Approximate Property Boundary On November 3, 2026, Wilmington residents have a variety of state and local issues on the ballot, including: Ohio governor, aliquor permit for Wawa on Rombach (residents of precinct 2A), three health and senior services renewals, and four referendums on ordinances adopting the rezoning of real property in Wilmington. On February 19, 2026, Wilmington City Council voted to adopt the rezoning of 545 acres across four parcels between South US 68 and SR 730 from Rural Residential to Light Industrial. On March 20, 2026, members of Wilmington Residents for Responsible Development—now the "Clinton County Residents for Responsible Development" (CCRRD)—submitted a petition with 1,529 signatures to the City of Wilmington to add four referendums on the November 3 ballot allowing resident a vote on the rezonings. According to CCRRD organizer, Jessica Sharp, "During sworn testimony in federal court on July 9, 2026, Josh Roth of the [Clinton County Port Authority] affirmed what Attorney Bill Peele suggested during his January 15, 2026, [Wilmington City] Council presentation on the four parcels presently pending ballot referenda this November: the rezonings are tied to a confirmed $6 billion data center project. CCRRD has been campaigning for voters to 'Vote No'... These four parcels would bring the total acreage zoned for data center mega projects to over 1,000 acres at the southwestern corner of the city's boundary." According to a representative of the four parcels, "These parcels are situated, for the most part, around Light Industrial and General Industrial properties also zoned within the City of Wilmington. A Light Industrial zoning is best situated for these parcels to allow for them to be developed in the future based upon their location and the need for infrastructure... These parcels are unrelated to the AWS Data Center Project. Ardent Companies terminated their agreement this past summer and as a result these parcels do not have a proposed developer associated with them." The Clinton County Board of Elections reminds voters that the Cornerstone polling location has been moved to the Fairgrounds. Learn more at www.boe.ohio.gov/clinton.

Susan Valentine-Scott Tourism professionals across Ohio will travel to Wilmington on October 7–9 as the Clinton County Visitors Bureau hosts the 2026 Ohio Conference on Travel at the Roberts Centre. The three-day event is organized by the Ohio Travel Association and brings together experts from across the state for educational sessions, networking, and industry awards. Clinton County Visitors Bureau Executive Director Susan Valentine-Scott said her team bid for the opportunity to host the conference in Dublin, Ohio, and won. "It gives Clinton County an opportunity to really showcase our market," Valentine-Scott said. Current estimates say the conference will bring in 250 to 300 hotel stays while also bringing customers to local businesses. The conference begins Wednesday, October 7, with educational programming followed by dinner from Leadership Clinton County. Thursday continues workshops on topics including tourism marketing, AI, and sports tourism, along with the annual RUBY Awards Luncheon. The Clinton County Visitors Bureau won three awards last year, including for their Rock the Block concert series, and is nominated again this year for several awards. On Thursday evening, attendees travel to Schappacher Farms for a "farm-to-table" dinner featuring a local pig roast, s'mores, and other fall activities. "We're really showcasing that whole rural vibe," Valentine-Scott said. Visitors then head back to the Roberts Centre for an "Afterglow Party" before ending their night downtown at the historic Murphy Theatre where they will be greeted by representatives from Wilmington College for a private concert from a Columbus-based band. Many local businesses and organizations are helping to make the conference a success, including: Trail Haus, Kava Haus, Baker Street Culinary, Cowan Lake State Park (ODNR), Clinton County Commissioners, City of Wilmington, Main Street Wilmington, Chamber of Commerce, Swindlers Florist, TinCap, TriHealth, Venice Wine, Marcus Harris, Graphics To Go, Abbott Imagery, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, TownePlace Suites, JK Rental, Buckeye Portables, and many local bakers throughout the county. "Everything's about showcasing our local things," Valentine-Scott said. Registration is open to Ohio Travel Association members and non-members. More information is available through the Ohio Conference on Travel website at ohioconferenceontravel.com.

