City Council - Regular Meeting

Uh huh.

It's 7 o'clock, it's time to call our meeting to order. Amy, please call the roll.

Mr. Neely?

Here.

Ms. Newman? Here. Mr. Barker?

Here.

Ms. Blyne? Present. Mr. Chute?

Present.

Mr. Cos?

Here.

Ms. Zingold? Here. Mr. Libutis? Here. Mr. Lumley? Here. Mr. Marmy?

Present. Everyone's present tonight. Would you like to stand for the invocation by Ms. Angle? And then please remain standing for the pledge.

Let us pause for a moment of reflection, please. We gather today in gratitude for the opportunity to serve, for the fellowship we share, for the community we are called to strengthen. May our time together renew our commitment to service above self. May we listen with open minds, speak with kindness, and act with purpose. Help us recognize the needs around us and respond with generosity, humility, and courage. Bless the relationships formed through our service, the work we do, and the people whose lives may be touched by our efforts. May our fellowship inspire cooperation, our service create lasting good, and our community be better because we choose to care.

Amen.

Ms. White.

All right, good evening. I'd like to welcome Ms. Sophia McClain to the podium, please, to lead us in our pledge. She is a fifth grader from Ben Franklin Elementary. So welcome, Sophia. Welcome to your family. Thank you. You did really good.

Great job. That's up on the agenda's caucus.

Do we have anything tonight that pertains to the agenda? Mr. President, Mr. Barker. Thank you, Mr. President. I need to abstain tonight from 26-48 expedited. Okay, anybody else? All right minutes of the August 17th, 2026 me to have a motion motion motion by Mr. do this 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, by Miss single on favor. Say, aye. All the same side that passed in the 0 appointments or another night reports of standing committees, finance service, capital improvements without objection will be received in file. Next up we have a proclamation from Mayor Hall. Saturday, September 12th, 2026 is Licking County River Roundup Day.

I'd ask you to join me up front here. Kate is our illustrious snowmower coordinator and does a wonderful job. So right around the corner is River Roundup. There are a whole lot of people coming out. we celebrate the 31st annual Licking County River Roundup, where citizens come together to participate in hands-on cleanup of our Licking County waterways. Over the years, this extremely effective roundup has gained great momentum. Last year alone, volunteers and local leaders pulled 174 tires, 1,321 pounds of scrap metal, and 8,610 pounds of trash out of our Licking County waterways and surrounding riverbanks. In collaboration with the Licking County River Roundup event, the City of Newark encourages everyone in our community, from families and organizations, to public officials and senior citizens, to work together to help keep our waterways clean and preserve our natural resources. Now, therefore, I, Jeff Hall, Mayor of the Great City of Newark, hereby proclaim Saturday, September 12, 2026, as Licking County River Roundup.

walk-ins at that location. And we have a big group there. We go north to Manning Street and down to Ohio Street. We actually have seven locations in the north this year, which is three more than last year. And if you do show up to help volunteer this year, you can be signed up to win a kayak. And also, we have an after-party celebration this year at Infirmary Mount Park on So if you do the cleanup, you can then come to the post-celebration party, enter to win the kayak, and get some free ice cream. But it's also open to the public to celebrate our rivers here in Lincoln County and how we all come together to help keep them clean.

And we have sites all around the whole county, too. I mean, it kind of started in Newark and from one site up to outside, which is pretty

Yeah, yeah, well, we're not gonna turn you down, but it's always a fun time. Uh, we provide gloves and grappers, buckets, trash bags. Snacks, um, and then, yeah, so just show up 830 and you're done, right?

So, yeah, it's just a morning Saturday.

Next up is Ryan Bob City author operating report for the period ending August 31st, 2026 Brandon Fox water administrator list of properties being sent to the county property tax lien for past due water sewer and storm water bills totaling 9277 dollars and 85 cents. Next up is communications chance passing parks and cemetery superintendent. The city of North will be hosting the 3rd fall new festival Derby on Saturday, September 12 at T. J. Evans part. There's not a time on there.

