Minutes

Oakwood City Council Work Session

November 17, 2025

The Council of the city of Oakwood, Ohio, met in a work session on Monday, November 17, 2025, in the conference room at the city building, 30 Park Avenue. The Mayor of the City, William Duncan, presided.

Council members in attendance were Mayor William Duncan, Vice Mayor Steve Byington, Rob Stephens, Leigh Turben and Healy Jackson. Staff in attendance were City Manager Katie Smiddy and Law Director Rob Jacques.

Mayor Duncan called the work session to order at 5 p.m. and led a discussion on the following agenda items:

  • COUNCIL COMMITTEES
    • Finance, Vice Mayor Byington
      • BRC Resignation: Mrs. Smiddy updated Council on the recent resignation of BRC member Bill Meyers. Council discussed several candidates to fill the vacancy, which evolved into a longer discussion about Council Committee positions and appointments to the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.
    • Public Utilities/Waterworks/Sewer, Mrs. Turben
      • Lead and Copper Letters: Mrs. Smiddy advised Council that annual lead and copper letters will be sent out by November 25, consistent with EPA requirements.
    • Safety & Traffic, Mr. Stephens
      • Electric Scooters: Council discussed issues with e-scooters and e-bikes, which have been the subject of numerous complaints recently.
  • REGIONAL AGENCIES
    • MVCC, Mr. Stephens
      • MVCC Street Light Contract: Mrs. Smiddy updated Council on MVCC’s negotiations for a new street lighting contract. The new agreement will have a seven year term instead of five, with a rate opener at the end of year five. Miami Valley Lighting will finish replacement/conversion to LED lighting by the end of 2026.
  • MISCELLANEOUS
    • Mrs. Turben updated Council on the recent business walk. She is focused on looking at vacancies and parking signage. In addition, there will be roundtable events in the future and a press release about the results of the walk, and the City will continue to work with Montgomery County’s Business First group.
    • Mrs. Smiddy informed Council that she is taking on the role of Treasurer for the Mayors & Managers group.
    • Mrs. Smiddy updated Council on a recent meeting of the Beautification Committee and changes that they want to make to their holiday lighting award process.
    • Mrs. Jackson noted that only one or two Council members will be available for an upcoming tour of the Oakwood Historical Society’s archives in the basement of the City building, and suggested postponing the event.