On the agenda: Urbana 07-07-2026 Council Minutes — data center (Jul 7)

¥) APPROVED

URBANA CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR SESSION MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026

President Paul called the City of Urbana Regular Session Meeting to order at 6:00 pm at the County
Building — 1512 S. US 68.

City Staff attending: Director of Administration Spencer Mitchell, Director of Finance Matt
Wellbaum, Mayor Bill Bean, Community Development Manager Doug Crabill, Fire Chief Dean
Ortlieb, and Police Chief Josh Jacobs

President Called Roll: Ms. Jumper, present; Mr. Scott, present; Mr. Davis, present; Ms.
Truelove, present; Mr. Thackery, absent; Mrs. Collier, present; and Mrs. Bean, present.

Minutes

Mr. Scott moved to put the minutes of June 16, 2026 on the floor for discussion and possible
approval. Ms. Jumper seconded.

Council did not have any comments/questions.

Voice vote on approval of the minutes: all ayes; nays none.
Communications: None

Administrative Reports — Board of Control: None

Citizen Comments:

Brad Winner, Sr. — 277 S. Dugan St.

Mr. Winner asked for a motion for an additional five minutes. Ms. Jumper made the motion to
grant Mr. Winner an additional five minutes. Ms. Truclove seconded.

Mrs. Bean stated she would appreciate it if everyone would stay to the allotted five minutes.
Voice vote on an additional five minutes: Ms. Jumper, Mr. Scott, Mr. Davis, Ms. Truelove ayes.
Mrs. Collier, Mrs. Bean nays. Granted 4-2.

Mr. Winner thanked Council for the room. He called on Mayor Bean, Mr. Crabill, Mr. Carter and
Mr. Feinstein to resign. He stated the Thor lawsuit said they manipulated the system with their
help.

Mr. Winner addressed the mention of recalls for who knew what and when. He stated these are
not personal, solely based on behaviors on how the City got into this and how to get out of this.
He stated it is very clear that the City manipulated the situation for the developers. He claimed it
was a breach of job duties breaching for failing to keep Citizens safe.

Mr. Winner stated the lawsuit states Thor was working with the City until the City withdrew its
support. He added that Thor and the City worked together to create and expand CRA #2. Nr,
Winner showed the PUD that showed development knew there would be only one use. He added
that using a PUD requires hearings, while switching to a principal use avoids having those.

Erin Patton — 944 S. Main St.

Ms. Patton wanted to talk about transparency. She stated that she wants to actually see something
get changed.

Ms. Patton stated folks asked about data centers and were lied to. She believes there is a thin line
between what you can do and what you should do, adding that remaining silent is not what you
should be doing.

She wanted Council to make good on archiving the videos, stating a lot of this getting lost. She
also stated that people should not have to go to the pinboard in the lobby for other City committee
meetings. She wants to see the minutes for BZA, Planning Commission, etc. posted publicly. Ms.
Patton stated it has been several months and she has been more than patient.

Summer Woodburn — 780 Campground Rd.

Ms. Woodburn had a question about communication. She stated that it is common knowledge that
some Council members don’t even know how to get into their City e-mails.

She stated she will be at every meeting with a plea. She stated she is scared to think her future and
her children’s futures are in Council’s hands and doesn’t know if she can trust them. She asked
Council to fight.

Ms. Woodburn shared comments she made to the County Commissioners and stated Council owes
it to people inside the City and outside to stand up and fight.

Judy Page — 231 Sylvan Dr., Delaware

Ms. Page stated she was here on behalf of Cedar Bog. She urged the City to fight for Cedar Bog.
Ms. Page addressed Thor’s remarks in the newspaper. She addressed the claim that people are
spreading lies, exaggerations and miscommunications. Ms. Page wanted to know what lies they
are referring to, as all the different lawsuits against data centers show the people aren’t
exaggerating.

Connie Flanly — 97 Heritage Dr.

Ms. Flanly stated she has read most of what everyone has been speaking about. She stated she
was concerned with the City government as she stated they have not been concerned about the
health, safety, and welfare of the community.

Ms. Flanly stated she is almost 80 and only 0.4 miles away from the proposed data center. She
doesn’t want to move. She wants the City to fight this. She added that people live here because
it’s a rural community.

Amy Knueven — 4076 Urbana-Moorefield Rd.

Ms. Knueven thanked Council for the room change. She stated that Mr. Crabill spoke on the
positives of data center at the moratorium committee. She claimed his only positive was money.
Ms. Knueven asked if money is so important, why has the positive economic development of
everything else declined based upon data centers entering communities.

She stated that Thor would not be employing local contractors for its construction. She stated the
City is being sold out as money is more important.

Nicole Nawman — 835 S. Main St.

Ms. Nawman thanked Council for the venue change. She stated she lives a half a mile from the
proposed data center. She added that Champaign County has been in the lead for banning data
centers in Ohio. She stated Champaign County was the first county to get 5%, 10% and also the

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additional buffers. She stated the County has met its goal and she will continue to help other
counties meet theirs.

She referred to polls that show 70% don’t want data centers in their communities. She asked any
City of Urbana registered voters to see her after the meeting.

James Cropper — 527 Railroad St.

Mr. Cropper gave everyone a copy of their oath of office.

He stated that tonight will offer a bit of reality. He stated that the time to play nice is over and
there would be no sugarcoating.

He added that it is very disheartening when people try to silence those speaking out.

Mr. Cropper urged Citizens to claim their five minutes. He indicated that he carefully chose
language because it was not vulgar. He added that the aggression came out when President Paul
tried to wrongfully silence him and he was not going to apologize.

