UPDATED: Vacant property ordinance tabled for another month
Lead Summary
By
Caitlin Forsha-crforsha@gmail.com
Tempers flared at the September meeting of the Hillsboro City Council, as the city administration was confronted on issues regarding the vacant property ordinance as well as the future of the Hillsboro fire department.
Before the start of the council meeting, the property maintenance and restoration committee met to continue discussions on an ordinance to enact Chapter 165 of the Hillsboro Code of Ordinances to provide for registration of vacant commercial buildings. Various property owners attended the meeting to ask for clarification on wording in the vacant property ordinance.
Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings explained that one of the ordinance's primary objectives is to establish a "more aesthetic city" to attract new businesses and promote economic development, to "attract prosperity."
Safety and service director Todd Wilkin added that it is a "safety mechanism" to prevent arson and other dangers.
Robyn Coomer, a local Realtor, spoke on behalf of a client who owns a vacant uptown building. Coomer objected to fees being placed on property owners with unoccupied buildings, as she said that she thinks it should mainly target "the people that are lax in upkeep" of their buildings.
"It's like pornography, these buildings," Hastings said. "You know it when you see it. That seems to be kind of our definition on what a vacant building is. Yours isn't."
Hastings said the legislation is aimed at long-vacant buildings, citing the Parker House and the Gross Feibel building as examples.
"Nothing has happened in the last 10 or 15 or 20 years to ever get anybody to do anything [with these buildings]," Hastings said.
"Jack [Hope] has a restaurant in his building [the Parker House]," Coomer said. "Where do you draw the line as to what is vacant and what's occupied?"
"The Parker House is a separate building from his restaurant building," Hastings said.
"We need more clarification in the legislation, so that some people get what they deserve, and the others that are trying to do their best are not penalized," Coomer said.
Wilkin said that he would work with property owners on one-year plans with milestones that could be re-evaluated as needed.
"At some point, unfortunately, this legislation just has to start in order to move the city forward," Wilkin said.
Coomer criticized portions of the ordinance in which property owners are asked to pay for electricity for exterior lighting and for Knox Boxes, a safe allowing fire departments to retrieve building keys in case of emergency.
"I truly understand the concern for arson in the city," Coomer said. "We don't want anything burning down, but at the same time, again, you're penalizing everybody that applies, period, because it's a vacant building. I don't think it applies to everybody with a vacant building."
Council agreed to revisit the vacant property ordinance next month. Committee chair Bonnie Parr said that a new meeting will be scheduled for further input from citizens.
Council members heard from several citizens, including former Mayor Dick Zink, who addressed council briefly.
"I'd just like to make council aware of something that happened [18 to 25 years ago]," Zink said. "The citizens of Hillsboro were told that if they increased the earnings tax that they would have a life squad and fire department. Now, I understand right now that the move is on to get rid of one, or both, and possibly the police department.
"Now, if there's a problem with the finances, I would much rather see a safety levy put on for people to vote on rather than a 5.5 mill property tax put on my property. I think a lot of other people in Hillsboro would, too. I just want to remind you that when that last earnings tax was voted in, people were told that they would have a life squad in the city of Hillsboro."
Hillsboro resident Richard Stiffler addressed council on a similar topic.
"I have learned here recently that there was a grant that could be obtained to pay for six firefighters for two years at no cost to Hillsboro," Stiffler said. "I wonder if that grant has been sent in, and if not, why not?"
Stiffler asked the administration why they haven't brought back volunteer firefighters and repeatedly urged them to "be honest" and "stop the lies."
"That's called a SAFER [Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response] grant, A, that we could have applied for, we had a choice of applying or not applying; B, there was no assurances that had we applied for this grant we would have gotten this grant; and C, it is completely wrong that there were no costs attached to the city," Hastings said. "Whoever it was … didn't know what they were talking about.
"Had you, instead of coming in here and calling us a liar, just called my office and asked about it, we would have been happy to explain the SAFER grant to you and why we elected not to choose it and why it was not in the best interest of the city, where we're headed and what we're doing."
Wilkin also addressed Stiffler's questions.
