CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Chillicothe City Council indefinitely postponed a plan to lease the Foulke Block for new council chambers during its Sept. 28 meeting, while approving $135,000 in opioid settlement funds for two local programs and advancing new equipment purchases for the fire department and municipal court.
Council members voted to postpone indefinitely a resolution that would have authorized Mayor Feeney to negotiate a lease with the owners of the Foulke Block, 14 S. Paint St., for new council chambers, meeting rooms and office space. The proposal, which council first considered in August, would not have committed the city to a lease but would have let the mayor negotiate terms, including renovation and build-out costs.
In other business, council adopted two ordinances appropriating OneOhio opioid settlement funds: $35,000 to the Paper City Mentoring Project and $100,000 to the Ross County Community Action Commission. Both measures passed with all eight members present voting in favor.
Council also authorized the city auditor to reallocate appropriated funds between salary and fringe-benefit line items for the remainder of 2026, and passed an emergency ordinance appropriating $20,000 for postage expenses at the Chillicothe Municipal Court.
Members waived the standard three-reading rule to approve an ordinance authorizing Mayor Feeney to enter into a financing agreement with Stryker Sales LLC for two LIFEPAK 35 cardiac monitors and related equipment for the Chillicothe Fire Department. Council also converted a part-time law clerk position to a full-time position, with both measures passing as emergencies.
The meeting drew heavy public turnout, with more than a dozen residents addressing council during audience participation. Many raised concerns about electromagnetic fields and other effects from proposed data centers planned for the area, while others spoke in support of U.S. Paper Mill’s planned restart of paper production at the former mill site. Mayor Feeney told the audience the city’s building department had not yet received any data center zoning applications.
Council also held an executive session from 7:06 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. before returning to open session and continuing the regular agenda.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Chillicothe City Council.
