[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6153646,"mediaKeyId","5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f","parentId",5491595,"title","Residents press council on transparency, Howmet accountability and energy policy during public comment","audioSeconds",421,"startMs",2536000,"endMs",2957000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f&start=2536&end=2957","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f/thumbnail_2536000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6153646/Chillicothe-City/Ross-County/Ohio/Residents-press-council-on-transparency-Howmet-accountability-and-energy-policy-during-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153646-a00c09134280a7991aaf5d6326b7a213/orig.mp4?Expires=1770755096&Signature=aL-bpeaCjfMfH0ZXkV6MFMgoVpgJKQZfsAD9~K8N1rZ8lV9xz0umE5oSOG6riMkeMwUKcQFowpA2TW8hCHRhtCXHqeVUxH~tWNrq4VxrBUNzvr7Hct-QCsY0L~cSlBF1kSb373~qwd0P7sx7oLNJ3EHlqcnhYf-vWDMngLRTTt9toFT~lGD1p~F~fupXPh544gIEmdQ9fhsLYy1G~BzCr1Br3WhxQzefzR0sCloQSkZOiDjg4hxF7XPhSCVjEZjMlGL-o0MMGvL0aVSmiHmjql-DL1N5fx02n-l9qrzxs986kfLBY4XDY57qNP3RFaI8WyDI1qs1dYt4AH6T6o0tJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Chilicothe OH","date","2025-07-28T00:00:00Z","article","Several residents used the July 28 Chillicothe City Council public-comment period to raise issues ranging from gravel‑street enforcement to environmental oversight, energy policy and transparency about executive sessions.

Accountability and EPA contact information

- Heidi Carter (182 Edgen Drive) commended police officers assigned near Bridal Street and singled out Officer Gaye and Officer Wright for their efforts addressing intersection blocking.
- Tana Seidress (415 Lundbeck Road) asked whether Mayor Feeney could provide contact information for Ohio EPA staff; she said she had questions about environmental matters and requested the mayor’s assistance obtaining EPA contacts.
- Jamie Brown urged the council to use its authority to bring Howmet before the council if possible, saying, \"Whatever folks in this room can do to bring multinational corporations to, speak to you directly, I'm gonna advocate that you do that.\" Brown also argued climate change is real and encouraged elected officials to act on the scientific consensus.

Energy and grid reliability

Public commenter Alan Davis presented detailed data arguing that solar and wind are intermittent and questioned their reliability for the grid, citing capacity-factor charts and regional insolation differences. In response, Jamie Brown urged support for renewable deployment and storage innovation, saying daytime solar production can be stored for later use and that a PJM Interconnection report did not single out solar as the cause of grid unreliability.

Executive session transparency

- John Thacker asked why a facilities‑committee executive session had been held without a public report and said members of the public had been left waiting. He requested that council provide more information when business occurs in executive session. President Shoemaker replied that executive sessions are governed by the Ohio Revised Code and that no actions can be taken during executive session, and that any final actions would occur in open session.

Why it matters

The comments reflect several ongoing community concerns: direct engagement with large industrial operators (Howmet), access to regulatory contacts for environmental questions, debate over energy strategy and grid reliability, and expectations for transparency when council uses executive session authority.

What council said it would do

- Mayor Feeney said he posts office hours on the city website and on Facebook and that he would continue to provide updates on EPA matters.
- President Shoemaker reaffirmed that executive session actions must be taken in open session in accordance with state law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Chillicothe City Council Meeting - July 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents used the July 28 public-comment period to press Chillicothe officials for direct engagement with Howmet and the Ohio EPA, to debate wind and solar reliability, and to request clearer reporting after executive sessions.","taxTitle","Chillicothe City, Ross County, Ohio","taxId",64101,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153665,"Mayor says Ohio EPA monitoring plume at former Howmet site; city stresses water safety",382,627000,1009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f&start=627&end=1009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f/thumbnail_627000.jpg","/articles/6153665/Chillicothe-City/Ross-County/Ohio/Mayor-says-Ohio-EPA-monitoring-plume-at-former-Howmet-site-city-stresses-water-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153665-05bd089dc253f4308970ea6f28be33d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770755096&Signature=ZbXLk-yFmV6iYIL7KsUgREEa68~aFU7Qi~pHkew8mSQ5ZeJQaGm96murAq8F5AJ-HM~3kue-ao1njmAH0S5PiY6Pbf7Q9qlsywobCA4dhbERuCrhpXxhvZdGlk~Lfx5aGd2Npy8HrTyJ8ePiRIT3qO-9cBHJmuVuS5bx9D9xxkfrS9k9fkD-BuG~3DNkzO57tg4P6Q7wUbe5MI4VP3QxTAsBG3YGKro7r2oKJK9DNGq5TNNK8Oa7CUaxNk8~4zR13zfGPvp16Z7H1O5HRf8T3-Zg6yisxvFjlmvKHV3oGjriMU35pMrpaMN7D2FtN8K6IDpFMi7YRXvViSWjyUKMTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Michael Feeney told the Chillicothe City Council on July 28 that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has long been monitoring a soil contamination “plume” tied to past aluminum operations at the former Howmet site and has asked Howmet to plan for what would happen if nearby industrial wells stop operating.

