NELSONVILLE, Ohio — Nelsonville City Council (charter) last week heard several ordinances regarding building condemnations that prompted disagreement among council members, in addition to tense discussions over calls for the council president’s resignation.
Rival council president requests water fund injunction
Nelsonville City Council heard Wednesday, Oct. 14 from the president of the city’s statutory council, Daniel Sherman, who spoke during public comment.
Sherman presented the city law directors, the firm O’Connor, Haseley, & Wilhelm, with a letter requesting an injunction to halt the appropriation of funds from the city’s water fund to the general fund. The city did not immediately respond to Sherman’s claims.
Calls for council president’s resignation
Lori Crook, a Nelsonville resident, during public comment then alleged that charter Council President Cameron Peck had mistreated Nelsonville residents on various occasions.
Council members Nic Joseph-Saul, McCray Powell, and Nancy Sonick joined Crook in calling for Peck’s resignation.
“It has been apparent for quite a while now, but it’s kind of been a snowballing bigger and bigger problem, the way that he engages with the public and other council members and public employees,” Powell said.
Peck responded to refuse the calls for his resignation.
“My responsibility is not to be universally liked. I remain committed to serving the people of Nelsonville, protecting the integrity of our municipal government, and continuing the work of moving our city forward,” Peck said in a statement.
Building condemnations
In other business, Code Enforcement Officer Austin Kelley addressed a series of recent building condemnations while presenting his department’s updates before the council.
The Athens County Land Bank acquires “vacant, tax-delinquent and blighted properties” for resale or redevelopment, according to their website. Kelley said land bank grants can help mitigate demolition costs, which range from around $6,000 for mobile homes to $30,000–$40,000 for larger properties.
Kelley said code enforcement carried out two condemnations and sent out three notices of condemnations in the last 30 days.
City Manager Danette Miller explained that municipalities seeking the land bank’s assistance with demolitions would have to file their requests that week. “The reason why we’re pushing so many of these through is there was a deadline on [Oct.] 16,” Miller said.
The council returned to the building condemnation issue later in the meeting, when ordinances requesting condemnations for several properties were discussed. Council member Charlotte Beach raised concerns about one particular structure, a trailer located at 570 W. Franklin.
Beach said she had been made aware of a man who was continuing to live on the parcel after his trailer was burnt and made uninhabitable.
Council President Cameron Peck pointed out that razing the damaged structure and forcing the resident off of the property could provide a more cost-efficient “fresh start” than trying to repair it.
But, Beach said she was worried about the “human component.”
“He’s living in a tent outside and he’s a big concern for me with winter coming on,” she said.
Beach, along with council members Amy Hollenbaugh and McCray Powell voted to oppose an ordinance calling for the structure to be razed. The ordinance passed 4-3.
The following measures were adopted under suspension of the rules regarding other structures:
- Ordinance 95-26, which declares 616 Jackson St., 227 Fayette St., 570 W. Franklin St., public nuisances and orders them razed.
- Ordinance 96-26, which declares 466 Chestnut St. and 570 W. Franklin St. public nuisances.
- Resolution 2379, which authorizes the city to pursue funding from the Athens County Land Bank to be used for the demolition of nuisance properties.
New commissions, other ordinances
The council also read three ordinances establishing new boards and commissions for the first time. These include a Health and Human Services Commission, a Tourism Board, and a Charter Review Commission, and come as part of an effort by newly appointed Special Projects Manager Erica Padgett to establish various commissions. Each of the bodies will consist of five members appointed by the council.
Another set of ordinances were adopted making amendments to the 2026 amended appropriations ordinance for expenses related to city dental plans and department health insurance.
During the final portion of the meeting, council read and adopted an ordinance that addressed a petition seeking to recall the seven sitting charter council members.
