City Council - Regular Meeting

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

The Ashland City Council approved the sale of five acres of land in the industrial park to a growing business, Dorm Dudes, for $50,000. They also approved an amendment to the purchase price of the Arthur Street School property, increasing the city's share by $10,000, and discussed upcoming street and alley resurfacing projects.

About this meeting

Government Body
City Council
Meeting Type
City Council
Location
Ashland, OH
Meeting Date
June 2, 2026

Transcript

173 sections

2:27 – 3:31Speaker 6

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF Good evening and welcome everyone to the June 2nd meeting of the Ashland City Council. To our viewers at home, thank you for joining us. Members of our audience, thank you for being here on such a beautiful evening. To our members of council, Mayor Miller, Attorney Bush, Director Paxton, welcome all. First item on the agenda this evening will be the approval of the minutes from the May 19th meeting. If there are no additions, deletions, or corrections, I'll ask for a motion to approve as submitted.

3:31Speaker 5

Move to approve.

3:32Speaker 6

Second. Thank you.

3:34Speaker 6

Aye. Kyle? Aye. Miller? Aye.

3:36Speaker 5

Woodward? Aye.

3:38 – 4:06Speaker 6

Minutes will stand approved. First ordinate, well, we're going to go into executive session before we begin working our way through this agenda. This will be to discuss the possibility of the sale of real estate, whereby action could be taken upon our arrival back here. So it will just be a few minutes if you Would like to stick around, we'll go from there. Terry? You have to take.

4:07Speaker 3

Need a motion? Move to go into executive session with the potential of action after.

4:13Speaker 6

Second. All right.

4:15Speaker 5

Workman? Aye. Kyle? Aye. Miller? Aye. Woodward? Aye.

4:18 – 16:12Speaker 6

All right. We shall return. Thank you for your patience, everyone. Is there a motion to return from executive session? So moved.

16:13Speaker 6

Thank you. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

16:19Speaker 6

All right. First ordinance this evening will be to approve and adopt the current replacement pages to the codified ordinances and declaring an emergency.

16:29Speaker 4

Move for non-reading in full.

16:31Speaker 6

Second. Thank you. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

16:39 – 17:51Speaker 2

All right, this particular item is a routine item. As you know, over the years, the city has hired and enlisted our codified ordinances up to date when I say up to date that means every year we pass amendments to ordinances we pass new ordinances at times state laws change and some of our old ordinances are no longer relevant when we have hired this firm I'm not Yes. And they basically go through and make sure that everything is up to date in its printed form and digital form. So this would include everything that we've added in terms of maybe traffic signals or stop signs or speed limits in different places. It could cover just about everything we do, quite honestly. And like I said, it would cover amendments to ordinances that exist. It would cover new ordinances that have been added. clean up ordinances that are no longer relevant because of state law changes and maybe they're out of date. So we're just asking you to approve them doing so. All right.

17:52Speaker 6

Any discussion? Hearing none, is there a motion to approve on the first reading? So moved. Second. Thank you.

18:00Speaker 6

Aye. Miller? Aye.

18:02Speaker 5

Woodward? Aye. Workman?

18:03Speaker 6

Aye. I'll move to suspend the rules for three separate meetings, three separate days.

18:10Speaker 5

Miller? Aye.

18:11Speaker 5

Woodward. Aye. Workman. Aye. Kyo.

18:13Speaker 6

Aye. Motion to approve the ordinance.

18:16Speaker 6

Second. Thank you.

18:18Speaker 5

Woodward. Aye. Workman. Aye. Kyo. Aye. Miller. Aye. Ordinance 27-26.

18:26 – 18:38Speaker 6

Next, we have an ordinance authorizing and directing the mayor, director of public service, to enter into contracts for the municipal building generator replacement project in the city of Ashland, Ohio, and declaring an emergency.

18:38Speaker 3

Move for an honoring and full.

18:44Speaker 5

Woodward? Aye. Workman?