So I don't know what what time that starts.

Next is the Ohio Division of Liquor Control New Liquor Permit for Anglefield Oil 2249 Cherry Valley Road, Newark, Ohio. Next up is Comments for Citizens. This is your opportunity to come up and speak. I ask you for your name and address. Keep your comments about three minutes, sir. Come on up in the back.

2727 Garfield Avenue, Newark, Ohio. I'm here to present a case involving criminality in the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department. I believe there are more than one involved in authority duties to stop the corruption. I am presenting to you the paperwork today. I don't remember any of you campaigning and telling us you were going to allow cameras and light poles and hidden places. Now you've snuck this system in and it violates the Constitution of America. I am asking for an independent audit of the sheriff's camera system from 9, 19, 2024 to 995. 2025 of all my vehicles being surveyed also from 95 to 2025.

To 9, 8, 2026, all the.

I have more paperwork that won't be submitted today, but later on more issues. This started with case number 2024 dot 0, 0, 2, 8, 9, 5, 8. over a camcorder of a deputy video L-C-S-O 24-28958 number 57BW 1-2. Watch the videos because of this. People in Lincoln County Sheriff's have tracked me like a dog.

I'm an American citizen, not a terrorist. Also, watch the videos L-C-S-O 25-36765

The videos are two of my statements recorded by two different deputies in the middle of the night and three videos of what went on at Pizza Cottage across the street at a pub.

to report says it happened in front of Buckeye Lake Fire Department.

Why did the deputies and witnesses flee the scene three miles down the road to get a report? I know why. They tried to set me up that day, but it backfired. I want City Council to approve the funding of an independent auditor to go into all surveillance cameras that have to do with the two cases, numbers of the sheriffs that I have submitted here today. Also, also from 9525 to 9826, they still have written up against me. Number one, a first degree misdemeanor called hit and skip. Number two, a first degree misdemeanor assault I have been violated there's the paperwork and there's you guys just copies. Who do I hand it to? And to the mayor, have a good day. Thank you.

Anybody else like to speak at this time? Come on up to the county.

Is that is that your address?

Okay. Because the last meeting you said you lived in district. Oh, wait a minute. And I just want to make sure I made a mistake on that.

Okay. I was thinking, um, um, fiber station. Oh, that's fine. And, um, it turned out well, it is okay.

That's fine.

Um, and I spend a lot of time. Yeah. Um, so anyway, I wanted to just say that I'm feeling really strongly that buying the equipment for the cleanup of the river is an excellent idea. I think it's going to save a lot of time. I think it's going to. Promote more safety. And that's kind of nice. I didn't want to ask in terms because some of my neighbors like to go fishing. Is there going to be a fee for the Evans Park? You mean, for Saturday, I don't like to pass on the result.

I can't answer that. Probably registration begins at 730. it's free. There's no pre registration or fishing permit required for the fishing. It's for the use for the use for the use.

Thank you. All right.

Anybody else like to speak at this time? Come on up, sir.

Joe Baseman, 369 Myrtle Avenue. In 2003, the city asked for and passed a safety levy. It promised 110 members at the fire department along the six firehouses. The mayor at the time was able to do away with the 19 minimum staffing even as run numbers increased. Equipment continued to deteriorate and no plan was put in place for replacement. Staffing has been dropped multiple times to fund things like roundabouts and parking Now it's closed and council is talking about selling. We currently have 78 members with call volume of 13,000 a year.

That's one call every 33 minutes for 24 hours. More work, more injuries. They budgeted for 83 members this year, which means that money is already there and waiting. We are on track to spend over $900,000 on overtime this year.

they were currently on.

But instead, Newark Township had to rely on Newton Township and he. Producing staffing puts our community and our neighboring communities at risk.

This does not make us better. This is not the opportunity we want. Let's get that engine back open, guys.

