Extensive gas-line project coming to New Phila in February

City service director Ron McAbier announced the start of a Dominion Energy gas-line project at the Jan. 25 city council meeting. Part of the company’s 25-year pipeline infrastructure replacement plan, the project will entail replacing nearly 16,000 feet (a little more than 3 miles) of new gas line throughout the city. McAbier said work is slated to begin the week of Feb. 15 and continue until early July, with Mushrush Contracting of New Philadelphia receiving the contract.

McAbier said most of the line will be “moled” underneath city sidewalks, prompting councilman Rob Maurer to ask if the company would replace any sidewalks damaged during the construction. McAbier said Dominion will do so and also will make any crosswalk areas needing to be replaced ADA compliant.

Administrative reports

Mayor Joel Day said the city health department will administer COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursdays at Tuscora Park for the next few weeks. Residents should call the New Philadelphia Health Department at 330-364-4491 ext. 1208 to preregister.

Councilwoman Cheryl Ramos reminded people to be sure to keep their appointments or cancel them in advance so no vaccines are wasted.

Day also said the city is a step closer to gaining ownership of the land at the southeast end of the Harry Clever Field runway. The land is part of the Schoenbrunn Village tract owned by the State of Ohio and managed by the Ohio History Connection. The city must own the land to continue receiving federal funding for airport improvements. ODOT has agreed to assume ownership of the land and then transfer it to the city.

Day’s written report also stated he met recently with a team from the Appalachian Leadership Institute, which selected redevelopment of the former Howden Buffalo property as a class project. The idea is to turn the property into a community hub with shops, restaurants, housing and businesses, similar to a plan under discussion between the county’s Economic Development and Finance Alliance and the new owners of the property.

McAbier provided an update on the new cemetery office building, saying siding will be added with dry-walling to be completed in about a month. He said three columbaria, each with 48 niches for cremation urns, have been delivered.

McAbier also asked residents who have leaves to be picked up to place them in plastic bags instead of raking them to the curb. The city will collect the bagged leaves on garbage routes or special pickup dates if needed.

Safety director Greg Popham said he was approached by a supervisor in the police department about adding another canine unit to help combat the use and distribution of illegal drugs in the city. Popham said he discussed the purchase with the mayor and police chief, and they are pulling together costs, as well as investigating grant funding.

Law director Marvin Fete said a new victim’s advocate for the city prosecutor’s office has been found to replace Debbie Liebold, who has accepted another position.

Fete also commended Vicki Ionno and the city health department on their smooth and orderly administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

“If ever there was a question about whether the city needs its own health department, that question has been wiped out, in my opinion,” Fete said.

Board and commission reports

Day said the planning commission will meet Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. in council chambers to address several rezoning issues.

Councilman John Zucal said the next meeting for the airport commission is Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. in council chambers. He recommended council approve several reappointments to the commission: Josh Limbacher; Chris Bower, owner of Diversified Engineering and a pilot; and Alex McCarthy, director of the Tuscarawas County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency and the county commissioners’ appointee to the airport commission.

Zucal said the health board will meet Feb. 10 at noon in council chambers.

Chairman Maurer said work is beginning on the city’s 2021 budget, and the finance committee will meet Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers.

The safety, health and services committee met prior to the council meeting. Chairman Kelly Ricklic said they discussed a request for water service at 811 Blake Ave. SW, which is outside the city limits. He asked for a roll-call vote to deny the request as the property is outside the city limits and cannot be annexed. Ricklic said the committee also is considering a sign-removal ordinance for businesses no longer operating in the city, along with a nuisance ordinance and legislation regulating bow and arrow usage in the city.

Council then voted to deny the request for water service at 811 Blake Ave. SW.

Dan Lanzer, chair, said the special and contact committee recommends the reappointments outlined by Zucal in the airport commission report and asked council for first readings of resolutions to do so at the Feb. 8 meeting.

Lanzer said the committee also recommended the passage of two emergency resolutions allowing the mayor to fill out grant applications to fund the new trail.

Legislative action

Council passed the two emergency measures recommended by Lanzer. With Dean Holland abstaining and Ramos voting no, council passed a resolution to allow Day to apply for Transportation Alternative Program funds through ODOT for phase one of the bicycle and pedestrian connectivity project. The measure was passed on an emergency first reading in order to meet the grant application deadline.

Council also passed a resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for financial assistance from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources through the Recreation Trail Program and/or the Clean Ohio Trail Fund for additional funds needed to complete the trail project. Ramos cast the sole no vote.