City Council

NEW PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL MET IN REGULAR SESSION IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON NOVEMBER 25, 2024 WITH PRESIDENT DON KEMP PRESIDING. COUNCILMAN RIPPETH OFFERED A PRAYER, AND ALL IN ATTENDANCE RECITED THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. COUNCIL MEMBERS IN ATTENDENCE MR. KRIS KREINBIHL MR. DAN LANZER MR. MITCH PACE MR. STEVE RIPPETH EXCUSED ABSENSES: MRS. CHERYL RAMOS MR. TOM SIMMELINK MR. MICHAEL WALKER MR. GREG POPHAM  MR. LANZER MOTIONED TO ADD ORDINANCE 31-2024, ORDINANCE 32-2024, AND ORDINANCE 38-2024 TO TONIGHT’S AGENDA MR. RIPPETH SECONDED THE MOTION 4 YEAS ORDINANCE 31-2024, ORDINANCE 32-2024, AND ORDINANCE 38-2024 HAVE BEEN ADDED TO TONIGHT’S AGENDA  MR. RIPPETH MOTIONED TO ADD ORDINANCE 34-2024 TO TONIGHT’S AGENDA MR. LANZER SECONDED THE MOTION 4 YEAS ORDINANCE 34-2024 HAS BEEN ADDED TO TONIGHT’S AGENDA  MR. KREINBIHL MOTIONED TO APPROVE TONIGHT’S AGENDA MR. PACE SECONDED THE MOTION 4 YEAS TONIGHT’S AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED  MR. KREINBIHL MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 11, 2024 MR. LANZER SECONDED THE MOTION 3 YEAS, 1 ABSTAINED (MR. RIPPETH) MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 11, 2024 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING HAVE BEEN APPROVED CORRESPONDENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLERK, JULIE COURTRIGHT 1. To President Kemp and Law Director Fete from Mayor Day, dated November 18, 2024. This is a forwarded email from Dean of Kent State University Tuscarawas Brad Bielski. This is requesting that Council recognizes the women’s volleyball team who recently won the first USCAA D2 National Championship in the school’s history. President Kemp asked Mr. Walker to take this into his Committee. 1  2. To Mr. Simmelink from President Kemp, dated November 21, 2024. This is an email titled “Please assign to Mr. Simmelink’s Committee” with Resolution 20-2024 as the attachment. 3. To Mr. Rippeth from President Kemp dated November 21, 2024. This is an email titled “Please assign to Mr. Rippeth’s Committee with Ordinance 34-2024 regarding appropriations as the attachment. President Kemp asked Mr. Rippeth to take this issue into his Committee. 4. To Council Clerk from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, dated November 19, 2024. Response must be postmarked no later than December 19, 2024. This is a D-5, D-6 Liquor License Permit for Hog Heaven of New Philadelphia, Inc. I forwarded the Liquor License Request to President Kemp so he could assign it to the proper Committee. 5. To Mayor Day and President Kemp from Municipal Court Administrator Judith Dziegel, dated November 24, 2024. This is an email titled “New Philadelphia Municipal Court Capital Needs Request.” 6. To Council Clerk from the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, dated November 21, 2024. Response must be postmarked no later than December 21, 2024. This is a Liquor License Request from JNG Grill at 114 Front Ave. SW. I forwarded this to President Kemp so he can place it in the proper Committee. 7. To Council and Administration from Mayor Day, dated November 25, 2024. The Mayor’s Report. MAYOR’S REPORT/REQUESTS ….MAYOR JOEL B. DAY Mayor Day had the following report: The Holiday Season Is Here! I want to thank my Executive Assistant Jami Bailey and her team for the awesome job they did in planning last evening’s (Sunday) annual holiday Downtown Lighting Ceremony. The individuals and school and community groups who participated really spread the holiday cheer and got us ready to celebrate Thanksgiving and the arrival of the Christmas season. Downtown will be full of activities now through Christmas. The New Philadelphia Advancing our Community Together (NPact) organization is sponsoring a Holiday Window Decorating Contest in downtown storefronts. You can use a QR code on each participating window to vote. The contest starts November 30th on Small Business Saturday when many of the businesses will have special events and open houses. NPact is also selling Holiday Memorial Stars to hang in Artagain Alley as a reminder of the loved ones we will miss this holiday season. The stars are $10 each and are available now at Alley Cats Marketplace, Fresh the Market and Be Unique Studios. The sale is an NPact fundraiser so the organization can continue to plan and fund downtown and community events. Santa Claus will be coming to New Philadelphia in the annual Christmas Parade, which steps off at the Tuscora Park entrance on North Broadway on Friday, December 6th at 6:30 pm. Santa will be in his house on the Courthouse quadrant on December 5th from 5 – 7 pm, then on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 – 7 pm