Town Hall Meeting Finds Problems With Few Easy Solutions
Residents Air Concerns at Westerville Town Hall
Westerville residents gathered Wednesday evening for a community town hall moderated by 10TV’s Tracy Townsend, who moved through the audience with a microphone to make sure everyone in the crowd of about 40 people who wanted to speak could be heard.
The meeting, which was not recorded for broadcast, focused on a wide range of issues affecting the city. Station staffers took notes of the discussion.
Attendees expressed pride in the school system but shared dissatisfaction with the way schools are funded through property taxes, with one resident saying he will move from Westerville when he retires in several years because taxes are so high.
Others raised health concerns, citing the impact of runoff from the East of Africa development project, industrial plant emissions just south of the city, and questions about maintaining the quality of drinking water.
Several residents voiced complaints about the East of Africa project itself, saying Westerville is losing its character through the removal of many of its remaining trees and the push to develop nearly every available parcel of land.
One speaker described an ongoing rat infestation in Uptown, noting the presence of dead rats attracting flies and maggots, rats burrowing under buildings, and scavenging from dumpsters close to food establishments. She said that after a year of complaints to the city, it installed only one trap behind her building.
Another longtime resident, whose family has deep roots in Westerville spanning generations, expressed concern about going out alone at night in the southern part of the city.
Concerns about poor communication from both city council members and municipal employees were raised repeatedly, citing a lack of response to problems.
Some comments addressed media coverage, with participants pointing to a perceived imbalance in reporting, where problems are highlighted but positive developments in the community receive less attention.
Council members Coutanya Coombs, Aaron Glasgow, and Megan Reamsnyder, all up for re-election in November, spoke during the meeting. Council candidate John Gattis also addressed the meeting, while fellow candidate Tonya Griffith attended but did not speak.
The event was part of 10TV’s effort to connect directly with communities across Central Ohio, allowing residents to raise concerns, share ideas, and speak to issues that matter most to them.
A car crash on Cleveland Avenue in front of the Community Center on Wednesday resulted in a fire requiring foam to extinguish the flames. One person was transported to the hospital.
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, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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