City Council

NEW PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL MET IN REGULAR SESSION IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 WITH PRESIDENT DON KEMP PRESIDING. COUNCILMAN WALKER OFFERED A PRAYER, AND ALL IN ATTENDANCE RECITED THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATTENDENCE MR. DAN LANZER MR. MITCH PACE MR. TOM SIMMELINK MR. MICHAEL WALKER EXCUSED ABSENSES: MR. KRIS KREINBIHL MRS. CHERYL RAMOS MR. STEVE RIPPETH LAW DIRECTOR MARVIN FETE  MR. WALKER MOTIONED AT ADD ORDINANCE 27-2024 TO TONIGHT’S AGENDA FOR 1st Reading MR. LANZER SECONDED THE MOTION 4 YEAS ORDINANCE 27-2024 WILL BE ADDED TO TONIGHT’S AGENDA  MR. WALKER MOTIONED TO APPROVE TONIGHT’S AGENDA MRS. SIMMELINK SECONDED THE MOTION 4 YEAS TONIGHT’S AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED  MR. PACE MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL ON AUGUST 26 , 2024 MR. SIMMELINK SECONDED THE MOTION 4 YEAS MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 26, 2024 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING HAVE BEEN APPROVED CORRESPONDENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLERK, JULIE COURTRIGHT 1. To Clerk of Council from Treasurer Gerber dated September 8, 2024. This is the Investment and Savings Report from the Treasurer’s Office from August of 2024. 2. To Councilwoman Ramos from President Kemp dated August 28, 2024. This is an email titled “New Zoning Codes” that was replied to by Mrs. Ramos and Code Administrator Josh Mathias. 3. To Council and Administration from Executive Administrative Assistant to the Mayor Jami Bailey, dated September 3, 2024. This is the August Month-end Report for the Mayor’s Office. 4. To President Kemp from Law Director Fete, dated September 5, 2024. This is an email titled “Please Assign to the Finance Committee” with Ordinance 26-2024, concerning the City’s intention to auction off a street sweeper. President Kemp asked Mr. Rippeth to take this issue into his Committee. 5. To President Kemp from Fire Chief Parrish dated September 4, 2024. This is an email titled “Annual Ambulance Committee Meeting. President Kemp asked Mr. Simmelink to set up a meeting of the Ambulance Committee on September 23, 2024. 6. To Council and Administration from Assistant to the Service Director Jonalee Fernatt, dated September 3, 2024. This is an email titled “September Board of Appeals No Meeting”. This email states that 1  there will not be a meeting because no variance requests have been received. . MAYOR’S REPORT/REQUESTS ….MAYOR JOEL B. DAY Mayor Day had the following report: The Next Step in Adoption of a New City Zoning Code Now that Wendy Moeller of Compass Point Planning has given her final public presentation of the City’s new zoning code, the next step will be the code’s adoption by City Council. That should come next month. Once approved, the new code will be posted on the City’s website and a link will be shared on the City’s Facebook page to download a PDF copy. If you have questions about the code, send them to these email addresses: clerk@npohcc.com or jbailey@newphilaoh.com. Appointments to the City’s DORA Board of Directors I have made appointments to the board of directors that will oversee the operation of the City’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area. They are as follows: • City Safety Director Greg Popham • City Council representative – Kris Kreinbihl • Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau representative – Dee Grossman • VFW Post 1445 representative – Steve Chenevey • Downtown Business Owner representative – Debbie Knisely • City Health Department representative – Dana Fischio (alternate) Within the next week the board will conduct its organizational meeting, review the DORA cup and signage designs and review the permit that will be used for event applications. The Tilapia Are Calling from Tuscora Park The tilapia fishing season is now open at Tuscora Park pond and the lagoon at Lakeview Avenue NW. The tilapia put into them three months ago for algae control have to be harvested before the water temperature dips below 50 degrees. They cannot survive in water below that temperature. Fishing rules are posted at both bodies of water. Planning to Begin Phase 2 of the Southside Community Park’s Development Now that the City has received $300,000.00 in grant money, I’ve asked Service Director McAbier to use it to begin construction of phase 2 of the Southside Community Park’s development. The Kimble Foundation has given $50,000 toward the project, and thanks to the efforts of State Representative Brett Hillyer and State Senator Al Landis, the project has received $250,000.00 from the State’s capital budget. The money will help get the construction started. It will take around $2 million to complete all the improvements in the phase 2 project. Senator Sherrod Brown’s office recently informed the Service Director that the City’s application for federal funding for the project was rejected. But he was told to keep trying. 