Left to Right: Councilman Kelly Tolliver, Auditor Mary Kay Vance, Mayor Pat Haley, Council President Bob Osborn, Police Chief Josh Gibson, Deputy Law Director Brooke Horan, Flock Representative Natalie Kohse (television) Wilmington Police Chief Josh Gibson addressed Wilmington City Council on Thursday, October 1, 2026, to answer questions, dispel rumors, and share success stories surrounding the police department’s use of Flock Safety's license plate recognition cameras. Gibson was joined virtually by Natalie Kohse, a Government Affairs Manager with Flock Safety, who gave council members an overview of the technology, privacy safeguards, and controls available to local law enforcement agencies. Kohse explained that Flock cameras are license plate readers (LPR) that capture images of vehicles at specific points in time on public roadways. They are not GPS devices and do not continuously track a vehicle. According to Kohse, agencies retain control of their data, Flock does not sell customer data, and the company's standard retention period is seven days. She also emphasized that the system does not use facial recognition and cannot be searched using a person's race, gender, or other personal identifying information. Instead, the technology is designed to provide investigative leads involving vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers. Kohse said agencies across the country have used the technology while investigating crimes including violent offenses, sexual assaults, and bank robberies. Every search is associated with a registered user and preserved in an audit log, allowing agencies to review how the system is being used. Flock also offers transparency tools that agencies can make available to the public. Following the presentation, Council President Bob Osborn asked who manages users of Wilmington's system. Gibson said he currently serves as administrator of the department's Flock accounts and plans to promote a sergeant assist with administrative duties in the future. Administrators can conduct audits, manage settings, and establish search parameters, while the department's policies also govern how officers may use the system. Councilman Kelly Tolliver said much of the public's concern appears to center around safeguards and the potential for the technology to be abused. Gibson explained that Wilmington officers are required to enter a police report or reference number when conducting a search. "You just can't randomly decide to go type in a license plate without a report number," Gibson told council. That requirement allows searches to be cross-referenced with the department's reporting system and is intended to prevent officers from using the cameras for non-law-enforcement purposes. Gibson also said Wilmington currently does not provide the federal government or out-of-state agencies with direct access to its Flock data. Those agencies would have to contact the Wilmington Police Department, provide a reason for the request and receive authorization. Councilman Michael Snarr asked Kohse about proposed Ohio legislation that could limit how long license plate reader information is retained and make the sale of data a felony. Kohse said she was not familiar enough with the specific legislation to address it in detail, but said Flock's standard retention period is seven days and the agency can adjust retention periods to comply with state laws. She reiterated that Flock does not sell customer data. Snarr also asked whether peer-reviewed research has examined whether communities using Flock or other license plate readers experience reductions in crime. Kohse referenced research showing reductions in motor vehicle theft and increases in case clearance rates, while acknowledging that agency success stories and statistics are different from the peer-reviewed research Snarr was specifically asking about. Gibson said Wilmington currently has six Flock cameras under contract and another 11 being used on a trial basis, bringing the total to 17 cameras throughout the city. He said he plans to bring a proposed contract before council at its next meeting for review and a vote. The chief then shared several examples of how the technology has already assisted Wilmington police. According to Gibson, Flock alerts have helped officers locate people with outstanding warrants, recover a stolen vehicle, and identify multiple stolen license plates. He also described a theft of more than $200,000 from a Wilmington company that occurred before the city had its own Flock system. Police had the suspect vehicle's license plate, and Gibson said an agency in New York was able to use Flock technology to help track down the vehicle and recover the stolen property. Flock has also become a tool in local drug investigations. Gibson said Wilmington police have seized approximately one pound of methamphetamine through investigations assisted by Flock camera information. Residents sometimes provide police with descriptions or license plate numbers of vehicles suspected of involvement in drug activity, allowing investigators to use that information as they develop cases. The technology has also been used in situations involving missing and endangered people. In one instance, an Alzheimer's patient from