City council OKs sale of $8.3 million in general obligation bonds
The Worthington City Council on Monday authorized the issue and awarded the sale of $8,280,000 in general obligation bonds.
The bond issue includes financing to reimburse the city for various improvement projects, including Church Avenue, Second Avenue, Third and Fourth avenues, East Ninth Avenue, Murray Avenue, Ray Drive and the Oxford Street Service Road. Worthington City Administrator Steve Robinson noted that the bonds are being issued for a term of 15 years.
Rebecca Kurtz of Ehlers Public Finance Advisors was present at the meeting for the bid award. She explained that nine bids were received, with the lowest coming from Piper Sandler Companies of Minneapolis at a rate of 3.71 percent. Kurtz added the highest rate of the nine bids came in at 4.15 percent.
Prior to council's action on the matter, Kurtz congratulated the council and city staff on receiving an AA- bond rating from Standard & Poor's rating agency. Councilman Mike Kuhle inquired as to what's keeping the city f rom getting a better rating, and Kurtz replied "demographics," clarifying shortly afterward that she was referring to the city's statistics for income, median wages, housing values and more, and not its population.
"I probably see this in 97 percent of the communities I share rating reports with," Kurtz said.
In the agenda item that immediately followed, the council heard a presentation from Memorial Auditorium Performing Arts Center Managing Director Tammy Makram about what has been happening at the facility. Makram, who's now starting her 12th year in her job, spoke about strong attendance for a recent kids' theater camp, a backstage construction project and new projection system, and the recently announced 2026-27 season. She also said she's welcoming ideas on ways to mark the auditorium's 100th anniversary in five years, and added that it's the 120th anniversary of the Steinway grand piano in the building.
After Makram's presentation, the council approved a resolution accepting the donation of a professional theater projector purchased by Friends of the Auditorium.
Also Monday, council members approved the second reading of a proposed ordinance that provides regulations for the use and operation of electric-assisted bicycles within the city.
The vote to approve the reading followed a brief discussion which began with Kuhle asking for a clarification on what types of bicycles would be permissible on the bike trail.
"If it has pedals and pedals are needed to operate it, it’s legal on the trail," Robinson said. While electric-assisted bikes will be legal, those that are equipped with motors that don't require pedaling will not be.
A third and final reading on the ordinance is expected at the council's first September meeting, followed by its required legal posting.
In another administrative matter Monday, council members approved the first reading of a proposed ordinance regarding the imposition of civil penalties for liquor license violations.
The proposed ordinance establishes a graduated penalty structure for violations by liquor licensees and provides a consistent process for imposing penalties. The ordinance is authorized by state statute and provides that prior violations occurring more than 36 calendar months before the most recent violation will not be considered when determining successive violations.
The proposed penalties are as follows: First violation -- $1,000 civil fine; Second violation: $1,000 civil fine and a weekend suspension of the liquor license; Third violation -- $1,000 civil fine and a seven-day suspension of the liquor license; and Fourth violation: -- revocation of the liquor license.
The proposed ordinance also establishes procedural requirements when a suspension or revocation is proposed. No suspension or revocation would become effective until the licensee has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing.
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