New electric vehicle charging stations and proposed sidewalk discussed at city council

Oxford City Council approved the installation of two new electric vehicle charging stations and listened to a presentation from the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities during its March 3 meeting.

Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ 2025 update

Patricia Dawson, public relations coordinator for the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities, gave a presentation on how the board has supported 4,293 residents in 2025 from infancy to adulthood.

Services start with individuals three-years-old and younger, where disabilities can be diagnosed early and developmental milestones can be evaluated. The board assists individuals as they go through school and continues to help in adulthood. They manage basic needs, transportation, assistive technologies and employment. The board is also responsible for protecting disabled individuals from abuse and neglect.

Federal funding pays for 60% of the board’s expenses while property tax revenue pays for the remaining 40%. The board saw an increase in expenses in 2025, possibly because of the increase in Butler County residents.

In September, the board declared a fiscal emergency, limited the services they provide and stopped all cost-of-living raises for their staff. A levy to increase property taxes that help fund the board’s services will be on the ballot in May. Raising property taxes now may help save money in the future.

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“For every dollar spent on early intervention, seven dollars in savings is realized in adulthood support,” Dawson said.

Community members discussed proposed sidewalk

Community members continued discussion of the proposed construction of a sidewalk on Olde Farm Road. During the city council’s Feb. 20 meeting, four homeowners opposed the sidewalk and its estimated $153,000 cost.

T.J. Meloy and Allison Meloy are both blind residents who support the sidewalk and the safety and ease of movement it would provide. T.J. Meloy used examples of how he has to walk in the street to exit the neighborhood and how garbage trucks and other vehicles prevent him from reaching landmarks that orient him.

He criticised his neighbors and their use of a newspaper article instead of the city council video recording to obtain their information. His wife, Allison Meloy also expressed disappointment in her neighbors not consulting the couple when drafting the proposal they sent to council. She said that any improvements would not only help disabled people, but all residents.

“As people with disabilities, we are the experts in what we need,” Allison Meloy said. “Our voices and experiences matter, and our input is not optional; it is essential.”

Oxford resident Allen Pantle spoke in place of Marcus Jobe, an affected homeowner who was unable to attend the meeting. Pantle said that Jobe wants to help people, but he also wants to consider alternative solutions. Pantle shared Jobe’s objections to the cost of the sidewalk and how much homeowners would have to pay.

Oxford to receive new electric vehicle charging stations

Six new fast-charging electric vehicle charging stations will be installed in Oxford. Four of the stations will be installed near the Uptown parks on High Street, and the other two will be located at the Municipal Building’s northern parking lot.

The Ohio Department of Transportation awarded Oxford $905,000 for the installation of the charging stations. The city will be responsible for the purchase of two electric transformers, and the funds have been added to the budget appropriations.

Oxford Service Director Michael Dreisbach presented this resolution and said the city may be able to enter an agreement with Duke Energy to get the transformers at a lower cost.

“We’re working with Duke [Energy], hopefully we can agree to a 60/40 split on the cost,” Dreisbach said. “They’re interested in selling power and we’re interested in saving money so hopefully we come to an agreement.”

Councilor and former Oxford mayor William Snavely said the charging stations could bring people to Oxford and boost the local economy.

“When you get [an electric vehicle], you get an app and they tell you where the fast chargers are. And where the fast chargers are is where you want to go,” Snavely said. “And then you’ll have lunch at one of the uptown businesses or you’ll shop at one of the local stores.”

City council will meet again at 7:30 p.m., March 17 at the Oxford Courthouse.

pfennikp@miamioh.edu