Thank you. Anybody else like to speak? Hold on a sec.

Paul, we're at 419. Okay, why do we have school zone lights? Why do we have school zones? Nobody lights by them. They go past my house, they just ignore it, even the buses. Everybody, they just ignore it. We got kids in that area. They go to Ben Franklin School. And not just Ben Franklin, I see it over where my grandkids go, over by Legend. I see it by Cherry Valley. You know, it does not think. We got those signs up for a reason. Let's use them. Let's enforce them. Again, we've got four-wheelers, side-by-sides, electric bikes flying up and down 2nd Street. We need to get that taken care of. And it ain't just 2nd Street. I'm around Newark a lot. I've seen it everywhere. It needs to be taken care of. And then Mr. Marby thought, and I respect his decision, but what I don't respect is some homeowners getting by with not paying for them, and others having to pay for them. Like over on Granville Road, on the west side of 21st Street, up to Sheriff Valley That's what I want now. Because if they don't have pay for it, we shouldn't have pay for it. Because Mr. Markey himself said, even up in his area, there's houses that don't have curbs and sidewalks. And the reason why, because they have to pay to have it done. So, North just won't be treated fair unless it be treated fair. That's all I have. Thank you.

Anybody else at this time? Okay, next on the agenda, ordinance on the second reading.

I thought there'd be a couple more people. uh first i'd like to say that river roundup it's that was beautiful and i'd like to say that water conservation is really near and dear to my heart so i'll probably uh join in on that uh and this is oh my name is christopher bryce one number four zero three sharing dollar red but uh uh last few weeks i've been down to curbsville uh rooseville um athens county going to change all work and come sandbags i would have loved to have been here to continue my my concerns about the flock camera safety program that we have here in Newark, Ohio. But I would like to say before I speak on that, I wanted to say for the record that I wanted to say thank you to Beth and Newark in particular as far as Lincoln County. I think we approximately moved over 110 metric tons of supplies down to And everything from building supplies, cleaning supplies, food, water, diapers, all that stuff. That came from Lincoln County. I just wanted to say, you know, for the record that, you know, I'm just so thankful for this county and the people here. I love this place. And I love all you guys. And I can tell that you're all highly intelligent people and you care about this community. So I'll continue on about my... Concerns with block is I've been coming here trying to speak my concerns just to kind of warm you up. Let you know the next steps as they come, you know, so that you're prepared, you know, and I keep trying to reiterate that it's a non adversarial because I believe that this is a proper channel to affect the change. But, uh. So since I was last here, Los Angeles County completely did away with her flux. Cleveland's paused it, Columbus has paused it, Texas has completely done away with allowing state funds to be issued for flock. Knoxville's You know, just to our, and I was hoping, you know, since this is the seat of the county, that we would move quickly, you know, out of an abundance of leadership, you know, for the rest of the cities and buildings. So far, research has shown that we have over 154 flock cameras, just in Lincoln County. I don't know if you guys can quantify that, but that is an alarming amount of numbers considering anywhere you go, you are being tracked. And the decision of the Supreme Court that speaks to an expectation of privacy, in that written decision, four of the justices spoke on the dragnet of mass surveillance and how that had to be revisited when the time came. And that time is now, and it will happen. But I want you all to start to try to quantify and to prepare yourselves to do the right thing before you're ordered to. And to do the right thing as your constituents. You know it. I go to three or four pastoral lunches and brunches and I meet hundreds of Christian leaders all over Lincoln County like every week. Every single meeting I have, this comes up, this takes a large amount of my time. That's why I came here a month and a half ago. So I wanted you all to understand that. The conservative constituency is 100% against this. There is a small element of people who are elderly, who don't have the means to protect themselves, don't feel, you know, most important. We need this in place. Children go missing and things of that nature. It's completely understandable. And I would not want for these to go away and for a child to go missing and this useful tool to not be in place and then all of a sudden everybody, Charm, see? It's all your fault. And it will break my heart if that happens. But I also don't want to die and there to be an onion of layers that we can't peel back. You know, in the madness and the adrenaline earlier, you know, the systems that are going in the light poles, those are already going up in 82 counties. That's, you know, that's huge how fast those have been introduced considering FLOC was introduced 10 years ago. So I do want you to take this seriously because I'm about to release people are paying attention to us and we're going to start sending you emails and start getting people down here and if you have and I also want you to understand this is bipartisan so there are a lot about 30 seconds and that's another thing you know I'm a problem solver So, we can quantify what we're doing anyway, I won't keep you anymore. And I just wanted to say, thank you Lincoln County. I love you and I have a special message from Perry County and Roseville and Crooksville. Thank you. They love you and appreciate all of your donations and your time.