northern Ohio had been reported missing by his family. His vehicle triggered a Wilmington Flock camera, and Gibson said officers located the vehicle within approximately three or four minutes and were able to reunite the man with his family. In another case, a young person from several counties away was reportedly threatening self-harm. Her home county entered the vehicle's license plate into the system, and it was detected by a camera on Xenia Avenue. Gibson said Wilmington officers located her by the time the vehicle reached the middle of town and were able to get her to the hospital for help. Gibson said the cameras have also helped solve multiple hit-skip crashes. "We've had over 100, easy over 100 calls where Flock has assisted," Gibson told council. Snarr, who said he had recently participated in a police ride-along and found the technology "fascinating", encouraged residents with concerns about Flock to make those concerns known so council can evaluate them. Gibson said the city has considerable control over how its system operates, including how restrictive its settings are, what information outside agencies must provide to search Wilmington's data and what searches Wilmington officers themselves are permitted to conduct. "If the public has those concerns, I'm absolutely open to discussing what they are and kind of conforming the way we use it to what's going to best suit our city," Gibson said. Tolliver voiced support for the technology, pointing to drugs recovered through investigations and Wilmington's location between major interstate corridors. "We need this tool," Tolliver said. "I welcome this tool." Councilman Jamie Knowles also expressed support, saying the technology appeared capable of helping Wilmington because of Clinton County's location and the amount of traffic moving through the area. Gibson said the department also intends to launch a public Flock transparency portal, which could provide residents with information about the department's policies and use of the technology. He said he hopes to have the portal operating by the end of the year. Learn more about the City of Wilmington at wilmingtonohio.gov.

Cargo-and industrial-focused airport in the same tier as CMH and CLE WILMINGTON, Ohio (September 30, 2026)—The Ohio Airport System Plan update current draft places the Wilmington Air Park (ILN) third among Ohio airports in overall economic impact, at over $4 Billion, positioning the Air Park alongside John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) as one of the state's most consequential aviation assets. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) developed the Ohio Airport System Plan as a comprehensive, 20-year framework for evaluating and strengthening Ohio's system of publicly owned, public-use airports. Completing the study and plan involved gathering hundreds of data points on all the airports around the state. The plan's economic-impact analysis examines airport-supported employment, payroll, economic output and related business activity. The full study results will be released later this fall. "This ranking confirms what our community has long understood: the Wilmington Air Park is an economic engine with statewide significance," said T. Alex Beres, Executive Director of the Clinton County Port Authority. "To rank third among Ohio airports, and to stand in the same tier of economic impact as John Glenn Columbus International and Cleveland Hopkins, is particularly meaningful because Wilmington's impact is generated primarily through cargo, aircraft maintenance, logistics and industrial activity rather than passenger service." The Wilmington Air Park is especially distinctive among the airports at the top of the statewide rankings. Unlike Ohio's largest passenger-service airports, ILN is predominantly an industrial and cargo airport. The network of businesses located at and surrounding the Air Park employ skilled technicians and logistics associates that create a significant local, regional and state-wide impact. The Air Park is one of the largest employment centers in Southwest Ohio. Major operations at the Air Park include the headquarters of Air Transport Services Group, an Amazon Air Hub, GA Telesis, First Class Air Support, and Vector Electromagnetics. "Sometimes it is difficult to be able to contextualize the impact the Air Park has without the updates like these made in the Ohio Airport System Plan," said Beth Ellis, Chair of the Clinton County Port Authority Board. "It reflects the strength of the great businesses operating here. This is an economic development airport." The result also demonstrates that an airport's importance cannot be measured solely by passenger traffic. The Wilmington Air Park's concentration of aviation, industrial and logistics activity supports employment and business operations extending well beyond the boundaries of the airport and Clinton County. Often businesses and site selectors seek background information on areas, infrastructure and business health from sources such as this two-year review and study of all airports in the state. These data points will help Ohio, the community and the Wilmington Air Park to be represented well with comparable data across the state and the nation. Beth