City Council - Regular Meeting

Woodward here. Dan Lawson here. All right, girls. If you want to come forward right in this area here.

All right. Okay. You guys want to turn around and face the group there? be good. And you can start whenever you're ready. Okay. All right. All right. So, who wants to start? You start it. Okay. Okay. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Wonderful. Good job. Thank you, girls.

Very nice. Now, they are going to wait around for our meeting to be completed. Once it's completed, then they've got some questions for All right, sounds good. Wish we had chairs for everyone. Sit on the floor. Sit right there. Sit right down here. You guys can sit in the front. Sit down here. Sit up front. Sit in the middle. Perfect.

All right. Well, good evening and welcome everyone to the April 7th meeting of the Ashlin City Council. To our viewer viewers at home, thank you for joining us. Members of our audience, we have a full house tonight. Thank you for being here as well. Members of council, Mayor Miller, yes. Attorney Bush, Director Paxton, welcome. Welcome everyone. First item on the agenda this evening will be the approval of the minutes from the March 17th meeting. If there are no additions, deletions, or corrections of those minutes, I'll ask for a motion to approve as submitted. So move. Second. Thank you. Lawson, I Workman. I Kyle. I

Miller. I minutes will stand approved. First ordinance this evening will be an ordinance authorizing the issuing of a then and now certificate for the following attached expenditures for the city of Ashlin Ohio and declaring an emergency. Move for non second. Thank you. Lawson I Workman I Kyle I Miller I Woodward I

Good evening. Evening. The uh incumbrances uh attached to this ordinance were anticipated uh operations. Uh unfortunately they're a carryover from the 2025 contract that was approved and signed at that time. Unfortunately they fell in 2026 and causing the then and now. Sure. Any questions or discussion? Hearing none. Is there a motion to approve on the first reading? So moved. There second. Second. Thank you. Workman. I. Kyle. I. Miller. I. Woodward. I. Lawson. Hi.

I'll move to suspend the rules for three separate readings, three separate days. Second. Thank you. Kyle. I. Miller. I. Woodward. I. Lawson. I. Workman. I. Motion to approve the ordinance. So move. Second. Thank you. Miller. I. Woodward. I. Lawson. Hi. Workman. I Kyle I Ordinance 19-26. We not have the executive. No, we're going to handle that at a later time in the agenda. Okay. Next, we have an ordinance authorizing and directing the director of finance to make the following transfers within the 2026 appropriations and declaring an emergency. Move for non- reading in full. Second. Thank you.

Workman. I Kyle. I Miller. I Woodward. I This uh transfer requires us to move monies that have been appropriated with the 2026 appropriations to allow us to meet the obligations or pending obligations of those other departments and other expense lines. Very good. Council have any concerns to bring up? Hearing none. Is there a motion to approve on the first reading? So moved. Second. Thank you. Kyle I. Miller. I. Woodward. Hi. Lawson. Hi.

Workman. I move again to suspend the rules for three separate readings, three separate days. Second. Thank you. Miller. I. Woodward. I. Lawson. Hi. Workman. Hi. Kyle. I. Motion to approve the ordinance. So move. Second. Thank you. Woodward. I. Lawson. Hi. Workman. Hi. Kaio. Hi. Miller. Hi. Ordinance 20-26. Then we have an ordinance authorizing the director of finance to amend appropriations for the calendar year 2026 and declare an emergency. Move for non- reading and full. Second. Thank you. Kyle. I. Miller. I. Woodward. Hi. Lawson. Hi. Workman.

I. This ordinance uh is anticipation of the transit uh building uh that will begin construction later this year. Uh it acknowledges the federal share of additional monies that the city will be receiving as well as the increased local match that is required to meet the obligation of that contract. Pretty cut and dry. Yeah. Councel have any discussion? Hearing none. Is there a motion to approve on the first reading? So move. Second.

Thank you. Miller. I Woodward. Hi. Lawson. Hi. Workman. Hi. Kyle. I. I'll move to suspend the rules for three separate readings, three separate days. Second. Thank you. Woodward. I. Lawson. Hi. Workman. Hi. Kyle. Hi. Miller. Hi. Motion to approve the ordinance. So move. Second. Thank you, Mr. Lawson. Lawson. I. Workman. Hi. Kyle. Hi. Miller. I. Woodward. I. Ordinance 21-26.

