NELSONVILLE, Ohio – The Ohio and Athens County Leagues of Women Voters delivered the final draft of a resident-created Nelsonville city ward map proposal at a council meeting July 14.
In 2026, the city will officially transition to a new, statutory form of government, featuring wards, following a successful 2024 ballot initiative to abolish the city’s charter.
The current council will not vote on a ward map, however. The city will formally establish wards once the new statutory government comes into existence. The ward map the city adopts will guide the city of Nelsonville until the next census, which will be taken in 2030.
Nonetheless, Nelsonville residents shared their support for the proposed ward map at Monday’s meeting.
“It was amazing to see all the citizens’ input being reviewed and worked with to mold the four wards that will meet and exceed the needs of Nelsonville to redistrict as equally as possible the population, the demographics and the partisan lean,” Jo Anne L’Heureux, a resident and commissioner said on the ad-hoc advisory committee overseeing the city’s transition to a new form of government.
Charlotte Beach, a business owner in downtown Nelsonville, attended the Leagues’ redistricting town halls and helped create the ward map. Beach said she was proud to be a part of the redistricting process.
“To be part of a community, to be part of something that’s growing, to be part of something that can develop … that call to action to participate in ward mapping. That’s historic,” Beach said. “That’s really special to be part of the infrastructure of the community on that level.”
Trevor Martin, program coordinator the League of Women Voters of Ohio, presented the final draft to the council. Martin and Debbie Schmieding, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Athens County, hosted four town halls earlier this year to invite Nelsonville residents into the redistricting process.
The wards are divided in four sections. According to the Leagues’ presentation, the first ward “occupies the western portion of Nelsonville containing the large majority of voting precinct one.” It includes Rocky Brands headquarters and boot store, the Nelsonville Train Depot and the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway Engine House.
The second ward was structured around the “preservation of Nelsonville’s Historic District.” It includes several sites built between 1814 and the mid-20th century, such as the Nelsonville School Commons, which were transformed into affordable housing through the Nelsonville High School Restoration Foundation.
The third ward includes the eastern portion of downtown Nelsonville and centers on business and commerce along Canal Street. The fourth ward “was created with a communal focus on education” and includes Nelsonville York Elementary and High Schools, as well as Hocking College and student housing.
“I just want to commend the residents of Nelsonville for coming together as a community and really putting the community first in a process that really should be focused on the people that are being represented,” Martin said.
Ad-hoc advisory commission recommendations
To streamline operations amid the city’s transition to a new form of government, the ad-hoc advisory commission recommended that the city secure special counsel from December through early 2026. Law Director Jonathan Robe will be exiting his role at the end of the year, leaving the city without legal representation.
Reid Courtney, the ad-hoc commission chair, also said the group has been reviewing the codes under the city charter and weighing the requirements of a statutory government under the Ohio Revised Code.
“To that end, the commission thought it might be a good idea for us to meet with the individual committees of the council,” Courtney said. “You all know how the city does things better than we do, and we obviously would welcome department heads or other folks from the city.”
Other council business
In the past 30 days, Austin Kelley, the code enforcement officer, issued two citations and wrote 55 code violations, but 30 violations were resolved. His office approved 12 permits.
Police Chief Devon Tolliver shared that in June, the police department received 343 calls, made 131 traffic stops and issued 48 citations, including five parking citations. There were 11 vehicle crashes. Police officers made 29 criminal arrests and 15 warrant arrests.
The council passed an ordinance authorizing the city manager to resolve a grievance filed against the city by members of the Nelsonville Police Department. The grievance was about a gym that was supposed to be available for the members of the police department earlier this year. Its construction is set to be completed by October 2025.
Council members also passed an ordinance authorizing reimbursement of funds to Robe in his capacity as the city’s interim criminal prosecutor, for administrative fees. Another ordinance passed by council authorized the city to enter into a public defender contract with Athens County.
The council passed two resolutions, including:
- A resolution striking ordinance 04-25 from the record of ordinances. Ordinance 04-25, which attempted to accept a ward map for the city, was tabled in January after the council learned they cannot establish wards under the current city charter.
- A resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a nationwide opioid settlement.
Council member Jonathan Flowers was not at the meeting Monday night. The council did not excuse his absence.
Nelsonville City Council meets every other Monday of each month, at Nelsonville City Council Chambers, 211 Lake Hope Drive. Its next regular meeting will be Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, at 7 p.m. Meetings are livestreamed on YouTube. Find more at cityofnelsonville.com.
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