Columbus City Council members gathered for their first meeting of the new year on Tuesday night, approving a slate of appointments to city boards and electing a council president and vice president for 2026.
Frank Miller, R-District 4, remains as president of the council as he has been since 2024, and Tom Dell, D-at-large, was voted by colleagues as vice president.
The council unanimously approved both to each position. Dell takes on the mantle of vice president after Grace Kestler, D-at-large assumed the role last year. The council has elected for the two leadership positions to have a bipartisan makeup as of late since Miller and Kent Anderson, R-District 5, were president and vice president in 2024.
The council also appointed, or reappointed seven community members to city boards and commissions, ranging from one-year and four-year appointments:
Columbus Redevelopment Commission
- Scott Ballard (reappointment, lasts one year)
- Shannon McDonald (reappointment, lasts one year)
Columbus City Utilities Board
- Melissa Lin (new appointment, lasts four years)
Commons Board
- Erin Hawkins (reappointment, lasts four years)
Economic Development Commission
- Michael Kinder (reappointment, lasts two years)
Insurance Review Committee
- Lori Rowan (reappointment, lasts one year)
- Brian Walsh (reappointment, lasts one year)
The group also opted to swap council liasion appointments on two boards. Miller will become the council liasion for the Parks and Recreation Board, with Josh Burnett, R-at-large, taking on the Solid Waste Management District Board liasion position.
The council liasion to the Solid Waste Management District Board is a voting position, whereas the liasion on the parks board is not.
More information about the city’s boards and commissions can be found on the city’s website.
