CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – The Chillicothe City Council convened Monday evening, addressing a packed agenda that ranged from nuisance property concerns and homelessness issues to upcoming infrastructure and transit projects.
Nuisance properties and abandoned homes spark concern
During the public participation segment, local realtor Diane Carnes raised concerns about a burned-out home at 84 South Sugar Street, which she described as a hazard and an eyesore preventing the sale of a neighboring property.
“If a child or anyone walking around stepped in there, they’d fall right into the basement and die,” Carnes warned, urging the city to take action.
Mayor Luke Feeney responded by explaining the nuisance abatement process, which often faces delays due to out-of-state or unresponsive property owners.
“We have to go through the nuisance process to clean them up,” he said, adding that tax delinquency and legal barriers can slow down the process of demolishing abandoned structures.
One council member later reported that the city’s nuisance abatement officer issued 440 violation notices in 2024, with junk cars, overgrown properties, and derelict buildings being common infractions.
Homelessness debate intensifies over proposed camping ordinance
Homelessness advocacy took center stage as a social worker delivered a statement on behalf of a local doctor, urging council members to reject the proposed amendment to Section 541.05, which would penalize camping on public property.
“This amendment risks dehumanizing our community and criminalizing our most vulnerable citizens,” the statement read, emphasizing that many homeless individuals lack access to vital documents and resources to comply with strict legal requirements.
Several public speakers echoed similar concerns, including Stephanie Renner, who sought to clarify that Community Action Director Julie Bolen has not changed her stance and still opposes the ordinance. Renner urged council to table the legislation and allow community leaders to develop a more humane solution.
Another local resident shared concerns that homeless voices are being left out of the discussion. She recounted efforts to encourage unhoused individuals to speak at council meetings, only to be met with fear of retaliation and a sense of hopelessness.
“They feel like they are invisible,” she said. “They want to be heard, but they don’t think the city cares.”
As a potential solution, she proposed city-sponsored cleanup initiatives, where volunteers and homeless individuals could work together to reduce litter and maintain encampment areas, provided that the city assists with trash collection.
Council President Kevin Shoemaker announced that a special meeting will be scheduled next week at 5 p.m. to discuss the camping ordinance further.
Street resurfacing, transit projects, and law enforcement training funding move forward
Infrastructure improvements were also a key focus of Monday’s meeting, with the Engineering Committee introducing two major projects:
- A resolution authorizing the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to resurface a portion of U.S. 50, beginning at South Watt Street and continuing east through the city.
- An ordinance to appropriate funds for two new traffic controllers, needed for the upcoming Bridge Street project to replace outdated equipment.
The Utilities Committee proposed a resolution to apply for Ohio Public Works Commission grant funding for 2026, which would secure additional resources for city infrastructure.
Additionally, the Safety Services Committee introduced an ordinance to accept $37,517 in training reimbursement funds from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for Chillicothe police officers.
Public transparency issues raised
A Chillicothe resident also raised concerns about public access to council meeting information, stating that many residents struggle to find updates on important city decisions.
“I never received an email or saw anything on social media about these meetings,” they said, calling on council to improve communication and transparency by providing easier online access to meeting agendas and discussions.
Upcoming meetings and next steps
- A special meeting will be held Wednesday at 4 p.m. to discuss hiring a new employee for the Law Director’s Office.
- A March 10 review session will be held to discuss street and intersection changes tied to the Appalachian Community Grant Program.
- The homeless camping ordinance will be discussed at a special session next week at 5 p.m., with the location to be announced.
Council adjourned at 8:42 p.m., with the next regular meeting scheduled for March 10, 2025.