Due to forecasts calling for a likelihood of rain later this afternoon, and the need to protect sound equipment and instruments used for Jazz in the Park, we’ve made the decision to cancel the event for today. We’ll work with our band, Fa2, to secure a rain date later in the season. Until then, see you on the 4th!
LinkUS Bexley Design Session on May 27
The LinkUS initiative has organized a design session for the proposed LinkUS East Main bus rapid transit stations. To learn more about the LinkUS project, visit linkuscolumbus.org. Bexley has been participating in the early planning stages, and we’ve emphasized our support for meaningful transit development, while also being careful to preserve the streetscape, walkability, and economic feasibility of our Main Street corridor.
While this project is in the early stages of design and feasibility development, LinkUS planners are looking for feedback from community stakeholders as they advance the project concept at a design session on May 27 from noon to 2:00 pm at the Bexley Public Library. All members of the community are invited to participate, and can RSVP for the event by clicking here.
Bexley Police Investigating Domestic Homicide
On March 28, 2022 at approximately 1:52 pm., Bexley Police received a 911 call from 2877 E. Broad St. regarding an animal complaint. Officers arrived on scene and made contact with the suspect, Stewart Joseph Dreirer Jr. who admitted involvement in the animal complaint. Mr. Dreirer informed officers of a possible homicide that he committed in one of the apartments. Upon further investigation, officers confirmed that a suspicious death had occurred in one of the apartments and also confirmed the adult victim to be Jordan Brown, a known person to the suspect. Mr. Dreirer was arrested and charged for the death of Jordan Brown.
The Bexley Police Department will be handling the investigation. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation handled the evidence collection at the crime scene.
City of Bexley Removes Mask Mandate for Public Spaces
On the evening of February 22, 2022, after discussion with City Council during its regularly scheduled meeting, the executive orders relative to the COVID-19 pandemic were amended to eliminate the City’s mask mandate as well as most of the elements of the previous orders. These changes go into effect immediately, and impact mask mandates in indoor public spaces in the City. Businesses and institutions continue to be free to require the wearing of masks in public spaces, at their own discretion. Businesses may not prohibit individuals from wearing masks, in order to protect the rights of individuals to wear masks to protect their own health.
At the Council meeting, hospitalization and case count figures were discussed. In early September, when the mask mandate was put into place, amidst a climbing delta variant wave, hospitalizations were on the rise and we were facing a formidable increase in case counts and pressure on hospital bed availability. Along with Columbus, Whitehall, and the City of Worthington, we instituted a mask mandate in keeping with recommendations from the CDC and Franklin County Public Health.
Fast forward to today: we have now seemingly passed the peak of the omicron variant and as case counts drop precipitously throughout our region, we sit below both hospitalization and case count rates as compared to September, 2021; children age 5-11 now have access to the vaccine who did not at that time; and the predominant omicron variant is less severe (albeit more infectious) than its delta counterpart. At the time we instituted the mask mandate we committed to following the guidance of public health authorities. Public health authorities around the country have recognized the lower risk from omicron, particularly in the face of mass vaccination and increasing public immunity, and restrictions around the country are lessening. Additionally, the City has invested in KN-95 masks to provide free of charge to the community, in order to help provide additional protections to immuno-compromised individuals. The time has come to release the mask mandate, and this is a thing to celebrate.
I’m hopeful that we are close to the end of what has been a very challenging and trying several years. But I also know that, should a new variant or new conditions emerge that requires action on our part again, we will be there to meet the challenge, as a community grounded in mutual respect and care for all of those around us.
Mayor Ben Kessler
Flood Watch Issued for Central Ohio February 22nd
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for areas of Ohio including central Ohio. With the ground saturated from last week’s rain and snow melt, surface and foundation flooding is an especial concern. This morning’s a good time to check sump pumps, gutter function, etc leading into more rain today.
