Dublin City Council approved a five-year Rumpke trash contract, a deer culling program and several budget measures Monday, Sept. 28. Every item passed 6-0.

The council also voted unanimously to delay the contested Rings Road memorial preserve rezoning until Nov. 9, giving the applicant and neighbors more time after sharp public opposition at the Sept. 14 hearing.

Six of seven council members were present. Councilmember Christine Alutto was absent.

Rings Road postponed

The postponement pushes the second reading and public hearing on Ordinance 48-26 to the Nov. 9 meeting. St. John Lutheran Church wants to rezone about 10.8 acres at 6001 and 6041 Rings Road from residential to a planned unit development, or PUD, for a memorial preserve with up to 2,850 ground burial plots and 120 columbarium structures.

At the Sept. 14 first reading, resident Bob Shirk spoke on behalf of roughly 275 people who signed in opposition.

Attorney Mike Britt, representing concerned neighbors, argued the plans violate Ohio Revised Code Section 1721.03. He said the statute prohibits a religious society from locating a cemetery within 100 yards of a dwelling and that the proposal would violate it for at least 12 homes.

Linda Garrido, who lives at 5965 Rings Road immediately east of the proposed site, told council at the Sept. 14 hearing: "I would never have purchased, built upon, or lived on my property for 50 years had I known a cemetery would be placed next to it."

Council members raised their own concerns at that hearing. Councilmember Amy Kramb called it the broadest PUD text she had reviewed and suggested cutting burial density by about 50 percent. Councilmember Johnson said the development text needed far more specificity before she could support it. Councilmember Keeler said his goal was that the development be effectively invisible to surrounding neighbors.

The Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval 6-0 on June 11 with conditions.

Rumpke contract and deer management

Resolution 40-26 authorizes the city manager to sign a 2027–2031 collection contract with Rumpke of Ohio for residential trash, recycling and yard waste pickup, plus service at municipal facilities and special events, according to the council's action summary. The contract's dollar value was not included in available public documents.

Ordinance 51-26 waives Dublin's hunting ban to allow USDA Wildlife Services sharpshooters to cull deer on mostly city-owned land between Nov. 1 and March 31, 2027. A thermal imaging drone survey in April counted 528 deer across Dublin's nearly 25 square miles. Up to 100 deer may be removed in the first year. Venison will go to the Dublin Food Pantry.

Budget, fees and stormwater

The council passed Ordinance 50-26, a third-quarter amendment to the city's 2026 budget. It also approved Ordinance 49-26, updating the city's fee schedule for services. Specific dollar figures for both measures were not available in published agenda materials.

Two stormwater infrastructure bids were accepted: Resolution 41-26 for the Annual Storm Structure Maintenance Program and Resolution 42-26 for the Stormwater Management Basin Maintenance Program. Bid amounts and contractor names were not listed in the action summary.

The council also certified tax levies to county auditors and amended its rules of order for the Planning and Zoning Commission, Architectural Review Board and Board of Zoning Appeals.

The next regular Dublin City Council meeting is Monday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at 5555 Perimeter Drive. The Rings Road rezoning returns Nov. 9.