Developers show interest in Joy/Howden property

In his report to New Philadelphia City Council on April 11, Mayor Joel Day said five developers have expressed interest in the Joy/Howden property on South Broadway Street. The property is currently owned by the county’s Economic Development and Finance Alliance.

Day said all of the manufacturing buildings have been demolished, except for the original 1884 structure, which has been inspected by a structural engineer and pronounced sound. “The hope is that it can be repurposed into a historic feature in the property’s redevelopment,” Day said.

Day also reported that construction of the new track at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium is scheduled to begin June 6, with a tentative completion date of Aug. 1. Because the stadium will be closed to the public during that period, Day encouraged residents to take advantage of the other walking trails in the city including those at Southside Community Park, Crider Avenue Walking Trail Park and Kent State University at Tuscarawas.

He also asked the city’s park board to mark two walking trails around Tuscora Park. The full mayor’s report can be found on the city’s Facebook page.

Paving projects coming this summer

Service director Ron McAbier presented council with the following list of streets to be paved this summer:

—Tuscarawas Avenue Northwest, West High Avenue to the corporation limit.

—Seventh Street Northwest, Tuscarawas Avenue to Fair Avenue Northwest.

—Union Avenue Northwest, Wabash Avenue to the corporation limit.

—Tuscarawas Avenue Northwest, West High Avenue to the corporation limit.

—Orchard Avenue Northwest, Tuscarawas Avenue Northwest to Prospect Avenue Northwest.

—Baker Avenue Northwest, Sixth Street Northwest to dead end.

—Second Street Northwest, Fair Avenue Northwest to Ray Avenue Northwest.

—North Avenue Northwest, North Broadway to Second Street Northwest.

—Second Drive Northeast, Ray Avenue Northeast to North Avenue Northeast.

—Fair Avenue Northeast, Fifth Street to Eighth Drive Northeast.

—Church Street Southwest, South Broadway to Fifth Street Southwest.

While a firm schedule is not been developed, McAbier said paving should begin the second or third week of June.

McAbier also said a public hearing is scheduled on April 25 at 5 p.m. in council chambers regarding funding to rehab the skate park on Mill Avenue. A $40,000 NatureWorks grant is available through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which requires a 25% match from the city.

Other reports to council

Day said the planning commission would meet to discuss an annexation request on 12thStreet and a request from Friends of the Homeless for help finding a homeless shelter location in the city.

The commission also will discuss the Schoenbrunn Inn wind turbine, which has not been working since December 2021 due to a lightning strike. Law director Marvin Fete said he is drafting a letter to the hotel that outlines the requirements for decommissioning wind turbines after three months of nonuse, according to the city’s codified ordinances.

Finance committee chair Kelly Ricklic reported on a meeting held prior to the council meeting in which items discussed included income tax fund distribution and transferring funds to pay off a State Infrastructure Bank loan through the Ohio Department of Transportation, which was used for the West High Avenue paving project. Kelly also reported the income tax collected so far is $165,000 higher than what was collected last year.

Salary committee chair Jim Seldenright reported on a committee meeting held before the regular council meeting to discuss an ordinance that would add four positions to the nonbargaining salary scale. Those positions are assistant fire chief, water department superintendent, wastewater superintendent, and building and zoning code administrator.

Legislation

Council passed an ordinance to pay custodians D. Ciereszewski and M. Inherst additional money for extra hours worked due to the leave of another employee and there being 27 pays in 2021.

Council also passed an emergency resolution to transfer the money in the TV Cable Franchise Fees fund to pay off an SIB and transfer the remaining funds to the general fund for fiscal year 2022.