Huber, Chief Operating Officer of the Clinton County Port Authority, served on the Ohio Airport System Plan Project Advisory Committee, which helped oversee and guide the statewide planning effort. ODOT identified the committee as an essential project partner, bringing together airport management, economic-development organizations, aviation advocates and state transportation professionals. "Beth's participation helped ensure that the perspective of a cargo- and industry-focused airport was represented throughout the planning process," Beres said. "The updated plan recognizes the importance of these different airport models and the complementary roles they play in Ohio's economy. There is no more knowledgeable person or bigger advocate for the Air Park than Beth. She was absolutely essential to this update being successful." The updated Ohio Airport System Plan is designed as an interactive and updatable planning resource that can respond to changing aviation activity, infrastructure needs and economic conditions. It will help guide future state and local decisions concerning airport investment, system capacity, infrastructure and economic development. The updated plan draft can be found here: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/travel/aviation/ohio-airport-system-plan. About the Clinton County Port Authority le Clinton County Port Authority is a special purpose government formed to operate insportation infrastructure and lead economic development efforts. Designated by Clinton unty, the City of Wilmington, and the CIC of Wilmington as the lead Economic Development ency for the County, it coordinates with the Dayton Development Coalition and JobsOhio to ract jobs to, and retain jobs in, the area. It has been voted a Best Workplace for the last seven irs. The Port Authority owns and operates the Wilmington Air Park, an integrated aviation and istics business park located on 1,900 acres with nearly three million square feet of industrial, ce and hangar space. It is the highest volume cargo airport in Ohio and ranked 23rd in the ted States. Learn more at www.ChooseClintonCountyOH.org and www.WilmingtonAirPark.com.

Left to Right: Joe Knueven (Wilmington Rotary Club President) and David Raizk (CIC Executive Director) The Community Improvement Corporation of Wilmington (CIC) is a local non-profit economic development organization focused on facilitating business investment, industrial growth, and job creation in the Wilmington area and Clinton County. For more than 50 years, its mission has been to promote industrial and commercial development, attracting businesses, and helping create employment opportunities in the region. The CIC was formed in the early 1970s in response to the announcement of the closure of the Clinton County Air Force Base. Having secured private financing, visionary citizens went to Washington DC and purchased the Air Base from the government. The CIC was created to acquire this valuable asset for the community and helped foster economic renewal by helping develop the Wilmington Air Park and associated industrial corridors. It has successfully facilitated land sales to companies such as Ferno, EMSAR, and many others that now employ many local residents. Most recently the CIC has assisted in bringing Zimmer Tractor to Wilmington. The CIC's main goals and activities include: managing, maintaining, and promoting industrial sites and industrial park lands within Wilmington; facilitating business growth and job creation by making property available and encouraging commercial investment; contributing to community infrastructure such as the extension of Davids Drive and utilities; and enhancing social vitality through educational and quality of life projects, such as supporting local schools and nature areas. The CIC of Wilmington is unique in the state of Ohio in that it has never taken any government or public funds. Most CICs are financially supported by the government they serve. The CIC of Wilmington is a privately funded non-profit that can act on behalf of the City of Wilmington, when requested, to foster economic development, especially in the acquisition and disposal of real property. The CIC also partners with the Clinton County Port Authority and others to financially support the office of Economic Development for Clinton County. As similar organizations with different statutory authorities, the CIC and the Port Authority do not work at cross-purposes, but through their excellent relationship, they work together to promote economic growth in our community. In short, the Community Improvement Corporation of Wilmington is a longstanding local economic development entity that works behind the scenes to attract and support business investment, grow jobs, and enhance community infrastructure in Wilmington and the surrounding county. David Raizk, Executive Director (937) 302-0729 david.raizk@wilmingtoncic.com www.wilmingtoncic.com

Left to Right: Devon Snyder, Gracie Bowers,
