Full minutes

Members present

• Chris Haney, Vice Mayor (presiding)
• Brown
• Harvey
• Hock
• Kline
• Scott
• Simmons

A regular meeting of Ironton City Council was held on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Vice Mayor Chris Haney presided. Also in attendance: John Elam, Brigham Anderson, and Mayor Cramblit. All persons stood for The Lord’s Prayer, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Approval of minutes

The Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of July 23, 2026, the Finance Committee Meeting of July 23, 2026, and the Public Utilities Committee Meeting of July 23, 2026, stood approved as submitted.

Mr. Harvey noted that regarding the Public Utilities Committee Meeting Minutes, he and Marta tried to collaborate on them, but after she completed the Minutes it was discovered that on Page 3, the software the consultant was discussing was actually called ArcgisPro, and that it is only needed when editing parcels. He said that right now all that is needed are Excel tables with the outlines, and he wanted to make note of that for the record without requiring a paper correction.

Audience participation

Mr. Haney introduced an invited guest, Matt Massie of CustomBuilt PC’s. Finance Director John Elam introduced Mr. Massie and noted he has been a significant asset for the City of Ironton, at least since Mr. Elam became Finance Director, and has brought the City very far along. Mr. Elam observed that after shredding 14 tons of paper it becomes evident how quickly documents accumulate and how difficult they become to find once stored haphazardly. He said he had spoken with Mr. Massie about whether the City could use small laptops, iPads, or similar devices, and that they may also want to look at audio improvements in Council Chambers so people can be heard better on the microphones and so the audio carries better through the room — and also the television that had been compromised at the last Council meeting.

Mr. Massie said the idea is to go electronic and eliminate large stacks of paper. He reviewed iPads and Android tablets and found that keyboards and accessories add cost, and better tablets cost more. He said his recommendation is an HP laptop: 15.6 inches, full keyboard, webcam, microphone, 16 GB of RAM, 500 GB drive. He said these can be centrally managed, with applications added later as needed, making them more functional devices than tablets. He said tablets tend to become tied to individual users, making it difficult for IT to recover and reassign them. He added that he is including one year of the same security software — antivirus and antimalware with real-time protection — that the City is currently running, at no charge for each laptop.

On the Council Chambers systems: Mr. Massie said he did preliminary checks that day and found that not all microphones are wired up, and that during the meeting the audio board and speaker were not on. He noted the speaker had been moved to the floor; the room changes and the audio must be tuned for maximum volume. The microphones are aged and tend to be omni-directional, which makes feedback and audio management difficult. He noted Council also wants to do Zoom calls and said the needs there require sitting down and thinking them through. He said the television failed and he believes it is a power supply issue; as a 2020 model it is probably more cost-effective to replace and use the existing stand and mount. He said he also looked at the existing laptop that day and it seemed to be functioning, though he will do more checking.

Mr. Haney asked whether there is an application that would allow someone on a Zoom meeting to push the call from a phone to the TV. Mr. Massie said the phone would likely be choppy and recommended a dedicated hard-wired internet connection with a machine dedicated to video conferencing, so Council members can view documents and work independently on their own laptops while a live Zoom call runs on the dedicated device and displays on the TV. Mr. Haney summarized: get another laptop dedicated to the TV. Mr. Massie said there is one already present in the room; he sees no reason it cannot serve that function with a possible drive upgrade, and said that arrangement would allow Council to operate fully independently and eliminates the paper because everything becomes a PDF, Word document, or spreadsheet.

Mr. Kline asked about an additional microphone in the middle of the room to improve audio on calls. Mr. Massie said with nine people, proper audio requires a functional mixer turned on, a working loudspeaker, and working microphones. He said the person who speaks most could use a lapel mic, with other microphones for others who speak, and that speakers should be mindful to talk into the mic. He said the key for conferencing is getting the audio feed directly into the laptop — but not playing it back too loud through the room speakers, as that creates feedback, so it requires finesse. He said he has done audio work and some broadcasting in the past.

