At its Dec. 16 meeting, Dover Council approved temporary appropriations for 2025 in the amount of nearly $75.7 million. It’s a figure that will likely go up, but it all depends on what happens with grants and other funding for projects. The 2024 budget came to $79 million. Dover is looking to fund more projects in 2025.
“With the grant funding and the other sources of revenue that we've received, there'll be more capital projects next year, probably, than at any point in Dover history,” Mayor Shane Gunnoe said.
Without the provisions in Ordinance 52-24, the city would not be able to spend any money in the new year. A permanent budget for 2025 will need to be adopted by the end of March.
Auditor Nicole Stoldt detailed the budget, noting a 3.5% increase to $12.4 million for the general fund. Specific departmental allocations included $1.7 million for streets, a little more than $615,000 for the cemetery fund, $960,000 for police and fire pensions, $2.57 million for water, $3.65 million for the sewer revenue fund, and $27 million for the electric plant and distribution, which is an amount that is likely to go up.
“Our revenue is rising a little bit. At least the revenue is enough to give us decent fund balances and to pay for everything that the departments are projecting. We have a lot going in master capital this year,” Stoldt said.
Stoldt said they will have a list of projects and more information closer to the March deadline. “But all in all, the city’s in good shape, and I think this is a good budget to get us started.”
In his report Gunnoe said the city continues to see progress in new housing.
“There are several single-family homes now under construction on the east side of town. Crimson Cove has recently received its FEMA conditional letter of map revision approval, and work is expected to begin on the new 30 lot subdivision in the near future,” Gunnoe said.
Builder Brother’s Construction has applied for approval from the Dover Township Zoning Board to construct 24 townhomes in the 600 block of Iron Avenue, which is in Dover Township. A public hearing was held in the township with no opposition received. The townhomes, which are still in the planning stages, would be served by city utilities.
“Additionally, with the beginning of the site work for the Schaeffler project, we are seeing a substantial uptick in interest in the area from housing developers and increased discussions about future housing developments,” Gunnoe said.
A bid was awarded to Ohio Drilling Company of Massillon for the water well project for the light plant. A 1,640-gallon-per-minute well pump will be installed. The total cost is $64,500.
Gunnoe expects the Seventh Street CDBG project will be finished this week. West Seventh Street, between Tuscarawas Avenue and the dead end, and Center Street, between Sixth Street and Seventh Street, are to be paved, weather permitting. The project could be completed as soon as Wednesday.
Santa will still be at his home in downtown Dover on Wednesday from 6-8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday hours are 1-3 p.m.
Due to the holidays, Dover City municipal offices will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25 and Wednesday, Jan. 1.
In other legislation council approved Ordinance 47-24, raising the compensation for the Civil Service Commission. The secretary/clerk of the CSC will receive $3,000 per year, up from $1,800, and the two other board members will receive $1,200 per year, up from $600, effective in 2025. The commission members had not received a raise since 2000.
Council took care of some routine business, approving Ordinance 53-24, which approves the housing of inmates in the Tuscarawas County Jail. Dover does not have its own jail facility. The cost of housing an inmate is $90 per day.
Resolution 30-24 was accepted, approving the donation of a new sound system package for field seven at the city’s park. A donation of $5,960 was received from Tuscarawas County Challenger Baseball. The organization will host the Ohio Challenger Baseball playoffs again this year at Dover Park.
Three members of the Dover Police Department who were involved in the quick arrest of a suspect after a recent gas station robbery and assault in the city were honored by council at the meeting. Attending the meeting were Capt. Michelle Seibert, officer Garrett Newsome and officer Nathan Wood.
The next Dover Council meeting will be held Jan. 6 in council chambers, 121 E. Second St., Dover.
