Central Ohio Weekly News Brief — July 5 to July 12, 2026

Quick teaser: Sunbury residents submitted 450+ signatures on July 6 to place a 25-megawatt cap on data centers on the November ballot. Hilliard was named a Top7 Intelligent Community for a fourth consecutive year and will compete for the global title at October’s ICF Summit in Columbus. Mifflin Township saw Michael Watkins, 40, held on a $1.5M bond in the July 1 blunt-force-trauma death of a 7-week-old infant on Divot Place.

Sunbury

Local organizers delivered more than 450 signatures to city offices on July 6 — well over the 172 required — to place a measure on the November ballot that would cap data centers at 25 megawatts of electricity usage; the petition is now with the Delaware County Board of Elections for verification (ABC6/WSYX). A broader statewide effort missed the July deadline, making Sunbury the region’s active data center ballot fight.

• Council progressed Ordinance 2026.20 to establish a downtown DORA following the July 1 hearing, with proposed hours of 2 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday (City of Sunbury).

• Ordinance 2026.19 for the $10 million “Local Provision” mixed-use development at West Granville Street and Sunbury Meadows Drive remains under consideration.

Hilliard

The Intelligent Community Forum on July 6 named Hilliard a Top7 Intelligent Community for the fourth consecutive year, citing excellence in broadband, digital inclusion, and innovation; Hilliard will compete for “Intelligent Community of the Year” at the ICF Global Summit in Columbus this October (City of Hilliard, Columbus Region).

• A ~35-day single-lane restriction began July 6 on Leppert Road over Hayden Run for retaining wall and sidewalk construction (Hilliard Gov Facebook).

• Residents raised safety and environmental concerns at an AEP Ohio open house July 8 about Amazon’s proposed fuel cell use for regional data center expansion (Save Ohio Parks).

• Hilliard Arts Council opened “Pippin” July 9 while the “Celebration at the Station” concert series hosted a Taylor Swift tribute band the same night; the Roberts Road bridge closure and Norwich Township $11.2M Fire Station 84 construction continue.

Worthington

City Council and the Municipal Planning Commission held a joint meeting July 6 to consider the Charter Review Commission’s 37 recommendations, most notably a proposal to merge the Municipal Planning Commission, ARB, and BZA into a single Municipal Development Commission; five ordinances (Nos. 19-2026 to 23-2026) are being finalized for a July 20 public hearing and November 2026 ballot placement (Worthington Pulse, City of Worthington).

• Sharon Township and Worthington held a preliminary hearing July 6 on the JEDD amendment adding the Tree of Life Christian Schools property, with the joint public hearing follow-up on July 13 (Sharon Township).

• The America 250 reading of the Declaration of Independence took place on the Worthington Green July 8; Worthington Farmers Market and Art Off the Green ran July 11; West Nile mosquito surveillance continues.

Mifflin Township

Michael Watkins, 40, appeared July 10 for a preliminary hearing on murder charges in the July 1 death of 7-week-old Diamond Phillips; a judge maintained his $1.5 million bond while investigators and the coroner continue to examine the blunt-force-trauma death at a Divot Place residence (10TV/WBNS, Columbus Dispatch).

• The Board of Trustees held the 2027 tax budget public hearing July 6 (Mifflin Township).

• The grand opening of the Gahanna Civic Center — which will house the Mifflin Township Police Department — has been further delayed into mid-July after a water leak was discovered on top of the previously reported electrical remediation.

• Daveonte Dixon’s sentencing in the 2025 officer shootings remains delayed.

Gahanna

A 21-year-old Gahanna resident and recent high school graduate was killed in a Madison County I-70 semi crash on July 6; truck driver Bekhzod Asrarov was released from custody without bond after his July 10 Madison County arraignment (NBC4, Columbus Dispatch).

• Council on July 6 introduced legislation to award a waste service contract to Rumpke of Ohio and to authorize funding for the Friendship Park playground replacement.

