[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,84],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6196207,"mediaKeyId","3857911-ca15ca8258590665d910eec78fc0d55f","parentId",3857911,"title","Pataskala praises retiring K‑9 Joker, council asks police to update canine program policy","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1200000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3857911-ca15ca8258590665d910eec78fc0d55f&start=1200&end=1200","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3857911-ca15ca8258590665d910eec78fc0d55f/thumbnail_1200000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6196207/Pataskala-City/Licking-County/Ohio/Pataskala-praises-retiring-K9-Joker-council-asks-police-to-update-canine-program-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196207-94db84520f25e5d1b1e66582d7332157/orig.mp4?Expires=1776552637&Signature=nMBXze0FDznhsrG8voTuF1MPm6cvyNgrZb6s3i8ftXyVNjRHjssQ0dgsDlayDLfN32-C19Ky17OUqD7nY6IwI0Mu~oOpINUQFtFg8nKdPxv69y6lWQGzHAr9LR4Rxgm06Ev8-YxqQWnCdokpXYn6MUxkRq0xSv-vv-zMrWgkoEbQbmX4YCxzbrw2Cp2~I~iOKid9iGZfFs7fOxIGWy3muIUzzH7QgZ5hQVgyAncGKzGH9AX~G2FWd-RnizqdVqtRH23e06Mpiudnw0YzHgBQt3UX2JpufFEizG1cjQMgAkbjyS-D2bgycDcw6HmMz9KDunMrixvwrcsCdvl40vfxYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Pataskala, OH ","date","2025-06-17T11:29:24Z","article","Pataskala officials honored retiring K‑9 Joker and discussed updating the city’s canine program policy so the department and council have clear procedures for K‑9 retirements, handler transitions and oversight.

Chief Bruce Brooks and other speakers said Joker served about nine years and had been on what the chief estimated as “probably been on over a thousand calls in 9 years.” Chief Brooks also introduced Zela, a new canine that was recently introduced to the public and described as a “big hit.”

A councilmember asked for an updated written protocol now that the department operates more than one dog, saying the city needs clear procedures for retirement, handler changes and other checks and balances. Chief Brooks said he would “work on that this week” but noted that the legislative branch's involvement would be limited to review and possible adoption, while operational policy should be drafted by the police department.

Officer Scott McClellan was named several times in the meeting in relation to the canine program; the transcript records council members thanking him for his service and congratulating both him and Joker on the retirement.

Council did not take a formal vote on a revised K‑9 policy during the meeting; the transcript records direction to the chief and staff to draft policy language and bring it to council for review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 16, 2025 Council Meeting Pt. 1","oneSentenceSummary","The council and police praised retiring K‑9 Joker for years of service, introduced new K‑9 Zela, and directed the police department and administration to develop updated policy language for the city’s canine program for council review and adoption.","taxTitle","Pataskala City, Licking County, Ohio","taxId",57337,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":42,"_43":77,"_45":77,"_46":78,"_48":79,"_50":80,"_52":81,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6196211,"Pataskala staff to use emergency procurement after wastewater pump explodes; new utility director announced",693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3857911-ca15ca8258590665d910eec78fc0d55f&start=693&end=693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3857911-ca15ca8258590665d910eec78fc0d55f/thumbnail_693000.jpg","/articles/6196211/Pataskala-City/Licking-County/Ohio/Pataskala-staff-to-use-emergency-procurement-after-wastewater-pump-explodes-new-utility-director-announced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196211-7d0eede30d4cf9c1cfd4302ea077beb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1776552637&Signature=mF2iAcFLJntaC9~2vCpMoCUrNVrw0BOMbVOpMlMJVn~kjCuMvn65eStf59ZsTDB98qQ3YPT1~LmH4vL3PXpoUmdfvv9y1rujThz5fRpq4-Mzr4174CmZOJ8KA07uv4JfUh~n-rkbIP~9TeSl3ntm-LkBsyvwymGsmwfHwjekbL~4sJ~LFZc--~7KsZGQ~xgxCJ8HIuNt7Tc69LCEtKDRUqQ64W7rSlDJDI2n1KvQBSU2yqK12WxkPbnwgSGsstp1qwGOenkhR1KmEFKCJtCam8uEoAs4vgOLNgtktpyrvzVQLxHh97sw2I9FZjSGiTKn985jniQAR2HY6bO2G~zJNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Pataskala City Council that a pump serving the wastewater digesters failed and will be replaced using the city’s emergency purchasing procedures, and the council heard an administrative announcement that Jeremy Moore will become the city’s utility director on July 7.