18:45 – 20:04Speaker 2

Aye. I'm pretty sure that I mentioned this one at a previous council meeting, but during the recent storms we had with the high winds when this building and most of the city lost electricity, we began to really take an inventory of which offices and what computers and what equipment still had electric once this happened. building generator came on. And what we found is it's minimal. So for example, this room that could be used to be a command post during an emergency event is not powered by our current generator. Also, they found some issues with our generator that, quite honestly, it didn't come on the first time the electricity went off. So because of that, we immediately went to work to see what we could do to make sure that this building was functional if we lost electricity in the city of Ashland. And after doing so, we're bringing to you a proposal for $54,783 to purchase a caterpillar, municipal building generator and this will completely replace what we have at the moment and this one would power the whole building. So the entire building and all the offices could be used in the event of a power outage. So we think this is kind of a necessity.

20:07Speaker 6

Any questions, comments, concerns? All right. Is there a motion to approve on the first reading? So moved.

20:18Speaker 5

Woodward? Aye. Workman? Aye. Kyle?

20:21Speaker 6

Aye. Again, I'll move to suspend the rules for three separate readings, three separate days. Second. Thank you.

20:26Speaker 5

Woodward? Aye. Workman? Aye. Kyle? Aye. Miller?

20:30Speaker 6

Aye. Motion to approve the ordinance.

20:33Speaker 6

Second. Thank you.

20:35Speaker 5

Workman? Aye. Kyle? Aye. Miller? Aye. Woodward? Aye. Ordinance 28-26.

20:42Speaker 2

Thank you. Certainly.

20:44 – 23:35Speaker 6

Yeah, thank you, Mayor. And the third ordinance we have will be the one we discussed during executive session that we'll now take action on. This will have to be read in full since it was just received. So bear with me here. I'll begin the reading as an ordinance authorizing certain land belonging to the City of Ashland, Ohio to be sold through the Community Improvement Corporation and declaring an emergency. Whereas the city of Ashland is the owner of certain land being approximately five acres of vacant wooded land in the Ashland Business Park located on the east side of Ford Drive across from Foundations Community Child Care Facility. And whereas it is the determination of this council that said property is not essential for municipal use of said city of Ashland but is suitable for uses that will promote the welfare of the people of the city of Ashland. stabilize the economy, provide employment, and assist in the development of industrial, commercial, distribution, and research activities for the benefit of the people of the city of Ashley, and will provide additional opportunities for gainful employment. And whereas this council has previously enacted ordinance 67-99, authorizing the sale by the Community Improvement Corporation of such lands determined not essential for municipal use. and whereas this council desires that the mayor negotiate for the sale and undertake to sell that land, being approximately five acres of vacant land located on the east side of Ford Drive, across from Foundation Community Child Care Facility, be it ordained by the Council of the City of Ashland, Ohio, its members thereto concurring, Section 1, that the mayor, by and through the Community Improvement Corporation, as agent, be and is hereby authorized and directed pursuant to ordinance 67-99 to bargain for, contract, sell and transfer the subject land pursuant to the purchase agreement attached as exhibit A here to which property this council determines to be not essential for municipal use but appropriate for uses as set forth above. Section 2, that in order to enable the implementation of the authorization set forth in Section 1 above, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, property, health, safety, and welfare. And Section 3, that this ordinance shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage by Council in approval pursuant to Section 12 of the Charter of the City of Ashland, Ohio. So ends the reading.

