Increased demolition, abatement budget requested for code enforcement
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
Determinations for when to demolish homes beyond repair like these often comes down to costs said Code Enforcement Officer Andy Gedeon. Increased that budget to $150,000 would allow for more demolitions to take place.
PORTSMOUTH A drive through Portsmouth reveals many condemned homes, some awaiting the decision of a teardown in the sum of thousands of dollars.
Many of these homes are vacant- some leaving the city or the state, retaining the property but not keeping it up which have in some instances become locations for illicit behavior.
City considering building a new code enforcement division
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH To boost its response to code enforcement matters in the city, CE officer Andy Gedeon and City Engineer Nathan Prosch proposed multiple changes to the department before Portsmouth City Council Monday.
In the past few weeks, Gedeon, Prosch, City Manager Sam Sutherland, and City Solicitor John Haas have been discussing what can be done to improve the department’s abilities.
“As we all know, we have been battling a big fight with code enforcement,” said Sutherland during the City Managers session that evening. “I believe we finally got something to put to writing.”
Roads, Police, and Fire make-up majority of C.I. budget
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH Coming next Monday, Portsmouth City Council will give a first reading to approve a 2021 budget item for varying city departments.
With a vote in favor during the council’s next session, $1.7 million would be set aside for Capital Improvement Budget Funds 301, 606, 622 and 623.
Road work, identified as a pressing need during the city organizational meeting in February, makes up the lion’s share of the CI budget with more than 40% dedicated to its services.
“We really need to be investing because I don’t really need to tell you that our infrastructure is deteriorating,” said City Engineer Nathan Prosch during the Feb. 20 meeting to city officials.
Council share vision on Market Square pavilion
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH Portsmouth City Council took an early step Monday night in its ambitious Master Plan following extensive public comment and deliberation among city government officials.
At the request of Community Development Director Tracy Shearer, the council went ahead with authorizing the submittal of a grant application due June 1 and accepting that grant and obligations if funded. Council first toiled with the notion of tabling the resolution before all six council members voted in favor.
With this vote, the city could receive up to $40,782 through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources NatureWorks Grant, money of which would go to the Market Square Pavilion.
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