February 17, 2022 Limited Flooding Event
On the evening of February 17, 2022, flooding in some portions of the City occurred due to a combination of snow and ice melt and sustained rain throughout the day. While not as substantial as the flood events in March and May of 2020, the hydrological conditions led to localized surface flooding as well as flooding of Alum Creek, and some portions of the sanitary system came near to or reached capacity.
Flooding in basements is complex and can involve a variety of property-specific factors. We remain committed to helping residents troubleshoot property-side issues, even as we continue to work on systemic repairs and upgrades on an accelerated schedule.
If you experienced basement or property flooding on February 17, we ask that you:
- Fill out our Flood Report Form
- Consider participating in the Residential Sewer Remediation Program, if you have not done so already.
If you have any questions about property flooding or would like to discuss issues at your property, please contact the Service Department at (614) 559-4220.
A New Years Eve COVID-19 Reminder
Before I kick off my annual countdown with the Top 10 of 2021 (and it’s a good one!), I wanted to post a sobering, but I think appropriate reminder. Bexley’s COVID stats are the highest over the past two weeks since the beginning of the pandemic. The good news is that this crest is in the context of a community with a high vaccination rate that is largely protected against serious implications from COVID-19. But regardless of this, there are still unvaccinated and high-risk individuals in our community, and we all have an obligation to responsibly guard against community spread.
As you celebrate New Years, we urge you to avoid large gatherings and to exercise public health precautions when outside of your household. Most crucially, all eligible residents are encouraged to be fully vaccinated and boosted, both for your own health and to lessen the strain on an overwhelmed healthcare system. As fatigued as we all are with following COVID-19 precautions, our fatigue pales in comparison to that of our critical health care workers who need all of the support from us that they can get, now more than ever.
Thank you for doing your part, and best wishes for a safe and happy New Year!
Mayor Ben
Chief Rinehart Retirement
After 14 years of service with the City as our Chief of Police and 27 years of service in law enforcement, Chief Rinehart announced last week that he will be retiring in early January.
Chief Rinehart started out as a community policing officer in Gahanna, rising through the ranks to become Gahanna’s Deputy Chief before joining Bexley in 2007. During his time with Bexley, he established a community bike patrol corps; oversaw the relocation and construction of the new police department headquarters; modernized the technology utilized by the agency, including advocating for and deploying body cameras in 2019; expanded and diversified officer training opportunities and requirements, including joining and obtaining certification through the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board; oversaw the creation of the Bexley Citizens Police Academy program and a variety of new community outreach initiatives including drug take back days, school supplies drives, Cops and Kids field games, Cross with a Cop events, and Thanksgiving meal deliveries; modernized the agency’s policies; and opened up the recruitment process to a broader pool of officer candidates, resulting in an officer corps that is more diverse today than ever before. His work and eventual chairmanship of the nonprofit organization Choices, and their work to support victims of domestic violence, speaks volumes about his care and compassion for others.
I’ve worked with Chief Rinehart since I joined City Council in 2008. Throughout the years, I’ve always known him to be earnestly interested in enhancing professional police practice and working through solutions for a safer Bexley community. He has been fair and even-keeled, open to exploring new ideas and concepts, and has consistently demonstrated a care and concern for our agency and for everyone they interact with. I’m going to miss working with him, and I wish him an adventurous retirement.
Mayor Ben Kessler
Safety Update: St. Catharine’s Bomb Threat
St. Catharine’s received an anonymous bomb threat this morning. The Bexley Police Department prepared a route for students to be transported to their safe zone, however, the Columbus Police Department quickly swept the building and determined the students could stay. A full building sweep is now complete and the threat is now cleared.
Proposed Charter Changes for This Year’s Municipal Election
Published September 23, 2021
City Council has forwarded proposed charter changes to Bexley voters that will appear in this year’s upcoming municipal election.
The proposed charter changes have been grouped into five items on the ballot. On the ballot voters will see a summary of each of these proposed changes. The full language of the changes can be viewed by clicking here; as you can see, several of the ballot items address multiple sections of the charter.
For more information on the charter review process, you can visit bexley.org/crc.