Demolition work at Dover city offices is complete

Dover Safety Director Bob Everett was surprised at the July 21 Dover Council meeting to receive a commendation from the Ohio House of Representatives for receiving the Steve Young Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police.

Rep. Jodi Salvo sponsored the commendation and presented it to Everett.

“At a time when many people are content to take a passive role in life, you have willingly involved yourself in bettering the world around you and serving others, and your enthusiasm and dedication have earned you the respect and gratitude of all who have benefited from your impact,” Salvo said.

Everett was grateful.

“It's been a lot of years, but it's been a lot of fun. We've had our ups and downs, but it's all in trying to keep people safe and doing what we can do to make everything work, and I'm just a tiny part in that wheel,” Everett said.

Mayor Shane Gunnoe gave many updates in his report. He also welcomed patrolman William Steinbach to the police department, which brings the department to full staffing levels.

Other updates included the following:

—Contractors for the parks department will reseal the park road off Wooster Avenue and resurface the basketball court at Memorial Hall in August.

—Contractors for the IT department are about halfway through the installation of hardware for the downtown public Wi-Fi project.

—The decorative streetlight repainting project is complete downtown. A few lights at the park are still being finished.

“The city continues to receive a substantial number of home construction permits for the Crimson Cove subdivision,” Gunnoe said. “In the last month, the city has issued four permits with an average estimated construction price of $450,000 per house.”

The city expects to issue construction permits for approximately half the lots in the subdivision by the end of the year.

There are many events upcoming in the city including the annual downtown Dover Car and Bike Show Aug. 1, the Dover Community Blood Drive July 30, a free luau hosted by Western and Southern Life at the park Aug. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with refreshments and activities for children, the Jericho Big Band performing at the park July 31, and the End of Summer celebration Aug. 31.

After the meeting Gunnoe confirmed demolition has been completed on the inside of the former downtown bank building that will be remodeled for city offices. The process took about two weeks.

In legislation council approved Resolution 9-25, commending and thanking Wayne Short for his service to the city as the general services crew leader. Short, who was in attendance with his family, received a standing ovation from council for his dedication.

Council passed Ordinance 26-25 concerning the regulation of electric scooters and bicycles in Dover City Park. The ordinance will take effect in 30 days from July 21, the date of its passage. The city will ask for everyone’s cooperation and will continue to look at options to make the ordinance better. During the colder months, there will be leniency for children cutting through the park to get to school as long as they are operating their scooters safely.

Council also approved $5,000 in bed tax money to the Dover-New Philadelphia Kiwanis Club to make improvements to the Dover Deis Hill Park playground. They approved another $5,000 in bed tax money to Elite Tire for improvements to the facade of its building.

In his report Everett said Dover will participate in the National Night Out Aug. 5. Howe Avenue will be blocked off for the event near the Dover Moose. Swenson’s Food Truck and Ross Mountain BBQ are scheduled to be there from 5-8 p.m.

Everett also said a new squad vehicle should be delivered this week. The ambulance was ordered three years ago because of how long it takes to get a new emergency vehicle.

Members of the Dover Police Department are now equipped with their new firearms, which have a red dot sighting system.

The next Dover Council meeting will be Aug. 4 in council chambers, 121 E. Second St., Dover.