Vice Mayor· 2026-01-06 to 2029-12-01 (start: oath of office administered Jan 6 2026 by Delaware County Commissioner Barb Lewis per council minutes, first elected 2006 per city bio and continuous since, Mayor 2024-2025; month-level end: December 2029 per city member page 'Term Expires 12/31/29')
Tom Counts
Powell
No biography on file yet.
Want every word Counts has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Counts said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (11)(Development)
Proposed Bunker Lane fuel station
Neighbors worry a fuel station next door could hurt property values — one resident cited her county tax reassessment arriving the same week as the notice.
Bennett Farm fence replacement
Up to $87,441, not covered by the county grant that applies to other buildings.
Downtown Public Parking Lot Lease
Budgeted at $26,000; first week cost $964 with only one station open.
Dutch Bros coffee shop on Home Road
Powell may face added legal costs and lost control over project conditions, while the developer gains a clearer path to build and recoup its investment.
Pre-annexation of large shopping center
Would bring a significant amount of new payroll and income tax into the city; incentive costs not yet disclosed.
Kroger outparcels subdivision plat
Staff noted one fast-food chain is already looking to build on one of the new parcels.
New Downtown Design Guidelines
Expect public money and developer cash to shape new shops and spaces, with property values and city tax revenue potentially rising—but infrastructure and incentive costs could hit taxpayers.
Home Road land transfer for tech-flex park
Projected about $323,000 a year in new income tax revenue, roughly $4.85 million over 15 years, offset by selling the land at the city's cost of about $2.2 million.
Proposed 0.7-acre Home Road annexation near OSU Wexner facility
No immediate cost to the city; staff said the parcel's proximity means no strain on services.
Redwood development final acceptance
Reimbursement funds were already set aside in the budget, so no new money is needed.
Future of Visit Powell downtown organization
PDC currently funds Visit Powell at $38,500; absorption costs and structure are under study.
Decisions during term (4)
Recorded while Counts was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Executive session - property purchase, legal disputes, and economic development matters
Resolution 2026-48 — Home Road land transfer to Powell Development Corporation
Executive Session — Property Purchase, Legal, Economic Development
Ordinance 2026-13 — final acceptance of Redwood development public improvements
Voting record (1)(Development)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.