Coldwater cracking down hard on solicitors

By WILLIAM KINCAID
and GEORGIA RINDLER
wkincaid@dailystandard.com

COLDWATER - Solicitor ID cards would be valid for only 30 days should legislation clear village council chambers, a proposal intended to better protect residents against potentially violent and unscrupulous door-to-door peddlers selling goods and services.

Village councilors are also in the process of enacting an ordinance that would jack up the inspection fee of multi-use vehicles, e.g. golf carts, for people who live outside Coldwater.

Councilors at this week's regular meeting gave first reading to legislation that would drastically lower the validity of a solicitor ID card from one year to 30 days.

Currently, anyone wishing to sell goods or services at residences in Coldwater must obtain an ID card through the police department. The law, though, does not apply to those affiliated with nonprofit organizations.

The application process usually takes between 3 to 7 days and mandates a $200 fee.

"We issue them a solicitor's permit card through our department and then they have to wear that so then people know when they are going door to door that they've gone through background investigation and they have been approved or cleared to do so," said Coldwater Police Chief Kevin Wynk.

The police chief conducts background checks and has the right to refuse a solicitor ID card if he finds an applicant was convicted of an offense involving theft, moral turpitude or drug use or possession, according to village law

Wynk told the newspaper that when he was promoted to police chief in February and started processing background checks he began to worry that a solicitor issued a permit for an entire year may later commit a criminal act unknown to the department and public.

"Once a solicitor permit is approved and they're given a permit, we don't have any knowledge or idea if they were to commit some type of offense of violence six months after the permit's issued but then they are still able to solicit in the village for up to a year," he said.

He suggested narrowing the ID card's validity to 30 days. Other communities have a similar duration, he said.

"We're trying to do the best we can for our citizens to make sure that people that are going into their houses don't have a violent history," Wynk said.

The police department probably issues 20 to 30 such ID cards annually, according to Wynk.

"The majority of solicitors that come to the town are mainly in the summer months," he said.

The police department handles numerous calls from residents concerned about unlicensed peddlers, Wynk said. Violators can be citied with a fourth-degree misdemeanor and jailed for up to 30 days.

Councilors this week also gave first reading to an ordinance that would amend the multi-use vehicle ordinance. The inspection fee for a newly purchased multi-use vehicle would remain $50 for residents but increase to $100 for those who live outside Coldwater.

Other communities charge a higher inspection fee which might account for the flurry of requests the police department has handled.

At the time of inspection, the owner must present a valid driver's license, proof of insurance and pay the fee. All multi-use vehicles must have two brake lights, two tail lights, two headlights, two rear turn signals and two front turn signals.

The vehicles must also have a horn, rearview mirror, windshield, brakes and brake system, steering mechanism, one seat belt per occupant and appropriate tires free of major bumps, bulges, breaks or any other unsafe conditions.

"We had a couple that we inspected the first couple of years but it really wasn't as popular, and it seems like over the last two years we've probably at least processed about 200," Wynk said. "We haven't had any serious issues with them. A majority of the citizens drive them in town."

Councilors this week also,

• heard second reading of an ordinance to rezone a 2.96- acre tract in the proposed Wenning Acres Subdivision section seven from R2 suburban residential to R4 apartment residential. The area includes five lots numbered 22-26 located north of Robert Street and west of North Second Street in northeast Coldwater. This will allow for single-family homes, duplexes or triplexes to be built on the lots. A public meeting was held Aug. 12 to discuss and answer questions on the proposed rezoning.

• passed final reading of an ordinance to increase the membership of the Coldwater Fire Department to 28 firefighters. This includes the fire chief, assistant fire chief and all officers of the department as deemed necessary.

• authorized village officials to apply to Ohio Public Works Commission Small Government Program for financial assistance to replace a section of South Second Street from Walnut Street to Sycamore Street.The application will be for a $500,000 grant and a $300,000 loan. There will also be a match to be determined once the project is approved.

• passed as an emergency a resolution opposing a request by Dominion Energy Ohio to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for a 30% rate increase in delivery costs to consumers. Thomas said other communities are also opposing the request.

Council meets next at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at the village hall.