Anybody else? All right ordinance on the 2nd reading there are none this meeting. Ordinance on the 1st, reading there are none this meeting resolutions on the 2nd, reading 2426 dash 44, number 26 dash 44 by Mr Barker.

Mr. Cost, Mr. Marmy, this blind single is Newman. Mr. the resolution approving and ratifying an updated solid waste management plan.

For the reading of 26 dash 44 is your wish. Mr. President Mr. Parker famous present. I'd like to make a motion to adopt resolution 26 dash 44. Yeah, the motion by Mr. Barker second by miss blind. Do we have any discussion? Amy, please call the roll.

Mr. Neely? Yes. Ms. Newman? Yes. Mr. Parker?

Yes.

Ms. Blyne? Yes. Mr. Chu?

Yes.

Mr. Cost?

Yes.

Ms. Ingold? Yes. Mr. Libutis? Yes. Mr. Lumley?

Yes. Mr. Marmon? Yes. 26-44 passes 10-0. Next up is resolutions on the first reading, 26-45.

Resolution number 26-45 by Mr. Barker, Mr. Costa, Ms. Bly, Mr. Labutis, Ms. Ingle, Mr. Marmy. A resolution authorizing and directing the Director of Public Service of the City of Newark, Ohio, to enter into an 18-month due diligence agreement subject to the appropriation of funds to evaluate property for additional source water.

26-45 will be held to our next meeting September 21st. Next up is 26-46, expedite.

Resolution number 26 dash 46 expedite by Mr. Marmy, Mr. Cost and his ingold. Ms. Newman, Mr. Parker is flying. Mr.

The beautis a resolution appropriating monies for current expenses of the municipal corporation for the reading of 26 dash 46 was your wish as president Mr. Marmy make a motion to waive the 2 day reading rule on resolution 26 dash 46.

2nd, got a motion by Mr. Marmy 2nd by Mr. Parker the way the 2 day reading rule. Please call the roll.

Mr. Neely. Yes, Ms Newman.

Yes, Mr. yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, Amy, Mr. Neely? Yes.

Mr. Newman? Yes. Mr. Parker?

Yes.

Ms. Blyne? Yes. Mr. Chu? Yes. Mr. Koss?

Yes.

Ms. Ingold? Yes. Mr. Libutis? Yes. Mr. Lumley? Yes. Mr. Marmy?

Yes. 26-46 passes, 10-0. Next up is 26-47.

Resolution number 26-47 by Mr. Marmy, Mr. Koss, Mr. Barker, Ms. Blyne, Mr. Libutis, Ms. Ingold. A resolution appropriating monies for current expenses of the municipal corporation.

26 dash 47 be held to our next meeting September 21st and our last 1 that is 26 dash 48 resolution number 26 dash 48 by Mr. to Mr. cost is blind.

Mr. single Mr. a resolution appropriating monies for current expenses of the municipal corporation for the reading of 26 dash 48. what is your wish?

Mr. President.

President, I'd like to make a motion to waive the 2 day renewal for 26.

Motion by Mr. shoot. Do I have a 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, by Mr. Amy, please call the roll.

