NELSONVILLE, Ohio — The charter Nelsonville City Council has a new vice president, following Amy Hollenbaugh’s resignation from the post at Monday’s council meeting.
Hollenbaugh nominated council member McCray Powell for the position of vice-president. Peck nominated Councilmember Nancy Sonick. The council elected Powell to the position with a vote of 4-3.
The council also discussed an ordinance that would allow the city to impose fees for members of the public who submit public records requests for body camera footage. Under a state law adopted in 2025, law enforcement agencies can charge up to $75 per hour or $750 total to process and redact body camera records.
Powell said he was concerned about these possible charges affecting journalists or members of the public. After a brief discussion, the council tabled the ordinance until the law director could review the ordinance’s language.
Ordinances read
The city heard first reading of multiple ordinances on Monday. All advanced to second reading.
Ordinance 52-26 would change the city’s parking ordinance to extend the time until a car needs to be moved from a single spot to 72 hours and clarify other language in the ordinance. This change would make it a violation for a vehicle to be left in one spot for more than 72 hours.
If the vehicle were not moved within 24 hours of the first citation, then it could be cited again. If unmoved after another 24 hours, it could be towed.
If someone needs to leave their car in a spot for longer than 72 hours, such as if they were going on vacation, Nelsonville Police Chief Devon Tolliver said to reach out to the Nelsonville Police Department to make the officers aware of the vehicle.
Ordinance 53-26 would amend Nelsonville’s ordinance for excessive noise and music. The updated ordinance would establish quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., provide clearer definitions regarding what types of noises are considered nuisances and give Nelsonville police officers discretion in giving citations.
Permitted public events would not be subject to the rule of quiet hours, including parades, festivals, sports, fireworks, and concerts.
Ordinance 62-26 amends the 2026 amended appropriations ordinance to allow the council to allocate $5,000 to the Parade of the Hills fund. Parade of the Hills takes place Aug. 19–22 this year.
The city also read ordinances requiring repair or demolition of five properties within 30 days of the ordinances’ passage:
- 525 Patton St.
- 839 High St.
- 198 Myers St.
- 774 Chestnut St.
- 225 Crihfield Drive.
Administrative and council updates
During the law director’s report, the council was introduced to two firms that could fill as the city’s permanent law directors: Jeffrey M. Lewis Co. of Columbus and O’Connor, Haseley & Wilhelm. John Haseley is an Athens resident.
Shortly after 10 p.m., the council went into executive session to discuss the appointment of a city attorney. At 10:46 p.m., the council returned to open session and voted to add Ordinance 63-26 to the agenda and to suspend the rules to enact the ordinance upon first reading. The ordinance appointed O’Connor, Haseley & Wilhelm as city attorney.
Nelsonville City Auditor Brian Elkins reported on current reconciliation work and updates to processes at the auditor’s office.
The city’s general fund increased from May to June, with almost $36,000 of revenue after expenses. Current fund balances:
- General fund: $661,940 unencumbered, with $331,184 encumbered.
- Water fund: $1.6 million unencumbered, with $423,155 encumbered.
- Sewer fund: $760,341unencumbered, with $391,875 encumbered.
The storm sewer fund received $32,456 in revenue, with $11,147 available after expenses and encumbrances.
The city also invested $3.6 million in a certificate of deposit account Registry Service order. This order allows for a large amount of money to still be insured by the FDIC by spreading out across several banks.
The Athens County Budget Commission also approved the city’s amended 2026 budget and certificate of estimated resources.
Tolliver provided updates from the police department, including the June monthly report. Last month, the police department had:
- 251 calls for service.
- 66 traffic stops.
- 27 citations issued.
- 21 criminal arrests.
- 19 warrant arrests.
- Five traffic crashes.
- Three parking citations issued.
Tolliver said some NPD officers will attend a training at Hocking College to learn about responding to calls for people who have dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
He said the department is also working on a K-9 demonstration, once the high temperatures drop.
Code Enforcement Officer Austin Kelly reported that the following actions in June:
- Five municipal court citations.
- Four complaint cases.
- Four rental inspections.
- Three civil citations.
- One condemnation notice.
The code office also collected $100 from one citation, and demolished two properties, 20 Campbell St. and 11 W. Canal St.
Also in June, the code office issued 25 permits total, collecting $520 in fees from:
- Six contractor permits.
- Four street blocking permits.
- Six special event permits.
- Two demolition permits.
- Two curb cut/driveway permits.
- One rental permit.
- One sign permit.
- One vacant property permit.
- One vendor permit.
- One zoning permit.
Nelsonville Division of Fire Chief Hary Barber gave several updates. Nelsonville residents who need smoke detectors can reach out to the fire department. The fire department also has several events scheduled throughout the summer to promote fire education and fire prevention.
Service Director Jason Coen provided an update from the utilities department for the month of June. Coen and the utilities department have serviced 19 water leaks, as well as working on laying down new asphalt onto roads in the city.
Coen said the plumbing is done on the fountain located in the Public Square, but the water will not be able to run through the fountain for 30 days once the epoxy layer is finished.
Following the utilities report, grant writer Michele Dunnington shared updates about current grants that are being pursued.
Dunnington said she has looked at grants for the pool, the playground, meeting with Kelly to find grants to help homeowners in Nelsonville and more.
A grant for three new police cruisers will be submitted this week, Dunnington said.
In addition to these possibilities, Dunnington met with all the department heads to identify their priorities and to find grants to support them.
She said she has been making connections with the Buckeye Hills Regional Council, as well as the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.
Before adjourning, the council went into executive session to discuss how they would like to move forward with new city attorneys.
Nelsonville’s charter council is taking a summer recess. Its next meeting will be Monday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. at Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville.