Carlie McCoy, and Lucy Gabbert The 2026 Clinton Community Fellows spent their summer gaining professional experience while working on projects across the county. “The program is an opportunity for young professionals to see Clinton County as a place where they can grow and build their future,” said program director Bekah Wall. This year’s fellows—Gracie Bowers, Lucy Gabbert, Carlie McCoy, and Devon Snyder—partnered with local organizations to work on projects that had a local impact. Bowers worked with the Chamber of Commerce to create a Member Spotlight social media series, resource guides for new and prospective members, and organizing a young professionals event. Gabbert partnered with the Board of Elections to redesign its system for tracking accessibility at polling locations and visiting sites throughout the county. McCoy worked with the Health District to promote public health surveys and support the “Through Your Lens” initiative, which encouraged residents to use photos to identify public health strengths and challenges. Snyder worked alongside Blanchester family physician Dr. Catherine Laruffa and developed a resource guide that highlights local opportunities to connect, move naturally, eat wisely, and find purpose. The Clinton Community Fellows Program is administered by Wilmington College and was created by Energize Clinton County (ECC) and the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) in 2010. More than 55 fellows have completed the 10-week program that is supported by the CCRPC, the George and Charlene Bush Fund at the Clinton County Foundation, Wilmington College’s Merrill Evans Innovation Fund, and private donations to ECC. Learn more at clintoncommunityfellows.org.

WILMINGTON, Ohio (September 23, 2026)—On September 22, 2026, at approximately 9:40pm, officers with the Wilmington Police Department responded to the Sechve Athletic Center at Wilmington College regarding a report of an individual taking photographs of members of the women’s soccer team while they were changing inside a female locker room. Upon officers’ arrival, a male suspect was being detained by Wilmington College Campus Safety personnel. The subsequent investigation determined that the male suspect had allegedly concealed himself in the ceiling area of the female locker room. A member of the soccer team discovered the individual, and Wilmington College Campus Safety and the Wilmington Police Department were notified. The suspect was identified as Jayson Barker of Jeffersonville, Ohio. Barker was working at Wilmington College as a contracted employee performing custodial services. As a result of the initial investigation, Barker was charged with 11 counts of voyeurism. He is currently being held at the Clinton County Jail on a $22,000 cash/surety bond. Barker’s next court appearance is scheduled for October 5, 2026, at 2:00pm in Clinton County Municipal Court. The Wilmington Police Department continues to investigate this incident. Investigators are reviewing potential evidence to determine whether additional criminal charges are warranted. Because this remains an active investigation, additional information may be released as appropriate. All criminal charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Wilmington Police Department Chief of Police Joshua Gibson (937) 382-3833

WILMINGTON, Ohio (September 24, 2026)—On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, students, Veterans organizations, and community partners will come together at the Murphy Theatre for a county-wide Veterans Day celebration. The program, organized by the Clinton County Veterans Service Commission (CCVSC), begins at 6:30pm. The people participating have a shared purpose: to give local Veterans an evening when they can sit alongside their families, enjoy the program, and feel how much their community appreciates them. Participants are expected to include Wilmington and Clinton-Massie High Schools, local Veterans organizations, and representatives from the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. The family of Capt. Curtis Angst will be this year’s guests of honor, and his mother, Lisa Angst, will deliver the keynote address. The program will also recognize individuals and organizations whose service to Clinton County Veterans has made a meaningful impact. “The students and organizations taking part are giving their time and talent to make this night special for our Veterans,” said Ron King, CCVSC Outreach Coordinator. “I want Veterans to be able to sit in the Murphy Theatre, look around at their neighbors, and feel the love and appreciation this community has for them. They’ve shown up for us. On Veterans Day, it’s our turn to show up for them.” This year’s observance takes place during the nation’s 250th anniversary and marks 25 years since September 11, 2001, and the beginning of a generation of post 9/11 military service. The celebration follows months of CCVSC outreach at community events, including the Clinton County Fair, Corn Festival, Silent Watch, and Veterans Volksmarch. The Commission has also made home visits and worked to connect more Veterans with benefits and services available to them. For King, the November 11 gathering brings that work back to a simple message: Clinton County remembers its Veterans, appreciates their service, and is here for them when they need help. Additional details about the program, including the schedule and participating organizations, will be shared through additional releases, CCVSC social media, and the Murphy Theatre.

