ThisWeek CW 01/16/2014
Canal Winchester City Council voted in new leadership and made some changes to committees and representatives to partner organizations at its first meeting of the year Jan. 6.
Following the swearing-in of new and returning council members by Mayor Michael Ebert, member Steve Donahue thanked everyone for allowing him to serve as council president over the past two years.
“I want to thank the past members for their service and say how much I appreciate how everyone worked together. I’d also like to welcome the new members, Will Bennett and Jim Wynkoop,” Donahue said.
Councilman Rick Deeds was elected to serve as council president for the next two years with Councilman Joe Abbott serving as vice president; both were voted in unanimously.
Members also unanimously approved committee assignments during the meeting. Those assignments include:
* Finance committee: Rick Deeds as chairman, Joe Abbott as co-chairman; Steve Donahue and Bobbie Mershon.
* Service committee: Joe Abbott as chairman, Will Bennett as co-chairman; Jim Wynkoop.
* Safety committee: Bobbie Mershon as chairwoman, Jim Wynkoop as co-chairman; Marilyn Rush Ekleberry.
* Council rules committee: Will Bennett as chairman, Bobbie Mershon as co-chairwoman; Joe Abbott.
* Economic and community development committee: Steve Donahue as chairman, Marilyn Rush Ekleberry as co-chairwoman; Rick Deeds.
* Canal Winchester Human Services: Joe Abbott as council’s representative, Jim Wynkoop as alternate.
* Destination: Canal Winchester: Steve Donahue as council’s representative, Will Bennett as alternate.
* Canal Winchester Industry and Commerce Corp.: Marilyn Rush Ekleberry and Steve Donahue.
* Canal Winchester Joint Recreation District: Bobbie Mershon and Joe Abbott.
Ebert also asked for the approval of two new appointees to fill vacancies on city commissions left by Bennett and Wynkoop due to their election to city council.
Council unanimously approved the appointments of longtime resident Joe Wildenthaler to the Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission and Ronnie Woodrow, who recently purchased the historic Merchants and Cherry Hotel at 67 N. High St., to the Landmarks Commission.
“Joe and his family have been residents since the early 1970s. Ronnie and his family recently moved into 67 N. High St. and are in the process of rehabbing the property,” Ebert said. “He has also relocated his realty business to a portion of the building and told me he’s rehabbed nearly 50 homes over the last dozen or so years and has become very familiar with the process and cost involved to do so.”
All appointments and assignments begin immediately.
The next city council meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 21, instead of the usual Monday because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 10 N. High St.