23:36 – 26:43Speaker 2

All right. This particular item that we bring to the council tonight deals with the industrial park. And we have been working with a prospective business on the acquisition of five acres of land in the industrial park on Ford Drive. Now, if you're not familiar with where Ford Drive is, if you know where our new community child care center is, that's on Ford Drive. and there's a woods right across the street that the city owns we've shown it to a number of prospects over the years but because it is a wooded lot usually it's not the one that people jump on because they want something that's already cleared and ready to go but in this particular instance we do have a new business that would like to construct a ten thousand square foot office space there and uh... it's a growing business you may or you may not have heard of the dorm dudes The Dorm Dudes was actually started by a college student at Ashen University. And before he graduated from the university, he actually began a business in his dorm room of selling sports memorabilia and other sports-related paraphernalia equipment and projects. Well, it took off because today, of course, with the internet and TikTok, you can have a worldwide auction at any given moment. And through that, he eventually took over several other empty dorm rooms in the university building that I'm not even sure that the university knew at first it was going on. Well, now he has graduated, and last year his company had over $16 million in revenue. He has 25 employees. He's looking to add eight additional in the new facility right off the bat. And incidentally, he would hope to build this new building within the next several months because they need their current lease is going to expire, so they need some place to relocate right away so that the sales can continue. He actually, at any given time, has probably about three to five college interns, and it certainly looks like the company has a very, very bright future. They sell all types of sports items, everything from helmets to jerseys to golf clubs to tennis shoes. You name it, if it's related to sports, chances are there's a market for it around the world. and because of the Internet, they are able to generate a worldwide audience. And so it is quite a company, and in a day and age when we are working hard to create unique job opportunities for our own young people so that when they graduate and go off to college, they'll be able to come back and find a job in their chosen field, it makes sense to move forward with this transaction. Now, the price that we are offering the land... to him for is $50,000, so $10,000 an acre. And we hope that you will move forward with the transaction tonight. As soon as you approve it, if you choose to approve it, his team will immediately start to clear the land. They're worried about the time that it might take to do that. So that's why there's the urgency to get started. Very good. Any further discussion?

26:45Speaker 6

Hearing none, is there a motion to approve on the first reading? So moved.

26:50Speaker 5

Workman? Aye. Kyle? Aye. Miller? Aye. Woodward? Aye.

26:55Speaker 6

I'll move to suspend the, excuse me. What's the verbiage? Forgive me. Suspend the rules.

27:05Speaker 3

Suspend the rules. Two different reasons.

27:07Speaker 6

Yes, I see that on TV every night when I watch Congress in session, and I drew a blank. Move to suspend the rules for three separate readings, three separate days.

27:17Speaker 5

Kyle. Aye. Miller. Aye. Woodward. Aye. Workman.

27:21Speaker 3

Motion to approve the ordinance.

27:23Speaker 6

Second. Thank you.

27:26Speaker 5

Miller? Aye. Woodward? Aye. Workman? Aye. Kyle? Aye.

27:29Speaker 6

I just want to, oh, go ahead.

27:31Speaker 5

Go ahead. No. Ordinance 2928.

27:33 – 27:46Speaker 6

Thank you. I just want to commend this young man for his entrepreneurial spirit. What a success story right here in Ashland, Ohio.

27:47Speaker 2

He said that they are now the top golf equipment retailer in the country.

27:54 – 28:41Speaker 2

I actually visited their current location, and they just have racks of golf clubs, football helmets that are signed by every athlete you can imagine piled over here, jerseys that are signed by every athlete lining the walls, and it's just constant, day or night. I actually, when I visited, I was there around 530 on a Friday night, and I was dropping off a contract to him to consider, and he... there's a bunch of other employees in there. And I said, so are you guys about ready to wrap up? Oh no, we just got here. We're the group that stays until 1 a.m. Because with online auctions worldwide, the sun may be down here, but it doesn't mean that it is down on the other side of the globe. So it's quite an operation they have. It's pretty impressive.

28:44 – 30:25Speaker 6

All right, then, moving to Item C, which was a late addition as well to the agenda that will need to be read in full. This will be an ordinance amending Ordinance 11-26 and declaring an emergency. This is whereas the Council has previously authorized in Ordinance 11-26 the purchase of the City of Ashland of the real... The purchase by the City of Ashland of the real property known as 416 Arthur Street, Ashland, Ohio, 44805, whereas Council desires to amend said authorization to set forth herein and now therefore be it ordained by the Council of the City of Ashland, State of Ohio, its members thereto concurring, Section 1. that the Council of the City of Ashland does amend Ordinance 11-26 to authorize a purchase price of $85,220.66 plus all reasonable customary and customary closing costs. The Mayor otherwise remains authorized to take all action and execute all documentation in furtherance of closing on the purchase of the subject property. In section three, that in order to enable the implementation of the authorization set forth in section one above, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, property, health, safety, and welfare. Section four, that this ordinance shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage by council and approval pursuant to section 12 of the Charter of the City of Ashland, Ohio. So ends the reading.

