Chapter 103 Official Standards

Download and Print this Chapter

Section 103.01 Dogwood City

On the request of numerous residents and organizations, and because of the aesthetic value of the dogwood tree as it is blended into the City of North Canton, the City shall be known and designated as "The Dogwood City".

Section 103.02 Common Seal

There is hereby established and adopted a common seal for the City of North Canton, Ohio, which common seal is attached hereto and incorporated herein.

Section 103.03 Use of Facsimile Signatures

1. A policy for the use of facsimile signatures by public officials, pursuant to Ohio R.C. 9.10 is hereby adopted.
2. A policy prohibiting the use of rubber stamp signatures by public officials, pursuant to Ohio R.C. 9.11 is hereby adopted.

Chapter 105 Wards and Boundaries

Download and Print this Chapter

Section 105.01 Division into Wards

The City is hereby divided into four wards, which are equal in number to the members of Council who are hereafter to be elected from wards according to law and the Charter.  The four wards are hereby created and established in the City, and the boundaries thereof shall be such as are hereinafter set forth, which boundaries are fixed so that each ward shall contain as nearly as practicable an equal number of inhabitants.

Section 105.02 First Ward Boundaries

The First Ward shall contain all that territory bounded and described as follows:  The east boundary shall begin at the north side of West Maple Street and the west side of North Main Street to the north line of Out Lot 193, such north line is approximately 1426.00 feet north of the center line of Applegrove Street, N.W.; thence west along the north corporation line and the north line of Out Lot 193 and the north line of Out Lot 192 to the northwest corner of Out Lot 192; thence south along the west corporation line for a distance of 381.55 feet more or less to the northeast corner of Out Lot 223; thence west along the north corporation line and the north line of Out Lots 223, 224, 225, 226 and 227 to the northwest corner of Out Lot 227; thence south along the west line of Out Lot 227 to the northeast corner of Out Lot 229; thence west along the north line of Out Lot 229 to the northwest corner of Out Lot 229; thence south along the west line of Out Lot 229, for a distance of 508.40 feet to a point on the south line of Applegrove Street, N.W.; thence west along the south line of Applegrove Street, N.W. for a distance of 20.79 feet to the northwest corner of Lot 5045; thence S 3o 35' 30" W. and along the west corporation line for a distance of 622.42 feet to a point on the west line of Lot 5051; thence S 5o 29' 30" W. and along the west corporation line, for a distance of 807.69 feet to a point on the west line of Lot 5038; thence S 6o 05' 30" E. and along the west corporation line, for a distance of 100.0 feet to a point on the west line of Lot 5038; thence S 11o 32' 30" E. and along the west corporation line, for a distance of 100.0 feet to the northeast corner of Lot 5033; thence S 84o 10' 30" W, and along the north corporation line for a distance of 451.72 feet to a point on the west line of Pittsburgh Avenue, N.W.; thence south along the west line of Pittsburgh Avenue, for a distance of 40.91 feet; thence west along the north line of Lot 4998 for a distance of 409.33 feet to the northwest corner of Lot 4998; thence south along the west corporation line to the south line of Portage Street, N.W. as projected from the east; thence northeast along the south line of Portage Street, N.W. as projected from the east to the northeast corner of Lot 3342; thence south along the west corporation line to the southwest corner of Lot 3317; thence east along the corporation line to the center line of Sheraton Drive, N.W.; thence south along the west corporation line to the northeast corner of Out Lot 248; thence west along the corporation line a distance of 581.95 feet; thence south along the corporation line a distance of 80.00 feet; thence west along the corporation line a distance of 250.04 feet to the northwest corner of Out Lot 248; thence south along the west corporation  line a distance of 220.00 feet to the southwest corner of Out Lot 248; thence east along the south line of Out Lot 248 to the center line of Sheraton Drive, N.W.; thence north along the center line of Sheraton Drive, N.W. to the north line of West Maple Street; thence east along the north line of West Maple Street to the west line of North Main Street and the true place of beginning.

