NELSONVILLE, Ohio — The city of Nelsonville is on its second interim city manager and acting police chief in as many weeks.
At a special meeting Wednesday night, Nelsonville City Council named Devon Tolliver to replace K.J. Tracy, who was appointed interim city manager and acting police chief on Jan. 9.
Former City Manager Scott Frank resigned on Jan. 6, and former NPD Police Chief Scott Fitch left in November 2022 to become Meigs County sheriff. According to a Wednesday Facebook post by the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, Tracy has followed Fitch to the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office.
As the Independent reported, Fitch repeated the same misleading information on his application to become sheriff that contributed to his termination from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Council President Tony Dunfee said Wednesday night that Tolliver has been acting as police chief since Friday, Jan. 13. Tracy gave two weeks notice, according to Council Member Gregg Clement.
Dunfee nominated Tolliver, an NPD police sergeant, Nelsonville native and U.S. Air Force veteran, to the dual post. The nomination was approved unanimously by the five remaining council members (Dunfee, Clement, Doug Childs, Dan Sherman and Nick Smith). Cory Taylor and Justin Booth resigned from council Jan. 10.
Also at its special meeting Wednesday night, council moved to hire Breanna Wilderman as police/mayor’s court clerk. Wilderman, 19, is a communications officer in Campus Safety at Hocking College. Former NPD clerk Jessica Mount, who held the position until recently, faces criminal charges for unauthorized use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway. Filed in October in the Athens County Court of Common Pleas, the case remains open.
Tracy recommended Wilderman for hire at the council’s regular meeting on Jan. 9, where the body initially voted 4-3 against his recommendation, with Clement and Smith voting no, along with former members Booth and Taylor.
The city now seeks applicants for permanent city manager and police chief as well as the vacant council seats.
Dani Kington contributed to this reporting.
Nelsonville City Council meets the first and third Mondays of each month. Its next regular meeting will be Monday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. in Nelsonville City Council Chambers, 211 Lake Hope Dr. Find more at cityofnelsonville.com.
