City council returns to regular sessions

COSHOCTON – Coshocton City Council returned to its regular meetings on Sept. 9 after taking a summer break.

During his mayor report, Steve Mercer acknowledged Council President Cliff Biggers’ retirement from Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, where he preached for about 30 years. Mercer also commented on the passing of William Albert who operated William Albert Excavating.

“He will be missed,” Mercer said. “He was a true asset and friend to the city. I appreciate what he did for our community.”

Safety Service Director Max Crown agreed with Mercer and added that Albert’s family will do a good job keeping the business going.

Crown also shared that paving is scheduled to start in the city on Monday, Sept. 23, and they will work around the fairgrounds so the flow of traffic isn’t disrupted during the fair.

Before wrapping up the meeting Mercer announced that the city and county are working together on a joint committee to help with the 2020 Census.

“This is a 10 year deal and is critical to different federal and state funding we could receive,” he said. “We have to make sure we can get as good as a count (of our population) as we can.”

Property Code Investigator Jeff Corder is on the committee and shared an example of how important the Census is.

“Coshocton City School District is 100 percent free and reduced lunch,” he said. “We have to show if we still have a need for that. If you have a kid and don’t count them we lose that kid for 10 years (in the count). It’s important you report who is in your household and report honestly. This information isn’t going to the IRS or the Department of Justice. It’s federal law the information can only be used for this count.”

Corder added that the process doesn’t actually start until next April, but the committee is trying to let people know what to expect.

Another topic discussed at the meeting was Main Street.

Our Town Coshocton President Tom Barcroft is tired of hearing people say that Main Street is dying. He recently took it upon himself to do conduct a survey of how many businesses are downtown and the number of people that work there. Through his research Barcroft discovered that there are 82 businesses on Main Street from the Eagles to just east of Seventh Street. Four hundred and eighty-seven people are employed on Main Street and he still has 26 businesses to ask how many people work there.

“I think Main Street is far from dying,” Barcroft said. “I think it’s actually on the upswing.”

Category: Government