"We have been trying for months to get volunteers to come in," Wilkin said. "You accuse us of lying, and I'm going to be very honest with you. The reason why we don't have volunteers is because the fire department says that they're not trained properly."
However, according to Jon D. Harvey, 4th District Vice President of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters, the safety and service director's statement appears to contradict a Dec. 17, 2012 memorandum of understanding signed by representatives for the Hillsboro firefighters and Hastings and legal counsel David Blaugrund on behalf of the city administration.
"We continually work with the fire department," Wilkin said. "I would invite you to give me a call. You've never called me once since I've been in my position.
"I don't mind talking about it out loud in front of the citizens. I don't mind it at all, but to come here in front of the citizens and council and to openly say that we're lying to council, and that we're lying to you, is not fair, Richard. It's absolutely not fair."
"I do believe your whole intention is to go with a fire district," Stiffler said.
"I'm not sure we've ever made a secret of anything else," Hastings said. "You're saying that like you're accusing us."
"I'm not accusing you, because I know it," Stiffler said. "Why? Why destroy what we have already?"
"I think you're hearing one side of the story," Hastings said.
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Council member Bill Alexander encouraged Stiffler, along with all citizens, to be active in any future discussions between the administration and council regarding potential changes to the fire district.
Council members also heard from Hillsboro citizen Jennifer Reed, who had been charged with violating the city's policy on vegetation. She asked council to reconsider these laws in light of "natural landscaping," a system she has adopted to sustain all plants on her property, including weeds. Reed presented council members with websites and information on this landscaping method.
Hastings told Reed that her property was "called in as a nuisance … for high grass and weeds."
"We have possibly a hundred sites like this in town," Hastings said. "I don't know that the other property owners know that they're nature-scaping, that this is a viable alternative, letting the weeds and grass grow.
"I guess my question is, what is the difference between someone who is letting their grass grow four feet tall and their weeds, and not doing anything about it, and you, who's calling it a 'practice' and not doing anything about it?"
"It's part of a process," Reed said. "One of the first steps in nature-scaping is to learn what you have and what native plants you want and what will grow where."
Reed said she has positively identified about 10 species of plants on her property.
Council President Lee Koogler said he would place the matter in the property maintenance and restoration committee to consider adjusting the ordinances on vegetation.
Phyllis Turner asked council about the administration's plans to place city trash services up for bid.
"It's not before council right now," Koogler said.
In his mayor's report, Hastings told Turner that he hopes that a "unified trash collection" will cut down on trash and debris in the city and that no plans are in place yet to get such legislation under way.
• • •
In the mayor's report, Hastings welcomed the newest member to Hillsboro City Council, Tracy Aranyos, as she replaces Mary Brown Turner, who resigned. Aranyos was sworn in as a new council member on Aug. 21, as previously reported by The Highland County Press.
Hastings informed council that "out of the blue," the city received $2 million to reduce the loan principal from the wastewater treatment plant construction. Hastings said that he made "no promises" but hoped that citizens' water and sewer bills could be lowered due to the savings.
Hastings said that he and executive administrative assistant Debbie Sansone met with a representative from the Office of Community Development regarding revolving loans.
"I learned that we can fund, in the form of grants, uptown improvements such as murals and facade enhancement," Hastings said.
Hastings reported that historic timbers and beams were found as part of the framework of the former bus barn during its demolition. He said that the city hopes to use the timber to build a covered bridge.
Hastings said he met with officials with the Bluegrass Pipeline project, and that citizens interested in learning more on this project are welcome to call the mayor's office for more information and updates.
• • •
In the safety and service director's report, Wilkin announced that the city has received a $400,000 CHIP (Community Housing Improvement Program) grant, and that Peg Beekman resigned as the CHIP administrator last week. Wilkin said the city is currently looking at options to fill Beekman's position. Wilkin also added that the city has discovered unused 2008-09 grants/zero-percent loans, which will be used for infrastructure.
Wilkin also discussed plans to change the water meter reading system. A previously discussed plan for a "satellite system" has been ruled not feasible due to the number of hills in the city, but an alternate "drive-by system" could potentially save the city money. The system would involve placing a laptop with this software in a city truck and driving by the home instead of getting out to read meters. Wilkin said this system would mean meter readings could be accomplished in one to one and one half days.
