Council Quick Takes: City to Consider 'Flying the Flag' at Parks, City Hall, Fire Department

Nearly 150 residents and business owners have signed up for the North Canton Rotary Club's "Fly the Flag" program, and now the club wants to see an American flag flying on city property.

Rotary member Megan Bishop spoke to North Canton City Council members at Monday night's council meeting inside Council Chambers. She said she'd like to see the American flags flying not only in the yards of businesses and homes, but at places such as City Hall, the North Canton Fire Department, Dogwood and Price parks and the North Canton Civic Center.

She said eight donors already have paid for flags, leaving no cost to the city.

Participation in the program costs $25 and involves a civic organization (right now it's the Girl Scouts) placing flags in the yards of those residents and business owners who've signed up. The flag would fly from the Saturday before the holiday until the Saturday after the holiday. Holidays include Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4, Labor Day through Sept. 11, and Veterans Day. 

The flag sits in an 18-inch plastic pipe, which would be capped when not in use.

Find out more about the North Canton Rotary's Fly the Flag program here.

Council President Jon Snyder said the city administrator, Mike Grimes, would need to issue a letter of approval before the Rotary goes forward with the project.

Bishop added that the program is in need of more donors. For more information, call Bishop at 330-671-3493, Jim Dansizen at 330-704-1222 or John Robinson at 330-697-6280.

In other business: 

• Council conducted interviews of candidates for the vacant Ward 3 council seat, and Snyder said council will announce the new member at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday inside Council Chambers.

• Mayor David Held told North Canton Patch after the council meeting that the North Main Street construction is likely to be done ahead of schedule. He said that would be before mid-November.

• City Law Director Tim Fox said the proposed graffiti ordinance has been updated to ensure the property's tenants and owners are informed of violations.