Tipp City Council Takes More Time on Cannabis Regulations
Last week, this publication was proud to roll out a new YouTube Channel where our readers, or anyone else who happens to stumble upon this work, can watch videos of local government meetings throughout Miami County. The whole purpose was to provide one centralized location where our friends and neighbors can find these meetings, provide comments, and learn more about the decisions their local governments are making. You can check our our YouTube channel here!
And the new channel has also challenged me to watch how other local governments are operating and provide an opportunity to tell their stories to our readers; especially those communities that tend to fly under the radar, like Tipp City.
Tipp City, a charter city, is the smallest of the cities of Miami County, but what tends to lack in size, it certainly makes up for in stability. After a huge residential growth spurt in the 1990s (the number of residents of Tipp City grew by over 50% from 1990 to 2000), the city has spent much of the last decade working on industrial and commercial development. It has turned itself into a growing and stable community.
That stability was on full display as their City Council met earlier this week. A quick 20-minute affair that was a routine yet productive session that highlighted some projects, along with the city's ongoing governance and community engagement.
Like most local governmental meetings, a significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to resolutions and ordinances addressing various city matters. Among the notable resolutions was the approval of a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Key changes included adjustments to call-in pay compensation, the addition of Juneteenth as a holiday for employees, and wage scale modifications based on a recent study.
The council also passed resolutions related to infrastructure improvements in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). These included resurfacing projects on Main Street (State Route 571), with ODOT covering 80% of costs for an extended section, leaving the city responsible for approximately $45,000. Such initiatives demonstrate Tipp City's proactive efforts to maintain and enhance its infrastructure while leveraging state partnerships.
Additionally, the council introduced an ordinance imposing a one-year moratorium on permits for adult-use cannabis operators within Tipp City. The City previously approved a one-year moratorium in December 2023 and this extension allows the city more time to evaluate recreational marijuana's potential impact and aligns with its cautious approach to new regulatory challenges. While a community can’t simply pass moratoriums forever, the city obviously feels that they need more time to make a decision. Obviously, seeing what other local communities are doing (Piqua and Troy are taking competing approaches for the time being) and what might come from the state legislature in the future will factor in a final set of regulations will be for Tipp City.
Community engagement was a recurring theme throughout the meeting. It was beyond refreshing to see several council members highlighted opportunities for residents to contribute to local governance by applying for openings on boards and commissions such as the Board of Zoning Appeals and Tree Board. These appeals emphasize Tipp City's reliance on citizen involvement in shaping its policies and initiatives. Individuals in Tipp City that want to serve on these boards can learn more about serving opportunities and apply here! Of course, serving on a board or commission is a great way to learn how your local government works!
The meeting also reflected seasonal goodwill and community spirit. Council members extended holiday wishes and encouraged acts of kindness during this time of year. They also acknowledged contributions from community members, such as long-serving volunteers on the Tree Advisory Board and residents expressing gratitude for completed projects like alley paving; a family brought cookies to the meeting to express thanks for the paving project.
Good things are happening in Tipp City.
What Do You Think?
How do you feel about Tipp City? And local hot spots our readers should know about? If you are a proud Tipp Citizen tell us about your hometown! Our paid subscribers are more than welcome to leave their ideas and insights in the comment section. If you want to write a full opinion piece, without the limits of word counts or paywalls, this publication has a policy of publishing all submissions. Just send your ideas and insights to pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com
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