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Nelsonville council enacts emergency cybersecurity policy, advances noise, parking and public-records changes and moves on nuisance orders
Summary
Council enacted an emergency cybersecurity ordinance and approved a $5,000 appropriation for Parade of the Hills; members introduced and discussed updates to parking, noise and public-records-fee policies and introduced several nuisance/condemnation ordinances ordering repair or demolition of specific properties.
Nelsonville City Council introduced a package of administrative and code updates and took immediate action on cybersecurity compliance during its July meeting.
Emergency cybersecurity ordinance adopted: Council enacted Ordinance 55-26 on first reading under suspension of the rules as an emergency. The ordinance directs the city to adopt cybersecurity risk-management policies consistent with ORC 9.64, requires annual review and notes the cybersecurity policy is not a public record under ORC 1.49.43. The adoption was recorded in the meeting as approved.
Other ordinances introduced and discussed: Council introduced amendments to parking rules (proposed change to Section 76.03 increasing allowable continuous street parking to 72 hours with notification options), an updated noise ordinance (defining "quiet hours" as 10 PM–7 AM and clarifying "plainly audible" enforcement by officers), and a police policy amendment establishing fees and redaction procedures for body-worn-camera and video records (including a proposed $40/hour redaction rate and a $750 cap unless otherwise authorized). Council members questioned how the noise rule would intersect with downtown businesses and noted officer discretion and exemptions for sanctioned public events.
Nuisance and condemnation ordinances: Council introduced several ordinances declaring individual dwelling structures a public nuisance and ordering repair or demolition with a 30‑day compliance window; properties listed included 525 Patton St., 839 High St., 198 Myers St., 774 Chestnut St., 225 Brookfield Drive and others. If owners do not comply, the city may abate the nuisance and special-assess the costs against the property.
Parade appropriation and personnel votes: Council adopted Ordinance 62-26 to appropriate $5,000 to the Parade of the Hills fund. The council also accepted a vice-president resignation and elected McRae Powell to the role by council vote.
Why it matters: The cybersecurity ordinance brings the city into compliance with state reporting and management expectations; the proposed records-fee changes and noise and parking amendments adjust day-to-day enforcement and public access to records; the nuisance ordinances affect property owners and reflect an active code-enforcement process.
Next steps: The cybersecurity policy will be implemented and reviewed annually; staff will refine language in the public-records policy to confirm journalist exemptions; nuisance owners have 30 days to comply or face abatement and assessment; additional ordinance readings or amendments will be scheduled as required.
