Chillicothe — The groundwater pollution at the former Wear-Ever factory remained a subject of discussion and activism in Chillicothe Council.
Suggested changes in oncoming street work for the redevelopment in and around Yoctangee Park was mentioned. And, the new zoning code got its first reading.
Councilman Jeff Creed, finance chairman, had information or responses on those in Monday’s council session from September 8th, 2025.
After Mayor Luke Feeney gave more information on the pollution in his briefing to council, Creed answered one of the public speakers who asked for clarification.
He said to Stephanie Renner, as well as to me in an interview, that the city had requested a meeting with the Ohio EPA on the subject. Renner said she thought the city’s meeting with the EPA would be public, but Creed said that will be an upcoming event…hopefully.
He said several members of city council, the mayor, and members of county government had a video call with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to get a better idea of the plume of toxic chemicals that has spread from facility of former Alcoa and Wear-Ever, and now Howmet Aerospace, on Eastern Avenue.
Hard copies of a four-page fact sheet were available at the council session, and can be read or downloaded from the city’s website and Facebook page, as requested from the EPA. Creed said council members are not experts on the subject, and they wanted the EPA to share information directly, instead of council trying to translate it.
Creed pointed out that contact information is on the fact sheet for anyone who wants to ask direct questions.
He said the city also asked the EPA to do a public meeting so the public can learn more about the issue. Creed said he could not say if the EPA will agree to that, but the city is looking for a venue for the hoped-for meeting.
Creed explained that one part of planned improvements for Yoctangee Park is being rethought, the intersection of Riverside and Mulberry streets.
Most of the intersection is exposed brick. Current plans call for a “full depth repair” – with the brick removed, the base rebuilt, and new brick installed. But costs have risen and time is short, and Creed says his committee will reconsider the plan – possibly to pave with asphalt – probably on September 22nd.
This is part of the Yoctangee Park project that is funded by the Appalachian Community Grant Program. Learn more in my upcoming story on this.
I asked Creed about the “Unified Development Code” that got its first reading in council. He pointed out that he is not the committee chairman for that (Dan Demint is), but he is a member of the committee and is very actively involved.
He said the new city law brings many items together about zoning so they are not spread out in the city code, as well as modernizes and simplifies them. Creed said it will serve as good guidance to allow renovation and development to be done correctly. The laws can also be returned to and tweaked.
Creed also announced the Firefighters / 9/11 memorial at Fire Station No. 1 at 54 East Water Street, that was on Thursday morning.
Hear him in his own words in the below video interview.
