Economic stability, future took spotlight at Nelsonville Council

by David Laber and Ben Grabow

One topic took the stage at last night's Nelsonville City Council meeting –the city's economic well being.

The council voted to apply for a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement Plan, which could provide much-needed money for improving streets and expanding water and sewage lines to meet the needs of more people and businesses.

Councilman Bill Wend said reliable facilities could draw businesses to the city, bringing new jobs with them.

Although the city has increased the water plant's capacity and added more lines with the Dorr Run sewage project, making the city attractive for businesses is difficult.

Especially when Athens, Logan and their potential customers can draw new businesses such as Wal-Mart more easily, Wend said. The city must focus on economic development, even while facing some disadvantages from the proposed state Route 33 bypass.

"The backbone of the economy in Athens County is the small businessman," he said. "That is the kind of businessman I would like to attract to Nelsonville."

The city could use tax incentive packages to draw more small businessmen, Wend said.

Another important aspect of maintaining economic stability is keeping families in the city, while making Nelsonville a good community for new people to move to, Wend said.

Nelsonville public schools have lost 369 students over the last 12 years, depriving the district of approximately $1.4 million, said Wend, who tracks enrollment at area schools.

Bill Arnett, president of the chamber of commerce, briefly addressed council about building up infrastructures to attract businesses. It needs to respond to businesses' needs and "roll out the red carpet," he said.

The council also discussed moving meetings to the new city building, which would require buying new equipment to videotape the meetings. At a price of $5,000-$6,000, the city could purchase a new cassette recording device, speakers and wireless microphones

Council President Clinton Stanley disagreed with the idea because the Channel 5 studio they currently use is free and broadcast live.