Dover approves ordinance to help recruit new police officers

In his mayor’s report, Shane Gunnoe urged council to approve Emergency Ordinance 50-24, which authorizes the mayor to enter into educational sponsorship agreements with police recruits for the Dover Police Department.

The city would pay for a future officers’ training in exchange for at least two years of service to the Dover Police Department.

“Given the nationwide shortage of officers, the struggle to attract new potential officers into the field and the fact that other departments are already offering incentive programs like what is being proposed, I would request suspension and passage tonight,” Gunnoe said.

Larger cities in Northeast Ohio provide many opportunities for new officers and could recruit officers away from smaller communities.

“Passing this legislation will place the city in a more competitive position to attract new future officers and places us on an even footing with other departments,” Gunnoe said. “City administration and our police chief are actively working to identify potential police recruits, and we believe this legislation will help us increase staff in the department in 2025.”

Safety Director Bob Everett agreed with Gunnoe’s opinion, calling the ordinance necessary.

DPD was down three officers, and only one replacement was recruited.

Council suspended the rules and passed Ordinance 50-24 on its first reading.

Gunnoe gave positive updates on projects within the city:

—The Schaeffler Group has begun initial work on its new Dover facility. It is currently working on site improvement including tree removal and site preparation.

—The 20th Street bridge project is nearly complete. Some concrete sidewalks and parapets will be completed soon, and then the road will be reopened.

—Work continues on the West Seventh Street CDBG street reconstruction project. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be complete this year.

—The Dover City compost site will close Dec. 20. It will be reopened in the spring.

Dover will observe Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. In remembrance the tornado sirens will sound for two minutes on Dec. 7 at 8:35 a.m., the approximate time the attack began. American flags also will be flown at half-staff from dawn to dusk.

The Dover Christmas Parade and Lighting Ceremony will be held Dec. 7. Dover High School's choir will perform in downtown Dover from 4:15-4:30 p.m. A reading of “T’was the Night Before Christmas” and the lighting ceremony will begin at 4:45 p.m., which is the same time the parade steps off from Crater Stadium. Following the parade, Santa will be available to visit with children at his house on the square.

The Dover Lions will serve hot chocolate and popcorn, and the city will offer cookies beside Santa’s house.

Santa will keep regular hours in downtown Dover before Christmas each Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. and each Saturday and Sunday from 1-3 p.m.

In legislation council also approved Emergency Ordinance 49-24, which authorizes additional funding for the drilling and installation of a water supply well and pumphouse in an amount not to exceed $85,741.

Council previously approved $604,000 for the project at the Dover Municipal Light Plant.

“The light plant actually requested some additional work that needed done. The electrical needed run a little bit further. The drainage needed to be running a little further than it was in the original estimate,” Gunnoe said.

Council held a discussion on Ordinance 51-24, which will increase the penalty associated with failing to obey a school crossing guard. Currently, the penalty for a first offense is $150. This ordinance would raise that amount to $250. After three offenses the fine is raised to $500, and there also is the possibility of jail time.

The intersection of Sixth Street and Tuscarawas Avenue is the biggest problem spot. The city plans to install flashing signs there to warn drivers. The police department also has increased its presence in the area.

“We’re trying to work hard on this problem to make it safer for children,” Safety Director Bob Everett said.

Ordinance 51-21 was held for a second reading.

The next Dover Council meeting will be held Dec. 16 in council chambers, 121 E. Second St., Dover.