UTICA — Village Council Monday took the final step to place the renewal of a 2.5-mill levy on the Nov. 5 ballot. The council last month passed the resolution declaring the necessity of renewing the levy, which raises $64,707 per year for street lighting and street maintenance, but they had to wait until that had been certified to the Licking County Auditor before acting to place the levy on the ballot.
Council also gave final approval to an ordinance banning the cultivation, processing and dispensing of marijuana in the village.
In the ordinance, council said it is “sympathetic to testimony by medical marijuana proponent its, but is also concerned because it has “no experience in regulating and governing such facilities.” Its also cites the status of marijuana still being listed as a Schedule I drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Council suspended the requirement for three readings and passed two ordinances vacating undeveloped sections of Penn Street and Sycamore Street.
Village Administrator Glenn Richards reported that smoke testing of sewer lines will take place April 23. They are looking for sites of infiltration into the sanitary lines.
He also reported the annual Bunny Brunch, a pancake breakfast to support the continuing upgrade of Miller Park, will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Utica Fire Station.
The annual village clean-up will take place April 25 and 26 with Shackleford Disposal collecting the trash.
Police Chief Cameron Dailey reported that police patrols have been increased in response to a series of vandalisms in the village, including damage to the lighting of a mural at the American Legion.
Mayor Lester Grennell said he has heard criticism of the village spending money on a mural on a downtown building, but, he said, the village is spending nothing on the mural. It is being paid for by the Utica Area Foundation through donations.
