Dover employees recognized for saving co-worker

Two Dover employees were recognized in Mayor Shane Gunnoe’s report at the Feb. 2 council meeting for saving the life of a co-worker recently.

“On Thursday, Jan 22, Aiden Barrett in the General Services Department fell while on a break, knocking him unconscious and causing an obstruction in his throat to his breathing,” Shane Gunnoe said. “Fortunately, working with Aiden were John Ladrach and Brody Ferrell. The two of them began life saving procedures on Aiden with Brody clearing his obstruction and John administering chest compressions until the Dover Fire Department arrived. Had it not been for the exemplary effort of Brody and John this situation could have had a tragic outcome.”

Gunnoe requested a resolution be written to commend Ladrach and Ferrell for their actions. Gunnoe reported that Barrett has recovered.

Due to the cold weather, Dover Light and Power has been called upon multiple times to run additional generation for regional peak power events.

“I’m happy to report that our plant performed extremely well, making not only enough power to cover our communities needs, but selling substantial power back onto the grid during those peak power events,” Gunnoe said.

Gunnoe commended all the employees who helped the city to dig out from Winter Storm Fern.

“Sixteen crews began working early Sunday and continued throughout the week, plowing roads and alleys to help ensure safe travel in our city,” Gunnoe said.

To end his report, Gunnoe gave an update on several park related projects.

“The playground equipment for the Kiwanis playground project at the top of Deis Hill has arrived at the parks office and is set to be installed as soon as the snow melts,” Gunnoe said.

A new scoreboard has been ordered for Field #3 and it is hoped to be installed near the beginning of baseball season. The Dover Tornado Club, Dover High School Baseball and Dover City Schools donated to the cost of the new scoreboard.

Engineering and design are underway for both the Splash Pad and the Canal Dover Park paving projects with the goal of being able to solicit for bids soon.

Safety Director Bob Everett released the annual reports from both the Dover Police Department and the Dover Fire Department for 2025.

In 2025, the totals for the police department were 9,671 complaints, 706 traffic citations, 28 parking tickets, 159 felony arrests, 192 misdemeanor arrests, 287 traffic accidents, 38 injury accidents, one fatal accident, one prisoner jailed, $90 jail cost, 166,529 miles driven and 13,757 gallons of gas used.

During 2025 the fire department responded to 2,435 calls, 1,929 of which were EMS responses. Average response times within the corporation limit have been reduced to slightly over three minutes.

The fire department took delivery of a new ambulance and a 2025 Spartan/Summit pumper with a 2,000 gallon per minute pump and a Snozzle articulated elevated stream device.

The fire department report also contained information on the proposed updates to the fire station once city officials move to their new offices on North Wooster Avenue. New construction is expected for a new turnout gear room that will be approximately 400 square feet.

The current bunk room will be repurposed as a day room. A new kitchen will be placed in a larger area, and the former kitchen will become the EMS supply storage area. A second combination bath/shower room will be created among other updates.

The fire department currently occupies slightly over 8,000 square feet. Once renovations are completed the department will have about 13,000 square feet available.

Previously, at the Jan. 20 council meeting, Emergency Resolution 4-26 approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dover Firefighters and the Dover Firefighters Union, IAFF 324, AFL-CIO. With more women choosing to become firefighters, the memorandum covered policies for pregnant firefighters.

“It speaks to guidelines for leave, for the city making accommodations throughout the course of pregnancy, working collaboratively with the employee in consultation with their healthcare provider, and to the extent possible, what duties the employee can and could not do during the duration of that pregnancy,” Gunnoe said. “(The previous policy) was not nearly as fleshed out and clear. We spent a lot of time looking into best practices from other agencies and putting those into a policy that would work for the city.”

At the Feb. 2 meeting, council members approved Ordinance 2-26 which will provide for the regulation of construction in flood plains and allow the citizens of Dover to acquire flood insurance.

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