City Departments
Homeowners' Associations
Liberty Township Fire Department
Other Government Links
Employment Opportunities
Police Department

City Council

The City Council serves as the policy-making body in the City, with its members elected to represent the community and to concentrate on policy issues that are responsive to citizens' needs. Council takes the leadership role to interpret the wishes of the community and provides for the general welfare of the community through programs, services and activities.

The City Council is composed of the Mayor and six council members elected at large. The Mayor is the presiding officer of the City Council and is recognized as the head of the city government for all ceremonial purposes. The vice president of Council presides over Council meetings in the absence of the Mayor. The City Council has the power to appoint the city manager, adopt the budget, authorize the issuance of bonds and appoint members of all boards and commissions.

The Mayor and each Council member will hold office for a period of four years until his or her successor is qualified and elected. No person shall be deemed elected to an office unless that person receives a majority of all the votes cast for such office.

Qualifications:
The Mayor and each Council member must be a citizen of the United States, qualified voter of the State of Ohio and have resided for at least one year within the corporate limits of the City of Powell.

2010 City Council

Art Schultz – Mayor
Term Expires 12/31/11
Don Grubbs – Vice President
Term Expires 12/31/11
Sara Marie Brenner
Term Expires 12/31/13
Richard Cline
Term Expires 12/31/11
Tom Counts
Term Expires 12/31/13
Jim Hrivnak
Term Expires 12/31/13
Brian Lorenz
Term Expires 12/31/13

City Officials:

Mayor Art Schultz
Art Schultz has been involved in the Powell community since 1991. Art and his wife, Cathy, have both served on committees for the Olentangy Local School District. They also helped establish the Olentangy Swim Association pool. Art has served on most City of Powell boards and committees, including the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Planning and Zoning Board and City Council. Art previously served as the Mayor of Powell in 2002-2003. Art and Cathy have four children, Katy, Maggie, Hayley and John, all of whom attended the Olentangy schools. Art is an engineering manager at Battelle.

Councilwoman Sara Marie Brenner
Sara Marie is a newcomer to City Council in 2010 after being elected in November, 2009. A lifelong resident of the Powell area, Sara Marie is the owner of Prestige Music Studios Inc. in Powell and CEO of The Music Lessons Company, Inc. Locally, she is a past board member of and is currently involved with the Greater Powell Area Chamber of Commerce; she serves on the Olentangy Arts Council, where she is spearheading the committee to involve business leaders in the arts community; and her company, Prestige Music Studios, is a member of Historic Downtown Powell, Inc. and annual sponsor of the Powell Festival. In addition, she is a member of the board of trustees of Opera Columbus, she serves on the Public Policy and National PAC Committee for the National Association of Women Business Owners, and serves as Chair of the Area Action Council for the National Federation of Independent Business. She is also actively involved in local, state and national politics, managing and helping with various political campaigns and organizations. In the City, she serves on the Development Committee, Finance Committee and Community Improvement Corporation. She lives in Golf Village with her husband, Delaware County Recorder Andrew Brenner.

Councilman Richard Cline
Richard Cline, a practicing attorney since 1981, served as the Municipal Court Prosecutor for the Village of Powell from 1984 to 1986. The Cline family moved to Powell in 1994 and Richard was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. While on the board, he helped draft the Bikeway/Walkway Master Plan. This plan has served as the foundation for Powell’s bike path planning. First elected to Council in 1996, Richard is serving his fourth term on City Council, having served as Mayor in 1998-1999. Richard was instrumental in the formation of the council committee structure, has served on the finance committee since its inception, and currently serves as chairman of that committee. Richard also chaired the Charter Review Committee responsible for the most recent revisions to the City Charter. Richard, his wife Nora, and his two children (Caitlin and Patrick) live in the Falcon Ridge Subdivision. Nora is the founder and owner of Modern Manners, LLC, an etiquette instruction program that she developed in 1990.

Councilman Tom Counts
Tom Counts has served on City Council since 2006, and served as Mayor in 2008-2009. In addition, he serves on the finance committee and operations committee. Prior to serving on City Council, Tom served on the Board of Zoning Appeals for five years and then on the Planning and Zoning Commission for five years. Tom is married to Carolyn Eselgroth and has two daughters, Abby and Rachel. Tom and his family have been Powell residents since 1995. Tom is a lawyer and is employed as real estate counsel to the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio.

Councilman Don Grubbs
Don Grubbs is a partner and a member of the advocacy and litigation practice group at the law firm of Buckley King LPA. Don has been a practicing attorney and litigator for 20 years. Elected to Powell City Council in 2004, Don served as Mayor in 2006-2007. During his term as Mayor, Don created the "Mayor's Kid Citizen of the Month" program. Don has also served on several boards and commissions including the Powell Planning and Zoning Commission, Powell Community Infrastructure Financing Authority, Kiwanis Club of Powell and the Powell Area Chamber of Commerce. Don and his wife, Jannelle, have two children, Eli and Sophie.

Councilman Jim Hrivnak
Jim Hrivnak was appointed to fill a vacant seat on City Council. He is senior engineer at Veyance Technologies, manufacturer of Goodyear Engineered Products, in Marysville. Jim currently serves on the Powell Planning and Zoning Commission and was a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals from 2004 to 2006. He and his wife, Pam, and two children have lived in the Grandshire subdivision since 1999.

Councilman Brian Lorenz
Brian Lorenz is also serving his first term on City Council after being elected in November, 2009. A resident of Golf Village, Brian has been a member of Powell's Planning and Zoning Commission since 2008. Brian works as a planning and permitting manager for WD Partners in Dublin and is a coach with the Olentangy Youth Athletic Association. He and his wife, Sue, have four children.  

To contact a member of Powell City Council, click here.