and Saturdays from Noon – 2pm from December 7th through 21st. Kids can write letters to Santa and drop them in his mailbox beside his house until December 15th. Don’t forget to include a return address so he knows where to send his reply. Check the City’s Facebook page for more information on all of these events. Working to Bring Chick-fil-A to New Philadelphia As revealed during tonight’s Public Works and Economic Development Committee meeting, the City administration has been working to bring a Chick-fil-A restaurant to New Philadelphia. Included in that effort is a request by the company for Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) property tax abatement. According to the CRA application presented to the committee, the company contemplates spending $1.5 million dollars to purchase and demolish the Travelodge on Bluebell Drive NW and another $3.5 million dollars to construct on the site an 85-seat restaurant and employ a staff of thirty-three people. For that investment, Chick-fil-A is asking for 50 percent CRA property tax abatement for five years. As required by law, the New Philadelphia School District and Buckeye Career Center have been notified of the CRA request and will have time to consider it. Keep in mind that this is not a done deal. The CRA application must be approved by City Council and the school districts, and other agreements and paperwork have to be completed before the official announcement can be made. However, Chick-fil- A’s interest in locating in New Philadelphia is another indication of how attractive our community has 2  become for business development. A lot of people and organizations have been working hard to make that happen. Urging Our State Legislators to Send Home More State Tax Dollars I have contacted State Senator Al Landis, State Representative Brett Hillyer, and State Representative- elect Jodi Salvo, urging them to support revising Ohio Revised Code sections 742.33 and 742.34 to increase the county real and personal property tax revenue given to the City to pay the employers’ contribution into the Police and Fire Pension Fund. In 1965, the amount given to municipalities was set at three-tenths of one mill. That amount has not changed. As a result, New Philadelphia has had to subsize its pension fund contribution by using 11% of its General Fund revenue from City income tax collection. As you know, all City departments are funded wholly or in part by General Fund revenue. So, increasing the millage would reduce or eliminate the need for the General Fund subsidy and make more revenue available to fund the departments and City services. Inflationary costs are affecting New Philadelphia’s government too. As I wrote to our representatives, if the Ohio Legislature won’t help cities make ends meet, we will be faced with having to reduce department staffing levels and curtail services or ask wage earners in the City to pay a higher income tax. I told them that I couldn’t ask our citizens and businesses to pay more when I know that the Legislature has the means to return more state tax dollars to our City. City Planning Commission Reaches Out to Help NP Schools The members of the City’s Planning Commission want to help the New Philadelphia School District find locations for new schools. Last week, the Commission met with the school administration to start on that quest. Information will be gathered over the next two weeks that will be presented to the Commission at its December 10th regular meeting. There are always people to be thankful for. Remember them in your prayers this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving New Philadelphia! SERVICE DIRECTOR………….. Service Director Ron McAbier: Mr. McAbier had the following report: 1. The KSU Connector Trail Project: On Saturday the mailboxes were returned to their rightful spots. Today they did the hydroseeding. Also, they ran out of weather for striping. That stuff will also be done in the Spring of 2025. 2. Franklin Square: They were working late and all the tie-ins are done. Tomorrow they’re planning to pave. Once it’s paved, we should be able to open that up. 3. On 2nd Street NE we did the tie-ins for the new 6 inch waterline. We have to go to 1st Drive to Cedar Lane, make some connections on 2nd Street. 4. Leaf Pick-up on the Southside has been completed. They’re heading to the Northeast Section starting tomorrow and there will be one truck on the Northwest section. After the northeast there will be a little bit on some side streets. Mr. Pace had the following comment: East High was a big project and it looks really nice now that it’s been completed. AUDITOR ……………MRS. HEATHER DENHAM Mrs. Denham had the following comment: This is the last week in November, so we have a very short amount of time to start working on the 2025 budget. I have some concerns about trying to finish the year this year with the budget that we have. We’ll have some additional appropriations. We have some appropriations ready for tonight and we’ll have some more requests for the next meeting. The big hit on medical insurances are going to be going under budget so I’m hoping we’ll have some room to move some money. 