Would you like to conduct your meeting like this? It's been tempting. Next, we have an ordinance authorizing and directing the mayor, director of public service to enter into a consent agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for preventative maintenance on the I71 overpass in district 03 uh ASDWBHFY2027B P1 2294 within the city of Ashlin, Ohio, and declaring an emergency. Move for non-reading in full. Second. Thank you. Miller. I Woodward. I Lawson. Hi. Workman. Hi. Kyle.

Hi.

Well, in spite of all of those complex acronyms and letters that you read, this really is a pretty simple piece of legislation. As you know, anytime the Ohio Department of Transportation does work within the city limits of Ashlin, they are required to get a consent agreement from the city. In other words, authorization that the city legislative body and leaders agree that the work can be completed. There are times when they might be working on a project that we are interested in expanding. And those times, as long as we come up with the additional funds, we can change the scope of their project. But tonight's is very simple. This particular piece of legislation deals with the bridge over I71. Some will know that it wasn't long ago the city expanded our corporation limits so that it now is on the east side of 71. That means 71 as it passes through the city of Ashlin there at the bridge is in the city limits. So the ODOT team is expected to do some repairs and some preventative maintenance on the columns that hold up the 250 bridge. the concrete is starting to chip off and flake off and so they want to get in there and make some improvements right away. So I see no reason not to grant them permission to work in the city limits of Ashlin to make those repairs and I recommend that you pass the legislation.

And will they rehab the whole bridge or just the columns? Just the columns. We actually have had conversations with them about allowing us to paint the grid iron and the ashland that's spelled out over that bridge because we've never been particularly fond of the white color that was originally used. And if you notice, all of it is starting to show rust. Yeah. And they have granted us permission to do it. They say they have no problem with us doing it. But the challenge is now securing a contractor to do it because that work will have to be done over the highway beneath. And because of that, there are a lot of hoops to jump through.

Traffic will have to be closed in some lanes and it will not be an inexpensive proposition, nor will it be an easy one because for the time that it's being painted, it will actually um involve trimming down the traffic flow on I71. But when we're ready or we've got it worked out, we'll bring that to you because I do think it would be timely to to snaz it up a little bit and make sure that it looks better as we move forward as one of Ohio's top five best hometowns. So, we want to maintain the image. That's right. That's a very that's a big gateway into our community.

Actually, you may not know it, but that is the number one most highly trafficked entryway into Ashlin County. So more people enter Ashlin County, not just the city of Ashlin. More people enter Ashlin County at that interchange than anywhere else throughout our county. So it truly is the welcome mat to the rest of the world. And if you want to know another fun fact, more than 1.2 million people stopped at that goasis in the past 12 months.

Wow. So that's more than a million visitors that are getting to know Ashland through whatever they see when they get off for the short time there at that interchange. So that is why even though we joke about making it look good, it is the gateway into the community. So eventually we'll bring you that legislation and also the reason you see new restaurants going out there. Yes. Yes. They want a piece of that 1.2 million. That's right. All those visitors. All right. Where do we leave off here? Okay. So, any discussion? I think it's important to reiterate though that this will not cost the city any money. The the state is taking care of it. We just need to give them permission to do it. Yes. Correct.

Thank you, Mr. Lawson. So, with that, is there a motion to approve on the first reading? So, move. Second. Thank you. Woodward. I. Lawson. Hi. Workman. Hi. Kyle. Hi. Miller. I. I'll move again to suspend the rules for three separate readings, three separate days. Then again, Second. Thank you, Lawson. Hi, Workman. I Kyle, I Miller, I Woodward, I motion to approve the ordinance. Move to approve. Second. Thank you, Workman. Hi, Kyle. Hi, Miller. Hi, Woodward. I Lawson. Hi, Ordinance 22-26.

All right. So, there was some preliminary question as to whether or not we would leave item D on the agenda. I would like us to leave it on the agenda and I can explain why if you want to introduce it. You want to take action on it? I think we could. Okay, very good. Um, so with that, we have an ordinance authorizing and directing the mayor, director of public safety to enter into a contract for the remediation of a public health emergency relating to a former industrial property in the city of Ashlin, Ohio, and declaring an emergency. Move for non- reading in full. Second. Thank you, Woodward. Hi Austin. Hi Warfin. Hi Kyle. Hi Miller. Hi.

Now for many people that call Ashland home, this will be a property that you've heard of before. This particular property is often referred to as the old Carter building over on the northeast side of town. This would be located Do we have the street address there? It's on Miller Street. Miller.

