REMINDER, The City of Nelsonville Trick-Or-Treat; Beggar’s Night will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2020, from 5:30PM to 7:00PM. 

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to use caution and plan ahead. Decisions on whether to participate should be made by individuals, and parents/guardians.

Always follow current state public health orders and rules/regulations established by your local community and check the Ohio Public Health Advisory System to determine COVID-19 risk levels in Athens County before making decisions about Halloween activities.

To help ensure adults and children have a safe Halloween, the City of Nelsonville has compiled a list of Halloween safety tips. Before Halloween arrives, be sure to choose a costume that will not cause safety hazards. It is strongly recommended that Ohioans exercise caution when deciding to participate in trick-or-treating and events that put them in close contact with people outside their households. To lower risk, consider safer, socially distant ways to celebrate.

• Do not hold large in-person Halloween parties. If holding smaller parties, limit attendance to 10 or fewer people and hold the event in an outdoor area where social distancing is possible. Avoid activities, such as bobbing for apples, that foster the spread of infection.
• Always wear a face covering and stay 6 feet away from people who are not from your household, whether trick-or- treating, passing out treats, or attending attractions or events. Stay home if you are sick. (NOTE: Face coverings should never be placed on children younger than 2 or anyone who cannot easily remove them.)
• Carry hand sanitizer and use it often, especially after coming into contact with frequently touched surfaces and before eating candy.
• Consider the people in your household who may be at greater risk of complications if COVID-19 is brought into the home, such as those with certain health conditions, women who are pregnant, or older family members.
• If taking your children trick-or-treating, limit the number of houses you visit and ask your children to stay as far from treat-givers as possible. For small children, consider holding the bag for them.
• Wipe off candy wrappers with sanitizing wipes when you arrive home. (NOTE: Never wipe unpackaged food with wipes.)
• Allow children to eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid homemade treats made by strangers.
• If your child is at greater risk of complications from COVID-19, contact your doctor before allowing participation in Halloween activities.
• For trick-or-treating, reach out to neighbors to discuss ways to ensure 6-foot social distancing, how candy can most safely be distributed, and the need for face coverings.
• Refrain from having children select their own treats from a bowl/common container or set up a hand-sanitizing station. Consider placing treats on porch steps or a table in the driveway with a sign asking children to take only one. Or use other creative ways to distribute treats, such as using a candy “slide” made of PVC pipe, or hanging treats from a wall or fence.
• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant.
• Avoid masks, which can obstruct vision.
• If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks.
• When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is nontoxic and always test it in a small area first.
• Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation.
• When They’re on the Prowl.
• A responsible adult should accompany young children on the neighborhood rounds.
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you.
• Agree on a specific time children should return home.
• Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car.
• Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends.
• Tell your children not to eat any treats until they return home.
• Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
• Drivers are urged to use extreme caution while driving in the Nelsonville area and watch for the children during this time period.

The City of Nelsonville announces Rumpke Waste and Recycling was unable to complete trash pickup for Church Street and Coker Lane today Tuesday, October 27, 2020. The missed areas will receive trash pickup service first thing Wednesday morning, October 28, 2020. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

The City of Nelsonville is accepting applications for Police Officers.

 The City is building an eligibility list for potential Police Officer vacancies.  Police Officers must possess an O.P.O.T.C. Certification on or before the test date. Applicants must pass a Civil Service Test.  A photo I.D. is required to gain admittance into the test. The test will be given on December 10, 2020 at 6:00 pm in the Nelsonville Council Chambers located at 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville, Ohio. 

Application packets may be obtained at the City Auditors Office, 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville, Ohio, from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday, beginning October 26, 2020 ending November 16, 2020.  Deadline to turn in Applications is Friday, November 20, 2020 by 4:00pm. A $20.00 fee will be charged for the application/exam packet and must be paid when picking up the packet.

Chief of Police

The City of Nelsonville is a rural community, with a population of 5,100.  The police department consists of 8 full-time, 2 part time officers and 1 clerk.  The Chief of Police is appointed by the City Manager with the approval of council, and reports to the City Manager.  The Nelsonville Police Department places strong emphasis upon providing quality services through a community policing philosophy.

Minimum Qualifications:  To be considered, candidates must have a minimum of 5 consecutive full-time years of service in law enforcement with a minimum of two years in an administrative position in a comparable or larger police department preferred.  Candidates also must hold a State of Ohio Peace Officer Training Certificate.  Because a high level of personal integrity and professional ethics is essential, a comprehensive background investigation will be conducted.  The successful candidate must pass pre-employment testing which may include both written and psychological testing.

Preferred Qualifications:  Candidates with post high school education*, upper level management and leadership training, attendees of F.B.I. National Academy, Southern Police Institute, Certified Law Enforcement Executive (CLEE), Police Executive Leadership College (PELC) or Northwestern Staff and Command will receive additional consideration.  Candidates with experience in management models such as Community Oriented Policing are highly preferred.

Compensation:  Salary for the position is $52,000.00 / $57,000.00.  In addition, Nelsonville offers an excellent fringe benefit package.

Application Procedure:  Interested parties may obtain an information packet from the City Auditors Office, 211 Lake Hope Drive, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, beginning November 2, 2020, and ending November 16, 2020. 

Written examination will be held on December 9, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.  The top scorers will appear before the Review Board on December 15, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.

THE CITY OF NELSONVILLE IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLORER, WOMEN AND MINORITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

* For those candidates who apply with educational degrees beyond the minimum requirements, please note that the City of Nelsonville only recognizes degrees granted from a university or college if the degree granting institution is accredited.  The organization that granted the accreditation must have been officially approved as an accrediting agency by either the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

The Nelsonville Division of Fire will start inspecting fire hydrants in the City Monday, October 26, 2020.  Fire crews will be out daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until all the fire hydrants are inspected.  The inspection involves removing all caps and lubricating the threads as well as flowing water to ensure that each hydrant is operating properly.

All fire hydrants in the City are known as dry barrel hydrants, meaning that there is no water in the barrel of the hydrant until the hydrant is opened.  This helps ensure that the hydrants will not freeze in cold weather and will therefore be available when needed for a fire.  After every use and inspection, the hydrants are closed, and the water drains out.  Hydrants that do not drain properly, or with other problems, are reported to the Nelsonville Water Department for further maintenance.

This annual testing is essential to maintain the City’s Class 4 Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification, and to ensure that hydrants are operating efficiently for fire protection purposes.  Along with maintaining the fire rating, the testing monitors the health of the City’s water system, identifies weak areas in the system, removes materials that settle in the hydrant, and cleans out the lines.  Checking each hydrant improves crew knowledge of hydrant locations.  Fire department personnel will check to make sure there is adequate clearance around all fire hydrants, and property owners should clear weeds and brush from blocked hydrants to aid in their easy identification and access.  The fire code requires at least 36 inches of clear area around the hydrant for proper access and helps assure that the hydrant is visible from the road.

During hydrant inspections, residents might experience temporarily low water pressure or discolored (rusty) water.  The discoloration of water will not harm an individual, although it may stain light colored clothing.  The fire department advises that you run your faucets until you have clean water.  Do not run your hot water or do laundry until your water is clear.  If you have any questions or should you at any time notice a hydrant in need of repair, please contact the fire department at 740-753-1244.