3  SAFETY DIRECTOR ………..MR. GREG POPHAM………….EXCUSED ABSENSE TREASURER . . . . MR. TOM GERBER………………NO REPORT LAW DIRECTOR……MR. MARVIN FETE Mr. Fete had the following report: We’re still without our Chief Prosecutor who’s recovering after back surgery. Last Sunday I spent three hours after church working on the CRA agreement, and on Monday I had six court hearings that I had to cover. I’m thankful that this is the holiday season because we’ll get a little bit of a break. BOARD/COMMISSION REPORTS: PLANNING COMMISSION……………….MAYOR JOEL DAY The Planning Commission will be meeting on December 10, 2024 at 1:00 PM in Council Chambers. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS…….MR. RON MCABIER The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet here in Council Chambers on December 10, 2024 at 5:00 PM. . AIRPORT COMMISSION…….MR. DAN LANZER The Airport Commission will not be meeting in December. PARK BOARD………………….MR. MITCH PACE We honored Rod Miller last Wednesday with Rod Miller Way. It’s Rod’s standard walk from the Park Entrance down to Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium. 4  CEMETERY BOARD…………………….MR. MITCH PACE…………NO REPORT HEALTH BOARD ………………….…. MR. TOM SIMMELINK……EXCUSED ABSENSE STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: FINANCE COMMITTEE ………………MR. STEVE RIPPETH Mr. Rippeth had the following report: The Finance Committee met tonight in Council Chambers to discuss placing Ordinance 34-2024 on tonight’s Agenda which was accomplished. We adjourned three minutes later. PUBLIC WORKS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE…MR. DAN LANZER Mr. Lanzer had the following report: The Public Works and Economic Development Committee met at 7:00pm to discuss three items; Proposed Ordinance 31-2024 which dealt with the sale of City property; Proposed Ordinance 28- 2024 which concerns a natural gas aggregate , and Proposed Ordinance 32-2024 the Chick-fil-a CRA Agreement. All three items were added to the Agenda. We adjouned at 7:13. SAFETY, HEALTH, AND SERVICE COMMITTEE……MR. TOM SIMMELINK………..EXCUSED ABSENSE ZONING AND ANNEXATION COMMITTEE……MRS. CHERYL RAMOS……EXCUSED ABSENSE SALARY COMMITTEE………..………MR. KRIS KREINBIHL……….NO REPORT 5 PARKS AND CEMETERY COMMITTEE……………MR. MITCH PACE…….NO REPORT SPECIAL AND CONTACT COMMITTEE……MR. MIKE WALKER………..EXCUSED ABSENSE VISITOR’S COMMENTS_....................NONE Council Comments President Kemp had the following comment: We’re going to call a Special Council Meeting at 5:00 on Monday to work on some of the appropriations. READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ORDINANCES: 26-2024 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, NOT REQUIRED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES, PURSUANT TO THE OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION 721.15 DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY UNNEEDED, OBSOLETE OR UNFIT FOR MUNICIPAL PURPOSES. 3rd Reading MR. LANZER MOTIONED FOR APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 26-2024 MR. RIPPETH SECONDED THE MOTION 4 YEAS ORDINANCE 26-2024 HAS BEEN APPROVED 6  28-2024 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT RELATED TO THE MARKETING OF COMPETITIVE RETAIL NATURAL GAS SUPPLY 1st Reading 31-2024 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, NOT REQUIRED FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES, PURSUANT TO OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION 721.03-LEASE OR SALE OF REAL ESTATE-ADVERTISEMENT FORBIDS 1st Reading 32-2024 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREA (CRA) TAX EXEMPTION AGREEMENT WITH CHICK-FIL-A, INC. AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY IN ORDER TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE 1st Reading 34-2024 AN ORDINANCE BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO, AMENDING AND ADJUSTING THE PERMANENT APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR THE YEAR 2024 1st Reading RESOLUTIONS: NONE UNFINISHED OR OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: NONE With no other business to discuss Mr. Lanzer motioned to adjourn at 7:54 PM. CLERK OF COUNCIL______________________________________________________ Julie Courtright 7  APPROVED ______________________ PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL __________________________________________________ Don Kemp 8