Feeney said the EPA and the companies involved \"have known, for many years that the existence of that plume,\" and that the agency has required Howmet to analyze potential migration and to install additional ground monitoring wells. \"So we've got a situation that has been known about for a long time,\" he said.

City officials emphasized public-safety steps and monitoring rather than immediate remediation decisions. \"First and foremost, we wanted to make sure that our drinking water is safe,\" Feeney said, noting that the city’s drinking-water wells, drilled in Yactanji Park, are more than two miles from the plume’s current location.

Why it matters: residents raised questions after news reports about a plume near industrial properties on Chillicothe’s southeast side. The mayor framed the issue as ongoing oversight by the Ohio EPA, not a new emergency, and said the city is working with the agency to increase monitoring and to press Howmet on remediation planning.

Key facts established in the meeting

- The contamination is described in council discussion as a soil \"plume\" left from historical aluminum-related operations at the former Howmet site. The mayor described that the plume’s position has been affected by nearby industrial groundwater wells (identified in council remarks as wells 17 and 18).
- The Ohio EPA has reviewed the site and has asked Howmet to study the plume’s behavior and to propose remediation or management steps if nearby wells cease operation. The mayor said the EPA has also required installation of new monitoring wells.
- The city’s drinking-water supply is drawn from wells drilled in Yactanji Park and is stated in council remarks to be more than two miles from the plume. The mayor said the EPA predicts water quality will remain safe even if the nearby wells stop operating.
- The mayor told council the plume is closer to the wastewater treatment plant than to the water-treatment wells; he described that even proximity to the wastewater plant would not pose an additional public-health risk because wastewater is treated before being discharged.

What the council and city said they will do

- Continue daily interaction and reporting with the Ohio EPA regarding ground monitoring and wastewater treatment operations.
- Support EPA demands for additional monitoring wells and insist that Howmet provide a remediation plan should monitoring show migration.
- Share updates with the public when they are available.

Public response in the meeting

Residents urged stronger municipal action and direct engagement with Howmet. Jamie Brown, a city resident, asked the council to \"subpoena or ... compel Howmet to do whatever you can to get them in here and hold their feet to the fire,\" and asked city leaders to press state authorities to hold multinational corporations accountable. Council members did not take a legislative action at the meeting related to Howmet; the mayor characterized the matter as one of ongoing oversight with the Ohio EPA.

Context and limits on authority

Feeney repeatedly described the Ohio EPA as the lead regulator and said cessation of operations at the industrial site would follow an EPA-approved cessation process that may involve removal of contaminated equipment and other site remediation steps. The mayor did not propose or request any ordinance or funding action from council at this meeting.

Ending note

The mayor said the city will continue to monitor the situation and to report new information to residents. \"If and when there are updates, I will provide them to the community,\" Feeney said.","Mayor Michael Feeney told the Chillicothe City Council on July 28 that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has long been monitoring a soil contamination “plume” tied to past aluminum operations at the former Howmet site and has asked Howmet to plan for what would happen if nearby industrial wells stop operating.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153651,"Council confirms appointment of Steve Sites to Board of Zoning Appeals",87,3670000,3757000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f&start=3670&end=3757","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f/thumbnail_3670000.jpg","/articles/6153651/Chillicothe-City/Ross-County/Ohio/Council-confirms-appointment-of-Steve-Sites-to-Board-of-Zoning-Appeals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153651-538ef8d81dea4b3187021a84acbe4d40/orig.mp4?Expires=1770755096&Signature=DlP9ocK7uyTjFHsB0KkJ3cG-~VgpLEwixPHuZOrXoaqXFNjgj8-KwW3OoWwRuqGn6m-bdSZtcenIv9Pv8P~mH5bkFN0n0x8owiJ~VGXRPLUf7Akuw6UYHMSjKbo~GPBVQlj-ieKpaTIcG-QA3V3UMdyurMxvwz-eqr32iqE9nl1YylAjspu1-~wpY-G40PpVOLVqDsGSoRxwusmis7SAifmZsf9J82ssjOpympWFoXwEKaurPnFd8FCjvRTW2OSWI3MlY1qxKjQTqEzxuGhUq0y53yg-o-I5H7BwOcuD5kZI29JIKIb6rI4teXLuXi2G7IZX9AQDXoE8GDR-077DpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chillicothe City Council on July 28 confirmed Mayor Feeney’s nomination of Steve Sites to fill a First Ward vacancy on the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Councilman Preston moved to approve the appointment; Councilwoman Bennett seconded the motion. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote; the transcript records unanimous support.