Wilkin concluded his report with an update on the administration and law enforcement's commitment to make the city drug-free.
"I just want all drug dealers and users to be warned: this administration will not tolerate your existence in our beautiful city," Wilkin said. "Consider this your warning, unless you want your name to appear in the paper."
• • •
Council member Brian Waller delivered Daniels' zoning and annexation committee report in his absence. The committee met Aug. 27 to discuss the re-zoning of 241 East Main Street. The committee recommended that council "change the current zoning ordinance to include funeral homes to allow the zoning to represent the current established area and allow businesses to be sold as a funeral home without the fear of allowing other types of businesses to move into the area." Council later passed the ordinance to amend Section 155.036(A) of the Hillsboro Code of Ordinances (Zoning Residence "A" District).
• • •
Council took the following action:
• Council approved the absence of Daniels at the beginning of the meeting due to National Guard duty.
• Council approved and adopted an ordinance to authorize the sale of land no longer needed for public use (the roadside rest on US 50). The property is valued at approximately $30,000.
• Council approved and adopted an ordinance authorizing the safety and service director to collect bids for engineering services to develop plans for the demolition of the old water treatment plant on U.S. 62.
Dick Donley asked if the plan was for a total or partial demolition. Wilkin said that the city plans to tear down just the outdated portion of the building at this time.
• Council approved and adopted a resolution authorizing the safety and service director to purchase wastewater treatment pumps to replace existing pumps that are damaged. Wilkin said the pumps could cost $250,000 to $300,000. Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery said that the resolution would "positively" impact ongoing arbitration between the city and the wastewater treatment plant.
• Council approved the auditor's report, along with a resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.
• Council also voted, at the request of Hastings, to hold a public hearing on a liquor license request for a West Main Street business.
Before the start of the council meeting, the property maintenance and restoration committee met to continue discussions on an ordinance to enact Chapter 165 of the Hillsboro Code of Ordinances to provide for registration of vacant commercial buildings. Various property owners attended the meeting to ask for clarification on wording in the vacant property ordinance.
Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings explained that one of the ordinance's primary objectives is to establish a "more aesthetic city" to attract new businesses and promote economic development, to "attract prosperity."
Safety and service director Todd Wilkin added that it is a "safety mechanism" to prevent arson and other dangers.
Robyn Coomer, a local Realtor, spoke on behalf of a client who owns a vacant uptown building. Coomer objected to fees being placed on property owners with unoccupied buildings, as she said that she thinks it should mainly target "the people that are lax in upkeep" of their buildings.
"It's like pornography, these buildings," Hastings said. "You know it when you see it. That seems to be kind of our definition on what a vacant building is. Yours isn't."
Hastings said the legislation is aimed at long-vacant buildings, citing the Parker House and the Gross Feibel building as examples.
"Nothing has happened in the last 10 or 15 or 20 years to ever get anybody to do anything [with these buildings]," Hastings said.
"Jack [Hope] has a restaurant in his building [the Parker House]," Coomer said. "Where do you draw the line as to what is vacant and what's occupied?"
"The Parker House is a separate building from his restaurant building," Hastings said.
"We need more clarification in the legislation, so that some people get what they deserve, and the others that are trying to do their best are not penalized," Coomer said.
Wilkin said that he would work with property owners on one-year plans with milestones that could be re-evaluated as needed.
"At some point, unfortunately, this legislation just has to start in order to move the city forward," Wilkin said.
Coomer criticized portions of the ordinance in which property owners are asked to pay for electricity for exterior lighting and for Knox Boxes, a safe allowing fire departments to retrieve building keys in case of emergency.
"I truly understand the concern for arson in the city," Coomer said. "We don't want anything burning down, but at the same time, again, you're penalizing everybody that applies, period, because it's a vacant building. I don't think it applies to everybody with a vacant building."
Council agreed to revisit the vacant property ordinance next month. Committee chair Bonnie Parr said that a new meeting will be scheduled for further input from citizens.
Council members heard from several citizens, including former Mayor Dick Zink, who addressed council briefly.
