Portsmouth City Council has a little bit of everything waiting for members Monday night: street money, another $50,000 for Mound Park, new park and campground fees, more Fire Department spending, and $300,000 in adolescent-health grant funding. We’ve already discussed many of these issues in previous articles.
Council meets at 6 p.m. Monday, October 12, at Portsmouth City Hall. There is no public hearing scheduled, but citizens who registered with the city clerk can speak on agenda items near the beginning of the meeting. 10-12-2026 Council Agenda
$1.5 Million for Street Work
The biggest dollar figure on Monday’s agenda is $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Council is being asked to accept the Community Project Funding money and place it into the city’s Engineering Street Resurfacing Capital Improvement Fund.
The legislation says work on the project is already underway, so the administration is asking council to waive the usual three readings and pass it as an emergency.
This is the federal funding connected with the Walnut Street rehabilitation project we’ve been following.
Another $50,000 for Mound Park
Mound Park is back on the agenda as well.
Council will consider an additional $50,000 appropriation from the Capital Improvement Fund for the playground’s rubberized surface.
That wording — additional appropriation — is worth noticing because this is not the first city money directed toward the playground project.
The Mound Park work has become one of the city’s more visible improvement projects, and Monday’s vote would put another $50,000 toward completing the playground surface.
Fire Department Wants Another $33,000
Three Fire Department accounts are also up for additional funding on second reading.
Council is considering:
- $5,000 more for uniforms
- $18,000 more for service contracts
- $10,000 more for EMS
That’s $33,000 in additional appropriations altogether. Because this is the second reading, the proposal has already been before council once.
Another Community Development Employee
Also up for a second reading is funding for a second position in the Community Development Department.
The agenda does not spell out the job title, salary, or total cost of adding the position, only that council is being asked to authorize the appropriations needed to fund it. 10-12-2026 Council Agenda
That could be one worth listening for when the legislation is discussed.
Camping and Park Fees Could Change
If you use city recreational facilities, two different fee changes are moving through council.
On second reading is an ordinance updating Riverfront Campground fees. The agenda itself does not list the proposed new prices.
A separate ordinance getting its first reading would update the daily rental costs for city parks.
It would also clean up the city code by removing Spartan Stadium, Branch Rickey Park and the ballfields from the rental-fee section because the city no longer owns them.
$300,000 for Adolescent Health
The city is also being offered an Ohio Department of Health grant worth $100,000 a year for three years.
That adds up to $300,000 for the Adolescent Health Resiliency program.
Because the ordinance simply accepts grant money, the administration is asking council to waive the three-reading rule and approve it as emergency legislation Monday night.
Tax Rates Also on the Agenda
Council will also consider the annual resolution accepting the tax amounts and rates determined by the Scioto County Budget Commission and certifying the necessary tax levies to the county auditor.
After the legislation, council will hear comments on matters not listed on the agenda, followed by reports from the city clerk, city manager, mayor, solicitor, auditor and individual council members.
