Eyesore property to be razed or deeded to village

A more than 20-year battle with the owners of the property at 8485 S. High St. in Mineral City looks to be nearing an end. Mineral City zoning chair Nikki Moore told village council at the Aug. 24 meeting that the village received a response from attorney Richard Hinig, who is representing the property owner Mark Kellicker.

Mayor Laurie Green said Hinig contacted village solicitor Cassidy Wahlie on behalf of Kellicker to ask if the village was interested in purchasing the property. Green told the attorney the village is not interested. In response Hinig assured Wahlie that Kellicker will either tear down the property or turn it over to the village after tax implications are examined.

In other business

Mineral City Council members approved a request of $6,300 made by the street committee during its Aug. 24 meeting. Street Supervisor Sam Moore asked for approval to conduct patching and paving on Steel, Brown and Logan streets in the village. No specific date for the work was set, but Moore said, weather permitting, it should begin in the next few weeks.

Green raised the issue of firearms in government buildings in light of the permitless concealed carry law passed in Ohio in 2022 for handguns. According to Green, concealed firearms continue to be banned in government buildings and other locations where prohibited by federal law. It was agreed that new “no firearms” signage will be placed at the fire department, Village Hall and other government–owned buildings.

Council agreed to set Sept. 16 from 7-11 a.m. as Community Cleanup Day. Green reminded residents to place all items they want taken away curbside the night before.

Green’s report also said the Tuscarawas County Anti-Drug Coalition’s Project Hope silhouettes will be placed at the park near the veterans and military memorial. The project aims to create greater community awareness of the number of drug overdoses that take place in the county.

Green said the Ohio Municipal League annual conference will be held Oct. 18-20 in Columbus. Wrapping up her report, Green thanked Nikki Moore for her service as a council member and the chair of the zoning committee. Moore announced her resignation, effective Aug. 31, at the July 27 council meeting.

Reports to council

Fiscal officer Georgianne Turner presented the July treasurer’s report, which included UAN bank reconciliation, bank statements, an appropriation status report, a receipt detail report, a fund status report and a payment listing report. The total of all funds was reported as $227,121.

Parks and recreation chair Rick Cain said he will soon find out if the village will receive a grant he applied for from the Reeves Foundation to be used for the pickleball and basketball courts at the new park. He also said he is applying for a Transportation Alternatives Grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Fire Chief Sam Moore said the annual firefighter rescue pack testing was conducted by Atlanta Fire Equipment, and all packs were found to be satisfactory. Moore also said there are still raffle tickets available for the freezer and meat drawing to be held during the Christmas Craft Show at the fire station on Nov. 4.

Sam Moore said a property owner asked for a permit that would allow him to hold yard sales every week and that he told the property owner he would need to come to a meeting to discuss his intentions with council. Residents currently are permitted to have three yard sales per year at no charge.

Council member Terry Nill thanked the fire department for its help with their fourth annual golf outing and said the library is selling tickets for Cow Patty Bingo to be held Oct. 14 to benefit the library.

Mineral City Council meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.