And uh you know it well because you've got lots of complaints about it over the years. It is an abandoned quote industrial property. I'll describe it to you in this way. It consists of multiple structurally deficient buildings, two of which have recently collapsed and a multitude of trailers and junk stored on the property. The building is a disaster. It's half fallen in at this point. During our first big snowstorm that we had in 2026 when we got a foot of snow or so, that pretty much did a lot of the roof in this time. Then when the winds came, that is when it became a major issue because now all of that debris, all of that roof steel, all of that blew all over the neighborhood. And probably the person who substain uh received the most damage from that was Sloan, our friends at Sloan Concrete. They actually had vehicles damaged and everything else because of all the junk on that property. The neighbors all reached out and their lawns were covered in everything from insulation to any kind of debris that was on the property, which if you drive past the property tonight, you'll find there's lots to choose from. It is a small disaster and we've known about it for some time. We've made repeated efforts over the years and the last several weeks and months to try to track down the owner. We know who owns it. She is not present and uh allegedly she owns it with a second individual and they will not respond. They have not responded. At least she has not responded. She's the primary contact. And so our fire inspector has gone out there. He's very familiar with the property, but after the recent storm damage, he has officially posted it as an unsafe property. an unsafe property that poses a fire hazard and a public safety uh issue. He has made the official verdict that no one should be allowed on the

property and is recommending that we remediate the situation. In other words, clean it up. And we are working with the law director's office on the matter. And what I would say to you tonight, what we would like to request of the council is your support in moving forward with cleaning up the property. And the way you show that support, of course, is an official vote. But that does not mean we have to move forward with the cleanup of that property if we are able to get contact with the owner and work out a situation. But I believe at this point, I can't remember. I didn't bring all my paperwork. Does it have back taxes? It's I don't recall that part of it.

I believe it does have a significant amount of back taxes and so on. But the moral of the story is tonight we're asking for your approval to allow us to remediate the situation, clean it up once and for all. But if through another legal channel with the help of our law director's office, we're able to somehow work with the owner to clean it up. I'll admit we've tried for years and have gotten zero response, but if we are able to work something out, we're more than willing to let someone else clean it up. So, that's what the request is for you tonight. Otherwise, it would have to go through the land bank, wouldn't it? To

It doesn't have to. It doesn't have to. Sometimes they go through the land bank because the land bank has opportunity to access grant monies. Okay. And in this particular instance, it would probably be funded from our own budget, but we don't own it. No, we don't own it. So, they would deed it over to us and then we would No, no, I'm not necessarily. No, it's to clean up the public safety hazard. So, it's a public safety hazard. We can take that out. Exactly. We've done it on other properties, but they've been most of them have been residential. Okay. where it's an abandoned trailer or it's abandoned once house but no longer housing anyone

we did do in many ways I mean this is how we handled the pump house I believe when we move forward with the pump house was the same method if they keep the property will they be required to pay back for that cleanup if we pay if we clean it up there would be nothing there would be no legal remedy currently to require them to pay it back no we have somebody that has estimated the cost to be the 235. Yes, exactly. So, the estimated cost of the cleanup is 235,000. So, it's not an inexpensive tax. So, we clean it up and they get to keep it

potentially. And that is why we are saying that we are requesting your approval

to move forward with the demolition and cleanup of the property. However, that does not mean we have to. That just means that we are now officially authorized to deal with the public nuisance. And our hope is that working with the owner, perhaps it will spur them to action or spur them to come out of hiding and respond to our message. We believe they're out of state. I mean, we we're confident we know who it is and they are just not responding and they are down south. this property impacts so many properties that we can't just ignore it.

That is the reason and we're getting calls from all the neighbors because what they've always been concerned about is now a true concern when all the debris is landing in their yards during these storms and the fear of the young people going into the building and structure. It's a legit fear. I've seen them. They they are in there. Yes. And it is dangerous. Well, now more than ever with chemicals in there and Yes. It is definitely dangerous. So, we would rather not do it. Yeah. They they are delinquent on last year's taxes. Okay. Over $3,000 and haven't paid anything this year. So, Okay. So, Andrew, what is our legal ramifications? I mean, what are our options?

