City Council

NEW PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL MET IN REGULAR SESSION IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON DECEMBER 9, 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. DAN LANZER MR. MITCH PACE MRS. CHERYL RAMOS MR. STEVE RIPPETH MR. TOM SIMMELINK MR. MICHAEL WALKER EXCUSED ABSENSES: MR. KRIS KREINBIHL  MR. SIMMELINK MOTIONED TO ADD RESOLUTION 20-2024 TO TONIGHT’S AGENDA MR. WALKER SECONDED THE MOTION MR. LANZER MOTIONED TO ADD RESOLUTION 21-2024 TO TONIGHT’S AGENDA MR. RIPPETH SECONDED THJE MOTION 6 YEAS RESOLUTION 20-2024 AND RESOLUTION 21-2024 HAVE BEEN ADDED TO TONIGHT’S AGENDA  MR. PACE MOTIONED TO APPROVE TONIGHT’S AGENDA MRS. RAMOS SECONDED THE MOTION 6 YEAS TONIGHT’S AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED  MR. LANZER MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR SESSION OF COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 25, 2024 MR. WALKER SECONDED THE MOTION 4 YEAS, 2 ABSTAINED (MR. SIMMELINK AND MRS. RAMOS) MR. WALKER MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 2ND 2024 SPECIAL SESSION OF COUNCIL MRS. RAMOS SECONDED THE MOTION MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 25, 2024 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AND DECEMBER 2ND SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING HAVE BEEN APPROVED CORRESPONDENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLERK, JULIE COURTRIGHT 1. To Clerk of Council from Paul Bridge, the State Policy Director with Enbridge Gas and Oil, dated November 27th, 2024. This is a Notice of filing new PIR Adjustment Case PUCO Case No. 24-178-GA-RDR 1  MAYOR’S REPORT/REQUESTS ….MAYOR JOEL B. DAY Mayor Day had the following report: Volunteers Are Needed to Continue the Annual City Christmas Parade Jami Bailey, my Executive Assistant, Jonalee Fernatt, the Service Director’s Administrative Assistant, City Parks Superintendent Adam Fulton, Auditor Heather Denham, and volunteer Heather Milburn did an awesome job of organizing and staging the City’s annual Christmas Parade last Friday. But for the parade to continue, they need help. More volunteers are needed for the different jobs involved in setting up and running the parade. If you’d want to volunteer to help, contact Jami at jbailey@newphilaoh.com. Urging Approval of Ordinance 32-2024 to Move the Chick-fil-A Project Forward Tonight (Monday) I ask City Council members to adopt Ordinance 32-2024, which grants Chick-fil-A property tax abatement for construction of a new restaurant on Bluebell Drive NW. The company is currently going through the permitting process with the City Service Department and the East Central Ohio Building Authority (ECOBA). If all goes as planned, construction of the 85-seat restaurant will begin in August of 2025 and open in January of 2026. New Zoning Code Adds Members to the Design Review Board The City’s new zoning code has renamed the Downtown Design Standards Board of Review as the Design Review Board (DRB). The new code expands the duties of the five-member DRB and calls for the Mayor to appoint two additional members as alternates. I will send the DRB appointees to Council for approval in January. The Christmas Season Celebrations Continue in New Philadelphia McInturf Realty will be busy this week at Tuscora Park setting up for its annual Christmas in the Park celebration, which is from 4pm – 8pm on Sunday, December 15th. Storybook Lane is already up on Al Maloney Drive. Some other must-see holiday displays are in downtown New Philadelphia. The LED Christmas tree on the House of Stones quadrant will have light shows set to music every half hour from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. The storefront decoration contest ends on Sunday. Vote for your favorite by using the QR code on each window. Memorial stars are hanging in Artagain Alley on West High Avenue behind the ManCan building. That’s a perfect setting for holiday photos. The County Courthouse is lighted in green and red at night. And if you haven’t seen it, the Southside Community group has decorated the corner of South Broadway and Commercial Avenue with vintage Christmas displays. Congratulations to the State Champion Indian Valley Braves Football Team On behalf of the citizens and businesses in New Philadelphia I want to congratulate the Indian Valley Braves football team for winning the school’s first Division 4 State Championship and the first state football title in Tuscarawas County. It’s not easy to win a state title in any sport. The Braves showed us that hard work, belief in your teammates and coaches, and an unwavering will to win are how you get to the top. What an early Christmas gift to T-County! Support our local merchants this holiday season. SHOP LOCAL! SERVICE DIRECTOR………….. Service Director Ron McAbier: Mr. McAbier had the following report: 1. Leaf Pickup: Our small machine went down last week but the entire City has been hit once, some places twice. We’re having a problem getting a part for the small machine. 