Dover News: Mayor shoots down rumors; request by former mayor’s son refused
MAYOR: WE’RE NOT CLOSING THE POWER PLANT
Dover Mayor Shane Gunnoe shot down rumors that city officials want to close Dover’s power plant. He said he doesn’t know where those rumors are coming from but they have persisted for at least a couple of years. Gunnoe says the city just invested 1.5 million dollars into the plant and has no plans, in the short term or long term, to close what he called a valuable city asset.
CITY REFUSING FORMER MAYOR’S SON’S REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION FUNDING
Dover Law Director Doug O’Meara says the city is not going to award former Mayor Richard Homrighausen’s son government funding to help tear down a house on his property. Nick Homrighausen, who is also a candidate for mayor in the Republican primary, had applied for funding help when his father was still in office. O’Meara says that’s a conflict of interest.
NEW EMPLOYEES, NEW POLICE CARS, NEW MONUMENT
Gunnoe also said the city is close to hiring a new assistant superintendent for the power plant, an assistant IT administrator, and a police patrolman. Safety Director Gerry Mroczkowski says the city is in the process of buying three new police cruisers. The city is also planning to install a police K-9 memorial near city hall with a dedication ceremony in June.
PARK UPDATES: LIFEGUARD TRAINING, BALLFIELD LIGHTS, SOFTBALL LEAGUES
In Dover parks news, the city plans to offer free lifeguard training and certification at its own pool to hopefully attract some more lifeguards. The pool had to close a few days last summer because of staff shortages. Pool manager Matt Petricola is working on getting his lifeguard training certification. The city is in the process of converting the lights at the baseball fields to led lighting. They recently converted two more and have just two left to do. Gunnoe says each field conversion will save about $10,000 a year on electricity costs. Softball leagues will start up again this summer with men’s, women’s and co-ed teams. Contact the dover parks office.
TOWPATH TRAIL UPDATE
Gunnoe says the city is requesting funding from the Ohio Appalachian Community Grant Program to help with engineering for the future Towpath Trail extension into the city. The focus would be on designing a bridge to go over the Tuscarawas River, which Gunnoe says is required.