30:27 – 31:10Speaker 2

Okay, this particular ordinance is required to amend our original decision to pay $65,000 for the Arthur Street School property. We are trying to settle the debt that's on that property. We're working with the Ashton County Land Bank, and the Ashton County Land Bank had previously agreed to pay half of the 65, and they have also now agreed to pay half of the 85. Basically, when we went for the closing, it was discovered that there were some unsettled debts with the bank, fees and otherwise, and so after negotiation with the current property owner, we concluded that it was still advantageous for the city to have ownership of the building so we can get started with the cleanup, and that's why this amendment is necessary.

31:11Speaker 6

Very good. Any questions?

31:14Speaker 2

So in essence, the city's share is $10,000 more than we originally expected.

31:18Speaker 6

All right. All right. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve on the first reading?

31:25Speaker 6

Second. Thank you.

31:27Speaker 5

Woodward? Aye. Workman? Aye. Kayo? Aye. Miller?

31:31Speaker 6

Aye. I'll move to suspend the rules for three separate readings, three separate days.

31:36Speaker 5

Woodward? Workman? Aye. Kayo? Aye. Miller?

31:39Speaker 5

Woodward? Aye.

31:41Speaker 6

Motion to approve the ordinance? So moved. Second. Thank you.

31:44Speaker 5

Kyle? Aye. Miller? Aye. Woodward? Aye. Workman? Aye. Ordinance 30-26.

31:51 – 32:18Speaker 6

All right. We have no resolutions this evening, no public hearing items, no old business, but we do have some new business. We have a couple advertising permits for OmniFiber. We have one with the name of William Miller. And again, these are both for OmniFiber.

32:19Speaker 2

Two separate salespeople for OmniFiber.

32:23 – 33:01Speaker 6

With two separate permit requests. Yes. And there's, this is a copy of their handout, I assume? Yes. Okay. My understanding with regard to permits is that you can go door to door, assuming there's no soliciting signs, without a permit, but you can't hand anything out or leave anything without a permit. And these people have done that, so that's good. First permit we'll act on will be the one for William Miller. Terry, if you'll take a roll call vote.

33:02Speaker 5

I'm sorry? I'd like to have a motion.

33:06Speaker 3

Move to approve William Miller's Omni-Fiber Advertising Permit.

33:12Speaker 6

I'll second.

33:15Speaker 5

Workman? Aye. Kayo?

33:16Speaker 5

Miller? Aye. Woodward? Aye.

33:19Speaker 6

And then the same for Tyler Donnelly. Is there such a motion? So moved. I'll second.

33:29Speaker 5

Woodward? Aye. Workman?

33:31Speaker 6

Aye. All right, so we can all anticipate a knock on the door from OmniFiber.

33:38Speaker 2

Well, and I guess we shouldn't be surprised because they've spent a lot of time tearing up lawns and installing their new fiber. So now they need customers.

33:48Speaker 6

Very good. All right, that concludes our new business. Moving then right to council comments.

33:53Speaker 5

Mrs. Woodward, would you like to go first?

33:55 – 34:16Speaker 4

This is a question for the mayor. I know we spoke on this a while back about the new meters that are being placed in. Somebody today asked me, they were told they needed to move something on their property for that meter to be replaced. And I know that you had called. Can you remind us what they told you?

34:16 – 35:36Speaker 2

The last time that I reported on this, this is Ohio Edison and First Energy. They are changing out the old meters to a style that can be read without having to visit anyone. or get out and send someone to the meter. And it's their project. The city's not playing any role in it. However, people were getting notices that something needed to be fixed on their meter, their current meter before this change could be made and some property owners were going out and hiring their own contractor to make those fixes. That is not needed. If there's a fix needed on your meter or you get a notice that they have to come back because your meter needs fixed in some way or repaired in some way, they are solely responsible for that and they will send their contractor back to fix it. So just be patient if you get that notice. In the instance that you're probably talking about, I bet it's related to they are not allowed to go through a gate. So, for example, if I've got a fence around my backyard and my meter is on the backside of my house, Their company rule is they cannot open the gate to go through to your meter without your permission or you being there to open the gate for them or making arrangements.

35:36Speaker 4

Well, that makes sense because they said she either had to move the fence or move the meter.

35:40Speaker 2

Yes, and that's the reason. Okay. And so I even got that call.

