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BELMONT -- The village of Belmont is seeking a polling place within the village to make it more convenient for residents to vote.
Residents currently must vote at the Carnes Center in St. Clairsville. Belmont Mayor Stan Sobel told village council and residents on Thursday the Belmont County Board of Elections conducted an inspection of the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department fire hall as a possible polling place on Tuesday.
There are hundreds of inspection points that must comply with standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act for a polling place to be recognized as acceptable.
"We already knew it should be handicap-accessible. They took measurements and gave us an extensive compliance checklist," Sobel said. "I guess all I can say is they are going to get back to us. … We are certainly hopeful that the election board will hear the plea of the people to bring elections back on a local basis because of the hardship of some of the people that you know and I know getting over to the Carnes Center to vote. To me, elections should be a local thing."
In other village business, council approved first readings of legislation including a property maintenance ordinance for high grass and weeds, and an ordinance to regulate litter and other materials on properties.
Both would provide enforcement and penalty guidelines to impose fines on property owners who do not comply with the ordinance.
Council discussed legislation that would regulate "tiny houses," as well. Solicitor T.J. Schultz recommended making two separate laws, one specifically for tiny houses and mobile homes, and the other to regulate campers, recreational vehicles and large equipment. He will prepare a draft for council to look at and amend at the next meeting on Feb. 2.
Possible guidelines would include that tiny homes and mobile homes less than 350 square feet must be set on a foundation; that the owner must live on the property full-time and cannot rent it out; the title of the property must be surrendered to the county auditor; and there may be only one per lot.
As Thursday's meeting was the first of 2017, council members were appointed to various committees, and Councilman Michael Murphy was nominated by fellow Councilman Ron Woods to become the new council president. Murphy accepted and council voted to approve his selection.
Sobel said he and council members will be meeting with Belmont Mills and Rice Energy at noon today to determine the final design to widen the entrance to the village to make it more accessible for oil and gas industry trucks and more safe for residents.
"I already met with Rice Energy and (the Ohio Department of Transportation) in New Philadelphia a month ago. They have at least eight different groups involved in trying to get this thing settled. I have to hand it to Rice Energy. After all the things that there were to do, they said, 'Whatever it takes, we'll get it done.' They have been a great partner … and they are doing it all at their expense," Sobel said.
At the meeting's conclusion, Sobel reflected on his first year in office.
"We've come a long way. And I just appreciate everybody's help with that. … It's been everybody, this team's done it. We've worked together, this town's worked together. We've moved a long way, and we've got a long, long way to go -- but we'll get there," Sobel said.