Tuesday evening, Circleville Council set up a way for the downtown to help improve itself.
Council had asked the director of the local economic development agency to help them use a tool created by the state called "Downtown Redevelopment Districts."
Ryan Scribner, head of the Pickaway Progress Partnership, pointed out that these DRD's do NOT increase taxes, just redirect 70% of increased tax revenue to help the area producing the taxes.
Scribner said the money raised could go for grants to owners of historic buildings, for improvement of non-historic buildings, and to improve the infrastructure in the DRD.
Council passed the ordinance to create four districts of about 10 acres each covering the downtown.
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Mayor Don McIlroy said his town hall on the homeless had 150 to 200 in attendance, and a "lively conversation." He said a smaller planning meeting will be next week.
McIlroy also said he was approached by a group who wanted to talk about planning for Ted Lewis Park and a skate park, and gave him a petition with 1,000 signatures. He recommended council consider their concerns, since he cannot change the plan for the park.
But council had a concern about an action McIlroy had taken.
A police officer who was not named had resigned, and the law director gave an opinion that the officer was not due extra compensation. But after a grievance was filed, the mayor had granted the officer the $2,000.
McIlroy said, that saved the city from a lawsuit, and the officer had given good service for 20 years. Council member Tom Spring declined a motion to reprimand the mayor.
Kevin Coleman regularly reports on Chillicothe & Circleville councils and local culture