Mr. Neely. Yes. Yes. Mr. Parker. This blind. Yes. Mr. yes. Mr. cost. Yes. Yes. Yes. Mr. yes. Mr. yes. Mr. Mark.

Yes. Today rule has passed 9 0 1 extension. What is your wish?

Mr. President? Yes, I'd like to make a motion to adopt 26 dash 48 expedite.

Motion by Mr. sheet to adopt 2nd, 2nd, by Mr. business discussion. Amy, please call the roll.

Mr. Neely.

Yes.

Ms. Newman. Yes. Mr. Parker abstain. Ms line. Yes. Mr. yes. Mr. cost.

Yes.

Is in gold? Yes. Yes. Mr.

Yes.

Mr.

Yes. 26 that's 40 passes 9 0 1 extension that completes our ordinance and resolution tonight. That's on the agenda is your last opportunity to speak. Do we have anybody that wants to speak?

Um, it's still, um, allowing people to have garage garages full of fireworks, but, um, and I can totally see not having. And I guess I would also like to point out in terms of the gentleman that was speaking on the cameras that a number of places in Ohio have lawsuits around that topic, including Columbus, and schools are starting to take them out because of civil rights violations.

Paul Greer, 419 South 2nd Street. Number one, I want to thank the fire department, police department for the job they do.

But we do need more safety. I'm sure there's a way that the city can find the funds, whether it's selling some city property that's not being used or something like that. to a contractor or something so we can get more money back in so we can get more police officers and more fire department people. And like, okay, three weeks ago, sitting on the porch, I'm told we don't have enough officers to come into our area. We had nine of Now today, set on the porch again, I watch two go to Doherty Circle about 3.30, 4 o'clock. Then just before I come here, I pass two more going to Doherty Circle. If Doherty Circle's a nuisance, let's find out why and shut them down. I mean, that's a quick solution there. Because they're old. Every time you see an officer go by, they're going to Doherty Circle.

Come on up, Mr. Babcock. You got 30 seconds.

I wouldn't even do nothing. Not just not long enough to welcome, you can do faces, Jim Lindley, Molly, and Michelle. I'm Gary. I'm quite shy.

Gary Babcock.

I live on the corner of Philmont and Denver Central. I'm his neighbor. I'm going to hold that against me. A couple things I want to bring to you. He was numero uno. in the graduation. So we lost a heck of a firefighter there. Okay. With that being said, I'd like to address my electric bill. Once I got to the city council, I got a call from the, not a call, I got a memo from the bank said, Hey, Gary, your electric bill went up 73%. Just give me a heads up. So I said, okay. So I got on it and I found that our company's supplier is Dynergy. Never heard of them in my life, and I'm retired from AEP. So I thought I'd better get on the phone and find out what's going on. And you guys can do a rebuttal. I'm gonna stick around, of course. They said the city of Newark opted the public in, and we all got a little card, which looked like a spam card. We all threw it away. Well, maybe y'all didn't if you knew. But you had to fill out this card to opt out. Well, of course, it's like everybody that's wanting to buy my house. You know, I tore it up and threw it away. But they said the city of Newark opted us in. So I'd like for somebody to address that. Because it said we were automatically put into this Dyna-G. And I had to wait on a second bill because after you opt out, it takes two cycles. for it to do. And they kept mentioning an aggregate adjustment. Anytime I've ever seen an aggregate adjustment, it was to come down, not go up. So there's money there. It'll help me out here, Mayor.

Okay, I'll stick around.

