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Dover Council considers veterans’ memorial

• By Lori Feeney
• June 22, 2021
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Dover Ward I councilman and service committee chairman Greg Bair said he has found a tentative location on the square for a veterans’ memorial. Bair told council at its June 21 meeting he has had people calling him to donate toward the memorial ever since Debbie Cook, director of the Tuscarawas County Veterans Service office, passed on a request for a memorial made by a private citizen last month.

Bair said Scott Harmon, cemetery superintendent, is studying different types of stone for the planned six-to-seven-foot monument which will honor current and past veterans of all U.S. military branches. Bair said he believes enough funds can be raised for the memorial and no city funds will need to be used. He hopes to have the memorial complete and hold a dedication ceremony early this fall.

Residents urged to register for reverse-911 service

Councilman Justin Perkowski asked residents to register cell phones with the county’s reverse-911 system. Operated by the sheriff’s dispatch center, the system will send texts, emails or calls to registered phones in the event of an emergency or disaster.

While landlines were automatically registered in the system, cell phones were not. Registration can be completed online by clicking on the Emergency Notification Signup link at https://www.co.tuscarawas.oh.us/TCSO/.

Mayor’s report

Mayor Rick Homrighausen congratulated Hunter Armstrong on recently qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Swim Team. “Hunter made the team, qualifying in the 100 backstroke and set a personal best time of 52:48,” said Homrighausen. “You have made Dover proud and we look forward to rooting you on in Tokyo.”

The mayor, who delivered his report via conference call, also asked the public to contact state representatives to voice opposition to an amendment added to House Bill 110 which would prohibit the development of community-owned broadband systems.

In other reports

Ward II Councilman Kevin Korns, chair of the Human Resources committee, said the committee approved a request for a D1 liquor permit by Bob Evans on Commercial Parkway. Korns said the restaurant chain is testing serving beer and wine in some areas and may want to do so at some point in Dover.

Ward IV Councilman Bob Mueller said the Utilities Committee met earlier in the evening and discussed the need to bid out the city’s coal contract. The current contract expires July 31. Action is expected to be taken in the next committee meeting on July 6.

City Auditor Nicole Stoldt said income tax revenue has increased by more than $500,000 from last year. “We are not where we were pre-pandemic, but we’re definitely better than we were this time last year,” she said.

Stoldt also offered to form a committee and accept ideas from council regarding ways to honor Hunter Armstrong.

Service Director Dave Douglas asked for a committee assignment for a project to add sewer lines in an area on County Road 80 annexed for development. Douglas also wants to extend sewer lines on 28^th Street to Cross Street.

“If they develop those lots with curbs like they’re speaking of, all that water coming down the hill will cause a tremendous problem, so we want to intercept that,” he said.

Douglas also said a re-created city mural is complete and he hopes to have it installed in its usual spot on the square soon. The schedule will depend on weather and the workload at General Services. Local artists contributed to restoring the montage-style mural and the Marlite company produced large scans of the old photos, mounting the mural on heavy weather-proof board.

Legislation

Council heard the first readings of two resolutions to:

-Recognize and thank Terry Lawrence for more than 23 years of service with the Dover Electric Field Division. Lawrence retired April 30 this year.

-Thank the New Philadelphia VFW for its donation of $1,374.89 to the Dover police department.

Council moved into executive session requested by Mueller to discuss pending litigation.