Chillicothe Council Says No to Gabis Again, Prepares for Nuisance Officer

Chillicothe Council yet again failed to ratify former county coroner Dr. John Gabis to the Ross County Board of Health.

With one member absent, council spent 25 minutes combing through council rules and state law to determine that the four-to-four tie vote failed.

In the following public forum, two citizens criticized the members for again voting no...and then not saying why.

But an email from the President of the Ross County Health District, provided by council president Joe Gieringer and cleared by the law director, states that they already have four members of the medical profession on the board and would welcome "a little more diversity."

Additionally, there is internet chatter about Gabis supporting a needle exchange program that has not been shown to be effective elsewhere.

An email provided by council president Joe Gieringer, and cleared by the law director:

From: Glenn Thompson <glenn@horizonview.net>

Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 11:17 AM

To: Luke Feeney <luke.feeney@chillicotheoh.gov>

Cc: Joe Gieringer <joe.gieringer@chillicotheoh.gov>

Subject: [External] Board of Health

Good morning Mayor,

Glenn Thompson here. Currently serving as President of the Board of Health. I left you a VM a little while ago. Wanted to follow up w/ this email. Since council did not confirm the two individuals you put up for appointment to the board, I thought I’d reach out to see where we stand in the process. While we do not want to suggest any specific individuals for consideration, if there is anything else we can help w/, informationally, please let me know. I know you have been in contact w/ Garrett, however, I wanted to reach out, personally.

My only suggestion for potential appointments would be, someone from the business community and/or someone such as an attorney. We presently have four board members from the clinical side. We have on[e] physician, a PhD nurse, a retired pediatric nurse and an RN or BSN. I believe a little more diversity, in the mix, would be an asset.

For the sake of transparency, knowing council has to confirm your appointments, I am copying the council president on this email. I would welcome the opportunity to speak w/ either one of you, individually or together.

Thanks for your consideration.

Glenn Thompson, President

Ross County Health District

"Fish with a Firefighter" and a new nuisance officer were two items addressed by the Safety-Service chair of Chillicothe Council.

Julie Preston says enabling legislation was adjusted and will be a companion to a collective bargaining ordinance.

She said the nuisance officer position has been approved to go to full-time instead of part-time, and the city wants to hire ASAP since they have not have one for a while, and the officer will be much-needed in the spring.

Preston is also working on legislation for an annual event for kids at the Yoctangee Park lake. Council accepted a $1,000 grant from ODNR to help fund "Fish with a Firefighter" April 9th at Yoctangee Park lake.

She says the event should be posted soon by the Chillicothe firefighters. The lake is usually restocked with fish before the event.