We have authority if it's deemed a hazard to just go in and do what we want to do and remediate it. Um, we don't have to file a lawsuit or anything like that. And I I think that's what the mayor's proposing that we may do. Can we put a lean on the property or something like that? Yeah. To recuperate this in case they want to we clean it up and they say, "Well, now I want to put on the market and sell it." Yeah. Yeah. We Exactly. We can and often do put a lean on for the cost we incur. But obviously if they're not paying their taxes, that's Yes.

And it's important for people to understand this is the last resort. This is not a new issue. This has been going on for decades and in the entire length of time I've been mayor and you've been councilwoman and others,

we get repeated yes calls from the neighbors about this property because it is distracting to all the area businesses and the the surrounding neighbors that call that area home. And we made repeated attempts to contact the owner by phone, by email, by letter, and no responses. And that didn't just start since the storm. That's been going on for years. So, if we clean it up and we put a lean on the property, is there a statute by which they still don't respond after three, four, five years? Are we then able to take possession of it for back taxes and so forth so that we could sell it?

You have to foreclose. You have to foreclose on it. The county would have to file a tax foreclosure. I don't think we have the ability to do that. But our lean would be one of the leans that get paid out of the proceeds. Taxes would get paid first though. I think that this action shows the serious nature of the situation. Meaning, it sends a very strong message, probably the strongest we can send, that we're going to act to clean up the mess if you don't communicate with us or respond to us in some way. And uh we'll see what happens. Maybe we'll be surprised.

All right. Any further discussion hearing? None. Is there a motion to approve on the first reading? So move. Second. Thank you. Lawson. I. Workman. Hi. Kyle. I. Miller. I. Woodward. I. I'll move to suspend the rules for three separate readings, three separate days. Second. Thank you. Workman. Hi. Kyle. Hi. Miller. I. Woodward. I. Los. I. Is there a motion to approve the ordinance? Move to approve. Second. Thank you. Kyle. I. Miller. Hi, Woodward. Hi, Dawson. Hi, Workman. Hi. Ordinance 23-26. All right. Thank you. All right. The cleanup continues.

Yes. Long story short.

All right. Moving then to resolutions. We have none. No public hearing items or old business, but we do have some new business. Uh, Attorney Bush has uh asked to uh have the floor for a brief statement on the opioid settlement. So, Andrew, I'll turn it over to you. So, there's been another settlement reached um and it's very similar to previous ones. It's a number of the defendants. Um, Associated Pharmacies, JM Smith, Morrison Dixon, Louisiana Wholesale Drug Company. Um, North Carolina Wholesale Drug Company and UNFI/Sup Supervalue. It's a $97 million settlement. Um, the attorneys that we've been working with all along recommend that we participate in the settlement, which is what we've always done. um there's um a formula where we get a portion of that money which we've historically gotten and uh so no reason to do something different this time and I I guess I would ask the um council to by motion and a roll call vote approve of that settlement.

All right, I'll make such a motion to approve the settlement as uh stated by attorney Bush. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Lawson. Hi Workman. Hi Kyle. Hi Miller. Hi Woodward. Hi. All right. Hope that works. That's perfect. Okay. Thank you.

We have one other item of new business. That will be an advertising permit for Diane Nelson. And Miss Nelson is here to speak. Are you would you like to speak on the matter? No. Okay. This will be for the information in front of you. Uh campaign materials primarily. And she's been made aware of the criteria in which those have to be delivered. I'm sure correct. All right. All right. Do do you want to describe attached to a door hang? Yeah.

Yeah. Um just by way of background and process the um we've got an ordinance that requires a permit before anything can be distributed doortodoor. Um it also requires that whatever gets distributed either be in a you know a small bag that can be hung on the door knob or um is just the paper is in a manner that it can be hung on the doorork knob. Yeah. So it's pretty traditional plastic sleeves work well. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Council have any further discussion?

No. So, she submitted copies of all the items she wishes to distribute and also paid the permit fee. So, she's good to go. Great. Do we need a motion and vote on this? Yeah. Okay. With that, is there a motion to approve this advertising permit as submitted? So, moved. Second. Thank you, Lawson. Hi, Workman. Hi, Kyle. Hi, Miller. I Woodward. All right. free to distribute. All right, with that we'll move right to council comments. Mr. Lawson, would you like to go first?