35:45 – 36:13Speaker 2

And I don't even have a fence. I just had something propped up, a piece of plywood sitting. Okay. the path to the meter and I got a call that I needed to move it and which yours was pretty easy but she will probably have to move one of the other yes well I mean I don't know her situation so it looks like it yeah I would guess if it's an access issue if she just made arrangements with them to access it

36:14Speaker 4

Well, I think it's because the fence post is literally right on top of the meter. Oh, yeah. I think there is.

36:19Speaker 2

She'll have to work with it.

36:21Speaker 4

All right. But thank you for asking. Yes.

36:23Speaker 2

Because a lot of people are getting that call about they need to open their gate.

36:27Speaker 4

Well, and it's a reminder, too, that if you don't switch it, you will be charged a monthly fee to keep your old meter. So you don't have to switch it, correct?

36:35Speaker 2

You're right.

36:36Speaker 4

Yes. You can keep your old meter, but there will be a charge every month to keep that old meter. So it's their way of probably encouraging people to change.

36:44 – 36:58Speaker 2

And just to be clear, we have discussed this at our meeting to help answer some of the questions residents might have. It is not the city's project. We are not the rulemaker, and we are not the one that's hiring a contractor to change your meter.

36:59Speaker 4

Yes, I appreciate the mayor making the phone call to First Energy or Ohio Edison just to find out some of those answers. Thanks for inviting me.

37:07Speaker 2

No, I appreciate you bringing it up.

37:09Speaker 6

Mr. Miller? Okay. Mr. Kyle?

37:14 – 37:46Speaker 3

We are one month and two days away from Independence Day. Just a reminder that there are like zero properties in the city of Ashland that are big enough to set off fireworks. So word on the street is, is that the Ashland County Sheriff's Department is not going to tolerate anybody breaking those rules. So just fair warning, I guess. Because it is illegal.

37:48Speaker 6

All right, heard it here first.

37:49Speaker 3

That's right, every year.

37:52Speaker 6

Anything else? No, I'm good. Okay, great. Mayor, I'll turn it over to you.

37:57Speaker 2

Well, of course, I'm requesting that we go back into executive session on a number of different property.

38:02Speaker 6

Before you begin, I do have one question for you. Is the list of paving? We have, and I was going to comment on that.

38:10 – 39:30Speaker 2

Our summer street resurfacing is expected to begin here in the month of August. and that's when we're expecting the contractor to be available to begin our work. It's estimated that we will complete resurfacing on approximately 84 different streets or portions of streets around the city of Ashland. So this will be a very big year, and there will not be any section of town that you visit that at some point won't have road construction going on. The list of streets, we will have that available for you. We certainly have a draft. That's how they decide how much estimate or to provide a contract figure for us sure but we'll get you that list here then right away the one thing I would say once that list is made public as you know it's always subject to change it can always change at the last minute and it's not because we're deciding well we don't want to do that street it's usually because of a utility repair that's coming up or a gas or electric repair that's going to disrupt the pavement and whenever possible we like to not have to go in right after we put down new asphalt and cut into it sometimes water main breaks they come when we aren't desiring them but nonetheless we're hoping to avoid that whenever possible

39:30Speaker 6

What about alleys? Alleys, that was my next thing on my list.

39:35 – 40:18Speaker 2

We have actually already milled this year 34 different alleys. That's an all-time high for the city. So this year we're really putting a focus on alleys. We've already milled them, and we are expecting by the end of this week to begin resurfacing the first alley. These alleys are going to be resurfaced by our own crew here at the City of Ashland. And we're anticipating that once they get started, if they're able to get started this week, that it should take four to six weeks for them to complete all 34 alleys. So a lot of people are anxiously awaiting. In fact, I've got messages from folks thrilled that their alley was being torn up because they know that new asphalt is on the way. So that's great.

40:19Speaker 6

Do you have a list? No, no.

40:22 – 41:00Speaker 2

I don't have a list of that. And I don't know that, I guess all of them probably do have a name. I don't know if they all have a name or not. Probably. But, yeah, I'm sure we can get you one because they've all been milled. The traffic signal upgrade project at U.S. 42 and Mifflin Avenue, that, of course, is by our new fire station. We're getting a new modern traffic signal at that location, also doing some work with the lanes to make it more convenient for not only the fire department, but for motorists that are going in and through that intersection. That work should start this week. So that will impact you, certainly, in your award.

