Mary Alice Reporting-
Uhrichsville’s mayor says he continues to look at grant opportunities and made a committee request to council on two items; meanwhile, visitors voiced continued concerns over special events.
Thursday’s update from Jim Zucal noted several staff and organization meetings, and seeking grant opportunities. Some projects they are hoping for is continuing with Trenton Avenue and to do a second project and upgrading McCauley Drive.
“We’re looking at a McCauley Drive east and west upgrade. The east side, the McDonald’s, the BP side that entirely belongs to the city. The west side is different. The Arby’s, Bellstores that is intersection of US 250 and SR 259.”
Mayor Zucal asked for two items to be placed in committee, one about cats, the other about council visitor registration and rules.
During the visitor portion, resident Cassie Brown spoke about a change.org petition she created to see what other people thought about the $150 special event fee.
“I just wanted to report that there are 773 signatures and counting. I’m going to keep this petition open for a month and then I will submit the petition to the City of Uhrichsville and City Council. You can do with it what you want.”
“You’re just not happy with the fee and you’re getting everybody to say we don’t like the fee,” asked acting Council President Matt Fox.
“No that’s not what I’m doing,” said Brown. “I’m saying you all did not listen to us when we talked and so what my right as a citizen here is to have a petition to voice our concerns because our concerns were not met.”
Brown quoted some comments made referencing a public announcement, from the mayor, posted to the city’s Facebook page, and said she took personal offense to the mayor’s statement that if these regulations would have been in place previously “Uhrichsville would be in a better place financially and demographically”.
With Brown saying, “I don’t like being treated like we’re less than and second class citizens.”
Fox interjected saying, “I’m going to stop you right there, just for a minute, I’m going to intervene. You’re just standing here and you’re just preaching about what other people think and what not. If the council implements something and the mayor implements something that’s how it is. If you’re not happy with the fees please don’t come to city council.”
“Now this is my form of being able to speak,” noted Brown.
Following her comments, Fox said that concerns should be directed to the mayors’ office and then Zucal commented that the special event issue went through the proper order before its passage and that it’s “water under the bridge now. We need to move forward.”
Another visitor, Braden Stocker, asked if there was an ending time schedule for the current special event fee rate and if that could be clarified so that event organizers could plan in advance and not have the risk that the fee could increase in a couple of months or into 2025. He also asked where the fee goes, and the mayor responded that it is put into the city’s general fund.
Under the passed legislation, the cost amount is decided by administration, noted Law Director Jeff Merklin.
“One special event is not another special event. I assume that there’s probably going to be a fairly set schedule for certain things but I just think it would be unfair to just say well it’s going to be $150 for this and $150 for this if it’s three or four times the size of need for city services.”
The application only has listed that the fee is per day and that there is a one-week turnaround time for a permit.
Other Uhrichsville council meeting news included the finalizing for this year’s paving contract and the law director noting that the park levy renewal will be on November’s ballot.
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