Mineral City council addresses fire station vandalism

Mineral City Fire Chief Sam Moore told village council members during the Dec. 10 meeting that the back doors of the fire station were recently vandalized. Moore said the doors show evidence of being struck by BB gun pellets.

According to Mayor Laurie Green, the problem has been ongoing for a while but only recently came to a head.

“There are kids who are not only shooting BB guns, but they are also running their scooters into the doors, causing damage,” said Green. “These are the big overhead garage doors our fire trucks exit through, and they cost thousands of dollars to replace.”

The Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office was notified and they advised Moore to install security cameras so that evidence can be obtained as to the culprits. As a result, council voted to purchase two security cameras to be placed near the back doors.

In other business, council passed three resolutions, which:

—Amended the permanent revenue budget to add the annual $24,000 contribution from Sandy Township to the fire fund.

—Accepted an agreement with the public defender’s office to provide defense services for indigent individuals.

—Amended the permanent appropriations budget to account for the $147,00 grant for park funding received from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

At the Dec. 18 meeting, Chad Gintz was sworn in as councilman, replacing one of the vacant seats. There is still one remaining seat to be filled. Interested parties should send a letter of interest to Mayor Green at Village Hall, P.O. Box 336, Mineral City, OH 44656.

Council discussed switching to one meeting per month instead of two, agreeing to decide the issue at the Jan. 8 meeting.

Fiscal Officer Becky Carpenter expressed concern regarding village finances and suggested several ways to increase revenue. Council agreed to again voters to vote on an additional 1% income tax on the May 2026 ballot, with the increase effecting only residents who are working and not retired or disabled residents.

Fire Chief Sam Moore asked council to approve an application from Jordon Applegate for volunteer firefighter; council approved.

Council then moved into its reorganizational meeting with the results as follows:

—Darla Daugherty retained as ambulance district representative, a volunteer position.

—Kevin Friend approved as assistant fire chief, paid.

—Moore approved as full-time salaried village employee, fire chief, head of the street department and zoning and building inspector.

—Carrie Moore retained as library director, paid.

—Gary Van Meter, street department staff, paid.

—Green, flood plain administrator, volunteer.

—Rebecca Carpenter, fiscal officer and tax administrator, paid.

—Mandy Lake, council president pro-tem.

Green announced the following committee assignments for 2026:

—Finance: Lake (chair), Daugherty and Melissa Gintz

—Street: Chad Gintz (chair) and Rick Cain

—Fire/Safety: Melissa Gintz and Lake

—Zoning: Daugherty and Lake

—Park: Cain, Chad Gintz and Daugherty.

A number of policies were also agreed to, including continuing to contract with the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Department for policing services and using Huntington National Bank for all village business.

The next meeting will be Jan. 8, 2026 at 5 p.m. in Village Hall. All meetings are open to the public.