City council altering lodging taxes to help airbnb owners

COSHOCTON − Coshocton City Council is looking at changes to lodging taxes to assist airbnb owners.

Auditor Sherry Kirkpatrick discussed alterations with council at a recent meeting. The legislation to collect the fees was approved in 2006 and amended in 2018 for the city to keep 5% of the money that comes to it with 95% going to the Coshocton Visitors Bureau. Fees are to be collected each month.

Kirkpatrick said those running airbnbs have only small amounts from month to month with the average being around $30. She would like those who collect under $100 a month to be able to file quarterly, instead of monthly. She said the change was fine with CVB Director Mindy Brems.

Kirkpatrick said outgoing Coshocton County Auditor Chris Sycks has already made a similar collection change on the county level.

By state law, hotels, motels, cabins, guest houses and bed and breakfasts collect 6% of a visitor’s bill as a bed tax. Of that, 3% goes to the city and 3% to the county.

Kirkpatrick said her office monitors the collections and lodging owners are sent forms to fill out and make payments to the auditor's office. Mayor Mark Mills said the state is still working on overall legislation regulating airbnbs.

Kirkpatrick is crafting a letter to lodging owners to explain the alterations and it's still being considered if council will amend the previous ordinance or just pass new legislation.

In other council news:

∎ Council approved the leasing of 504 N. Third St. to the general contractor working on the construction of the new Coshocton Justice Center, a county project. A stone modular on the site will be used as a construction trailer for the duration of the project. Per law, the lease needs to be advertised before being entered into and a final price hasn't been announced. Water and sewer services will be part of the lease. The contractor will be responsible for maintenance and other utilities. They will also grade and re-gravel once finished.

∎ Council had the first reading of an ordinance permitting the city to enter into a contract with the Village of Warsaw to assume ownership of water, water lines and other distribution assets. This is part of the project to provide water and water services to the village, similar to the deal with West Lafayette.

∎ Second reading of an ordinance was held to vacate an alley behind RHDD, 1517 Chestnut St. The request is tied to creation of a new parking lot. The city was waiting on a survey by RHDD to be completed and received.

∎ Authorization to extend the current contract for trash collection for three years with Kimble Companies was given a second reading. Cost will go from $16.64 per customer a month to $18.59 per customer per month. This is 24 cents more than was originally negotiated, because solid waste fees have gone up and the contract states the city will cover any increase in governmental fees.

Another change mentioned at the last meeting by Utilities Director Dave Kadri was Kimble ending a process where those who didn't want their services could get a waiver. That will end in 2024. Kadri said that's 28 residential accounts. There is language in the contract stating Kimble is the exclusive provider for trash collection in the city.

∎ Kadri said they received a request from a civic organization to place an insert into mailed water bills. This was something the department did before, but hadn't in several years. Kadri said if they are going to do inserts again, council should establish a policy regarding who can do it and the parameters. Being considered are non-profit organizations within the city.

∎ Council President Tom Hilgenberg asked council members to review their committee assignments and discuss any switches they might like to make with him. New committee assignment will be presented at the next meeting.

∎ Mills said he's doing preliminary work, including finding funding, relating to a skate park and pump track at Himebaugh Park. A pump track can be used by skaters as well as bicycle and scooter riders.

∎ A no left turn sign for the corner of Seventh and Walnut streets is on order for installation.

∎ Safety Service Director Max Crown said they're about 75% done with a project to replace waterlines at South Lawn Cemetery.

The next meeting of Coshocton City Council will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Coshocton Fire Department, 325 S. Seventh St. The committees meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. and council members will get a tour of the station at 5 p.m.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Council altering lodging taxes to help airbnb owners