Oxford City Council takes next step with Amtrak plans in final meeting of the year

The Oxford City Council approved advanced plans for an Amtrak passenger rail platform, allocated $1 million toward affordable housing and adopted a cybersecurity policy during its final meeting of 2025 on Dec. 16.

Amtrak updates

The city council adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter a lease agreement with CSX transportation. This agreement allows for the installation and maintenance of the long-awaited Amtrak passenger platform. 

The Chestnut Street Station, which opened in November, as reported by the Oxford Free Press, will house the Amtrak platform, and will share access and amenities with the new Butler County Regional Transit Authority (BCRTA) station.

“For several years, the City of Oxford and Miami University have been working together to try to bring an Amtrak passenger rail service to Oxford, Ohio,” Jessica Greene, assistant city manager, said. 

According to Greene, Miami University has agreed to pay for half of the lease and maintenance costs.

The initial lease lasts for 20 years, according to Greene, costing a minimum of $7,300 annually with a 2% increase each year.

The city’s responsibilities will be the construction, installation, utilities and future maintenance. 

“We (the City of Oxford) are required to meet the CSX standards,” Greene said. This includes the city covering insurance and coverage for the project.

Affordable housing funds

Another resolution was adopted, creating an agreement between Butler County and the City of Oxford. This agreement would welcome $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, alongside local fiscal recovery funds, to help with affordable housing infrastructure in Oxford.

The $1 million in funds will be split evenly between two projects. 

New Roots Oxford, a neuro-inclusive affordable housing development and joint project between EmpowerMe Living and Inclusive Housing Resources, is slated to receive $500,000. The Habitat for Humanity project on Chestnut Street is slated to receive the other $500,000.

The Habitat for Humanity project is on track to begin installing infrastructure in late January or early February, according to Greene. The goal for the project is to have the first 10 homes built by summer 2026, with another 26 homes slated to be completed over the next two years, Greene said.

Organizers of the New Roots Oxford project are scheduled to begin work on site infrastructure in March.

Agreement with Melink Solar

Finally, the city council approved a resolution allowing the city manager to enter an agreement with Melink Solar, a solar energy company in Hamilton County. The resolution allows the city to purchase a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, which converts sunlight into electricity, to be installed at the wastewater treatment plant. 

The project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2027, according to Doug Elliott, Oxford city manager. 

According to Elliott, the agreement will cost the city $2.6 million, but it will offset 76% of the city’s annual electric consumption.

“Not only is it important for our goals of council,” Councilor Bill Snavely said, “(it) pays off in eight years (and) will be there for many years afterward.”

According to Elliott, training costs for city staff will be covered by Melink Solar.

Cybersecurity policy

Oxford’s cybersecurity policy, created in response to Ohio House Bill 96 with the goal of introducing and affirming local cybersecurity, was adopted by the city council. 

“We have spent several months developing this,” Greene said. “It ensures that we have safeguards to protect our data and our resources and that these programs are aligned with nationally recognized best practices, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology.”

The new cybersecurity is made up of three parts, according to Greene. The first part includes an assistive security plan, which falls under prevention. 

“How do we ensure we’re doing things safe(ly),” she said, adding contingency plans would fall under this step. 

The second part focuses on a response plan if the city’s cybersecurity is attacked. According to Greene, this includes identifying specific cybersecurity issues and creating a plan of approach.

The final part requires the city to create a cybersecurity team designated to deal with these issues.

“I’m glad this is in place,” Mayor Mike Smith said.

Uptown municipal parking lot

In other business, the city council adopted a resolution that will close the Uptown municipal parking lot, located on East Park Place between Main Street and 24 E. Park Place, weekly on Saturdays from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to house the Oxford Farmers Market.

The Oxford City Council will meet next Jan. 6, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at the Oxford Court House.