A member clarified his vote in Monday's Chillicothe Council, and Kevin Coleman spoke with him.
6th Ward representative Jamie Brown apologized for voting the way he did in the previous council session, on a correction of the nuisance ordinance.
He had abstained, which led to the defeat of dropping the maximum height of grass and weeds from twelve to six inches. Brown said council rules allow abstention only in conflicts of interest, which he didn't have.
Julie Preston had seen her third and final reading of a revision of the "Maximum Height of Grass and Weeds" fail to pass. The legislation has been criticized as being too restrictive of height and alternate plantings. She said she will try again, since two parts of the legislation conflict.
Brown said he hoped council would revisit the issue, since it is important to allow the nuisance officer to maintain city code, but to also also be deliberate about allowing sensitivity to environmental causes like non-turf plantings and helping pollinators.
But Brown said his vote would have been "no," anyhow.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom or Kevin Coleman