So I talked to someone at the state of Ohio. And I also called ADP because like I said, I'm retired ADP. And they said there should have been dates for two public meetings. The public record, we may want to request a public record of the meetings, who was here, who was invited, and so forth. You guys know more about that than I do, but I'd like to learn. And then I was given the Ohio Revised Code 2928.2. And I haven't even read it yet. This just came, this is just hot off the mail while I was sitting here. And to help Tom out a little bit, which it's hard to help Tom out, but anyhow, less than an hour ago in our neighborhood, I've not seen it before, but here come two kids on one of them go-karts, one sitting that far off the ground, and they couldn't have been with 10 or 12-year-old right down the middle of Emerson Street. Down the middle, they followed the yellow line. I don't want any of us to be the person that runs over these kids. And I know the city is getting active or proactive, whatever the word is. We need to start impounding these vehicles. Let these kids walk home and tell mom and dad what happened. We impound them, now they gotta pay the impound fee and all that. Plus, you're losing a lot of money because a lot of these bikes should be licensed if they run over a certain mile an hour. I'm one of them who got a ticket when I was 14. So I think we need to start issuing tickets, doing some in-bounds, and I call and say I'm done. Thank you. Welcome.

Great. Make it quick.

Um, about the name and address please 237 pilot court. Um, I came up with a. An idea that I think can help the city to circulate more information and I'm personally planning on doing part of it. Um, that would help out the police. And that is in part to contact the places that are selling these vehicles and make sure that information is given out with the vehicle at hand. There will be really low cost. We have those materials readily available and an easy solution. I'm personally working on getting them out on billboards at supermarkets. Um, so I have some more thoughts on this and I'm thinking. Um, thank you city officials.

All correct.

Thank you.

Mr. Mayor. Mr. Babcock. No, electric aggregation. So it was discussed in this room several years ago, quite extensively. And it partnered with the county and cities throughout this county to get reduced rates through the county CCAO is what it's called, County Commissioner Association of Ohio. As an opt out program, it was on the ballot. It has to go out to the voters. I can't tell you the year off the top of my head. It was on the ballot because an opt-in means you have to sign up to be in. To be honest with you, those don't work because you set it on the corner of your desk and never do it. So the more subscribed, the cheaper the rates go. So an opt-out is what's preferred, but because it's that way, it has to go to the ballot. And the voters of Newark approve that to be. Doesn't mean everybody voted. It means 51% of the registered voters have voted for it, number one. And that's how it is. Now, a 73%, you're coming off likely a, who knows, two-year guarantee, three-year guarantee. You know, we've had up to in 1 year with a 41% increase I've heard. So that's with rolling increases, but if you're held at a good rate for a lot of years, then all a few years, and it's also going to pop. So, the 73, I get that's a lot, but where is it comparable to. what everything is today. That's what I guess I'm getting at. So, but that was on the ballot. So, we could give you some more information on that a little bit. It didn't pass. If I recall, electric passed and gas didn't, and then gas came back up a year later and did pass, I think. So, you know, but from the very beginning, you can opt out. And, you know, that's why you want to read every piece of your mail, I guess. You know, just being honest. So, with that, I'll pass. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Neely. I'll pass. Thank you. Miss Newman.

Thank you. I just want to say a quick thank you to the Licking Knox Muskegon, Coshocton Labor Council and the AFL-CIO. For the Labor Day parade that was yesterday around the square and for the police for out protecting traffic during that, for everyone who came out, labor plays an important role in our country, in our community. And it was great to get out and celebrate Labor Day with the parade and then a community lunch at the Union Hall on Hudson's 7th Ward. And so just thanks to everybody who was there and helped make that happen. And with that, I'll pass.