• The $59M Civic Center opening remains delayed into mid-July as crews finish electrical remediation and address a newly discovered water leak.

• Community events included the July 8 Gahanna Market at Creekside Plaza and a July 10 “Cinema Under the Stars” at Friendship Park.

West Jefferson

Village Council on July 6 approved Resolution 26-045 placing Charter Review Commission changes on the November 2026 ballot and Resolution 26-044 authorizing a bow hunting program on designated village lands through a partnership with The Nature Conservancy and ODNR (Village of West Jefferson agenda).

• The Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated the July 5 I-71 fatal crash involving the 21-year-old Gahanna resident and a semi (Navbug).

• West Jefferson police launched the 2026 “Cram the Cruiser” school-supply drive July 3, following the three-day “America Strong” streetfest.

• Construction on the $400,000 Tolles Regional Fire & EMS Training Facility was reaffirmed after inclusion in the state capital budget (Dublin Chamber).

Reynoldsburg

The Request for Information for broadband and fiber network development closed July 6 at 5:00 p.m., and the city has begun evaluating potential fiber partners (City of Reynoldsburg). The $30 million, 100-unit CMHA affordable housing project at the former PNC Bank site continues to move ahead after the June 29 Council vote.

• The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 53-year-old Reynoldsburg resident on July 8 after an online child-exploitation investigation with The Decoy Project (Dayton 24/7 Now).

• A community reading of the Declaration of Independence was held July 8 at the YMCA as part of America 250-Ohio (America 250-Ohio).

Grove City

At its July 6 meeting, Council approved a second phase of the 2026 Sidewalk Program and expanded the Sanitary Sewer Backup Prevention Program to help homeowners with recurring basement flooding, then reviewed a community center feasibility study comparing a $75-$93M YMCA expansion to a $89-$108M purpose-built facility; Council voted to postpone action on related Charter amendments until February 2027 (City of Grove City).

• Event resolutions CR-21-26 through CR-23-26 were approved for the GCHS Alumni Softball Tournament, Homecoming Celebration, and Grove City Town Center Bourbon & Spirits Festival.

• South-Western City Schools’ Board met July 9 to continue work on the $220 million no-new-millage bond for the November ballot (South-Western Schools).

• Hoover Road $2.2M pedestrian bridge over I-71 continues; Hoover NB detours remain in place through mid-August (WOSU).

Dublin

At its final meeting before the July recess, Council approved the amended OSU Wexner Medical Center economic development agreement, tying a new 150,000-square-foot medical building to a construction start by 2031 (Hoodline). The 5-2 vote establishing the ID-6 Research Transition District — which removed data centers as a permitted use in the West Innovation District — was formally recorded.

• The city launched a new food truck pilot program July 9 with 12 designated public parking zones through March 2027 (Dublin Chamber).

• A 55-hour I-270 closure near the Roberts Road bridge began July 10 for maintenance work.

• Final Dublin City Schools redistricting maps for the 2027-28 year now address Jerome High School enrollment imbalances.

Groveport

The Groveport Senior Center held its community open house on July 10 to celebrate reopening at the Groveport Recreation Center, showcasing expanded services under new full-time staffing hours (Columbus Messenger).

• The 2026 Street Maintenance Program began July 6 with alley repairs and drainage work on Hilly, Raver, and Shoemaker alleys.

• ODW Logistics’ 864,000-square-foot next-generation distribution center on the Lockbourne/Groveport border is fully operational following the recent Sims Road annexation.

Genoa Township

Township Hall reopened after extended emergency well repairs, and the Board of Trustees proceeded with its July 6 evening meeting as scheduled — holding a public hearing on the Party Lake aquatic weed control special assessment and recognizing Chris Greyjek for 19 years on the Planning Commission and BZA (Genoa Township).

• Construction continues on the $2.5 million roundabout at Big Walnut and Tussic Street Roads through July 31 (Delaware County Engineer).

