Ontario Council still weighs cannabis sales moratorium

ONTARIO — As promised, Ontario City Council members took time during caucus to discuss the recently passed marijuana moratorium extension.

Multiple council members said they were unsure how they felt about being open to dispensaries and commercial sales, or following the lead of other municipalities in permanent moratoriums.

The current moratorium is set to lapse on Oct. 31, but lawmakers will discuss whether to extend it indefinitely at the upcoming meetings on Oct. 2 and 16.

At-large councilman Kyle Webb indicated he would be in favor of a permanent moratorium that could be repealed if needed.

“We can see what happens with Mansfield and if someone wants to change it, they’re more than welcome to bring that up,” he said.

Councilman Dave Rehfeldt asked if the city could ask for residents to email their thoughts to council and verify that they are Ontario residents.

Second Ward Councilwoman Rose Feagin agreed.

“I do feel that we need to hear more voices from the community in this conversation,” she said. “I don’t want us to get into this bubble thinking everyone thinks like we do. 

“I got many phone calls thanking me for voting for the moratorium in February. But the majority of my ward in fact voted for legalization at the ballot box. I think we need to get more voices of different perspectives in this conversation.”

Ontario’s 2nd Ward was the only ward that recorded a majority of votes in favor of Issue 2 in November 2023, according to the Richland County Board of Elections. Fifty-two percent of voters city-wide voted against legalizing marijuana at the state level. About 55% of Springfield Township voters and 50.1% of Richland County residents voted against Issue 2.

Third Ward Councilwoman Sherry Branham-Fonner, who is also the executive director of the Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, said she worried about local young people accessing cannabis.

“I know that our youth won’t be able to enter dispensaries, but the accessibility of it with legalization will increase,” she said.

“I’ve spent 30 years of my career working with people who struggle with addiction, and I think about the brain development of our youth. The brain develops until age 24 or 25, and I worry about issues that might cause if this is normalized.”

Ontario Council will meet for caucus at 6:15 p.m. at 555 Stumbo Road North on Oct. 2 and 16 per their regular meeting schedule. Caucus and council meetings are open to the public. Council meetings, beginning at 7 p.m., have an opportunity for public commentary.

City to apply for OPWC grants for waterline projects

Council also discussed applying for Ohio Public Works Commission grants and loans for waterline projects on Lexington-Springmill Road, Maple Lane, Woodbine and Lynn drives.

“We have no waterline traveling south in front of ALDI and Pet Supplies Plus that goes to Village Mall Drive,” Mayor Kris Knapp said.

“This project would eliminate a waterline that’s in the middle of the road. If we have a break on that line, we want to make sure our staff is safe fixing it, so I’d like to get it out of the middle of the road.”

Knapp said the estimated costs of the waterline projects he has in mind are $950,000. He hopes to secure a $290,000 grant and $210,000 loan from the OPWC to have the projects completed in 2025.

“If we loop the waterlines of Maple, Woodbine and Lynn, that’s going to mean cleaner water for those residents and, if we have a break on any of those lines, we can still retain water because it’s circulating,” Knapp said. 

“The lines dead-end right now, so we’d have to shut it off if they break currently.”

The utilities committee and council will discuss the OPWC application and feasibility of the projects at future meetings.

Also in Wednesday’s meeting:

• Knapp said Dunlap Drive will be closed the morning of Sept. 21 for the Bill Brown Classic cross country meet. It will also be closed from about 11:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. for the middle school’s color run.
• Council members voted to table two ordinances regarding city employees’ pay when temporarily managing more than one position. The personnel committee will review the legislation before bringing the proposals back to council.
• Knapp invited community members to Marshall Park’s Touch-A-Truck event on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. that will include a variety of truck tours, gifts and prizes.
• The mayor also reminded residents that the city-wide trick-or-treat will be Oct. 26 from 4 to 6 p.m.
• Service safety director Adam Gongwer said the city is working with K.E. McCartney to survey Menards Self Storage‘s stormwater and runoff management steps before determining whether Menards’ bond can be released. He said engineers told him Menards will have to wait for grass to grow before receiving approval, potentially not until next year.
• Police Chief Tommy Hill updated council on technology upgrades in the police department and praised Officer Rod Roose’s accomplishments of bringing staff trainings to the City of Ontario to save the department money and help to develop officers’ skills. Roose was also recently appointed a team lead of Richland County ASORT teams.

Hill also told council members that Officer Dylan Bailey — who was shot responding to a call in February — is planning to return to the department next month under transitional duty.

“I want to thank you all for the support that you have given to him,” Chief Hill said. “He’s a hero and I have seen how our city, our city council and mayor have supported him. One thing that’s clear with our leadership is we care about our people and we will do whatever it takes to take care of them.

“It’s an honor to have a guy like Dylan on the force who wants to come back after such a traumatic situation. It’s been a long road, but I know our community will continue to support him.”