Hilliard · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hilliard public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Senior Van Program Eligibility
Home and Hilliard helps seniors age in place but charges $300 memberships some seniors can't afford. Council funded $35,000 and required at least ten scholarships, while noting only 85 service requests were made last year.
Grant program criteria and accountability
Council wrestled with fuzzy rules all afternoon — whether salaries can be funded, how to verify Hilliard residents benefit, and whether repeat applicants become too reliant. Next year's applications will need line-item budgets and resident-service numbers.
2027 Community Grants Program distribution
Council decides each year how to split $200,000 among local nonprofits. This year it gave out $166,000, favoring long-standing Hilliard institutions and food security, and declined requests that would pay individual salaries or fund service clubs, churches, and media.
Old Hilliard water line replacement
The city is hiring Burgess & Niple for five years to design replacements for aging pre-1960s cast-iron water lines in Old Hilliard — $117,000 this year for Wayne Street, Main Street alleys, and Norwich Street work that goes to construction next year.
Street lighting and light pollution
A new $75,000 street light maintenance program starts with Fairway Commons, and Council Member Vermillion raised whether the city should address light pollution — staff confirmed there's no dark-sky ordinance but agreed to study it.
Road, culvert, and intersection projects
The city has never systematically inspected culverts smaller than 10 feet, and some could pose real risks. A new $150,000 contract will inventory, map, and assess them so problems get fixed before roads fail.
Hampton Reserve Ditch Maintenance
Routine stormwater inspection found the city responsible for downstream ditch work near Hampton Reserve; the Franklin County Engineer will do it for up to $101,833.
Pedestrian/bicycle mobility and safety program
The city landed $1.2 million in ODOT construction funding to replace a narrow four-foot sidewalk over I-270 with a real shared-use path, with construction targeted for spring 2028.
Heritage Trail Extension land acquisition
The city is chasing state grants to help fund a roughly $600,000 trail connector between Municipal Park and the Hilliard Wellness Campus.
Destination Hilliard program cuts
Budget constraints are forcing Destination Hilliard to pause two popular events — Galentine's and the Bunny Hop — for 2027, though the Coffee Festival drew over 10,000 visitors.
Youth sports background checks
The Recreation and Parks Commission reviewed the city's background-check policy for volunteer coaches in leagues like HOSA and Optimist, including regular audits — legislation could come to council soon.
Tax levy certification deadline
Council had to pass the annual tax levy certification ordinance tonight or miss the county's October 31 deadline, so they suspended the normal two-reading process and passed it 7-0 the same night.
2027 Capital Improvement Budget
Council got its first look at a roughly $33.9 million 2027 capital budget. About $5 million should come back in grants. Full department presentations were pushed to the next committee-of-the-whole meeting, with a second reading November 9.
Circle K gas station at Roberts and Alton Darby
Council had to decide whether to fold a corner parcel into the Alton Place C-7 sub-area, effectively moving the planned Circle K from the southwest corner of Roberts/Alton Darby to the northeast corner — closer to apartments and townhomes but farther from the Hamilton Ditch stream restoration and better for right-in/right-out traffic. Text changes staff opposed were denied.
Recycling changes: orange bags discontinued
Because demand is too low, the orange recycling bags the city has been promoting will no longer be collected starting at the end of February 2027.
Residential deck and porch variances in older Hilliard neighborhoods
Two homeowners in older Hilliard neighborhoods needed variances because their lots are shallower than modern zoning standards allow. Both got unanimous approval, showing the board treats older-plat lots with flexibility when additions don't change neighborhood character.
Engineering second deputy city engineer
Engineering wants a second deputy city engineer to oversee transportation and mobility, bringing the department to twelve staff. The gas tax holiday may eventually trim the street fund revenue the department relies on.
Stop-loss insurance renewal
The city's annual stop-loss insurance renewal with Anthem comes in at a 3% increase, capped at $941,000, after two years of minimal or zero increases.
Cancelling the Purdy Bull CRA tax incentive agreement
A tax incentive agreement is being cancelled because the business was sold to a national chain that won't meet job requirements.
2027 Operating Budget
The proposed 2027 operating budget is balanced, with modest department increases and investments in staffing and service levels. Council will take final action later in October after a public hearing.
Employee Compensation Study Implementation
The city's first comp study in over five years recommends tightening pay bands, raising range maximums 5%, and restructuring positions — including adding a public service operations manager and an economic development administrator.
Police staffing increase and dispatch costs
Police are asking for two more officers (finishing a four-officer staffing study recommendation) and a third lieutenant. Dispatch costs drop slightly, but a $250,000 regional CAD system upgrade is being split among NREC member cities.
Street sweeper replacement
The city is replacing a 2017 skid loader and an aging chipper (one has been out of service for two months, forcing rentals). The old chipper will be kept as a backup.
Gasoline tax holiday impact
Council Member Vermillion asked about the state gas tax holiday — so far no effect on Hilliard, but it will likely hit the General Fund and street maintenance funding down the road.
Hilliard Recovery Court funding
The Law Department is requesting a $169,800 transfer from the General Fund to keep the Recovery Court program running in 2027.
Sustainability coordinator position
A proposed new position (roughly $100,000 with benefits, salary $68,000–$90,000) sparked debate over whether it should be a coordinator or a leadership role advancing initiatives like solar power. City Manager Rauch said the job description isn't finalized.
Cemetery Road corridor growth
Negotiations with the Wendy's and Mill Run owners have stalled, so Council approved the formal step that allows eminent domain if deals aren't signed by June 1.
Yetsi property rezoning and Tarleton Meadows traffic
A 69-lot conservation subdivision next to the Heritage Trail won unanimous support, but neighbors say the single-entrance pattern in their area breeds speeding and cut-through traffic.