Dover adds new council members, highlights progress

Newly elected Dover City Council members were sworn in ahead of the Jan. 5 meeting by Judge Adam Wilgus.

Sworn in were two new at-large council members, Zachary Wallick and Greg Bair, a former council member. At-large Council member Perci Garner and Council President Justin Perkowski also were sworn in after being re-elected. Treasurer Susan Solvey, who was re-elected, was sworn in as well.

Council elected Kevin Korns president pro tem. He will preside in Perkowski’s absence.

In his report, Mayor Shane Gunnoe highlighted several projects completed in 2025, including the 20th Street bridge project, widening Ohio Avenue and extending utilities to the Crimson Cove site.

“In order to support additional housing growth in the city, we allocated over $1 million toward paving, predominantly on the south side of town,” Gunnoe said. “We completed a power line restoration project along the north end of the city, created free public Wi-Fi for our visitors downtown.”

Gunnoe also noted the construction of four pickleball courts and upgraded signage at Dover City Park, replacement of the boiler and renovation of the basketball courts at Memorial Hall, and the purchase of new equipment for safety forces, including a fire truck and ambulance. All police officers were outfitted with body-worn cameras, and the city acquired several police vehicles.

Work continues on projects started last year, including widening and replacing Crown Road, a major stormwater project on the north end of the city, upgrading or adding traffic signals at three intersections and renovating the former First Federal building into a new municipal center.

“City tax collections increased, reflecting additional job growth and over $25 million in new payroll in the community,” Gunnoe said. “Additionally, we are blessed to have been approved for more than $3.5 million in outside grant funding from many sources to help fund projects in 2026 and beyond.”

The city expects to build on that momentum this year. In addition to completing projects already underway, Dover is planning major renovations to downtown police and fire facilities, additional water and sewer expansions to support housing growth and paving the trail at Canal Dover Park.

Dover City Park is expected to receive new playground equipment, bocce courts, an additional picnic shelter and a splash pad.

Council approved two emergency ordinances at the meeting.

Council suspended the rules and passed Emergency Ordinance 1-26, directing the treasurer and auditor to allocate 35% of city income tax receipts collected in 2026 into the Master Capital Improvement Fund. The remaining balance will be divided among the street and maintenance repair fund, the cemetery fund, the police and fire pension fund and the general fund.

Council also suspended the rules and passed Emergency Ordinance 3-26, authorizing the mayor or his designee to enter into a contract with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to accept a NatureWorks Local Assistance Grant for a splash pad at Dover City Park.

Service Director Dave Douglas said recent light snowfalls have required heavy salt usage.

“We’ve had a couple of winter events in which the small snowfalls affect us as much as large and actually use more salt,” Douglas said.

Douglas reported the city has used about 560 tons of salt so far this winter, with 660 tons remaining. An additional 600 tons has been ordered.

Douglas also said the General Services Department expects to receive a two-ton dump truck within the next several weeks.

“That truck was ordered two and a half years ago, so that tells you how long it’s taking us to get equipment,” Douglas said.

The next Dover City Council meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 20, in council chambers, 121 E. Second St., Dover. The meeting was moved due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day.