Anonymous letters to city officials cause concern

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WILMINGTON — Safety/service director Brian Shidaker informed Wilmington City Council on Thursday that he had been receiving anonymous mail at his home that contained threatening comments.

“We take that very seriously,” said Shidaker. “I’m going to talk to Chief (Duane) Weyand about it. I want the public to know that we are aware of this and that it’s not a joke.”

According to Shidaker, he and the Mayor’s Executive Assistant, Marian Miller, received letters on Thursday which contained no name and no return address. Shidaker encourages anyone who has information to call the Wilmington Police Department.

Also during council:

• The temporary tax hike on the November ballot was briefly discussed when it was brought up after Mayor John Stanforth informed attendees that leaf pickup will be performed after the election and if the levy passes.

“If the tax passes you can expect that service to be maintained. If it doesn’t then that service will be one thing we start cutting immediately,” said Stanforth.

Council member Matt Purkey asked if there would be any other services cut if the levy doesn’t pass. Stanforth reiterated that the police force would be affected heavily by a cut, and Shidaker told council that any paving projects would be affected as well.

• Council passed an ordinance, during the Judiciary Committee report, that would amend a section of Chapter 505 and 549 of the Codified Ordinance of the City of Wilmington. The amendments prohibit hunting of “any wild animal, fowl or other game within the corporate limits of the city.”

A resolution was also passed authorizing loan assistance through the Revolving Loan to Roseworks LLC.

• Two ordinances for making miscellaneous payments were passed during Finance Committee report. The first transferred $10,000 from collection vehicle fuel to collection vehicle expenses, $3,000 from consultant services to consultant services-building inspector, and $8,000 from program expense to operating expense. The second transferred $2,000 from acting clerk salary to acting judge salary.

During the report, council also passed an ordinance making supplemental appropriations which transferred $75,000 from the general fund to taxi. Shidaker told council that this transfer would act as a security blanket in case the city does not receive checks from the state.

• Council addressed concerns and complaints that they had received regarding the new garbage toter service. Council member Joe Spicer assured the concerned citizens that they are working on them. Spicer, Shidaker and Stanforth also praised to Braden Dunham and other workers in the sanitation department for their work in fixing the bugs.

• A resolution for preliminary legislation for wide crack sealing portions of US Route 22 in the Wilmington was approved by the council.

• Council President Randy Riley gave attention to the recent online praise given by President Barack Obama toward the council and Energize Clinton County. “I want to thank all of you for all the diligent work that you do,” said Riley.

• Announced during the mayor’s report that tree planting had begun on Main Street, there will be a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. Saturday, for Xidas Park, and that construction of the pump track at Denver Williams Park will begin at 8 a.m. on Oct. 29. If anyone wishes to volunteer with the construction, call Lori Williams at 937-382-4781.

• Council member Jonathan McKay said stone restoration of the Civil War soldiers’ tombstones at Sugar Grove Cemetery was going well.

• Council member Mark McKay said during the Downtown Revitalization committee report that the Beer Bonanza event for Saturday was canceled. McKay accredited this to not enough time to promote it. He suspects that they will try for it again next year.

Mayor John Stanforth, left, accepts a $600 check from Keith and Carol Chambers for Wilmington’s parks. The money was raised by the two owners of Wilmington’s Dairy Queen after they held a soft opening.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/10/web1_IMG_2211.jpgMayor John Stanforth, left, accepts a $600 check from Keith and Carol Chambers for Wilmington’s parks. The money was raised by the two owners of Wilmington’s Dairy Queen after they held a soft opening. John Hamilton | Wilmington News Journal

By John Hamilton

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Reach John Hamilton at 937-382-2574

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