Why it matters

The Board of Zoning Appeals reviews variances, appeals of administrative zoning decisions and other quasi-judicial matters related to land use. Filling vacancies ensures the board can hear timely appeals and maintain quorum for scheduled meetings.

Vote

Roll call: Bennett—yes; McCourt—yes; Barnes—yes; McKeever—yes; DeMent—yes; Preston—yes; Dunn—yes; Creed—yes. Motion passed.","Chillicothe City Council unanimously approved the mayor’s nomination of Steve Sites to fill a First Ward vacancy on the Board of Zoning Appeals on July 28; the appointment passed by roll call with no recorded opposition.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153655,"Council adopts bond ordinances to buy city vehicles, waives three‑read rule",494,3629000,4123000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f&start=3629&end=4123","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f/thumbnail_3629000.jpg","/articles/6153655/Chillicothe-City/Ross-County/Ohio/Council-adopts-bond-ordinances-to-buy-city-vehicles-waives-threeread-rule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153655-13568736c9ceabe1a0f8040eba52862c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770755096&Signature=aLjOj9dNM~N1K~igp4glD20ub1ZULNI5-uALA~EQsuOI2x~0dUs7hs0xbZlhKKSKK5aoXiGH6YbjMUPPSQzYyl7gN6nj4tEvbzfCNz4uNr67srCincFdL9ApGf~ffmSV4lf5rzWOX5K7mYF~Ngvz59k7NTT0xc93MSgWn88-Mq6qIcDn9tqZ4iRlAqWGWRTEpipP7vrGOtdWdEo910ps0HHM-0X3mHIsc~2wPW8NbVJDwuQjwhaPC3Y5hkDftELN-iVI96Sa4wtUJySh~kgu18od19xW2H8zf4MWt~1B0lZVDTJNb9r6IRAknh05-ikrwVA8rlLhus0gTAj1DVqrWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chillicothe City Council on July 28 unanimously adopted a package of bond ordinances to finance replacement vehicles and equipment for city operations and declared each ordinance an emergency so purchases can proceed.

What passed

- Ordinance authorizing up to $1,470,000 in bonds for road construction and servicing vehicles and equipment (dump truck, street sweeper, tandem-axle truck, Bobcat skid-steer/loader) — adopted after council waived the three-reading rule.
- Ordinance authorizing up to $250,000 in bonds to acquire four police vehicles and related equipment — adopted after waiver of the three-reading rule.
- Ordinance authorizing up to $300,000 in bonds for an engineering department vehicle and a tractor with mower arm and related equipment — adopted after waiver.
- Ordinance consolidating up to three of the city’s bond issues into a single consolidated bond issue, establishing terms and declaring an emergency — adopted after waiver.

Council procedure

Councilman Creed moved to waive the three-reading rule on multiple items and then moved each ordinance to adoption; the clerk called the roll for each waiver and for each final ordinance vote. Roll-call records in the transcript show unanimous \"yes\" votes for waiver and adoption on each item.

Why it matters

Council said the borrowings will allow the city to proceed with purchases budgeted in this year’s capital plan after arranging the debt. City staff described the bonds as necessary to obtain equipment that had been authorized in the adopted budget but required financing to acquire this fiscal year.

Implementation details and next steps

- Ordinances included emergency language to expedite issuance and purchase.
- The law and auditor offices will complete bond paperwork and report back on sale/closing dates; council did not deliberate detailed financing terms on the floor at this meeting.

Votes and procedure (selected)

- Item 2 (road construction/equipment bonds): motion to waive three-reading by Councilman Creed; second by Councilman DeMent; waiver and ordinance adoption passed by roll call (Bennett—yes; McCourt—yes; Barnes—yes; McKeever—yes; DeMent—yes; Preston—yes; Dunn—yes; Creed—yes).
- Item 3 (police vehicles): motion to waive and adopt — unanimous by roll call.
- Item 4 (engineering vehicle, tractor/mower): motion to waive and adopt — unanimous by roll call.
- Item 5 (consolidation of bond issues): motion to waive and adopt — unanimous by roll call.

No dissenting votes were recorded during the meeting.

