- Ordinance 2025-10 (Toro Groundmaster mower for golf course, $106,118): adopted.

Why it matters: The package includes annual housekeeping (fee schedule, tax-advance request) and capital renewals that affect city operations, maintenance capacity (fleet), and small-dollar community partnerships (nonprofit service agreements). The OML resolution illustrates a potential statewide policy change that could shift utility relocation costs onto local road projects; council's action puts Mason on record opposing that change.

Council typically approves routine development items and equipment purchases by suspending the rules and adopting on first reading when staff recommends it; several items on Jan. 13 followed that pattern.