ONTARIO ─ The Ontario City Municipal Building will be closed to the public beginning Friday due to the spread of COVID-19.
The announcement came a week after Richland County hit all seven indicators in the state health advisory system. Jeffrey Wilson, Ontario Service-Safety director, said the building will be closed until further notice at the city council’s Wednesday meeting.
He asked residents to use the drop box located in front of City Hall to make payments.
Ontario City Council passed all the legislation scheduled for this year on Wednesday evening. It will cancel the final regular meeting in mid-December.
Wilson said he has been talking to Mayor Randy Hutchinson about holding the meeting virtually in January if the pandemic’s situation keeps getting worse.
In other businesses, the city finished two public hearings on Wednesday for the natural gas aggregation program that will offer a group rate. Ontario residents voted for the program in the November election.
Wilson said after the Ohio Public Utilities Commission certified the gas program, Buckeye Energy Brokers, the city’s current contractor, will start contacting suppliers with the information about the number of potential customers and accepting bids. The program is projected to begin next spring.
Additionally, the Springfield Township Fire Department is partnering with the Ontario Police Department for a toy drive this year. Fourth Ward Councilman Josh Bradley, also a Springfield fire prevention officer, said this is the first time the two departments have worked together on this project.
They have contacted families in need through churches and schools. New and unwrapped presents will be accepted until Dec. 14.
Bradley said people can drop off items at the fire department’s two stations or OPD’s building. More information can be found on the Springfield Township Fire Department’s Facebook page.
