COLUMBUS – The new year ushered in big changes at Columbus City Hall.
At it first meeting of 2024, Columbus City Council implemented changes to the structure of the body approved by voters in 2018, the biggest overhaul of the city’s governing panel in 100 years.
Council expanded from seven members to nine, seating three new members.
Each member represents one at-large district.
Three members are new to council: Christopher Wyche, Nancy Day-Achauer and Melissa Green.
The members drew lots to establish staggered terms of service: Five councilmembers will serve a 4-year term, and four councilmembers will serve a 2-year term, running again in 2025.
Members unanimously re-elected Shannon Hardin as council president and Rob Dorans as president pro tem and adopted a restructured committee system, condensing its 21-committee structure to 11 committees based on areas of focus.
Under the council’s new hybrid at-large districting system, residents have a council representative who is living in their neighborhood though they will still be able to contact any council member regarding issues specific to their committees.