• Election inspector recruitment for the August 4 primary continues; Lewis Center Road remains closed west of SR-3 through late July.

Harlem Township

The 15th annual Duncan’s Run Bicycle Patch Ride was held Saturday July 11, offering 30/60/100-mile routes across Delaware, Licking, and Knox Counties and featuring an America 250-themed souvenir patch (Harlem Township Heritage).

• The Center Village Road / South County Line Road closure that began July 6 for the new roundabout has been extended through September 14 (Delaware County Engineer).

• The July 15 BOT public hearing on Articles IV and XXXV text amendments and the 5-acre Bailey/Gloeckner rezoning remains on the calendar (Harlem Township Facebook).

• The Heritage Farmers Market and Food Truck event continued July 8.

Obetz

Council held an all-day 2027 budget workshop reviewing every requested line item ahead of the formal July 13 tax budget public hearing (City of Obetz).

• The Planning and Zoning Commission held a July 8 public hearing on a conditional use permit for a temporary operation at 4424 Alum Creek Drive.

• The Obetz Police Department closed applications July 8 for a new School Resource Officer position dedicated to Hamilton Local Schools (Obetz PD).

Powell

The July 7 City Council meeting was cancelled for lack of quorum, shifting the week’s focus to community safety and arts programming — including Safety Camp at the Village Green Municipal Building and a Central Ohio Symphony Brass Quintet performance at Liberty Library (Visit Powell).

• NOPEC electric aggregation confirmed to go live September 1, 2026 (Delaware Source).

• The Columbus Zoo’s $175 million John F. Wolfe Aquarium and 130-room hotel remain on track for a 2027 groundbreaking.

Galena

The Village continues rolling out its Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC) community electric aggregation program and has moved into contractor selection for the $75,000 emergency Walnut Creek bridge repair (Village of Galena).

• “Live @ The Plaza” was held at the Village Square July 9.

• Ohio State Highway Patrol’s investigation into the fatal June 16 SR-3 / Galena Road crash remains active.

• Bicentennial Pickleball Tournament and a county-wide tire disposal event are both set for July 18 (Galena Bicentennial).

Sharon Township

The Board of Trustees confirmed a joint July 13 public hearing with Worthington on the JEDD amendment adding the Tree of Life Christian Schools property on Proprietors Road, alongside a separate July 13 hearing on the township’s 2027 tax budget (Sharon Township).

Lockbourne

ODW Logistics’ 864,000-square-foot automated distribution center is fully operational, with capacity for up to 300 jobs; the Village Council met July 6 and issued a public notice for a 2027 Estimated Annual Tax Budget hearing on July 13 (Village of Lockbourne, ODW Logistics).

• VanTrust Real Estate’s Park 762 (1.08 million-square-foot industrial project) remains under construction (Connect CRE).

Watch next week

• Sharon Township / Worthington JEDD amendment joint public hearing (July 13)

• Sharon Township 2027 tax budget hearing (July 13)

• Obetz 2027 Tax Budget public hearing (July 13)

• Lockbourne 2027 estimated annual tax budget hearing (July 13)

• Harlem Township BOT hearing on Articles IV/XXXV and Bailey/Gloeckner rezoning (July 15)

• Galena Bicentennial Pickleball Tournament and county-wide tire disposal (July 18)

• Worthington public hearing on five charter ordinances (July 20)

• Gahanna $59M Civic Center opening (further delayed into mid-July after water leak discovery)

• Delaware County BOE signature verification of Sunbury 25MW petition

• Dixon sentencing (Mifflin Township case)

• Watkins case follow-up (Mifflin Township infant-death case)

• Harlem Township Center Village / South County Line roundabout (now through September 14)

• Genoa Township Big Walnut / Tussic roundabout completion (~July 31)

• Hilliard Roberts Road and Leppert Road bridge reopenings (mid-August)

• Grove City Hoover Road northbound reopening (~August 19)

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The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, its influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.