NELSONVILLE, Ohio – After serving as interim police chief for nearly a year, Devon Tolliver is now permanent chief of the Nelsonville City Police Department.
City Manager Tom Cangemi formally appointed Tolliver to the post at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Tolliver has served as interim police chief – intermittently, as city manager, too – since January. Cangemi became city manager in October. Until Cangemi was hired, Tolliver had been interim city manager since May, when former city manager Bernie Roell quit.
“Holding the Chief of Police position is something very special to me, being born and raised in Nelsonville, it’s been a great experience being able to shape the direction of the department,” Tolliver said in a statement. “I plan on maintaining a level of stability that the department really needs to continue to grow and thrive along with the rest of the city. Hopefully the rest of the departments and council can also [maintain] some stability to help everyone keep working towards common goals.”
Cangemi said Tolliver will be present and his promotion more formally recognized at the next council meeting.
Also on Monday night, council passed an ordinance to increase sewer rates by 5%, effective Jan. 1, 2024. City residents will pay a minimum of $20.49 a month for sewer service, up from $19.51. The increase should be the last for a while, council members Tony Dunfee and Dan Sherman said.
Additionally, the council passed an ordinance authorizing the city manager to begin the process of contracting with a trash pickup provider.
The city is also making progress on the Nelsonville Dog Park, as council passed an ordinance to establish a dog park fund within its budget. The ordinance also provided $1,000 in “seed money,” from the city’s Parks & Recreation fund, council member Justin Booth said.
The dog park is to be built at the location of the city’s former sewer plant, which is slated for demolition, Cangemi said. One administration building will remain as it is in good condition, he added.
The Nelsonville Dog Park is currently one of 25 finalists in a $50,000 nationwide contest, and received a $2,500 grant from the Nelsonville Community Foundation earlier this year. On Tuesday, the city announced it had been awarded $21,349 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ NatureWorks grant program for a shelter house at the park.
Nelsonville City Council meets every other Monday of each month. Its next regular meeting will be Monday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. in Nelsonville City Council Chambers, 211 Lake Hope Drive. Meetings are also livestreamed on YouTube. Find more at cityofnelsonville.com.
