NELSONVILLE, Ohio — At its Nov. 11 meeting, Nelsonville City Council introduced a resolution to adopt Issue 23, which would abolish the city charter, upon its certification by the Athens County Board of Elections.
Voters overwhelmingly supported the measure, a citizens’ initiative to replace the city’s charter government with a statutory government with an elected mayor. About 90 ballots issued early on election day did not include the issue due to a printing error.
Also on Monday night, council approved a $5,373 payment toward the city’s Outdoor Recreational Council of Appalachia council of governments membership. ORCA oversees the Baileys Trail Project. The payment comes after recent changes in ORCA’s membership fee schedules prompted by the likely loss of the county’s membership.
The council heard first reading of a resolution that would allow the city to hire a part-time administrative assistant through Career Connections.
The council also acknowledged Veterans Day, and thanked current and former individuals who had served in the U.S. military. Council members Tony Dunfee, Jonathan Flowers and Opha Lawson and Police Chief Devon Tolliver were among the veterans acknowledged.
“Today, we lift our hearts in powerful gratitude and deep appreciation for all our servicemen and women past and present, especially those employees within the city that currently serve or have served,” council member Cory Taylor said.
Tolliver shared the police department’s report from October, which included 317 calls, 76 traffic stops, 34 citations, 10 parking citations investigated and eight crashes. Officers made 15 arrests, as well as 11 warrant arrests.
Tolliver acknowledged that police are aware of an incident reported on Nov. 1 to the Athens County Humane Society involving a dead dog found in a pond on Pine Grove Drive. According to a statement the humane society posted on its Facebook page, “The dog had been shot, the body was weighed down and discarded in the pond to conceal its location.” [The post includes a photograph of the dog that some readers may find disturbing.]
Dunfee introduced an ordinance to amend and adopt Nelsonville City Code Title 31, which council adopted in 2015 to allow for rental inspection. Ordinance 87-24 would allow city code enforcement to inspect rentals independent of receiving a complaint.
“Who’s going to do this?” Councilmember Flowers asked.
“If this is adopted, then we’ll set up a procedure for inspection,” Council President Gregg Clement said.
In other business, Taylor introduced an ordinance to approve the 2025 budget for Nelsonville and an ordinance to contract planning and construction services for the dog park.
Nelsonville City Council meets every other Monday of each month, at Nelsonville City Council Chambers, 211 Lake Hope Dr. Its next regular meeting will be Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. Meetings are livestreamed on YouTube. Find more at cityofnelsonville.com.