Mr. Harvey said the audio is normally handled by DLC when they connect for YouTube, and that the microphones are off because DLC did not come in to turn them on. He suggested asking Dave and Terryanne, who come to meetings, whether there is a way to plug and play independently of DLC so the room does not depend on them to activate the audio. Mr. Massie said he actually turned the system on that morning and found many things were off, noting it is a manageable situation. Mayor Cramblit suggested a conference-call Bluetooth audio device in the center of the table. Mr. Massie acknowledged a USB microphone is already present in the room but noted its placement near one person makes it of little use to others across the room — a directional microphone would be more effective.

Mayor Cramblit mentioned a conference mic used at his Board meetings that sits in the center and covers the entire table. Mr. Massie said it could work but noted that speakers with quieter voices are always a challenge for remote participants. He said if Council tries an omni-directional setup and is happy with it, that is a valid approach, with room to refine further. The Mayor noted that remote participants can say when they did not hear something. Mr. Brown raised the idea of gooseneck mics with push-to-speak buttons. Mr. Massie said they tried to put goosenecks on the existing podiums and they fell over; Mr. Brown clarified he was describing table-mounted gooseneck mics with a base and push-to-speak button. Mr. Massie said that option is attractive and something they would need to evaluate, but noted that challenges with the existing mics had included stands. He said the room was very audible two years ago but that the volume level seemed very low during his testing today.

Mr. Brown observed that DLC may be using camera audio rather than room microphones for YouTube, which means soft-spoken participants are hard to hear on YouTube as well. He also noted that when Mr. Elam discussed going digital at the last meeting, Mr. Brown had said he would use his own device, but the current file sharing under Microsoft 365 has much room to improve. Mr. Massie said he can configure centralized file sharing so one document upload is accessible on all Council laptops without distributing individual copies. Mr. Brown said that was his concern and he is glad that kind of support would be available. Ms. Simmons mentioned that classrooms use ceiling microphones that capture the entire room; Mr. Massie said that could work, though speakers with softer voices remain a challenge for remote callers — Council could try an omni-directional setup and see how it works, then refine further.

Mr. Kline asked whether there is software that could help the Clerk take minutes, and whether committee meetings could be recorded and transcribed later if the Clerk is unavailable. Mr. Massie said transcription with multiple simultaneous speakers is the biggest challenge and he had not yet had time to research that side; he suggested it as a possible phase three — data first, audio second, then modernizing the transcription workflow — and said it would be worth looking into. Mr. Kline agreed it would be worthwhile.

Mr. Elam said the laptops are ready and could be implemented in a short time. He said there should be enough money in the General Fund to issue a purchase order the next day, and that a budget amendment from the General Fund for Council multimedia may follow. Mr. Harvey asked whether a budget amendment is even needed if $10,000 in Office Supplies already covers the cost; Mr. Kline confirmed $10,000 is in Office Supplies. Mr. Elam said they will spend from the current budget until an amendment is needed. Mr. Haney directed Mr. Massie to prepare his full recommendation on what the City needs and to run it by Mr. Elam and Mr. Kline.

Patricia McClellan-Simpson, currently residing in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, addressed Council regarding her property at 1409 N. 5th Street and the condition of the bridge on North 5th Street, which is the only vehicle access to the property. She said the situation has continued for approximately three years. The bridge has deteriorated to the point where vehicles cannot safely cross it, with a large hole and cones placed around the damaged area, and persons must walk around the damaged sections to reach the property. She said this is not simply an inconvenience — it is the only vehicle access — and that potential buyers cannot drive across the bridge to properly access and inspect the property, directly affecting the owners’ ability to use or sell it.

Ms. McClellan-Simpson stated that the City previously received grant funding for improvements to the bridge; over approximately two years, the necessary improvements were not completed and the funding was ultimately lost. In addition, the property owners were each paid approximately $1,250 and signed notarized documents allowing portions of their property to be used to create access from the highway to the bridge area, but that access has not been constructed. She said the owners cooperated because they believed it would move the project forward, and that after three years they need more than another promise.