2 SERVICE DIRECTOR………….. Service Director Ron McAbier: Mr. McAbier had the following report: 1. Franklin Square Storm Sewer Project: They are done on 4th Street and are working in Bank Lane heading to Front with a 5-foot line. It’s sandy down there and challenging, similar to the sanitary sewer on 4th. They are still shooting for the October 31 deadline. 2. The KSU Connector Trail Project: The widening is done up to the green hangars on East High Ave. Councilman Rippeth had asked about possibly staffing some more cars in the turn lane. I spoke with ODOT and they approved that change. 3. The Grant: On the peewee football and soccer side, it was in the master plan of putting a 4 unit restroom there. That’s preliminary and we’re waiting to get numbers back. It would be great to have a small garage down there. Mr. Walker had the following question: Did we get people’s mail figured out down by the KSU Connector Trail Project? Mr. McAbier: No, they still refuse. Mr. McAbier had the following comment: I just want to bring one more thing up. This afternoon there was a leak at 5th and Lewis. They stayed out tonight, turned some valves down and isolated it. No interruption of service. Mr. Pace: Is the KSU Connector Trail supposed to be done by October 31st? Mr. McAbier: Yes. AUDITOR ……………MRS. HEATHER DENHAM………..NO REPORT SAFETY DIRECTOR ………..MR. GREG POPHAM……….NO REPORT - TREASURER . . . . MR. TOM GERBER……………NO REPORT LAW DIRECTOR……MR. MARVIN FETE……….EXCUSED ABSENSE BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS: PLANNING COMMISSION……………….MAYOR JOEL DAY The Planning Commission will not be meeting this month. They need to rest, and there’s nothing on Our Agenda. We’ll regroup and regather in October. The next meeting will be on the 2nd Tuesday 3  Of October at 1:00. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS…….MR. RON MCABIER The Board of Zoning Appeals will be meeting tomorrow at 5:00pm with one variance request. . AIRPORT COMMISSION…….MR. DAN LANZER The Airport Commission will be meeting tomorrow evening at 6:00pm in the Harry Clever Meeting Room. PARK BOARD………………….MR. MITCH PACE No formal report I just wanted to congratulate Mr. Adam Fulton, Park Superintendent. We finished another great year and the park employees, volunteers, everyone did a Great job. The tilapia in the pond are now able to be harvested. They’ve done great At keeping the algae down in the pond. If you catch them between now and when the Water gets cold you can eat them. We’ll also be releasing a date for the Fall Trout Derby later this week. CEMETERY BOARD…………………….MR. MITCH PACE………..NO REPORT HEALTH BOARD ………………….…. MR. TOM SIMMELINK The Health Board meets at noon on Wednesday. In the meantime the Health Department has Received a supply of the new Covid vaccinations. They’ve also received the new flu shots. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: FINANCE COMMITTEE ………………MR. STEVE RIPPETH………EXCUSED ABSENSE 4 PUBLIC WORKS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE…MR. DAN LANZER…NO REPORT SAFETY, HEALTH, AND SERVICE COMMITTEE……MR. TOM SIMMELINK……NO REPORT ZONING AND ANNEXATION COMMITTEE……MRS. CHERYL RAMOS……..EXCUSED ABSENSE SALARY COMMITTEE………..NO REPORT………MR. KRIS KREINBIHL….EXCUSED ABSENSE PARKS AND CEMETERY COMMITTEE……………MR. MITCH PACE…….NO REPORT SPECIAL AND CONTACT COMMITTEE……MR. MIKE WALKER Mr. Walker had the following report: The Special and Contact Committee met this evening at 6:45 with three items to discuss. The first item was Ordinance 27-2024, which was added to tonight’s agenda for its 1st Reading. The second and third item are liquor license requests. One is a transfer and the other is a new liquor license. We would like to take a vote on those at this time. ROLL CALL VOTE 4 YEAS COUNCIL VOTED TO NOT HAVE A HEARING ON BOTH LIQUOR LICENSE REQUESTS. Mr. Walker concluded that the meeting adjourned at 6:48 PM. VISITOR’S COMMENTS_....................NONE Council Comments …………….NONE READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS 5  ORDINANCES: 23-2024 AN ORDINANCE BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO, AUTHORIZING THE AUDITOR TO ESTABLISH A NEW FUND, CALLED THE DOWNTOWN QUADRANT MAINTENANCE FUND NUMBER 282 2nd Reading 27-2024 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO, TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TUSCARAWAS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE FOR THE PROVISION OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR INDIGENTS CHARGED WITH VIOLATIONS OF NEW PHILADELPHIA CITY ORDINANCES IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT WHERE SUCH OFFENSES CARRY A POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIBERTY, ESTABLISHING COMPENSATION AND TERMS THEREOF. 1st Reading RESOLUTIONS: UNFINISHED OR OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: NONE With no other business to discuss Mr. Lanzer motioned to adjourn at 7:52 PM. CLERK OF COUNCIL______________________________________________________ Julie Courtright APPROVED ______________________ PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL __________________________________________________ Don Kemp 6