"I'd just like to make council aware of something that happened [18 to 25 years ago]," Zink said. "The citizens of Hillsboro were told that if they increased the earnings tax that they would have a life squad and fire department. Now, I understand right now that the move is on to get rid of one, or both, and possibly the police department.
"Now, if there's a problem with the finances, I would much rather see a safety levy put on for people to vote on rather than a 5.5 mill property tax put on my property. I think a lot of other people in Hillsboro would, too. I just want to remind you that when that last earnings tax was voted in, people were told that they would have a life squad in the city of Hillsboro."
Hillsboro resident Richard Stiffler addressed council on a similar topic.
"I have learned here recently that there was a grant that could be obtained to pay for six firefighters for two years at no cost to Hillsboro," Stiffler said. "I wonder if that grant has been sent in, and if not, why not?"
Stiffler asked the administration why they haven't brought back volunteer firefighters and repeatedly urged them to "be honest" and "stop the lies."
"That's called a SAFER [Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response] grant, A, that we could have applied for, we had a choice of applying or not applying; B, there was no assurances that had we applied for this grant we would have gotten this grant; and C, it is completely wrong that there were no costs attached to the city," Hastings said. "Whoever it was … didn't know what they were talking about.
"Had you, instead of coming in here and calling us a liar, just called my office and asked about it, we would have been happy to explain the SAFER grant to you and why we elected not to choose it and why it was not in the best interest of the city, where we're headed and what we're doing."
Wilkin also addressed Stiffler's questions.
"We have been trying for months to get volunteers to come in," Wilkin said. "You accuse us of lying, and I'm going to be very honest with you. The reason why we don't have volunteers is because the fire department says that they're not trained properly."
However, according to Jon D. Harvey, 4th District Vice President of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters, the safety and service director's statement appears to contradict a Dec. 17, 2012 memorandum of understanding signed by representatives for the Hillsboro firefighters and Hastings and legal counsel David Blaugrund on behalf of the city administration.
In the signed memorandum, The city of Hillsboro shall be permitted to utilize volunteers on a paid per call basis, as long as (the) following transpires:
• The city applies for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant at the first application opportunity in 2013.
• The city shall work with the local and the IAFF to insure the greatest chance at success.
• The number of personnel applied for shall be sufficient enough to staff the department with 12 firefighters and/or fire officers.
"If it was the locals' (firefighters') stance that the volunteers were not qualified, why would the locals sign an MOU agreeing to it?" Harvey asked. "Why did the city make no attempt to implement the MOU they signed?"
Harvey provided a copy of the Dec. 17, 2012 memorandum of understanding to The Highland County Press on Sept. 11.
"We continually work with the fire department," Wilkin said. "I would invite you to give me a call. You've never called me once since I've been in my position.
"I don't mind talking about it out loud in front of the citizens. I don't mind it at all, but to come here in front of the citizens and council and to openly say that we're lying to council, and that we're lying to you, is not fair, Richard. It's absolutely not fair."
"I do believe your whole intention is to go with a fire district," Stiffler said.
"I'm not sure we've ever made a secret of anything else," Hastings said. "You're saying that like you're accusing us."
"I'm not accusing you, because I know it," Stiffler said. "Why? Why destroy what we have already?"
"I think you're hearing one side of the story," Hastings said.
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Council member Bill Alexander encouraged Stiffler, along with all citizens, to be active in any future discussions between the administration and council regarding potential changes to the fire district.
Council members also heard from Hillsboro citizen Jennifer Reed, who had been charged with violating the city's policy on vegetation. She asked council to reconsider these laws in light of "natural landscaping," a system she has adopted to sustain all plants on her property, including weeds. Reed presented council members with websites and information on this landscaping method.
Hastings told Reed that her property was "called in as a nuisance … for high grass and weeds."
"We have possibly a hundred sites like this in town," Hastings said. "I don't know that the other property owners know that they're nature-scaping, that this is a viable alternative, letting the weeds and grass grow.
"I guess my question is, what is the difference between someone who is letting their grass grow four feet tall and their weeds, and not doing anything about it, and you, who's calling it a 'practice' and not doing anything about it?"
