Issue 7 passes, Issue 8 fails in Nov. 3 Ohio General Election

In the Nov. 3 Ohio General Election, Butler County residents passed Issue 7 and rejected Issue 8. Both items directly affect the City of Oxford’s charter. 

According to the Butler County Board of Elections, Issue 7 passed with 58.01% of the votes, or 1,861 votes, as of press time on Nov. 4.

Issue 7 included changes to six sections of the city’s charter. This encompassed Section 2.12, which focused on utility bill payments; Section 4.01, which discussed city manager residency; Sections 3.05, 4.02 and 9.07, which all regarded language cleanup; and Section 10.01, which discussed the city’s bond restriction.

According to the Butler County Board of Elections, Issue 8 was rejected by 53.27% of the vote, or 1,652 votes, as of press time on Nov. 4.

Issue 8 focused on Section 2.11, which discussed a housing restriction in the Mile Square (MS), and, if passed, would have removed a three dwelling restriction in the MS area.

With Issue 8 voted down, the proposed removal of some wording in the fourth paragraph in Section 2.11 will remain. It will continue to read: “Regulate the use of private real estate in the municipality by establishing zones, limiting the uses in each zone and limiting the height of buildings and the intensity of land use.”

Jessica Greene, assistant city manager for the City of Oxford, spoke to the Oxford Free Press in July about Issue 8. She said the current city zoning codes “restrict any sort of development … regrowth” in the MS area.

Bill Snavely, Oxford city councilor, said he was happy with the results on the two local issues.

In regard to Issue 7, Snavely said it was “the right thing to do.”

“It was a set of amendments that basically did cleanup work and made us compliant with state law,” Snavely said. “I was very happy with that result.”

Snavely said he believes it was wise for the city to move Issue 8 into its own item and leave it up to the voters to choose.

“The voters have spoken,” Snavely said. “I hope it will put it to rest for some time and maybe we won't have to deal with it again.”

Doug Elliott, city manager for the City of Oxford, spoke to the Oxford Free Press about Issue 8’s downvote.

“I think that it won't be brought up again until 10 years from now,” Elliott said. “The voters have cast their ballots. We know the result, and it failed.”

Elliott said Issue 7’s changes to the city’s charter will take effect when the Butler County Board of Elections certifies the results, which could be in one to two weeks.

For more information about the items changed, please visit the Oxford Free Press website.