New Philadelphia passes nuisance ordinance
New Philadelphia City Council members unanimously passed a nuisance ordinance that will allow the city to begin charging owners of properties from which repeated emergency calls are made due to drug overdoses.
At its July 12 meeting, New Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed a nuisance ordinance that will allow the city to begin charging owners of properties from which repeated emergency calls are made due to drug overdoses. The legislation also establishes a board of nuisance abatement appeals.
The measure was spearheaded by city law director Marvin Fete. “In addition to the problems we’ve had with the former OYO Hotel, we’ve got another place where we’ve been called out 12 times already this year for overdoses,” Fete said. “It’s time they start paying for the overdoses they are allowing to happen right here in our community because I’m sick of it, and I know the fire department is sick of it. The mayor’s sick of it, and so is our police department.”
Mayor’s report
Mayor Joel Day said the consulting company, 4Ward Planning, has begun its study of the former Joy/Howden Buffalo property to determine what business development would be the best fit for the property. The study is expected to take three to four months to complete. Demolition of the old structures is continuing and should be completed by the end of August when the Ohio EPA will start removing contaminated soil on the site.
Day also said the city demolished an abandoned property on Second Street Northeast on July 12 and has issued a tear-down order for a property on Sixth Drive Northwest as part of an effort to rid the city of empty buildings that often serve as safe harbors for drug users.
Day said George Laurence of Museum Acrylics is working on restoring the “Welcome to Our City” sign damaged during a storm, but the project is falling short of its funding goal. While $6,000 has been donated to date, Day asked those who can help to contact Laurence to make a donation.
Day also asked council to pass a 10-year, 75% property tax abatement measure for Crane Carrier, which plans to move a portion of its business to New Philadelphia. A Battles Motors company, Crane Carrier manufactures cement mixers, garbage trucks and other special purpose municipal vehicles.
According to Day, the company will invest a total of $24 million in the community and bring approximately 400 jobs to the city.
PulsePoint program outlined
by fire chief
Fire Chief Jim Parrish gave a presentation on the new PulsePoint program in use by the department. The free PulsePoint cellular app will send an alert to citizens trained in CPR whenever a person near them experiences sudden cardiac arrest in a public place.
Parrish said using the app will increase survivability rates among out-of-hospital SCAs by allowing citizen responders to intervene in life-saving emergency events by providing CPR until professional emergency responders arrive.
Parrish said a formal launch of the system is scheduled for this fall when all alerts will go through the city’s 911 dispatch system. Donations from the Ricklic family, the Marsh Foundation and an anonymous donor have covered the initial subscription fee.
Goshen Township fire and EMS contract passed
Council passed legislation authorizing an agreement whereby the city will provide fire and EMS services to Goshen Township through 2026. Councilman Dean Holland again expressed his opposition to the measure, calling it a “sweetheart deal” for the township. He said the agreement has no provisions for cost increases for tires, fuel or other expenses to the city and urges council to send the agreement back for annual price-increase adjustments.
The measure passed with Holland and councilwoman Cheryl Ramos casting no votes.
Recognition and commendations
Council passed resolutions commending Michael Pearch for 32 years of service with the New Philadelphia Fire Department and Ann Proctor for 25 years serving as the immunization nurse at the health department. Both were presented with honorary plaques by Don Kemp, council president.
Other legislation
Council heard the first reading of a resolution to annex property in Goshen Township owned by James and Carrie Hartrick.