Borchers named permanent finance director

After serving as the interim finance director for the City of Powell since July, Samantha Borchers will now guide the City’s finances in a permanent position.

During Tuesday’s meeting of the Powell City Council, the council accepted City Manager Andrew White’s appointment of Borchers to fill the position.

“This is something we’ve been looking forward to for a while … The position of finance director with the City is strategically a very critical, important position within the City,” White said during the meeting. “It’s one that’s appointed by the position of city manager, but it does require the consent and authorization by council.”

Borchers joined the City in 2023, serving as the assistant finance director, where White said she “played a vital role in supporting the position of finance director.”

“For the better part of the last half of this year, she’s been in the capacity of acting finance director with a diminished staff and stepped into that role very successfully, first in coordinating all the department heads on the Capital Improvement Program submissions and then again with putting together the operating budget for 2026,” White said. “I say with confidence that all of the staff are very excited for this appointment and support it, and I am pleased to present this recommendation for appointment to Sam for this position.”

Prior to Borchers being sworn in, Vice Mayor Heather Karr told Borchers, “It has truly been an honor to get to know you and work with you over the last couple of years. When you started a couple of years ago, I was very impressed when you came in and dived in. You really showed you had the skills to help take the city into the future. And then the professionalism you exhibited when the finance director left, and had to immediately step in and guide all of us through the budget process, you did an amazing job with that. I would say you have truly earned this finance director position, and I look forward to working with you in the future.”

Councilman David Lester added, “One of the greatest attributes we have not talked about is your communication skills, and I think the entire staff has commented privately on that. I think that is number 1-A in being the finance director and part of the leadership.”

Sawmill Parkway portion to be resurfaced

As part of Tuesday’s meeting, the council also approved a resolution authorizing White to enter into a cooperation agreement with Delaware County for the resurfacing of Sawmill Parkway.

The County intends to resurface Sawmill Parkway from Home Road to Hyatts Road next year, and the portion from Home Road to Royal Belfast Boulevard is within the corporate limits of the city of Powell.

“Over the last year or so, the staff has proactively reached out and coordinated activities with the Delaware County Engineer’s Office, and we meet quarterly, if not more frequently, depending on activities,” White said. “This was brought forth in one of those meetings. There’s a lot of overlapping jurisdiction where there’s going to be some asphalt work the County is going to do. They reached out to the engineer and sought whether or not the City was interested.”

City documents for the project state it is “desired to resurface major roadways, such as Sawmill Parkway, with the least amount of disruption possible,” and paving the small portion of Sawmill Parkway within the city corporation boundary at the same time that the larger project is being resurfaced will achieve that goal.

“This will also reduce mobilization costs for the work within the City’s jurisdiction,” the document adds.

The estimated total cost for the project is $784,800, with the City’s share being estimated at $159,900.

White said the City is seeking to include this portion of Sawmill Parkway as part of the 2026 Street Maintenance Program, which would be allocated within that budget for next year and “complete that program in coordination with the County” and “realize some efficiency and have a seamless project.”

Reach Dillon Davis at 740-413-0904. Follow him on X @DillonDavis56.