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Lithopolis enacts sex offender residency restrictions
(by Linda Dillman, staff writer - December 08, 2009)
Lithopolis is establishing boundaries to keep sexual offenders out by passing legislation requiring them to keep their distance from areas where children congregate.
Adopted during Lithopolis Village Council's Dec. 8 meeting, the ordinance prohibits people who have plead guilty to a sexually-oriented offense (that is not registration-exempt) for a crime committed against a child or a child-victim oriented offense - who have been classified as either a sexual predator or sexually oriented offender - from establishing a residence or occupying any residential premises within 1,500 feet of areas frequented by children.
The list of prohibited areas includes: public or private school premises; licensed day care facilities; pre-school; private, public park, or playground; library; or public swimming pool.
Mayor Eric Sandine previously said the ordinance is an addition to the existing state code. It is not all-inclusive and there are places within the village that would not show the inclusion. The legislation is based on a similar ordinance approved by Canal Winchester Council.
Police Chief W.J. Burton reported there is at least one identified sexually-oriented offender living in Lithopolis.
The village felt compelled to take action because council believes maximum protection for children against such crimes is warranted and children are especially vulnerable to being victims of sexually abusive behavior, kidnapping and abduction, and likely to spend time on or near public or private places.
"One of the things we don't want to be is one of the last (to establish a sexually-oriented offender ordinance)," stated Sandine.
If a person violates the 1,500-foot boundary, the village solicitor can seek injunctive relief against the individual. The village is not required to prove irreparable harm in order to obtain the relief through the court system.
Uncollected income tax
Representatives from the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) recently administered a subpoena program in Lithopolis in an effort to collect almost $40,000 in back taxes.
"There is in excess of $37,000 owed to the village from people who filed taxes and didn't pay and an unknown amount from people who didn't file at all," said Sandine. "We could be close to $100,000 in uncollected income tax in Lithopolis."
Managing solid waste
The Coshocton Fairfield Licking Perry Solid Waste District asked Lithopolis to approve the district's updated management plan based on an extensive review of the existing plan and comments from public hearings.
To implement the changes, they must be ratified by townships and municipalities representing 60 percent of the district's population.
The plan update includes identification of disposal facilities rather than designating where the waste is hauled; assure at least 90 percent of residents have access to recycling opportunities; provide educational and technical assistance; and continue optional programming.
Programs are funded through disposal fees collected at municipal solid waste landfills on every ton of solid waste received. Disposal fees will be $1.25 per ton for district waste and $3.50 for waste generated outside the district.
With the announcement that waste flows from Franklin County to Perry County will decrease in 2010 and likely cease completely in following years, revenue from disposal fees will be insufficient to fund mandatory programs. An additional fee of $2 per ton on all waste generated within the four-county district will be imposed starting on Jan. 1, 2011.
Solid waste districts are required to update their management plans every five years, reduce the amount of solid waste sent to landfills, and increase recycling.
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