Chris Rock, a city staff member, said the pump motor “exploded” around noon and estimated replacement at about $30,000. “We have a CIP project every year that we put $30,000 in for pump replacements. We hope that that'll get a pump throughout the year, but it's all gonna be eaten up on this one,” he said, adding that the city will use emergency procurement and notify council because the next meeting is three weeks away.

Rock said the replacement will likely take about three weeks to arrive and that staff will use temporary manual pumping and fittings in the meantime, requiring increased manual checks every few hours.

Separately, council discussion included an administrative personnel announcement that Jeremy Moore, currently a superintendent, was selected as the new utility director and will start July 7. The decision was described as internal; the transcript records the announcement but does not show a formal appointment vote during the meeting.

The transcript does not record a formal council vote to authorize the emergency purchase; it records staff’s statement that emergency purchasing procedures will be enacted and that staff will proceed before the next council meeting.","City staff reported an exploded digester pump at the wastewater facility requiring an emergency replacement estimated at $30,000; the council also heard an administrative announcement that Jeremy Moore will become the city’s utility director July 7.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6196215,"Pataskala council votes to join letter urging lawmakers to protect municipal inside millage",1118,479000,1597000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3857911-ca15ca8258590665d910eec78fc0d55f&start=479&end=1597","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3857911-ca15ca8258590665d910eec78fc0d55f/thumbnail_479000.jpg","/articles/6196215/Pataskala-City/Licking-County/Ohio/Pataskala-council-votes-to-join-letter-urging-lawmakers-to-protect-municipal-inside-millage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6196215-0848b402a11c6e9189bea5dd90b23584/orig.mp4?Expires=1776552637&Signature=mpAYy9q-WNH2fVfLyaoppFEOWNJCzg66rS5ILX1ZHWSwyTJuiWWNyjo7YmQ0QUDzD5o2jGR3vonoBRzTDXwfzW3ByhB6QEiHE1sEIBuZnHzflq3GDrCprwrBheI9vqmyIfd-5J~Gwqyecuffq-q91iwx7yGV11gfi0vVAySaW91bgLe7pb44I-1O3uuEDQ2KF5sSOYT5yb2LqVuQR70nkHbzUYjLAeYspBFjiuj~gN-lx0EOXLFSJnzfMmFwTqDii-0PB1sv0mDwsK1LhPrCz7VdCYXCr~sWNPXOi4RBXFTojT~ELoTqgVeEi-wQ2d-45Q7tQAujF9uSoIjRyBWZtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pataskala City Council members voted unanimously Wednesday to ask the mayor and city staff to join a letter to state lawmakers urging that House Bill 335 not eliminate the “inside millage” available to municipalities.

Councilmember Tim Higgins said the bill is back in conference committee and warned it could remove the inside millage for municipalities. “For us, that represents, I wanna say, $2,100,000 … It's about 2.2,” Higgins said, adding that the change would affect most general-fund functions outside utilities, streets and police.

The council’s motion asked staff to participate in a letter to the city’s state representatives, specifically naming Kevin Moore and Thad Claggett, and to coordinate with local school districts that had already offered to send a joint letter. The motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.

Council members and staff said the loss of the inside millage would force reductions in services funded by the general fund, listing planning and zoning, administration, and buildings and grounds among programs that could be affected. Higgins urged fellow elected officials and residents to contact state representatives before the legislature’s July 1 deadline.

The motion recorded the council’s request for staff to prepare the letter; the transcript does not show the text of the letter or whether the city will pursue any formal legislative lobbying beyond the joint letter effort.

The council did not take any further formal legislative action on HB 335 during the meeting.","The Pataskala City Council voted to ask city representatives to join a letter opposing House Bill 335’s removal of the inside millage, citing a potential multimillion-dollar hit to city revenues and urging exemptions for municipalities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pataskala praises retiring K‑9 Joker, council asks police to update canine program policy

Pataskala staff to use emergency procurement after wastewater pump explodes; new utility director announced

Pataskala council votes to join letter urging lawmakers to protect municipal inside millage