В Нельсонвилле завершили реставрацию фонтана на исторической площади, воду в нем включат в 2027 году

NELSONVILLE, Ohio — Long awaited after numerous delays, the reassembly of the fountain in Nelsonville’s Historic Public Square is scheduled for completion later this week. All members of Nelsonville City Council were present at Monday’s meeting, along with attorney John O’Connor of the law firm, O’Connor, Haseley and Wilhelm Law. The firm was appointed as the city’s law director and city attorney at Nelsonville City Council’s July 13 meeting. Due to inclement weather conditions over the past few weeks, reassembly of the fountain could not be completed, Danette Miller, the city manager of Nelsonville, explained. However, thanks to more favorable weather conditions, D.V. Weber Construction, based in Reedsville, will likely reassemble the fountain Wednesday. Miller informed council of a recommendation to keep the basin dry for the rest of the year to allow the epoxy to cure. The city would turn on the water in the spring of 2027. The project includes new handrails, posts and end caps on the bottom bowl, along with additional restoration on the concrete base of the fountain, as previously reported by The Messenger. The fountain itself received a new coat of white paint and was modified so the water cascaded over the bowls rather than spraying out, courtesy of Robinson Iron Corporation of Alexander City, Alabama. Initial estimates for the project costs totaled around $129,000. This figure did not include fixing and replacing the concrete base of the fountain, which a local contractor estimated to be around $14,800. Neither figure includes additional costs incurred by plumbing and electrical work in the base of the fountain. Expenses outpaced revenue in July for Nelsonville, with July revenue at $944,205 compared to expenses at $949,372, a $5,167 deficit, Brian M. Elkins, the city auditor of Nelsonville, explained. Total cash across all funds decreased by $201,366, with an end-of-month cash balance of $4,473,882. This decrease was driven by an $196,199 increase in outstanding encumbrances, Elkins added. Nelsonville provided $5,000 sponsorships to both Thunder in the Valley and the Parade of the Hills Festival. These sponsorships were made possible through revenue collected from lodging taxes. One lodging tax operator is delinquent and owes Nelsonville roughly $13,000 in tax revenue. The city is awaiting legal guidance on collection, Elkins explained. A property at 77 W. Columbus St. is scheduled for demolition in the near future by McKee Auto Parts of New Marshfield, though the final date is yet to be finalized, Austin Kelley, the code enforcement officer of Nelsonville, explained. Along with 77 W. Columbus St., council also passed a series of ordinances declaring structures at 525 Patton, 839 High, 198 Myers, and 774 Chestnut streets, as well as 225 Crihfield Dr., as public nuisances and ordering their “repair or removal.” At both the Parade of the Hills Festival and the recent varsity football game between Nelsonville-York City Schools and Trimble Local Schools, the Nelsonville Police Department collected donations for flood-stricken communities. NPD collected approximately one-and-a-half vehicle loads of cleaning supplies and non-perishable food items to distribute to Crooksville residents, a community of 2,500 in Perry County located 15 miles south of Zanesville. Council also passed Resolution 2374, recognizing members of the Nelsonville Division of Fire for their extraordinary heroism during the floods that struck communities throughout Southeast Ohio. On Aug. 6, Nelsonville firefighters—along with first responders from York Township, Murray City and Athens County Emergency Medical Services (ACEMS)—conducted river rescue operations and saved six individuals in the process. Ten days later, volunteer firefighters from the Nelsonville, York Township, Coolville, Athens City and Richland Area Volunteer fire departments carried out a nighttime search operation for a missing person on the Hocking River in Athens. Other groups involved in the Aug. 16 search include the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Athens County Sheriff’s Office and the Athens City Police Department. The missing woman made contact with Athens police Aug. 18, concluding the search. The next Nelsonville City Council meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at Nelsonville City Hall, located at 211 Lake Hope Dr. Email [email protected] with story tips and pitches.