COUNCIL Village OKs law to fight uncut grass

Council gave first reading to an occupancy permit for new businesses.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Residents who don't mow their grass will be pursued more aggressively by the village this summer.
Village council suspended the three-reading rule when it met Monday and unanimously passed an ordinance that allows the village to move more quickly to force residents to keep their lawns trimmed.
In previous years, Mayor Robert Carson explained, a resident with tall grass had to be sent a notice of violation which ordered the grass mowed within 14 days. If the grass got high again, another notice, giving another 14 days to have it mowed, had to be sent. Carson said this usually meant that the grass would be mowed only twice during the summer.
Under the new ordinance, the property owner will receive only one violation notice giving 14 days to mow the grass. After that, further violations would result in a citation into mayor's court.
Occupancy permits
Council also agreed to schedule a public hearing on a proposed ordinance which would, for the first time, require an occupancy permit for new businesses. The proposed ordinance will be posted for 30 days before a public hearing is set.
The ordinance would require new commercial enterprises to obtain the free permit from the village whenever a building is being altered. It would not affect expansion of current businesses.
Zoning Inspector Dale Miller explained the ordinance is needed because the village now has no way of knowing what type of renovations are going on when businesses are sold.
Fire inspections might be needed, for example, if chemicals are going to be stored in a building. The permit would let the village know if any safety problems exist. He said the permit is not designed to generate money but to protect village residents.
Currently, renovation of a building for a business requires only a county building inspection for any renovation more than $50, Miller said.
Other action
Also Monday:
UPolice Chief Bill Morvay announced that residents should expect traffic delays on state Route 170 once sidewalk construction starts sometime within the next month.
UCarson said Blue Cross/Blue Shield has notified the village that hospitalization insurance rates for employees will rise 27 percent next year. The village has asked for a review of that figure and is obtaining estimates from other carriers.
UFire Chief Bill Opsitnik said the fire department has received a $2,125 Ohio Department of Public Safety grant for EMS equipment. He also was authorized by council to apply for a $4,055 grant from the Ohio State Fire Marshal for a hydraulic rescue pump and electric hose reels and hose to supplement current equipment. If the grant is awarded, the village would have to contribute an additional $4,055. The equipment is larger than the extrication equipment the village has now.