Dover to partner with county to offer site revitalization

Owners of vacant buildings in Dover who would like help with demolition costs may apply to the city for a program with the State of Ohio Department of Development. Owners will have to act fast though; applications are due Feb. 1.

Dover will partner with Tuscarawas County to offer the Ohio Department of Development Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program again this year. Both commercial and residential buildings are eligible for the program.

“The types of commercial properties include buildings that were used for retail, office, manufacturing, industrial, industrial warehousing, institutional, or other nonresidential or mixed use, meaning any mix of these uses or a mix of residential and commercial uses purposes,” Mayor Shane Gunnoe said.

To be eligible, the buildings must be vacant for six consecutive months and still be vacant at the time of application. The property owner must sign a demolition permission form and have it notarized. If approved, the Ohio Department of Development will cover all eligible costs to have a commercial or residential building torn down.

Anyone in Dover who is interested in having a commercial or residential building torn down that they currently own should call the Dover Building and Zoning Department at 330-343-6740.

The program, which the city previously has participated in, has brought good results in the past. One owner built a new home on their property after the demolition of a vacant structure.

“It's a great program for the state of Ohio. We're just trying to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to apply,” Gunnoe said.

Council chambers were packed prior to the meeting as new council members and returning re-elected members were sworn in. Gina Space was sworn in as law director, and Perci Garner was appointed to fill her former seat as Council At-large. Other new council members coming on board were Joshua Legg, Ward I; Cody Jerles, Ward III; and Nate Johnson, Ward IV. All expressed their enthusiasm for the opportunity to serve on council to improve the city.

As part of his mayor’s report, Gunnoe announced the retirement of Safety Director Gerry Mroczkowski, effective that day, Jan. 2. Mroczkowski has served a total of 42 years in public service including the last six as safety director. His position also included human resources duties.

“He showed true leadership leading our city government through the COVID-19 pandemic and the turbulence of the last several years,” Gunnoe said. “The people of Dover are better off as a result of Mroczkowski’s service.”

Gunnoe then requested a committee assignment to discuss the safety director and human resources position responsibilities.

“There are other ways you could do it; a lot of cities separate safety and HR. Dover traditionally has combined them, so I think that's something that city council has to decide what direction they want to go,” Gunnoe said after the meeting. “He told me a few weeks ago that he wanted to spend more time doing the things he enjoys, and given all the years of service, who could fault him for that? We will definitely miss him.”

The position will not be filled until a decision is made on the position description.

Gunnoe also gave an update on projects at the power plant.

“Farbee Mechanical will be back onsite at the plant over the next week, completing the next phase of the rebuilding of our diesel peaking generator, which was previously damaged by fire,” Gunnoe said. “All of those costs are being covered by insurance.”

The Shelby turbine also is expected to be returned to Dover by the end of January.

A schedule of safety training for Dover employees was distributed, and additional training on ethics training, drug-free workplace training and sexual harassment training for all employees also will be scheduled for 2024.

Chuck Nicholson has been issued a demolition permit by the city for the old brewery located adjacent to their property. Demolition contractors are expected to be onsite working throughout this week.

Leaf collection continues, and workers are currently making a second pass through Zone 2. Progress can be tracked on the city’s website or Facebook page.

Emergency Ordinance 1-24 was passed after the rules were suspended by council. The ordinance directs the treasurer and the auditor of the city to allocate the Dover city income taxes collected for the year 2024 at 30% of the total income tax receipts into the master capital improvement fund. The ordinance was passed to more effectively allocate the collection of taxes throughout the year.

Auditor Nicole Stoldt said the percentage of funds needed is decided each year.

“We determine what percentage of (taxes collected) is going to go to our master capital, and master capital is what funds all the major projects in the city outside of water, sewer and electric,” Stoldt said.

They have estimated about $9.6 million of income tax will be collected in 2024, and about $2.7 million of that will go to master capital. The rest of the tax funding will be divided among the permanent appropriations, which will be made in March.

Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the next Dover Council meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 16 in council chambers, 121 E. Second St., Dover.