Mr. Cropper stated that a couple of meetings ago, Brad Winner Sr. asked if Council was ready to
set the record straight. He stated that if Council doesn’t think Mayor Bean won’t throw them under
bus to save himself, they’ve got another thing coming.

He added that there are people out there who care about defending the City against the data center.
He stated that right now, the City of Urbana is facing three law suits. He stated if anyone is
registered to vote in the City of Urbana, find him for the mayoral recall.

ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

Third Reading:
Ordinance 4634-26: An ordinance to adopt the City of Urbana, Ohio Cybersecurity Program in
accordance with Ohio Revised Code §9.64. (Three readings required)

Mrs. Collier moved to put this ordinance on the floor for discussion and possible passage. Ms.
Jumper seconded.

Mrs. Bean stated this is definitely needed for the City and the plan was very comprehensive.

Roll call on passage: Mr. Scott, yes; Mr. Davis, yes; Ms. Truelove, yes; Mrs. Collier, yes; Mrs.
Bean, yes; and Ms. Jumper, yes.

Ordinance passes 6-0.

Second Reading:
Ordinance 4636-26: An ordinance to adopt the City of Urbana, Ohio Investment and Depository
Policy. (Three readings required)

Mrs. Bean moved to put this ordinance on the floor for discussion. Ms. Truelove seconded.

Mr. Wellbaum stated the Urbana City Charter had guidelines but not an official policy. He stated
this policy states what the City can and cannot invest its money in. He added that it will allow the
City to invest in US treasuries and the like.

Mrs. Bean asked if there was someone selected to do the investments. Mr. Wellbaum said it would
be directed by the City. He added that they have a firm in mind, but they have not officially gone
with them yet.

President Paul declared this ordinance to have had its second reading.

First Reading:

Resolution 2736-26: A resolution enacted by the City of Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio to
authorize the Director of Administration to submit an application to the Ohio Department of
Natural Resources under the Round 32 Natureworks Program for park improvements and to sign
the grant agreement and proceed with these improvements upon grant award, and declaring an
emergency. (One reading required)

Mr. Scott moved to put this resolution on the floor for discussion and possible passage. Ms.
Truelove seconded.

Mr. Crabill stated that this is the Natureworks program through ODNR. He added that the City
has had numerous grants completed through this program. Mr. Crabill stated the City was waiting
on its actual allocation for Champaign County before they could applym which came to $32,724,
with a matching requirement of $10,908. He added that the project would be the replacement of
fencing at the City pool.

Mrs. Bean stated that the statement on the grant for improvements at Melvin Miller is for fencing.
Mr. Crabill confirmed it was, specifically for the pool.

Roll call on passage: Mr. Davis, yes; Ms. Truelove, yes; Mrs. Collier, yes; Mrs. Bean, yes; Ms.
Jumper, yes; and Mr. Scott, yes.

Resolution passes 6-0.
Department Liaison Reports:

Mr. Davis stated he talked with Dr. Smith regarding Point North. He stated that there will be night
fishing on select days.

Miscellaneous Business:

Mrs. Collier suggested a work session to discuss CRAs. Council decided to add a work session
after the next Council meeting to discuss CRAs on July 21. Voice vote on work session: all ayes,
nays none.

Ms. Truelove spoke to properties that need attention. She stated there was one on North Main
Street in bad shape. She stated that she has been getting complaints about it. She wanted to know
how the City can make progress as it needs to be addressed. She added that there was also another
property on Hagenbuch.

Ms. Jumper stated that the past several months have been challenging for all of us. She stated she
was elected to represent her constituents. Ms. Jumper stated that she understands the Law Director
has reasons for not being here, but this was now two meetings in a row. She added that she
submitted a proposed resolution on June 30th and did not get any response. Ms. Jumper claimed
Council should have legal representation at every meeting, as the City may lose precious time.
Ms. Jumper gave each Council member a copy of the resolution to review and asked how to
proceed moving forward.

Mayor Bean suggested Ms. Jumper contact him if she has an issue with Mr. Feinstein as he is his
employee.

Mr. Mitchell wanted to thank the volunteers and participants at the airport festivities this weekend.

Chief Ortlieb stated that the Fire Division reviewed all the fireworks. He stated they started
planning back in May and all the firework plans were submitted to the State. He added that they
inspected all the fireworks and made sure the zoning was safe. Chief Ortlieb stated this was one
of the better fireworks with community involvement, calling it a great show for Urbana.

Chief Jacobs wanted to thank UCS Superintendent Charles Thiel for his service to the community.
Mr. Thiel worked with Chief Lingrell to bring the School Resource Officer program to the schools.
Chief Jacobs stated he has already met with new Superintendent Carla Shaw even though she
hasn’t officially started yet.

He also wanted to remind everyone traveling through the downtown area on bikes, e-bikes, roller
skates, etc. that they can’t be on sidewalks in the downtown business districts.

Finally, Chief Jacobs stated the City did not have a violent weekend during Fourth of July. He
added that the City was fortunate to not experience any type of shootings or death, stating the
Police Division always plans for the worst but hopes for the best. He also wanted to take the
moment to thank the police officers patrolling during the holiday celebrations.

Mrs. Collier moved to enter executive session. Ms. Jumper seconded. Voice vote: all ayes, nays
none.
Council entered executive session at 7:06 pm.

Ms. Jumper moved to exit Executive session. Ms. Truelove seconded. Voice vote on exiting: all
ayes, nays none.
Council exited Executive Session at 7:26 pm.

Ms. Jumper moved to adjourn. Ms. Truelove seconded. Voice vote on approval: all ayes, nays
none.

ADJOURNED AT 7:26 p.m.
NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING

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