Official City Roundup: Public Budget Hearings and Extreme Cold Advisories
City Council Notice: Public Utilities Budget Hearing
The Columbus City Council Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee is scheduled to host an operating budget hearing today, Wednesday, January 28, 2026. This hearing will feature essential presentations from Columbus Water and Power, the Department of Public Service, the Division of Refuse, and Sustainable Columbus. Officials will review the 2026 proposed operating budget, which includes a requested $178.9 million for the Department of Public Service to maintain critical city infrastructure, including snow and ice control and pothole repair.
Due to recent inclement weather, residents are advised that the meeting may transition to a virtual format. Those interested in providing testimony were required to email legislative analysts by noon yesterday. Stakeholders and the public are encouraged to monitor official social media channels for last-minute updates regarding the meeting's location or digital access links.
Health Advisory: Extreme Cold and Wind Chill Warning
Columbus Public Health and the Governor’s office have issued a standing health advisory as a deep Arctic air mass continues to affect Central Ohio. While the immediate threat of heavy snowfall from Winter Storm Fern has passed, dangerously low temperatures remain. Forecasters warn of wind chill values reaching 20 to 25 degrees below zero throughout the day. Residents are urged to limit time outdoors and check on vulnerable neighbors, particularly the elderly and those with limited heating resources. Symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia should be monitored closely, and the use of space heaters should be limited to manufacturer-approved safety guidelines to prevent fire hazards.
Public Service Announcement: Snow Emergency Downgrade
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has officially downgraded the snow emergency to Level 1 as of Wednesday, January 28. Following record snowfall earlier in the week, city landscaping and Department of Public Service crews have cleared primary roads and sidewalks. While in-person classes at The Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College have resumed, motorists are cautioned that patches of black ice may persist on secondary streets and neighborhood side roads. Residents are reminded that parking bans may remain in effect on key snow routes to facilitate final clearing by municipal plows.
Notice of Health Service Contracts
The Board of Health has announced a pending ordinance to authorize new contracts for physician services at Columbus Public Health Clinics. This move, intended to begin in February 2026, aims to stabilize services for tuberculosis care and general clinical health. Despite recent weather-related closures, the department expects to resume full clinical operations today following the extreme cold delays earlier this week.