Chillicothe reporting by Kevin Coleman: Recent Episodes
Kevin B. Coleman
Raw interview audio from Kevin Coleman's reporting on Chillicothe Council for iHeart Radio Southern Ohio - WBEX, WKKJ, WCHI, WQLX
Council had no legislation, but new Chillicothe Council president Joe Gierringer made committee assignments.
Chillicothe Council continued setting the stage for their new year. After his second session, new council president Joe Gierringer says he is optimistic.
Mayor Luke Feeney mentioned they are still seeking applicants for the steering committee of the city's new master plan, the first since 1948.
Transit chair Courtney Lewis saw the first reading of her ordinance to buy a trolley bus with grant funds.
Engineering chair Dave Tatman saw the first reading of an ordinance to consent to the state repaving State Route 772 within the city limits - meaning South Paint Street - in a couple years. He says their new policy is to remove brick crosswalks.
Tatman also saw his ordinance pass on first reading to appropriate $19,500 for maintenance costs for the traffic light controller at the US 35 eastbound ramp to Bridge Street. This is part of the state gearing up to do some major renovations on the most congested part of the commercial corridor.
ODOT filled the Christopher Conference Center with about 15 panels showing six major planned changes that they hope to start building in about three years. Matt McGuire is the Public Information Officer for District 9.
Chillicothe Council covered a few committee meetings on their off-night, convening in live video on the city's Facebook page.
Chillicothe Council had a successful videoconference session as a legal workaround to health restrictions.
Greg Phillips says when he was given chairmanship of Community Affairs, he felt it was a bit of a hodgepodge committee. But he wanted to address its meaningful issues, including addiction, homelessness, and mental health
:10 in charge of Community Affairs, hodgepodge
keep lines of communications open
:50 see effects, must deal with
see damages caused by
1:15 needs accurate reports, be data-driven
keep lines of communications open
2:00 show intersted and stay on top
2:20 make committee active, be data driven
2:45 * report hopefully in couple months
accurate data - e.g. drug deaths
* [ and in touch with Ccvl Council]
Greg Phillips says he wants Community Affairs to address its meaningful issues, including addiction, homelessness, and mental health
Monday evening, Chillicothe Council was surprised to hear their clerk is resigning. Council president Bruce Arnold praised Fosson's service as a clerk since 1997, and said he will sincerely miss his knowledge.
Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney gave a 20-minute "State of the City" address before the council session Monday evening. In his fourth annual address, he began by saying "we've been dreaming big, and now it's 'Go Time.'"
He said everyone has shared in the recent vigorous growth, except for two sectors: families and neighborhoods. He gave an example of a mother living in her car for six months, seeking a job while her kids stayed with family members. Feeney also mentioned the opioid epidemic.
But positive developments he listed included a huge grant for the HOPE partnership, redeveloping the former Mount Logan school building, increasing fire and police staffing, the return of curbside recycling...and "the best dog park in all of Ohio."
Feeney called for creating a "big vision" for the next 25 years, and the city's people will be a big part of it. Better access to pre-K education is his main emphasis.
He closed in saying Chillicothe has "an incredible opportunity" in being the next place that compels other towns "to say they want to be the next Chillicothe, Ohio."
Council President Bruce Arnold said the mostly new council needs to see what buildings the city has so they can start discussing them
:12 settled in; Saturday bus trip
:37 March 7th - not know of Statehood Day
1:00 whirlwind tour...
1:15 transit bus; all dept head cooperating
9am to 1pm
1:35 technically open to public
1:45 small bus, 10-15
10-15 minutes
2:00 ** meetings...
2:20 Pepsi Building came out of last season
7pm; notification week before
2:55 * focus: administration, long-term
3:15 * ...and future of armory
Courtney Lewis sponsored a tweak to the two-year-old DORA that allows downtown drinking
DORA Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area
:20 when passed, thot verbage was in it
:35 * not need permanent structure around outdoor eating area
1:00 ** R Kitchen & Fire grandfathered in; future not need
1:20 Paint St width helps but others narrower
able to enjoy outside better
1:50 learned from Worthington OH
2:10 * they fixed it and we did too
2:25 only few Y old
2:40 chamber & dntn Chilli supports; spec events
in front of own restaurant
Chillicothe Council heard they were starting back up to evaluate city facilities. Kevin Coleman has the story.