What the council did not do

Council did not discuss specific financing rates, underwriter selection, or sale date on the floor; those technical steps were referred to the auditor and law department for completion.","Chillicothe City Council unanimously adopted four ordinances on July 28 authorizing bonds to finance vehicles and equipment for street, police and engineering departments and consolidated the issues; council waived the three‑reading rule and approved each ordinance by roll call.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6153661,"Council schedules Aug. 28 public hearing on allowing veterinary offices in downtown; 36 N. Walnut in focus",1430,2211000,3641000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f&start=2211&end=3641","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5491595-35377bfb0beceaa71d43b056506ac22f/thumbnail_2211000.jpg","/articles/6153661/Chillicothe-City/Ross-County/Ohio/Council-schedules-Aug-28-public-hearing-on-allowing-veterinary-offices-in-downtown-36-N-Walnut-in-focus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6153661-04aed33537a7d6ab11950c482a345730/orig.mp4?Expires=1770755096&Signature=JRTUdlXmj4nH7d3UODpZ34AIi4~tYpk-b8~-Fznl6fFRGYk1WNPMMjIUXRzDd7RtwMPiMO~3PelYji1RvIGKWqoImP82Z9g~Dt41PPoMTL-bDpn13WDVTNANnA0XgLM7ZY5oeosx75TnP1dtjbwRKzq1RI809zMTKRxtidGUL05AWpO-Nsei0QpRy~vMeW5~eVKQbqCYdfp9AlOcQPqgUdGel0qtbE8fhE1vGwjygXIXSQprBfaO4MjHE0GhT0hsPU1OdZAlg8TxN-DBUyi7eNMHgOvYa0JFC9vb-O5RR9HjzuaA-e7E036t3usBSft84UXbWpRqv6cWQV6u1DS6Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chillicothe City Council on July 28 voted unanimously to set a public hearing at 5 p.m. Aug. 28 to consider a zoning-text amendment that would allow veterinary offices in the Downtown Enterprise (DE) District, and to consider an associated request for 36 North Walnut.

Council read aloud recommended conditions supplied by the law director that would apply to veterinary offices permitted in the DE District. Those conditions include: operation by a licensed veterinarian; all principal clinic activities conducted inside a fully enclosed building; no outdoor pet enclosures or runs; boarding limited to incidental treatment or surgery (with video surveillance if animals are boarded overnight); outdoor exercise permitted only under direct staff supervision on an odor-controlled surface and prohibited between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.; daily removal of all waste with no on-site burial or incineration; and compliance with \"Ohio Revised Code chapter 4741 regarding veterinary practice standards, waste disposal, and sanitation.\" Council directed the clerk to publish notice for the Aug. 28 hearing.

Why it matters: developer and property owners have sought reuse of a vacant building at 36 North Walnut for veterinary medicine. Supporters told council they believe the use would diversify downtown services and serve residents who lack nearby veterinary access. Opponents and some procedural points raised during public comment relate to timing and whether code changes should wait for the city’s comprehensive rewrite of the zoning code.

Public commenters

- Natalie Baldwin, 145 South Paint Street, outlined the history of applications for 36 North Walnut, saying the owners filed a zoning change application in October 2024 and a zoning-text amendment in January 2025, that the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended a code change on March 31, 2025, and that applicants were not told until July that the comprehensive rewrite would preclude consideration until the rewrite was complete. Baldwin asked that council consider the property concurrently with the DE District readings and, if the public hearing later disallows the conditional use, to drop the 36 North Walnut matter.

- Benjamin Dutchess, 78 South Walnut St., apartment 313, said he is wheelchair‑dependent and supported locating a clinic near downtown to serve residents without a vehicle.

Council action and vote

A council member read the law director’s recommended text amendment and formally moved to set the public hearing; the motion received a second from Councilman Creed and passed by roll call: Bennett—yes; McCourt—yes; Barnes—yes; McKeever—yes; DeMent—yes; Preston—yes; Dunn—yes; Creed—yes.

Authorities and code references

- The motion and recommended conditions referenced compliance with Ohio Revised Code chapter 4741 (veterinary practice standards, waste disposal, sanitation).
- Council said the hearing was set \"in accordance with the recommendation of the planning commission and, in accordance with Chillicothe ordinance number 11.17.07\" and that the amendment would be to \"Chillicothe ordinance 11.51.03.\" Those ordinance citations were read during the motion.

Next steps

The Aug. 28 public hearing will allow formal public comment and will be the opportunity for council to take the first official vote on the proposed amendment and the specific rezoning/conditional-use matter for 36 North Walnut.","Chillicothe City Council set a public hearing for 5 p.m. Aug. 28 to consider amending the Downtown Enterprise (DE) District code to permit veterinary offices (no outdoor boarding) and to consider a zoning request tied to 36 North Walnut. The measure passed unanimously after the law director’s recommended conditions were read into the record.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press council on transparency, Howmet accountability and energy policy during public comment

Mayor says Ohio EPA monitoring plume at former Howmet site; city stresses water safety

Council confirms appointment of Steve Sites to Board of Zoning Appeals

Council adopts bond ordinances to buy city vehicles, waives three‑read rule

Council schedules Aug. 28 public hearing on allowing veterinary offices in downtown; 36 N. Walnut in focus