Thank you Mr. Parker. Thank you. Mr. President a couple things. I need to call service committee meeting for September 21st. Mr. Babcock as the mayor did say, it was something that was on the ballot. It was actually May 2022 primary ballot where it was on the ballot and gas and electric initially didn't look like it pass. But once it was certified, it did pass from what I looked up. So. So that's the date that went into effect. I get it. Everybody's electric bill has gone up minus 2. I understand the pinch, but yes, that was voted on by the citizens. Um, I want to remind everybody with there's river roundup this weekend, but there's also the light night cruising here on the square that benefits the Christmas lighting of the courthouse that I'm the chairman of. And so looking forward to hopefully no rain that day. I know the rest of this week is not looking great, but hopefully it clears up for Saturday because we normally have. 500 to 600 vehicles around the square and people looking everywhere for parking. So we're hoping for a good Saturday downtown. I also want to thank a few weeks ago back on August 25th on Friday, Metessic Distributing did a first responder salute in downtown and I want to thank them for putting that together as well as they brought the Budweiser Clydesdales, which I think Almost everybody in Lincoln County was out of the testing at some point for 2 public days. So I know we had probably 3 to 4,000 people in downtown businesses. We're loving it. Retail partners of the test. We're loving it. We had a great, great event that night. The mayor spoke and chief and chief massacre were also there as well as. You know, NPD was providing security, there was marketing. I mean, it was a great night in downtown. So I want to thank the Metesic family and all their staff for bringing that and doing that event in downtown. Mr, Sweeney, I think was his name the 1st gentleman spoke. He already left though. If he were here, I would tell him we don't have any oversight over the sheriff's office. His complaint needs to go to the Lincoln county commissioners. He's watching this. So, unfortunately, there's, there's really nothing this council can do to help you on that. We don't have oversight over the sheriff's office. Chris, and I apologize, I didn't get your last name. You know, I, I, I read everything online. I see what some of the stuff you're posting. I, I have had 1 person call me to just didn't understand flock. And once I explained to them what the police department explained to me, and what our contracts laid out, they were fine with it. As far as a bunch of people not being fine with it. I've not gotten a phone call. I don't know anybody else about I can't speak for anybody else up here. Um, right now, I, I trust our policies that the police department put in place to as far as use of that system and also how our contract reads. So, you know, unless there's really nothing anyone on this day is can legislatively do we're in contract. That'd be something the administration would have to handle. So I just wanted to comment on that. Mr. Bruner, I'll tell you again, you're not going to probably like this, but if you see people speeding in the school zone, call the police. Even if it's a school bus, you've got to call the police. And with that, I will pass. Thank you, Ms. Belay.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to thank the street department. They have been incredibly active in the second ward. just filling potholes, answering resident requests, coming out, and they do a lot of work, and I appreciate them. I'd also like to thank the courts in allowing community service. Community service is a great thing. Again, I know I've spoken to it before, but it is just a great opportunity to allow people to pay their fines through community work, without having to lose cash out of their pocket. And so I'm very grateful for the opportunity to volunteer with those folks. And it's just been a great way to get to know people. I really do appreciate that opportunity. Flock cameras. I have gotten a lot of calls and emails and largely against them, which has caused a deep dive into this information and Flock does have several forms that it does use. Freeform, I think most people are concerned about. It will use plain language descriptions. I have their policy in front of me. For example, man in the blue hoodie or dark SUV with a broken tail light and they will track that person through. However, New York's contract is not that open ours. Our contract is very close just to license plates. However, if the people will have continue to have concern, maybe this might be an opportunity to have this ballot to put it on the ballot, let people vote and gain their voice like that. So. This that would be an opportunity the 1st amendment and the 4th amendment to come together. So, all right. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Mr. Thank you. Mr. president. I will pass. Mr. cost. I will pass single.

Thank you. Mr. president. I'll pass.

Mr. I just want to thank our water administrator, Brandon Fox.

Good job to him for an issue in the fourth ward, and he was sending the team out quickly. Now I will pass.

Mr. Limerly?

I will pass.

Mr. Murray?

