NELSONVILLE, Ohio — The statutory Nelsonville City Council met at Hocking College on Monday to discuss and adopt ordinances and resolutions regarding current decisions by the charter city council that is operating in city hall.
After the minutes were approved, Resolution 23-17 was introduced as a request for the self-titled “elected” city council to repair the Nelsonville Aquatic Center quickly and without delay.
The resolution states that all necessary action for the pool needs to be done in the shortest amount of time and that all other discussions about finding other real estate be stopped. The resolution also states that the 0.25% income tax should be placed in the capital improvement fund and a restoration of the Betty Johnston Fund for pool repairs.
Several members of the council shared concerns about the Nelsonville Aquatic Center and current action taken for repairs.
“This matter is for our residents and our children,” council member Sue Powell said. “Not for their council or our council.”
Council President Daniel Sherman said he plans to reach out to the Nelsonville city manager to see if he can speak with the new engineer from his construction background.
In a previous meeting of the charter council, City Manager Danette Miller suggested that a second structural engineer should evaluate the site, so the public can have two expert opinions about the status of the pool.
Ordinances
As in its previous meetings, the statutory council introduced multiple ordinances to repeal ordinances made by the charter council. Each of the ordinances states that the other council “is not a legal city council which can transact business of the City,” and that decisions may only be made by the “elected city council.”
Ordinance 23-26 would repeal the Nelsonville Charter Council’s Ordinance 44-26, approving the purchase of a Hi-Vac B10 Combo truck for $582,040. A Hi-Vac B10 Combo truck allows for sewer cleaning and vacuuming water.
According to the ordinance adopted by the statutory council, this repeal is necessary to “avoid harm to the city.”
Sherman said he tried contacting all parties involved in the purchase and to hold off on buying a new truck. He said the charter council traded the old Hi-Vac truck in and gave the statutory council $50,000 from it.
Ordinance 24-26 would repeal the charter council’s Ordinance 45-26, an appropriation to the Nelsonville yearly budget. The original budget appropriated $11.5 million and the amended budget appropriated $13.7 million.
Ordinance 25-26 would repeal the charter council’s Ordinance 46-26, which approved the purchase of body cameras and tasers from Axon for the Nelsonville Police Department.
Ordinance 26-26 would repeal the charter council’s Ordinance 46-26, which is listed twice in the Nelsonville city documents. The statutory council deemed the second Ordinance 46-26 as Ordinance 46-26-26.
The charter council passed the duplicate ordinance to continue a contract with attorney Jonathan Robe as special counsel for the city, and approve additional funds necessary for the Robe’s retainer. The funds would also be used to pay outstanding invoices from Dinsmore and Shohl for legal services.
Ordinance 27-26 would repeal the charter council’s Ordinance 47-26, which amended several line items and gave authority to the city auditor to submit an amended budget to the Athens County Budget Commission. In addition to these changes, this ordinance would allow the city auditor to request needed documentation related to municipal spending.
Ordinance 28-26 would repeal the charter council’s Ordinance 49-26, which allows for a contract with a certified public accounting firm reconcile bank accounts from 2025. The statutory council’s ordinance states that repeal is needed because “the city to hire an accounting firm to do the duties of a treasurer is not appropriate.”
“The treasurer’s job and the auditor’s job are two separate distinct jobs and the auditor should not be worried about whether or not he’s got a treasurer,” Powell said. “He needs to make sure the fund balance is right. What the funds are and he knows when a bill comes in where it gets charged.”
Ordinance 29-26 would repeal the charter council’s Ordinance 50-26 amending the amended appropriations and increased city expenditures for the Economic Development fund.
The rationale for ordinances 24-26, 25-26, 26-26, 27-26 and 29-26 states that it is inappropriate for the city to increase expenditures without a report of fund balances from the city auditor and without a city treasurer.
The council ended the meeting by going into executive session to discuss ongoing legal disputes.
The statutory council’s next meeting is next Monday, July 20, at The Lodge at Hocking College, 15770 SR 691,
The charter-based council meets every other Monday of each month, at Nelsonville City Council Chambers, 211 Lake Hope Drive. Its next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, July 13.
