Oxford City Council approves new flag commemorating Dubno visit

The Oxford City Council approved a commemorative flag for an upcoming visit from a delegation from Oxford’s sister city, Dubno, Ukraine, formally supported the Oxford Community Arts Center’s (OCAC) efforts to secure a modified lease with Miami University and announced the city manager’s retirement during its regular meeting Sept. 1.

Oxford-Dubno commemorative flag

The Oxford City Council solidified the public’s vote on a ceremonial flag, celebrating the city’s relationship with its sister city Dubno, Ukraine, which is sending a delegation of six residents to Oxford between Sept. 18 and 26.

The visit will be funded by the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL) through its Open World program, which encourages strengthening “civic, cultural, and economic relationships between the two communities,” according to the city staff report.

To celebrate the visit, the city has “designed a special commemorative City flag based upon public input via surveys and then voting between the finalists,” according to the city staff report.

The chosen flag had 157 votes out of 257 votes from survey takers, according to Jessica Greene, assistant city manager for the City of Oxford.

Oxford Community Arts Center statement 

The Oxford City Council also adopted a resolution stating the city’s support of the OCAC and its request for a lease modification for the center’s building, which is currently owned by Miami. The formal support of the city will be shared with the Miami Board of Trustees. 

The OCAC’s formal request, in the form of a resolution, urges Miami to “allow for the use of Ohio Tax Credits for the renovation of their building,” according to the city staff report. 

In the resolution, the city states that the OCAC “is a valued community institution that provides arts, cultural, educational, and community programming serving residents of Oxford and the surrounding region.” 

The building, which is over 170 years old, currently “requires significant investment to preserve the historic structure and ensure its continued use as a community arts and cultural center,” according to the resolution. 

The OCAC is currently in a $10.2 million capital campaign designed to complete these needed renovations and restorations. An essential aspect to complete this project is $3.5 million in anticipated State of Ohio and federal historic preservation tax credits, according to the resolution. OCAC staff have achieved the requirements needed to pursue these historic tax credits, and the only step left is for Miami to amend the lease.

The requested lease changes would extend the lease beyond its current duration, due to the historic tax credit requirements, and the office in charge of the tax credit program has indicated that “the lease may be able to return to its previous terms following completion of the project,” according to the resolution. 

The resolution requests that the Miami Board of Trustees work with the OCAC to fulfill the historic tax credit goals, adding that accomplishing this goal would advance “the community’s interests in historic preservation, arts and culture, economic vitality, and the continued productive use of an important historic property in the City of Oxford.”

Heidi Schiller, executive director of the OCAC, said that the initial reason given by Miami as to why it hasn’t amended the lease is that “the current lease is the lease that they intend to (keep) with no further amendments, now or in the future.”

“It’s very important, and the fact that the university would … not already (have) done this is sad,” Councilor Bill Snavely said.

Councilor Alex French said, “Enough good things can’t be said about what the OCAC does for Oxford.”

This issue was brought to city council during public comment during a regular meeting on Aug. 18 by OCAC board member Allan Winkler, who requested formal support from the city.

Members of the OCAC board said they will be at the next Miami University Board of Trustees on Sept. 25 meeting to discuss this topic.

City manager retirement

Oxford City Manager Doug Elliott announced his retirement during the meeting, effective Feb. 1, 2027. 

“I want to thank the mayor, city council, past or present, for your trust and support during the 19 years that I served as city manager,” Elliott said. “I am proud of the many programs and projects we have accomplished together. It has been an honor to serve with you.”

“You’re going to be missed,” Snavely said. “You leave a legacy of being a very excellent city manager.”

“Thank you so much for your dedication to the City of Oxford,” French said, “It’s so apparent you love it just as much as anyone else does. So, thank you Doug.”

The Oxford City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 at the Oxford Courthouse, 118 W. High St.