41:01 – 41:29Speaker 2

Also, we signed our contract with Simonson Construction to construct our brand new public transit building. So immediately they go to work with the first phase, which is the design phase. We already had a pretty clear idea of what we were hoping to have constructed, so we don't expect that phase to take long. So hopefully here before you know it, we're actually seeing construction equipment over on the corner of Union and 3rd. where the new building will be located.

41:29Speaker 4

That's a busy area.

41:30 – 42:27Speaker 2

It's a very busy area. And then finally, before I ask that we go into executive session, I would just remind everyone that if you are a veteran or you know a veteran, please encourage them to participate in our new Freedom Monument dedication ceremony that will take place on July 4th at 2 p.m. in the afternoon. I believe at this point we have almost 100 veterans have registered, so that means we still need at least 150 more. And I will tell you that some of the parts and components for the new monument, it's all made of granite, and it will be pretty impressive, have started to arrive, and it's even better in real life than what we thought. In fact, our friends at Ashland Monument are storing some of the major pieces to it, and they had me over to take a look, and they said, wow, this is going to be grand. It will be unlike any monument in Ashland County and probably even in the surrounding area. So I hope the veterans will want to be a part of it because it will be making history

42:29 – 44:40Speaker 2

Where do the veterans go to register? Great question. You can visit the City of Ashland website or our Facebook page or you can call the mayor's office. And the only reason we need you to register is we want your name, we want your military branch, and we want a contact phone number or email, phone number and email. And the reason is because we will give you special instructions for the day of the dedication. Because let's face it, it's still going to be a construction area. Now they are moving quickly over there in the Pump House District. The grass is actually growing on the field we will stand. And it's getting greener every day. And the buildings are starting to get their final exterior covering on, if you haven't noticed. Siding is going up on the building. So they've still got a month, and if the weather cooperates, It's going to look a lot more polished than what you might think. But we need to be able to reach the veterans so that we can, number one, let you know where your special parking will be because that will no doubt be a challenge that day. Number two, know exactly who's going to be there because we are planning to provide, what would I say? Well, they're hats. Hats to coordinate safety. where you stand you're going to be standing in formation if you participate and it'll be quite a spectacle we plan to have a giant screen and drones in the area so they'll be able to cast the image up on the screen and of course they'll be plenty of photos taken but the monument itself features six pillars one for each of the military branches these pillars are approximately two hundred inches tall i believe made of granite today i was told that each pillar ends up being Two tons, I think, in weight. Two or four tons. It's incredible. And they are in the shape of the Washington Monument. And so they're quite impressive. But we plan to line up our military veterans behind these monuments. And they will be in a special, highly organized formation. And that's why we need you to register, so we can get those instructions to everyone. Thank you.

44:40Speaker 6

We ask please register. Yes. Please be a part of this.

44:44Speaker 2

We're still a month out, but I just think you don't want to miss the opportunity and wish you had.

44:50 – 45:02Speaker 6

All right. Thank you, Mayor. We'll move right to 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, and what ward you live in.

45:03 – 45:58Speaker 1

I'm Patty Hart, and I live in Artesian Lake, so I'm not in a ward. I'm out in the county. But I walk in town, and I would like to talk about the disrepair of sidewalks in Ashland. I sent you a letter. I also played pickleball with Mike Mowry the other day. He was unlucky because I had lots of questions for him. He told me that... the city doesn't have any money to repair the sidewalks and that they won't repair them and assess property owners for those. And I was just curious, we have money to tear down buildings and fix roads, but I guess not sidewalks. So is the remedy that we just walk in the street and people just will have to go around us or what's the plan for that? sidewalks that are pretty dangerous to walk on.