2. We pressure tested the waterline on North Broadway and unfortunately there’s a leak in it. It’s been isolated from North Broadway to First Drive. They’ll search each valve to find the leak. 3. Franklin Square: Everything is done, the striping was done yesterday. 4. The KSU Connector Trail: They ran out of time to finish the markings and they will be back in the Spring. Mr. Lanzer commented that the Connector Trail looks amazing. Mrs. Ramos asked if the waterline on North Avenue was the new one they just put in. Mr. McAbier said it was. 2  AUDITOR ……………MRS. HEATHER DENHAM Mrs. Denham had the following report: I have a couple projects that need completed before the end of the year, which has stopped me from working on the 2025 budget. SAFETY DIRECTOR ………..MR. GREG POPHAM Mr. Popham had the following comment: We have a couple issues this evening in the Police Department, specifically in the jail. First, about a month ago an inmate broke the glass between the inside of the jail area and the dispatch area. So, the jail has been closed since that took place. That spurred some other conversations between the Mayor, The Police Chief, and myself, along with Marvin Fete. We have decided primarily because of personnel to close the Jail on January 1, 2025. The lack of personnel, the effects of that ripple into liability issue. There is also a big difference in prisoners over the years. It used to be the majority of the people you arrested were intoxicated and after a few hours you could let them go. The majority of the people now have issues and are self-medicating. The dispatcher has to monitor the inmate every 10 minutes. Sheriff Orvis Campbell said there’s no issue with bringing the inmates to the County Jail. Mrs. Ramos asked if the jail would be closed permanently. Mr. Popham said yes this would be permanent. The plans at this point are to use the area that is the jail now as storage. Mr. Walker asked if the jail were to reopen, would there have to be another person there besides the dispatcher. Mr. Popham stated there would need to be one other person at the jail to monitor inmates. Mr. Popham noted the County Jail also has a nurse and doctor on duty. Mr. Lanzer stated that this would be a lot less stress on the dispatcher. Mr. Pace asked if there would be a cost savings with the jail closing. Mr. Popham said there would be a small cost savings. TREASURER . . . . MR. TOM GERBER Mr. Gerber had the following report: I submitted the monthly report to Julie and she submitted it to each one of you. In November we had gains in the First Federal Money Market Account of $2,979.20; we have the Government Insured Deposit Program of $29.96, and the US Bank Meter investment of $13,866.01. The total gain for the month of November is $16,893.17. Mr. Pace had the following question: About a month ago a CD had reached its maturity date. Did we end up deciding what we were going to do with that? Mr. Gerber: That money went into the General Account and it immediately went into the First Federal Money Market Account. 3  LAW DIRECTOR……MR. MARVIN FETE Mr. Fete had the following report: As Law Director my position affords me to single out important things in our community from time to time. Often times I’ve raised awareness of people who have passed away who have contributed tremendously to our area. I’ve also talked about veterans or past heroes. Tonight I am honored to stand up here and talk about a very happy occasion. I’m standing up here tonight to talk about the Indian Valley State Champion Football Team. Both of my kids play soccer, soccer is very popular in the community, Councilman Pace has done wonders for baseball in our community, but the heart of this community is football. This is where Woody Hayes coached, a little farther down from here is where Paul Brown coached, and nearby is where legends live at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Indian Valley first came to my attention when they beat Dover. Not only did they beat them, but it was the first time in their history they beat Dover. I watched them beat Dover, I watched them in the playoffs. They were down by 13 points in the 1st Quarter and I thought that was the end, but I watched that team come from behind and dominate them the 2nd half. I told my sons about our family history. My father coached football at Indian Valley. I told them that Indian Valley was going to win the State Championship. I took them to the game and it was awe inspiring through and through. I would be hesitant to single out any one person because it was a team effort, but I listened to an interview by Grady Kinsey and it was a tribute to his parents, his coaches, and his community. I heard him talk about how it was such joy to win, and that it was God’s plan. Here’s to Indian Valley 2024 State Championship. They made Tuscarawas County proud and they deserve every honor and accolade that they get. 