Auditor accepts Award of Financial Reporting Achievement

Dover council approved Emergency Ordinance 8-26 at their March 2 meeting authorizing the city to enter into a settlement release agreement with the property owners of 1409 E. Second St. in Dover.

The home on the property was damaged by fire in May 2024 and the city engaged in litigation with the owners to make the property safe by demolishing the home. The city had already placed a temporary fence around the home to keep people from entering the property at a cost of $1,815.

The city has a quote for the demolition of the structure in the amount of $7,500 but it is several months old and costs may have increased.

The city received a check from the property owners’ insurance company for $21,080.57. Their outside counsel, Connolly, Hillyer, and Ong, will hold the funds in their Interest on Lawyer Trust Account and from those proceeds, the law firm will reimburse the city for costs already incurred and costs arranged to demolish and make safe the structure pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement. The property owners will receive any remaining funds after the property is made safe.

There were some issues that prevented the homeowners from demolition.

“I think that the insurance was holding up things in this situation. That's why we agreed to settle everything at this stage,” Gina Space, Dover’s law director, said. “It wasn't really our intention in filing the suit to necessarily take the property from them. It was just to make sure that the area was safe for the neighborhood.”

Brett Hillyer, of Connelly, Hillyer and Ong, further explained the situation saying that the individual responsible for the fire is now in an institution and deemed mentally incompetent.

“If the fire wasn't set accidentally but purposefully, that would in some cases, negate the coverage of State Farm. So again, that was kind of a battle between the insured and State Farm,” Hillyer said. “But ultimately, the argument that I made to both Chase (Bank) and State Farm was that if the premiums were being paid, that the city of Dover still did not need to incur this loss because of the mental status of the individual.”

The city will be responsible for some fees, but they are appreciative that Hillyer waived his personal fees for the settlement.

In his mayor’s report, Shane Gunnoe, began by congratulating Auditor Nicole Stoldt and her staff for receiving the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada Award of Financial Reporting Achievement. The award recognizes high quality, transparent financial reporting.

A ribbon cutting with the Dover Community Parks Foundation to celebrate the city park’s new pickleball courts will be held April 13 at 4 p.m.

Gunnoe shared that the north end public storm water management project is on track to be completed by the end of April.

“The project is designed to better manage stormwater drainage in North Dover and the village of Parral. The new system is being constructed to accommodate future development in Dover’s growing north end,” Gunnoe said.

New signage has been added to the new municipal center and installation of the elevator will begin early next week.

Dover Light and Power will begin their annual maintenance shutdown March 30.

“Major projects this year's shutdown will be rebuilding of our river pump system, replacement of piping at the river house, repair of a minor steam leak near the steam turbine, and rebuilding of the coal boiler stoker,” Gunnoe said.

The city, in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Transportation, is soliciting for letters of interest for engineering services for the extension of the Towpath Trail along various roadways in the city, with a project length of approximately 1.3 miles. More information is available on the city’s website.

The city is also accepting sealed bids for the furnishing of labor and materials for new a new asphalt walking path in the Canal Dover Park. on the riverfront. A bid opening will be held March 31 at 10 a.m. in the service director's office. Interested bidders may contact the service director's office for more information or to obtain a bid packet.

In legislation council approved Emergency Ordinance 6-26 approving and adopting an engineer’s certificate and written economic development plan in relation to four proposed Ludy Estates incentive districts on St. Peters Church Road.

Ordinance 9-26 was approved; it is an agreement with AMP Transmission LLC concerning the transmission of electricity within PJM Interconnection LLC markets. The agreement pertains to the process of identifying needs and upgrading the grid when necessary to ensure operating efficiencies.

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