45:59 – 47:33Speaker 2

Our current laws in the city of Ashland say a private property owner is responsible for the repair and replacement of their sidewalks. At this point we are not walking around heavy-handed enforcing that in every neighborhood because quite honestly it's a monumental task and we have talked about maybe getting to the point that we try to set aside money where we go in and start fixing sidewalks but the reality is even as we would go that direction won't our community be thrilled when we choose to do this neighborhood sidewalk and not that neighborhood sidewalk so it may sound like it's a simple issue in an inexpensive issue but it is not we have entertained the notion of asking maybe the next time our levy is up for our streets resurfacing maybe including language that would allow us to use some of those funds for sidewalk repairs but it is no small task if you're not aware the last time the city tried to enforce that ordinance nearly everyone was run out of town because some people don't even have a sidewalk in front of their house so those folks now do we make them put in a sidewalk And do we put it in for them and then put it on their tax bill? Or do we ignore that neighborhood and we go to the one that has the worst existing sidewalks? It is no small task to take on the sidewalk issue. It doesn't mean we're pushing it aside because we know more and more people are walking and using these e-bikes and these scooters and these motorized carts, but it is not something that is gonna be solved overnight.

47:34Speaker 1

So just walk in the street when the, and cars will just have to pass. And you'll just read on Ashley Chatter that people aren't responsible.

47:43 – 47:54Speaker 6

I guess I would recommend watching your step. Watch your step as you go. Yes, yes, that's better than falling, for sure.

47:54 – 48:05Speaker 1

Well, I agree it's better than falling, but people are coming the other way, and then you run into them, so that's not really a good answer either, so I guess we'll just walk in the street.

48:05 – 49:09Speaker 2

No, but it's also, I will tell you, and I don't normally step into saying such a thing, but I'll tell you, if you are a resident in the city of Ashland, and if you live in the city of Ashland, and you have your own sidewalk maintained, I think that gives you a position to come and tell everyone else in the city of Ashland they need to fix their sidewalks. For someone that does not live here and does not live with the burden, you've invested a lot and your family has invested a lot in our community, but it's interesting that someone from outside of the county who does not live with the requirement of having to pay for a $8,000 sidewalk in front of their house comes in and insists that the people who live here do have to pay for one. Because I'll be honest with you, there are many homes in this community where an $8,000 bill is huge. So are you interested in going to tell them you gotta get it fixed up because someone from the county wants to come in and walk down your street?

49:09 – 49:23Speaker 1

Well I walk with people that actually live in the city too. But for me to walk out on 995, it's a little scary when people are going 55 and 60 miles an hour down the road. So that's why I come in and walk in town.

49:23 – 49:39Speaker 2

I think it's a reason that you see a lot of people walking at Freer Field and around all of our beautiful park system that we have too. But we understand that sidewalk issue. But I'll be honest with you, I couldn't be more honest with what I'm saying. It's not an easy issue to address.

49:40Speaker 6

I wouldn't recommend walking in the street. That's an accident waiting to happen right there.

49:45 – 50:15Speaker 1

Well, okay, but walking on some of the sidewalks is an accident waiting to happen too. So I guess you just have to decide which is safest. And then I do have one other question. What determines whether you have to get a license plate or license for which particular electric, you know, for a scooter or for electric bike or for a moped? I mean, what determines that?

50:16Speaker 2

And I do not know the answer to that question. We'd have to ask the police department.

50:20Speaker 1

And can you ride a golf cart into town? And can you ride a four-wheeler into town? I mean, are there any rules to what you can ride?

50:29Speaker 2

There are rules, but I can't recite them off the top of my head.

50:35 – 50:49Speaker 2

We've talked about those before here, and I do know, I believe at one point, the city police put up a Facebook post with information about those items that you mentioned, but I don't know all of them to quote them off the top of my head.

50:49Speaker 1

Somebody was riding a scooter down Main Street today on the sidewalk like a maniac, but there's nobody to enforce it, I guess, so that's...

50:58Speaker 2

Well, that's not true. There are people that are here to enforce it, and they do when they see it. But you're right. They're not everywhere all the time. Yes.

51:07Speaker 1

Okay. Okay. Thank you.

51:10 – 51:29Speaker 6

Anyone else? Feel free to step up and address council. Okay. Seeing none then, is there a motion to move back into executive session where no action will be taken? This will be for the dispensation of real estate as well. So moved.

51:30Speaker 6

Thank you. Aye. Aye. Aye.

51:37Speaker 6

We are adjourned to executive session. No action will be taken, but we want to thank you all for coming.

This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.