Hey, spring cleanup has started and uh they've already been into my neighborhood and picked up everything. So, I kudos to the city workers that are getting out there and picking up all the things for spring cleanup. But be careful because there are people who like to stop and look through the items on the curve. So, uh, just be alert when you're driving down those streets, uh, that people might be around there looking. Very good. M, I was just going to piggyback on that. I've seen a few couches and beds out, not wrapped. They have to be put in plastic. So, they have to be completely covered. That's the safety of our workers. So, if you're going to put a couch or piece of furniture or mattress out, make sure it's completely wrapped. That's it.

And I would add to that, be careful with sharp objects, too. These workers are grabbing things and heaving it into it. If there's anything sharp, they could get cut. So, yeah, don't do that. Be careful, Mr. Miller. I won't add to that. All right. Uh, I asked to be excused at the next council meeting. We will be in Tennessee for granddaughter's birthday and um, baptism and also uh, Colleen's daughter's national championship for stunt competition at AU. So, We will be down down south for that meeting. Good, Mr. Kyle. I'm I'm happy as can be. All right. Well,

you came and got my strap, too. I'll turn it over to you.

All right. The only thing that I want to add tonight is in regard to spring cleanup. Uh they've got a lot of calls down at the street department and at sanitation about why didn't you pick up my stuff. Well, I just want to remind everyone the stuff has to be out on the curb by 7:30 a.m. on the Monday of the week your pickup is to take place. You can see the schedule when we're going to be in your neighborhood on our Facebook page or our website, but that window, those days that show as when we will be in your neighborhood, you need to make sure your items are out by 7:30 a.m. Monday of that week because we may show up at 7:30 a.m. on Monday of that week. And that may be the trip around your neighborhood. I think a lot of people have come to believe that we just pick it up daily, have a route that we travel every day during that week to pick it up, and that is not the case. So, some folks have been disenfranchised because they said, "Why isn't my stuff being picked up?" That's the reason. So, if it is still out on the curb and it needs picked up, you might want to make a call to the sanitation office to let them know and arrangements can be made. And incidentally, you can have junk that is junk. I guess you can have junk picked up anytime throughout the year. You just have to call and schedule it. There is a fee though if it's not during spring cleanup, but the fee is minimal quite candidly.

It's like $15 for like a back of a pickup truck. Yes. So, I mean, you can fit a lot of stuff in there. Yes, you can. I will also remind folks this week as I was coming into the office, I watched on one of our streets,

a truck packed full of goods pull up in front of a Ashland home and start unloading in the front uh tree line. This is supposed to be a free service to the folks that call Ashland home and not to be the dumping ground for people outside of Ashland to bring their stuff and place on the curb to be picked up. And clearly that's what was happening. And just want to remind people it's a wonderful service that isn't offered by many communities at no cost where we can help you clean out all that junk that you have a hard time getting rid of at least once a year in the month of April. But we're not doing it to get rid of everyone else's junk that doesn't live in the city of Ashland. And it does come as an expense to the city of Ashen taxpayers because we do have to pay to dispose of it in the landfills. So it I think I almost think does anyone do you recall? I knew the figure once. It cost us 180 about 16,000

16. Is that what it was? I thought at one point they were saying it was like 80,000 to get rid of everything but it's significant. So yeah, at least Okay. In the thousands. Yes. Yeah. I think it's also where So somebody called is a good thing you reminded me. Um if you have with all the wind storms, if you have tree branches, you can also call the arborist. Yes. And for a small fee, they'll come out and grind it on the spot and it'll be gone. Take it away. So you know, you don't have to burn that stuff in your backyard. Yes. Which you're not supposed to do. And um they're you actually don't even have to call them. You can go on the arborist uh page and fill out a request form and they just come take care of it. Correct. I'll tell you, they do a fabulous job.

They do. You won't even know that. There's no bark left. Yeah. Not a thing. The purpose of that cleanup, the spring cleanup, and even what you described with yard waste is to make it as easy as possible for people to keep their properties cleaned up and as affordable as possible. That way we don't get into situations like tonight where we have to send out a notice to someone because they're in violation of an ordinance for the accumulation of property and and other debris on their property. So this is the most affordable way to do it during spring cleanup. All right. Anything else? That's it. All right. Well, thank you.

Now it's time for comments and questions from our audience. If anyone is here who would like to address council, please step up to the podium. State your name, what ward you live in, and you're welcome to let us have it, so to speak. All right, seeing none, then we'll ask for a motion to adjourn. So move. Second. Thank you. I I I I I All right. Well, thank you everyone. And you're welcome to stick around. Now, if it's okay, council, why don't you stay here as well if you want? You don't have to, but why don't you