She asked Council and the Mayor for specific answers: What is the City’s current plan for restoring safe vehicle access to their property? Is funding currently available or being sought to repair or replace the bridge? What happened to the access project for which they signed the agreements and received compensation? What is the actual timeline for getting this resolved? She asked for a clear plan, a responsible contact person, and a realistic timeline — either that evening or in writing by a specific date. Mr. Haney invited Ms. McClellan-Simpson to attend an Executive Session regarding the property at the end of the regular meeting. She agreed to attend. Her sister, Debbie Tharpe, was also in attendance.

Mary Ann Tussey, 1507 Karin Street, said that at the City’s Open House the previous day, a couple from 1611 Karin Street expressed concern about a catch basin they were afraid might collapse. Ms. Tussey presented photographs and described additional deteriorating catch basins she observed on Charlotte Street on her way to the meeting: one with a chunk of concrete missing and another where the concrete is simply disintegrating. She asked whose responsibility it is to make repairs — the City’s or Allard’s — and who to contact to get them fixed.

Mayor Cramblit said he was sending a note right then to the engineers and acknowledged that some punch list items are still being addressed. Ms. Tussey noted that a representative from Allard had said he would come by but no one had ever showed up, which is why she took photos and brought the issue to Council. The Mayor asked whether the damage is on Karin Street; Ms. Tussey confirmed 1611 Karin, and said there are two more on Charlotte Street — she does not have those addresses, but they are impossible to miss. She said it is her understanding that several catch basins in the area are in very bad shape.

Ms. Tussey also asked about the street sweeper schedule, noting it has difficulty getting through some areas. The Mayor said that type of maintenance is more like the Sewer Department and Collections Department, which handle catch basins on a yearly schedule. Mr. Harvey noted the City has a holistic drainage plan under an MS-5 permit and encouraged residents to report specific clogged drains, noting that a Vac-Con truck is sometimes needed to clear them. Ms. Tussey described a drain at her rental property where water is standing on top and soil has eroded around the drain from recent rains. She asked whether the City will be spraying for mosquitos, noting a scheduled spray on the 28th was rained out. Terri said there was a make-up spray that evening at 7:00 after the rain stopped. Ms. Tussey said spraying still did not come to Karin Street and asked for it to be included. She also stated she still believes the City should place identifying signs on all City-owned equipment for transparency, noting she is aware that City equipment is being used for personal purposes.

Communications

Mr. Haney read a communication from the Mayor’s office requesting the appointment of Brett Thomas to the Ironton Planning Commission Board. He noted that the City has already accepted the resignation of the former Planning Commission member, Rev. Steve Harvey. The appointment of Brett Thomas and the acceptance of Rev. Steve Harvey’s resignation were voted on unanimously.

Reports

None.

