Council: Should racecars fall under nuisance law?
COSHOCTON − Should racecars not be considered junk vehicles was recently discussed by Coshocton City Council.
At its last regular committees meeting, Safety Service Director Max Crown said there are several racecar drivers who live in the city and keep their racecars or vehicles for parts on their property. Crown said they have asked for the parts vehicles to be kept behind homes when possible.
Crown brought up to council the possibility of making an amendment to the city's nuisance ordinance for racecars not to be considered junk vehicles as they don't have license plates.
Councilman Roger Moore doesn't believe council should be responsible for defining what's a junk car and what's a racecar. It was mentioned anyone could paint a number on the door of a junk vehicle and say it's a racecar.
"You've got a junker in your yard, just paint a number 15 on it, and there you go," said Councilman Tom Barcroft on skirting the legislation.
He also thought such vehicles should be stored in a building, not left outside, and that would keep them out of junk vehicle consideration. Councilman Chad Johnson also said someone could register a vehicle and get a plate, even if they don't attend to drive it on the street.
"If it's out without a plate on it, it needs to be in a building, just like any other unplated car," Moore said. "Part of our problems in the past have been being too discretionary with our ordinances and who we're enforcing it on or with and who we're not."
Law Director Bob Skelton said he was against any alteration. President Tom Hilgenberg said the ordinance was previously strengthened to have more teeth when it came to enforcement.
"If you wanted to put more teeth in it, why pull them out," he asked. "I think common sense prevails with our code enforcement."
In other council news:
∎ Council approved preparing specifications, advertising for bids and signing a contract to purchase a vehicle to be used by Fire Chief Rusty Dreher.
∎ An ordinance amending how lodging taxes are paid by entities was given first reading. Proposed is for any entity that averaged $50 a month in lodging taxes for the preceding year being able to file on a quarterly basis, instead of monthly, at the discretion of the city auditor. 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. The city keeps 5% of the money that comes to it with 95% going to the Coshocton Visitors Bureau.
∎ Council at its next meeting is expected to approve a resolution regarding contracting with the Ohio Department of Transportation for purchase of salt for treatment of roads in the winter. Available is 1,000 tons in the winter and another 400 tons can be purchased in the summer if needed for the coming season. Crown said the city will probably just get 200 tons to restock what was used this winter, which was fairly mild.
∎ Two amendments will be considered at the next meeting to a previously approved wage ordinance for non-bargaining employees. Auditor Sherry Kirkpatrick said she noticed an error in the pay rate for the position of public works assistant director. The original wage should be $28.69 per hour, not $28.06 as listed in the legislation. The unfilled position might be receiving a hire soon, leading to Kirkpatrick catching the error. Crown said they're looking to fill that position with Jason Thornsley. Additionally, a formula error caused the pay rate to be listed wrong for 2024 for the utilities director position.
∎ Crown encouraged those opening a new business to get a building permit from city hall. He said this allows one to know if the area is property zoned and if they need to get other agencies involved in the plans, such as the Coshocton Fire Department and Mid-East Ohio Building Department. "It creates a major hassle not only for them, but us as well," Crown said on those not getting building permits up front.
∎ The Coshocton Community Band has requested $2,500 from the city for operations, which has been granted in the past.
∎ Crown said he spoke with Tim France about the city possibly giving funding to Coshocton in Bloom. Asked was a lifetime amount of $20,000. CIB provides plants and hanging baskets within the city, which has been covered by donations in the past.
∎ Crown said they city is continuing to pursue funding for the Warsaw project to extend waterlines and provide water and water services. This has included conversations with the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association and the offices of Rep. Troy Balderson and Sen. Sherrod Brown.
∎ The annual community cleanup day between the city and United Way of Coshocton County will be at 8 a.m. April 15 starting at the Coshocton Court Square Gazebo.
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: Should racecars fall under nuisance law?
