NELSONVILLE, Ohio — Nelsonville’s charter council gathered Monday, April 27, to discuss the city pool, ongoing fire department vehicle maintenance, an empty treasurer seat, electric vehicle charging stations, and more.
In a finance committee meeting prior to the council meeting, the conditions of the city’s pool came up once again. The Nelsonville Aquatic Center is closed indefinitely due to structural maintenance.
Council members continued an ongoing discussion about collaborating with Athens officials to grant Nelsonville residents access to the Athens City Aquatic Center by offering a discount on pool passes, with the city paying the costs, Council President Cameron Peck said.
Nelsonville’s pool was built in 2001 on a creek bed known as Jiggleburg Creek, aka Jingle Creek. The creekbed and its underground caverns are now deteriorating, allowing the pool to sink into the ground and jeopardizing other nearby infrastructure.
After a structural analysis of the swimming pool performed in March by Betts Structural Engineering LLC, the city is now researching where to build a new aquatic center. Plans are also underway to attempt repairs on the current structure.
Peck said the city will allocate and cap spending for Nelsonville residents to access Athens’ pool at $20,000, but only through May, the first month of the season. The city also will provide transportation four times each day for residents to travel to Athens.
The council agreed to allocate $14,880 to Fisk Concrete for repairs and maintenance to the pool and Nelsonville Public Square fountain. Additional charges for plumbing and underground electrical expenses will be less than $1,500.
The council also approved an $18,000 request from Nelsonville Division of Fire Chief Harry Barber for emergency funds for the maintenance of a 2008 fire truck. That request leaves the department $10,000 to work with for the remaining fiscal year.
“You really can’t put a price on that (maintenance),” Barber said.
The council also approved a request from Barber that the fire department fill an open position immediately. The fire department currently has 17 staff members, including Chief Barber, as well as several volunteer firefighters.
Currently, police officer Jason Lyons is on administrative leave after recently resigning, Interim City Manager Danette Miller told the Independent. Miller said that due to legal reasons, she could not share details of the resignation.
“Based on the rules on the state’s union, details cannot be made public,” Peck added.
Other business
In other business, newly appointed City Auditor Brian Elkins addressed the council for the first time since his appointment April 13.
Elkins said Nelsonville urgently needs to fill its city treasurer vacancy. The previous appointment was filled by Michael Milane, who resigned in August 2025. Until April, council member McCray Powell served as interim treasurer.
“We’ve needed a treasurer since December,” Elkins stated. “It’s imperative this position is filled.”
The council also addressed Ordinance 31-26, which establishes parameters for existing EV charging stations at 30 E. Columbus St.
Nelsonville currently has four EV charging stations. ChargePoint, an American charging program for electronic vehicles, currently holds the rights, use and responsibility of the city’s stations. The ordinance would include a charge of $0.33 per kilowatt hour.
In other updates, City Service Manager Jason Cohen reported that repairs and maintenance are running smoothly, saying the city has been street sweeping, mowing weekly, repairing concrete, painting, and generally tidying up.
“As of right now, three-quarters of Nelsonville has been cleaned,” Cohen said.
The council also addressed phase five of the wastewater improvement project, which includes installing new sewers on Wend Road and Crichfield Drive, which currently are not sewered.
The project also includes cleaning and relining the city’s main trunk sewer, beginning at the intersection of Canal and Columbus streets, extending through to the intersection of Burr Oak Boulevard and Chestnut Street. The manholes will be lined in these areas to provide rehabilitation of the public sewer lines, upgrading some sewage lift stations within the city.
“This will ensure safe, reliable service for residents, but will cause some inconveniences during construction — primarily associated with temporary road closures/detours,” Council Clerk Erica Paggett read from Ordinance 33-26. “Construction is expected to begin this summer,” she said.
The ordinance appropriates for $256,300 for updates to waste water fees, the schedule, and additional services procured through March.
Interim City Manager Miller also updated progress on the St. Joseph Recovery mobile unit that visited Nelsonville Monday, April 27. The unit concentrates on addressing and providing assistance to people with and without insurance seeking recovery and mental health services, including lab work, emergency services and therapy.
“They were (on Columbus Street) early today,” council member Amy Hollenbaugh said. “Let us welcome them to town.”
The council also unanimously accepted the resignation of Jacqueline Hagerott from the Nelsonville Dog Park Board.
At the city manager’s request, appointed resident Kristin Lewis, a seasoned dog trainer, groomer and boarder, to the park’s three-member committee, leaving one seat open.
“We’re happy to have her on board,” said council member McCray Powell.
The Nelsonville Dog Park is holding a soft opening this week, starting 8 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, May 1. For the soft opening, the park’s hours will be 8 a.m. through sunset, Friday–Sunday; closed from sunset to sunrise.
Before entering executive session to discuss ongoing litigation, members unanimously approved a motion to move its regular May 25 meeting to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, to observe Memorial Day.
Council members Charlotte Beach and Nancy Sonick were absent from the meeting.
Nelsonville’s charter council meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month at Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Dr., Nelsonville. The next meeting is May 11.