Thank you, Mr. President. I need to call a Finance Committee meeting for September the 21st. Um, couple items 1st, I'm going to a number of people talks about the fire department. We can't just find the funds. They're not there. The thought of that is just if you look at our finances and where we're at. It just doesn't come out of thin air. It doesn't. Money doesn't grow on trees for the government. The comments about we should not have paid for roundabouts and parking garages. Those funds are completely different funds where those that money came from had nothing to do with anything that could have been utilized for the fire department. Just just comments like that. It's just a lack of understanding. of how our government works and where funding comes from. I believe we do need an audit and we do need to try to determine what is the best fire and EMS system for our city in order to operate efficiently and within our budget. And so then we do eliminate over time and we do have adequate staffing and we place priorities on the items that are really occurring within our city. And so I am all for that. I have asked the fire chief to do that independently on his own, because I felt that it was important that our fire chief have the most input on it because he's the 1 closest to it. I've been asking for it for over 2 years. I have received nothing. So, I really believe that something does need to be done and I am in agreement with some of the comments towards that. Mr. Bruner, I can tell you that out on Horns Hill Road, everybody hides by the school zone lights usually. There may be a few, but it's few and far between. I know that most places that have those school zone lights The majority of people do, there are some folks that are just not paying attention or whatever the situation may be. And I also firmly believe that if our safety forces are in that area and it occurs, they will take care of that and make sure they enforce it. Mr Babcock, I believe that everybody kind of commented on the electric, but 2 public meetings were did were conducted on that. In addition to the ballot issue, all bikes require licenses, not just electric bikes. So those will will happen. Or should be happening and we are getting better and enforcing that as well. Um. The electric bikes and things that are happening, most of them are not purchased around here. I will state that. Not only that, a lot of them are modified. And so it's not something that's easy, but we are doing better at enforcing that. Let's see where else Mr. Sweeney. I just don't even know where to begin. He just, he's just in the wrong place trying to communicate his concerns. Christopher, I will also state that your concerns and you want to bring them here. The Ohio Revised Code Section 731.05, powers of legislative authority, we do not have the authority to take away the FOC systems now from our administrative body. Once we granted them the authority to enter into contract, they entered into contract, it's their contract, their contract to go ahead and enact and enforce and make changes according to their will. Our authority is gone. If we try to overstep that authority, we're in violation of the Ohio Revised Code and we have overstepped our authority to the administrative branch of our government and we cannot do that. In addition, it cannot be a ballot issue because it is an administrative duty what is happening here. To state that some of the flock systems are overstepping the bounds, I would agree with that. To state that Newark should change ours, everybody is modeling to us. We had the best contract. Even Flock is coming out and mirroring exactly the contract that we have to try to state that this is the way that it should be. because we only use it for license plates and a vehicle identity. It is not utilized for any other capacity. I believe we are doing a good job. I believe it has been beneficial in law enforcement and not only deterring but also capturing and making sure that folks are safe. We have utilized it to catch criminals and to track them in order to make sure that our law enforcement has the most effective manner to do that. If it's one of my grandchildren that are abducted, I pray that there's a flock system in place in the state of Ohio to assist our law enforcement so that my grandchild may be spared his life. And I am in full support of the police chief's utilization of it and the manner in which we're doing it. And not only that, the safeguards we have so it's not being abused. Does that mean that it will never be abused? No, but if it is abused, they will more than likely be caught. and they will probably end up terminating their employment at their own will because of that breach. So, I just believe that you picked up your cell phone and brought it out and that tracks you more than what the Fox system does. And you pulled it out of your pocket while you were speaking and everything that you said is captured and it is also If a subpoena is subpoenaed, we can track anything from your cell phone that the government has that authority to do that. And you want to track to have a clock put up here to track you as far as your time. So I just thought that was irony that you don't want to be tracked, but you want your time tracked. So I believe that there are some merits to what you're saying in some communities. I believe that, yes, Columbus did pause there because they had a huge breach that they had to correct. Do I believe that Columbus will keep them shut off? I do not. They called it a pause for a reason. I believe they will be paused. I believe that Newark has done an exceptional job. They've been very efficient and I'm in continued support of how they're being utilized. And with that, Mr. President, I will pass.

Thank you.

Mr. Saturday we got a lot of stuff going on in the county, but no 1 mentioned the big game Saturday night. So guys. And then the only pro football team in Ohio plays on Sunday, go Browns.

And do I have a motion? Motion. Motion.

Mr. LaMousse, all in favor say aye.

Aye.