Local restaurants could receive helping hand from city
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH — Relief has come in varying ways to Portsmouth small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, whether through local or national assistance, yet it’s nonetheless been a struggle.
Profit margins are already thin for restaurants, said 1st Ward Councilman Sean Dunne during the Jan. 25 City Managers session, made only skinnier by high user rates charged by third-party food delivery services such as DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats and others.
These services charge a commission, sometimes as high as 30%, where a portion of profits made by selling food products ends up in their hands instead of the restaurants.
Candidates petitions received by SCBOE
Joey Sandlin is running for the Portsmouth 5th Ward Councilperson position. Photo courtesy of Joey Sandlin.
Andy Cole is running for the Portsmouth 3rd Ward Councilperson position. Photo courtesy of Andy Cole.
Ryan Ottney is again running for a position on the Village of New Boston Council. File Photo.
Jessica Pacula is running for the Portsmouth 3rd Ward Councilperson position. Photo courtesy of Jessica Pacula.
Jerry Skiver is running for the Portsmouth 3rd Ward Councilperson position. Photo courtesy of Jerry Skiver.
Current 5th Ward Councilman Edwin Martell, pictured here during his Jan. 14, 2020 appointment, is running as a write-in candidate for the ward. File photo.
Local flag collector won’t show one flag any longer
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
Bob Lewis says his flag display, which in recent years included the confederate flag, focuses more on history and the contentious symbol is not particularly important to him. Photo courtesy of Bob Lewis.
PORTSMOUTH — His name was never mentioned during Portsmouth City Council’s two months of discussion, but he says he still felt its impact.
An 11-year renter of the city’s campgrounds, Bob Lewis has presented as many as 26 flags, including the American, Ohioan and 9/11 ones, from his riverfront property throughout the years. One of his flags however received condemnation from the council as they looked into potentially banning it from city property.
City renames portion of Findlay Street
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
Portsmouth City Council gathered Tuesday afternoon to see the dedication of a portion of Findlay Street to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Photo by Adam Black.
A city worker places the new named street sign honoring MLK on the corner of Findlay Street and 16th Street.
PORTSMOUTH — It’s been a work in progress for nearly two years, but Portsmouth City Council took care of the business of renaming a portion of a city street on Tuesday.
Between the Scioto County Sheriff’s Department and Route 52, that portion of Findlay Street will be renamed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
Packard encourages COVID vaccine, shares poster idea
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
6th Ward Councilman Dennis Packard (left) discussed his idea of promoting the Covid-19 vaccines through a poster campaign during the City Council session on Dec. 28. Photo by Patrick Keck.
SCIOTO — COVID vaccines are being carried out by the hundreds in Scioto County each day and Portsmouth 6th Ward Councilman Dennis Packard wants the public to not just support it, but to actively promote it.
During his first report as a Council member on Monday, Packard suggested citizens create posters that encourages their neighbors to take the vaccine when it is their turn.
Court security, code enforcement in Council’s final 2020 session
By Patrick Keck
Portsmouth City Council will close out its 2020 meetings on Monday at the Shawnee State University Ballroom. Photo by Patrick Keck.
PORTSMOUTH- Monday’s Portsmouth City Council will conclude 2020, a year marked by the nomination of three new Council members, passed measures, and the occasional fervent debate.
This meeting, held at the Shawnee State University Ballroom, will be 6th Ward Councilman Dennis Packard’s first since his Dec. 14 nomination and focus on seven legislation items.
Council will start with a 3rd reading of a code enforcement spreadsheet, an ordinance that has tabled and failed to surpass the three-reading rule previously. With its passage, City Manager Sam Sutherland would be authorized to enter an agreement with SSU to create monthly digital visualizations of complaints and citations related to code enforcement.
Haas, citing First Amendment, says no to Rebel flag ban
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH- A discussion item in the past two Portsmouth City Managers sessions seems like it will remain in that status following a response from City Solicitor John Haas.
Haas received an inquiry from 2nd Ward Councilwoman Charlotte Gordon during the Nov. 23 meeting regarding the presence of Confederate flags on city property, more specifically on the city-owned campgrounds by the riverfront.
He said then that he would need time to review the legal merits of prohibiting the symbol, which would’ve been made part of the city’s policy for campers, but sensed there would be First Amendment implications.
Dunne pushes tourism, city improvement through Portsmouth-edition Monopoly
PORTSMOUTH — Sometimes work in Portsmouth City Council can be all fun and games.
Attempting to build tourism and excitement about life in Portsmouth, 1st Ward Councilman Sean Dunne is devising a plan to build the city’s own version of a famed boardgame.
That game, Monopoly, has the primary objective of collecting properties and receiving enough of an opponent’s money through rent to drive them into bankruptcy.
Portsmouth’s version, depending if Council moves this discussion item into legislation, however, is not so much a competition but would be more focused on the listing of properties or places to visit.
Discussions surround a potential Portsmouth renewable energy plan
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
PORTSMOUTH — 1st Ward Councilman Sean Dunne feels that Ohio trails behind in the implementation of renewable energy, which proponents argue is a cleaner and more sustainable way to meet energy needs.
Portsmouth, however, may not follow suit and take action in the battle against Climate Change.
Not waiting for action from Columbus, Dunne is suggesting City Council take a pledge to only use renewable energy by 2035 for city properties and 2050 for the entire city.
“I think trying to make sure people are able to use renewable, clean, and inexpensive energy is a pressing issue,” he said, the price of particular interest after state lawmakers did not take any action on the scandalous Ohio House Bill 6.
Dunne votes against “problematic” purchase of $265,000 armored vehicle
By Patrick Keck - pkeck@aimmediamidwest.com
1st Ward Councilman Sean Dunne (right) voted against an ordinance which would’ve appropriated $265,000 in the purchase of an armored vehicle for the Portsmouth SWAT, Police and Fire Departments on Monday evening. Photo by Patrick Keck.
PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth City Council failed to pass legislation Monday evening which would have appropriated $265,000 from the city’s General Fund for the purchase of an armored vehicle.
Despite having a majority of the votes, 3-1 in favor, the missing fourth vote prevented the passing of the measure. Such was the case earlier this year when a 3-2 vote ended an attempt to decriminalize marijuana possession.