"It's part of a process," Reed said. "One of the first steps in nature-scaping is to learn what you have and what native plants you want and what will grow where."
Reed said she has positively identified about 10 species of plants on her property.
Council President Lee Koogler said he would place the matter in the property maintenance and restoration committee to consider adjusting the ordinances on vegetation.
Phyllis Turner asked council about the administration's plans to place city trash services up for bid.
"It's not before council right now," Koogler said.
In his mayor's report, Hastings told Turner that he hopes that a "unified trash collection" will cut down on trash and debris in the city and that no plans are in place yet to get such legislation under way.
• • •
In the mayor's report, Hastings welcomed the newest member to Hillsboro City Council, Tracy Aranyos, as she replaces Mary Brown Turner, who resigned. Aranyos was sworn in as a new council member on Aug. 21, as previously reported by The Highland County Press.
Hastings informed council that "out of the blue," the city received $2 million to reduce the loan principal from the wastewater treatment plant construction. Hastings said that he made "no promises" but hoped that citizens' water and sewer bills could be lowered due to the savings.
Hastings said that he and executive administrative assistant Debbie Sansone met with a representative from the Office of Community Development regarding revolving loans.
"I learned that we can fund, in the form of grants, uptown improvements such as murals and facade enhancement," Hastings said.
Hastings reported that historic timbers and beams were found as part of the framework of the former bus barn during its demolition. He said that the city hopes to use the timber to build a covered bridge.
Hastings said he met with officials with the Bluegrass Pipeline project, and that citizens interested in learning more on this project are welcome to call the mayor's office for more information and updates.
• • •
In the safety and service director's report, Wilkin announced that the city has received a $400,000 CHIP (Community Housing Improvement Program) grant, and that Peg Beekman resigned as the CHIP administrator last week. Wilkin said the city is currently looking at options to fill Beekman's position. Wilkin also added that the city has discovered unused 2008-09 grants/zero-percent loans, which will be used for infrastructure.
Wilkin also discussed plans to change the water meter reading system. A previously discussed plan for a "satellite system" has been ruled not feasible due to the number of hills in the city, but an alternate "drive-by system" could potentially save the city money. The system would involve placing a laptop with this software in a city truck and driving by the home instead of getting out to read meters. Wilkin said this system would mean meter readings could be accomplished in one to one and one half days.
Wilkin concluded his report with an update on the administration and law enforcement's commitment to make the city drug-free.
"I just want all drug dealers and users to be warned: this administration will not tolerate your existence in our beautiful city," Wilkin said. "Consider this your warning, unless you want your name to appear in the paper."
• • •
Council member Brian Waller delivered Daniels' zoning and annexation committee report in his absence. The committee met Aug. 27 to discuss the re-zoning of 241 East Main Street. The committee recommended that council "change the current zoning ordinance to include funeral homes to allow the zoning to represent the current established area and allow businesses to be sold as a funeral home without the fear of allowing other types of businesses to move into the area." Council later passed the ordinance to amend Section 155.036(A) of the Hillsboro Code of Ordinances (Zoning Residence "A" District).
• • •
Council took the following action:
• Council approved the absence of Daniels at the beginning of the meeting due to National Guard duty.
• Council approved and adopted an ordinance to authorize the sale of land no longer needed for public use (the roadside rest on US 50). The property is valued at approximately $30,000.
• Council approved and adopted an ordinance authorizing the safety and service director to collect bids for engineering services to develop plans for the demolition of the old water treatment plant on U.S. 62.
Dick Donley asked if the plan was for a total or partial demolition. Wilkin said that the city plans to tear down just the outdated portion of the building at this time.
• Council approved and adopted a resolution authorizing the safety and service director to purchase wastewater treatment pumps to replace existing pumps that are damaged. Wilkin said the pumps could cost $250,000 to $300,000. Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery said that the resolution would "positively" impact ongoing arbitration between the city and the wastewater treatment plant.
• Council approved the auditor's report, along with a resolution accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.
• Council also voted, at the request of Hastings, to hold a public hearing on a liquor license request for a West Main Street business.