Canton residents Robert and Christina Schmidt approached the Canton City Council on Wednesday night, January 12, about owning chickens within city limits. Robert Schmidt explained he and his wife have 10 chickens at their Canton residence that they consider to be pets. “We hold them everyday, we play with them. They are part of our family,” he said. Schmidt explained he and … [Read more...]
Canton Council approves 2022 budget, certifies levy with slight increase to cover equipment purchase
The Canton City Council reviewed and adopted the 2022 general fund budget and certified its tax levy, collectable in 2022, during its meeting last Wednesday evening, December 8. The final general fund budget was set at $275,915, This represents a 7% increase from the 2021 budget. Clerk Brock Bergey explained that the increase comes mainly from the need to replace the city’s … [Read more...]
Canton Council approves increase to water, sewer rates
The Canton City Council discussed the need to increase water and sewer rates during its meeting on Wednesday evening, November 10. The topic has been discussed at several past meetings with Clerk Brock Bergey and Utility Committee members, Josh Nordsving and Cindy Shanks, looking at options for meeting the city’s needs while still being sensitive to what the residents can … [Read more...]
Canton City Council reviews needed water rate increase
The Canton City Council once again discussed the need to increase water rates within the city of Canton at its october 13 meeting. Utility Committee members, Josh Nordsving and Cindy Shanks, outlined a proposal to raise rates on an average of $5.64 a month for each residential water user. Since the city is looking at a large utility project in the next couple of years, and the … [Read more...]
Harmony welcomes animal grooming business to Main Street
Who doesn’t love being pampered with a relaxing shampoo, haircut and blowout? After a little “buff and shine,” one can leave the salon feeling like a whole new person! It’s no different for our canine and feline loved ones and they can get a “custom cut, from nose to butt,” at Birch Bark Grooming in Harmony. Emily Ragan, a groomer for 14 years, opened her pet salon in July … [Read more...]
Canton Council reviews budget, learns how population decline will affect city
As the Canton City Council met on September 8, the 2020 census results came up several times during regular business discussions. According to the latest census, Canton has seen a decrease in population by 34 residents over the past decade, going from 346 to 310. Clerk Brock Bergey said this 10.4% decrease is the sharpest decline in population since the 1970 census, when the … [Read more...]
Harmony Council supports EDA’s commercial rehabilitation grant program
Chris Giesen, representing the Harmony Economic Development Authority (EDA), attended the August 10 Harmony City Council meeting to present several matters to the council. The first matter was a commercial building rehabilitation grant for a core area in the city’s downtown business district and the second had to deal with the sale of a lot in the north industrial park. First, … [Read more...]
Canton resident asks council for tax break on “tillable land”
The Canton City Council heard from city resident David Terbeest during its regular meeting on Wednesday, August 11. Terbeest requested the city consider establishing a rural service taxing district that would reduce the tax burden from agriculturally-zoned land within the city limits. Currently, there are approximately 468 acres of agriculturally-zoned land in Canton, making … [Read more...]
Canton residents also voice frustration during town hall meeting addressing nuisance properties
The Canton City Council hosted a town hall meeting on Wednesday, July 14, to gather input from residents about the city’s nuisance ordinance and how the city has been dealing with those who are not in compliance with the ordinance. The town hall meeting began with a presentation by the city about nuisance ordinances. A public nuisance is defined as being a “condition which … [Read more...]
Nuisance properties continue to plague Canton City Council
The Canton City Council meeting got a little hot last Wednesday, but not because the weather brought 90-degree weather to the area. The town hall got warm as council members voiced frustration over repeat offenders of the city’s nuisance ordinance. Clerk Brock Bergey explained that these issues not only costs the city a lot of money each year in court costs and legal fees, but … [Read more...]