"The state report card is a report card that all schools and districts in [Ohio] get, that measures and evaluate how schools are doing on particular areas of importance to the state," stated Chris Woolard, Chief Integration Officer at the Ohio Department of Education. Woolard shared that the purpose of the state report cards is to identify strengths and challenges, so schools are able to celebrate their successes and reflect on their weaknesses. The state report card features six rated components: achievement, progress, gap closing, graduation, early literacy, and future readiness. There are star ratings from one to five for each category, with one meaning "not where you need to be," three meaning the district is meeting expectations, and five meaning the district is exceeding. According to Woolard, the report card details are based on state law and federal expectations. The achievement category is based on students scores on state tests in math, reading, science, and social studies. The rating analyzes how well students perform on the state tests. The progress category also analyzes state test scores and determines whether students are growing or improving on state tests. In addition to achievement and progress, gap closing is also related to state tests, but looks at specific groups of students and their performances on state tests. The graduation category measures the rate of students graduating in either four or five years. Early literacy is the state's "number one priority," and reviews reading improvement and proficiency for students K-3. Future readiness analyzes a students' readiness for college, career, the workforce, or the military. It grades how prepared students are for future opportunities and was rated for the first time in 2025. For the 2025-2026 school year, Wilmington City Schools (WCS) received a three star rating overall. In every category, excluding early literacy, WCS received three stars. In early literacy, the district received a one star rating. To learn more about the Ohio State report card or WCS' scores, visit reportcard.education.ohio.gov.

Karen Anderson New Life Clinic will celebrate four decades of supporting local families with its 40th Anniversary Fall Fundraiser on Tue, Sept. 29, from 6pm to 8:30pm at the Roberts Centre. New Life Clinic began in 1986 as the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Clinton County and later became the Clinton County Women's Center. As services expanded to include men and fathers, it adopted its current name in 2012. Today, New Life Clinic provides free pregnancy tests, limited obstetrical ultrasounds, options counseling, STI testing and treatment, parenting education, fatherhood programs, and material assistance for local families. Expecting and new parents can also complete educational lessons to earn "Baby Bucks," which can be used for necessities including cribs, car seats, diapers, wipes, strollers, formula and clothing. "Our ultimate goal is to see what may have started as a crisis pregnancy result in a family," Director Karen Anderson said. Over its history, New Life Clinic reports more than 26,000 client visits, 8,845 pregnancy tests and 1,285 ultrasounds. Primarily supported through private donations, New Life Clinic holds three major fundraising efforts each year, with the Fall Fundraiser traditionally serving as its largest. For the 40th anniversary, past clients will serve as the keynote speakers and share how the organization impacted their lives. One speaker first came to New Life Clinic at age 15 while unexpectedly pregnant. She chose to continue her pregnancy, and her daughter is now 27, married, and has a child. Another former client will travel from Tennessee to share how New Life Clinic helped change the direction of her life. She now works with a Christian ministry. The anniversary event will celebrate those stories while raising support to continue providing New Life Clinic's free services. RSVP or donate at newlifesupport.org.

