Road projects to wrap up in New Philadelphia
Mayor Day announced the coming arrival of several businesses to the downtown area including Solid Rock Photos; Books and Things, which will be renamed The Bookman’s Cafe; and a Caveman Meat franchise.
At the July 26 meeting of New Philadelphia City Council, service director Ron McAbier reported on the status of a number of street projects. Scheduled for completion within two to three weeks are the Lakeview project and the North Avenue water-line project. Some Beaver Avenue residents can expect a bit more gas-line work, with a start date to be announced.
Paving will begin Monday, Aug. 2, starting with Second Street Northeast. McAbier asked residents to be mindful of paving crews who will work over the next three weeks to complete work by Aug. 31.
Mayor Joel B. Day reported to council that land-transfer documents are scheduled to be signed by Gov. Mike DeWine this week. The city has been in negotiations to take ownership of the land at the southeast end of the airport runway, which is currently owned by the State of Ohio and managed by the Ohio History Connection because it is within the Schoenbrunn Village historical site.
Day also announced the coming arrival of several businesses to the downtown area including Solid Rock Photos; Books and Things, which will be renamed The Bookman’s Cafe; and a Caveman Meat franchise. On the west end of town, Harbor Freight plans to move into the former Skate Place building on Front Street, and site preparation is underway for the new Marriott hotel on West High Avenue.
The complete mayor’s report can be found on the city’s Facebook page.
New Philadelphia Police Department scores 100% on inspection
Safety director Greg Popham said it may be the first time he has seen a jail receive a perfect score. Inspections are conducted annually by the State of Ohio Bureau of Adult Detention with the goal of promoting safe, secure and humane jails. Evaluations are based on a number of criteria including sanitation, security, communications, visitation, medical and mental-health services available to prisoners, food service, recreation, disciplinary process, staff, and training.
Law director reports on continuing education courses
Law director Marvin Fete recently completed approximately 18 hours of continuing education in courses sponsored by the Ohio Municipal Attorneys Association. Fete highlighted two programs in particular that were of interest to him, one on Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas and one on nuisance abatement.
“Nuisance abatement is a legal technical term for tear-down orders, and that’s something very important to me and the mayor,” Fete said. “Property owners need to be put on notice that the city is not going to allow abandoned buildings in our community to become safe havens for drug and criminal activity, and we’re not going to tolerate landlords or hotels who allow that kind of activity on their premises.”
In other reports
City auditor Beth Gundy said she was notified July 19 of funds in the amount of $911,857.97 granted to the city from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Dean Holland reported on an earlier meeting of the public works and economic development committee during which a resolution was discussed that will allow the mayor to take action on adopting an anti-displacement and relocation plan. The plan is required in order to continue receiving Community Block Development Grant funding and is more a formality than anything else, according to Holland.
“In the unlikely event that the city initiates a construction project resulting in a low- to moderate-income housing unit needing to be converted or demolished, there is a protocol to be followed,” Holland said.
Special/contact committee chair Dan Lanzer asked for a voice vote from council to approve a liquor license transfer from Lam’s Restaurant to B&A Restaurants LLC, doing business as Joe Tony’s Bourbon Steak House at 347 Tuscarawas Ave. NW. Council approved the request.
Legislation
Council approved an ordinance to permanently rezone 701 Willow St. SW, 601 Karen Ave. NW and 236 11th St. to trailer-park zones.