Ordinances

• Ordinance No. 26-49 — Amending Chapter 1430 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Ironton, Ohio, and declaring an emergency — given first reading.
  Ms. Simmons explained that the ordinance is updating and cleaning up provisions of the International Property Maintenance Code. She noted it does not address parking areas, which Mr. Kline had raised as a concern. She said that when they spoke to Code Enforcement, conflicting ordinances were identified; this ordinance outlines what to do in the case of a conflict. It also adds a penalty provision that had not previously been included.
• Ordinance No. 26-42 — Prohibiting the acquisition, use, contracts, and subscriptions of Automatic License Plate Reader systems within the City of Ironton, Ohio, prohibiting municipal contracts for such systems, and declaring an emergency — given second reading.
  Mr. Scott thanked Mr. Brown for flagging the question about the Sheriff’s Department. He said he spoke with Chief Gore at the Sheriff’s Department, who indicated the department does not have ALPR technology and does not foresee acquiring any in the near future. Mr. Harvey said he was told by a Deputy that the Sheriff’s Department has three ALPRs and has had them for three years. Brigham confirmed he has been told the Sheriff’s Department has them and has used them in town.
  Mr. Brown said he sent an email to Council requesting a legal opinion from the Andersons on whether the ordinance would interfere with Sheriff’s Department vehicle-mounted ALPRs — which he views as different from the Flock camera controversy. The legal opinion was that the ordinance would interfere. He said he understands the concern about stationary Flock cameras and data security, but does not want the City’s ordinance to prevent the Sheriff’s Department from using vehicle-mounted readers within City limits. He proposed a possible amendment creating an exception for vehicle-mounted ALPRs used by law enforcement, which would also cover the City’s own police department if it chose to pursue that technology in the future.
  Mr. Kline said he agrees with that approach and is open to law enforcement use of the technology as long as the data is not shared outside of law enforcement. Mr. Scott raised the concern that vehicle-mounted readers that store data automatically — and store it with a company — are not meaningfully different from stationary Flock cameras in terms of data security for residents. Brigham said he sent the Sheriff a text asking about data-sharing practices.
  Mr. Harvey said his two primary concerns from the outset are constitutionality — which the Andersons and Mack say is satisfied and does not violate anybody’s 4th Amendment rights — and whether the City’s police department needs the technology, to which the current answer is no and they cannot afford it. He expressed concern about downstream effects: if the City unknowingly relied on ALPRs in a prosecution and the evidence was later challenged, the City would bear responsibility for the case being thrown out. He said he does not think the ordinance is necessary at this time; if the Police Department later expresses interest, the matter deserves thorough discussion about what the City is comfortable with. He also noted that Flock cameras that are cut down must be replaced at City expense. He said Ashland and Huntington both barely passed ALPR-related measures controversially and he does not want to send the message that Ironton does not have them if the Sheriff’s Department does. He said he agrees with the sentiment of the group and the reason for the ordinance, and believes most residents are not comfortable with this technology, but feels it is unnecessary right now. Chief Wilson said he was not certain how many ALPRs are in operation in the County; he said the Sheriff had them but does not know if he still does, and thinks the Ohio Highway Patrol has had several. Mr. Harvey noted that a person he spoke with said ALPRs had helped solve two crimes through the Sheriff’s Department because of where the vehicles were sitting when a suspect drove by on Route 93.
  Mr. Haney said he is in favor of surveillance cameras on City-owned properties such as the riverfront and Splash Park to help ensure safety of those spaces, but is not in favor of Flock cameras. He said whatever the City does should be done holistically and comprehensively so it does not need to be revisited soon.
  Mr. Scott asked Mr. Brown and Mr. Kline to clarify the proposed amendment: an exception for vehicle-mounted ALPRs used by law enforcement, covering both the Sheriff’s Department and any future use by the City’s own police department. Mr. Brown and Mr. Kline confirmed that description. No vote was taken on Ordinance No. 26-42 or the proposed amendment.

Resolutions

• Resolution No. 26-50 — A resolution authorizing the Mayor of the City of Ironton to approve a tentative award, conditional upon funding, to the Shelly Company for the 3rd Street ARC Project, and declaring an emergency — read. Mr. Kline moved, seconded by Mr. Hock, to pass Resolution No. 26-50. Motion passed unanimously. ADOPTED.

Miscellaneous

Mayor Cramblit said he would like to have an Executive Session with Council, Finance Director, Solicitor, and Mark Dickess to discuss personnel. Mr. Harvey moved, seconded by Mr. Haney, to go into an Executive Session with Council, Mayor, Finance Director, Solicitor, and Mark Dickess to discuss personnel, with no action to follow; and an Executive Session with Council, Mayor, Finance Director, Solicitor, Mark Dickess, Patricia McClellan-Simpson, and Debbie Tharpe to discuss property, with no action to follow.

Attestation

Minutes recorded by Marta Leach, Clerk. In attendance: John Elam, Brigham Anderson, Mayor Cramblit. Signed by Marta Leach, Clerk; Chris Haney, Vice Mayor; and Mayor Cramblit.