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. We’ll continue discussion with the New Philadelphia Administration and Board of Education. BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS…….MR. RON MCABIER With no variance requests to be heard there will be no meeting tomorrow at 5;00 pm. . AIRPORT COMMISSION…….MR. DAN LANZER The Airport Commission will not be meeting in December. PARK BOARD………………….MR. MITCH PACE The dugouts are going up kind of slow because of the weather, but they’ve all been blocked and We’ll have the sheet metal coming in in a couple of days. We also have the annual Christmas in The Park event this Sunday from 4pm to 8pm, so hopefully we have nice weather. 4  CEMETERY BOARD…………………….MR. MITCH PACE…………NO REPORT HEALTH BOARD ………………….…. MR. TOM SIMMELINK The Health Board will be meeting at 11:30 on Wednesday at Uncle Primos. STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS: FINANCE COMMITTEE ………………MR. STEVE RIPPETH……….NO REPORT PUBLIC WORKS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE…MR. DAN LANZER Mr. Lanzer had the following report: The Public Works and Economic Development Committee met this evening at 6:45. We had one item to discuss which was Proposed Resolution 21-2024 which involved the Bank Lane lease. We voted unanimously to add Resolution 21-2024 to tonight’s Agenda and we adjourned at 6:40. SAFETY, HEALTH, AND SERVICE COMMITTEE……MR. TOM SIMMELINK Mr. Simmelink had the following report: The Safety, Health, and Service Committee met tonight at 7:00. We referred to Council Resolution 20-2024. We voted to suspend the rules and pass the legislation. We adjourned at 7:15. ZONING AND ANNEXATION COMMITTEE……MRS. CHERYL RAMOS…….NO REPORT SALARY COMMITTEE………..………MR. KRIS KREINBIHL……….EXCUSED ABSENSE 5 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 tonight at 7:15. We had two items on the Agenda, they were both liquor license requests. We’ll do a quick vote on whether or not we need to do hearings on these. We’ll do them separately. We’ll start with Hog Heaven New Philadelphia. ROLL CALL VOTE ON LIQUOR LICENSE REQUEST FOR HOG HEAVEN 6 YEAS IN FAVOR OF NOT HAVING A HEARING COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE THE REQUEST TO NOT HAVE A HEARING ROLL CALL VOTE ON LIQUOR LICENSE REQUEST FOR JNG GRILL 6 YEAS IN FAVOR OF NOT HAVING A HEARING COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE THE REQUEST TO NOT HAVE A HEARING Mr. Walker stated that the meeting adjourned at 7:17. VISITOR’S COMMENTS_....................NONE Council Comments President Kemp had the following comment: Our next meeting is the Monday before Christmas, we could do it the Thursday before. Councilmembers stated that they wanted to keep the meeting on Monday, December 23rd. READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ORDINANCES: 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. 6  3rd Reading MR. LANZER MOTIONED FOR APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 31-2024 MR. RIPPETH SECONDED THE MOTION 6 YEAS ORDINANCE 31-2024 HAS BEEN APPROVED 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 3rd Reading MR. RIPPETH MOTIONED FOR APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE 32-2024 MR. LANZER SECONDED THE MOTION 6 YEAS ORDINANCE 32-2024 HAS BEEN APPROVED RESOLUTIONS: 20-2024 A RESOLUTION BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO, TO AUTHORIZE A RATE INCREASE FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE NEW PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2025 1st Reading MR. WALKER MOTIONED FOR SUSPENSION OF RULES ON RESOLUTION 20-2024 MR. SIMMELINK SECONDED THE MOTION 6 YEAS RULES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED ON RESOLUTION 20-2024 MR. WALKER VOTED FOR APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 20-2024 MR. SIMMELINK SECONDED THE MOTION 6 YEAS RESOLUTION 20-2024 HAS BEEN APPROVED 21-2024 A RESOLUTION BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AMENDMENT WITH THE TRANZONIC COMPANIES FOR THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 444 BANK LANE SW, NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO. 1st Reading UNFINISHED OR OLD BUSINESS: NONE 7 NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Walker had the following comment: The reason I won’t be here on December 23rd is that the New Philadelphia High School Delphian Chorale is singing at the Cleveland Cavaliers Game that night. With no other business to discuss Mr. Lanzer motioned to adjourn at 8:04 PM. CLERK OF COUNCIL______________________________________________________ Julie Courtright APPROVED ______________________ PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL __________________________________________________ Don Kemp 8