"The show is a lot of fun to put on... The people that you meet is unbelievable... and the show continues to grow... It's a really unique festival... it's just a good old fashioned festival," stated Jonathan McKay, current member of the Antique Power Club. Before the Clinton County Corn Festival became what it is today, it was originally called the Antique Show of Pioneer Craft Display and was held to honor the Clinton County Historical Society's 25th anniversary. In September of 1974, the Antique Power Club and Clinton County Historical Society held their first official show at the Clinton County Fairgrounds after outgrowing their previous location. The festival featured live demonstrations, machinery on display, and parades within the fairgrounds. The shows began to grow each year, and by 1977, the Antique Power Club officially became incorporated. McKay shared that the club was founded with the purpose of acquiring, restoring, operating, and displaying antique farm equipment. In January of 1978, the Antique Power Club officially determined that the annual shows name would be changed to "Clinton County Corn Festival." That year, they even expanded to include flea markets, demonstrations, adult games, and more. Throughout the following years, the club acquired large, antique equipment like a stone crushed, a Fairbanks-Morse engine, a sawmill, and more to display at the festivals. They began giving demonstrations in 1987. Since its inception, the festival has grown exponentially, ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 attendees in one weekend. With the profits, the club provides scholarships, donates to FFA programs, and promotes agricultural heritage across the county. This year, the festival's theme will be "Gathering of the Orange," and will feature many Allis-Chalmers orange machinery. The festival will continue to feature food, crafts, flea markets, demonstrations, and more. To learn more about the Clinton County Corn Festival or the Antique Power Club, visit cornfestivalonline.com.

Left to Right: Josh Schlabach (1st Ward), Michael Snarr (2nd Ward), Don Wells (3rd Ward), Jeffrey Earley (4th Ward), Jamie Knowles (At Large), Dennis Gherman (At Large), Kelly Tolliver (At Large), Mary Kay Vance (Auditor), Sarah Barger (Prosecutor, at podium) On Thursday, September 3, 2026, Wilmington City Council gave first readings of two revised ordinances addressing public camping and the obstruction of public property, following weeks of discussion among city council, police, law director, and prosecutor. Ordinance 26-49 would regulate "public camping, temporary habitation, and occupancy of public property", while Ordinance 26-50 would regulate "bodily obstruction in or on public property" that prevents others from using or enjoying public spaces. Both ordinances are expected to return to city council for additional readings on September 17, 2026. The new legislation replaces an earlier proposed camping ordinance, Ordinance 26-45, which received its first reading in August but drew concerns from police and prosecutor's office over its overly broad wording. Council formally allowed the old proposed ordinance to die Thursday night after all seven members voted against giving it a second reading. Council praised the collaborative process that produced the revised ordinances and said the city needs to give police additional tools while emphasizing a "treatment first" approach for people experiencing homelessness, mental illness, or substance abuse. Prosecutor Sarah Barger also expressed confidence that the revised ordinances are sufficiently narrow to withstand legal scrutiny. Under Ordinance 26-49, a campsite is defined in connection with maintaining a temporary place to live, rather than simply covering oneself with a blanket or temporarily occupying public property. Barger said that distinction was important in narrowing the ordinance and clarifying the conduct it is intended to address. She also addressed concerns about personal belongings being removed from public property, saying the ordinance does not simply authorize police to dispose of someone's possessions. Items considered litter or trash could be discarded, while other property would be handled through normal police procedures. The second proposal, Ordinance 26-50, focuses on bodily obstruction of public property. Barger emphasized that the ordinance would not prohibit someone merely sitting on a sidewalk or park bench. Instead, it targets conduct that actually obstructs another person's ability to use public property. As an example, she said someone lying across an entire bench and preventing another person from using it could fall within the ordinance. Councilwoman Michael Snarr also praised the process that led to the revised legislation. Snarr said he recently participated in a police ride-along and spoke with several homeless individuals at a city park. He said officers also expressed interest in the city considering a "nuisance-property" ordinance for residential properties in the future. Council initially began the first-reading process for Ordinance 26-49 before realizing the previous camping ordinance, Ordinance 26-45, was still pending. Council unanimously nullified its initial action on the new ordinance, then returned to Ordinance 26-45 and voted 7-0 against advancing it to a second reading. Council then restarted the process and formally gave Ordinance 26-49 its first reading, followed by a first reading of O-26-50. Both revised ordinances are scheduled to return to Wilmington City Council on September 17, when council is expected to consider additional readings.