Section 105.03 Second Ward Boundaries

The Second Ward shall contain all that territory bounded and described as follows:  The west boundary shall begin at the north side of East Maple Street and the east side of North Main Street; thence north along the east line of North Main Street; to the north line of Out Lot 198, the north line is 1500.00 feet north of the center line of Applegrove Street, N.W.; thence east along the north corporation line to the northeast corner of Out Lot 199; thence north along the corporation line to the northwest corner of Out Lot 191; thence east along the north corporation line to the northeast corner of Out Lot 191; thence south along the east corporation line to the south line of Applegrove Street, N.E.; thence west along the south line of Applegrove Street, N.E., to the northeast corner of Lot 4289; thence south along the east line of Lot 4289 to a point in the northeasterly line of Lot 4295; thence southeast along the corporation line to the northeast corner of Lot 4290; thence southwest along the corporation line to the southeast corner of Lot 4252; thence south along the corporation line 515.34 feet to a point on the east line of Lot 3099; thence following along the corporation line and the line of Out Lot 250 the following courses and distances: N 81o 21' E for 311.46 feet; N 65o 45' E for 300.00 feet; N 88o 05' 20" E for 116.00 feet; N 1o 54' 40" W for 173.77 feet; N 88o 05' 20" E for 43.87 feet; N 1o 54' 40" W for 282.08 feet; S 74o 17' E for 720.13 feet; S 4o 56' W for 1211.25 feet; thence continuing east along the corporation line to the northeast corner of Lot 5171; thence south along the corporation line to the southeast corner of Lot 5171; thence east along the corporation line to the northeast corner of Out Lot 239; thence south along the corporation line to the southeast corner of Out Lot 239; thence east along the corporation line to the northeast corner of Out Lot 247; thence south along the east corporation line to the north line of East Maple Street; thence west along the north line of East Maple Street to the east line of North Main Street and the true place of beginning.

Section 105.04 Third Ward Boundaries

The Third Ward shall contain all that territory bounded and described as follows:  Beginning for the same at the southeast corner of the intersection of South Main Street and East Maple Street, thence southwardly along the east line of South Main Street to the center line of 50th Street; thence eastwardly along the corporation line of the City of North Canton and the center line of 50th Street and the center line of the street extended eastwardly to the southeast corner of Out Lot 188 in the City of North Canton; thence north along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the east line of Out Lot 188 to the southwest corner of Out Lot 216; thence east along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the south line of Out Lot 216 and Lot 4743, to the southeast corner of Lot 4743; thence north along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the east line of Lot 4743 and Out Lot 216, to the northeast corner of Out Lot 216; thence west along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the north line of Out Lot 216, to the northwest corner of Out Lot 216, such point being on the south line of Easthill Street, S.E.; thence north along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, Ohio, for a distance of 50.0 feet to a point on the north line of Easthill Street, S.E.; thence westwardly along the corporation line of the City of North Canton and the north line of Easthill Street, S.E. to the east line of Section 17, Plain Township; thence northwardly along the east line of Section 17 and the corporation line of the City of North Canton, to a point 30.0 feet south of the center of Schneider Street; thence westwardly and parallel with the center of Schneider Street and along the corporation line of the City of North Canton to a point on the east line of Overridge Avenue; thence northwardly for a distance of 30.0 feet to the center of Schneider Street; thence westwardly along the center line of Schneider Street and the corporation line of the City of North Canton a distance of approximately 57.0 feet to the east line of Sundowne Estates No. 7; thence northwardly along the corporation line of the City of North Canton to the southwest corner of Out Lot 116; thence eastwardly along the corporation line of the City of North Canton and the south line of Out Lot 116 to 122 inclusive to the southeast corner of Out Lot 122; thence northwardly along the east line of Out Lot 122, to the south line of East Maple Street; thence westwardly along the south line of East Maple Street to its intersection with the east line of South Main Street and the true place of beginning.

Section 105.05 Fourth Ward Boundaries

The Fourth Ward shall contain all that territory bounded and described as follows:  Beginning for the same at the southwest corner of the intersection of South Main Street and West Maple Street, thence southwardly along the west line of South Main Street to the south corporation of the City of North Canton and the southeast corner of Out Lot 173; thence westwardly along the corporation line of the City of North Canton and the south line of Out Lot 173, Out Lot 172, Lots 4248, 3896, 4247 and Out Lot 163 and Lots 4631, 4630, 4629, 4628, 4626, 4624 and 4622 to the southwest corner of Lot 4622; thence north along the corporation line of the City of North Canton for a distance of 330 feet to the southeast corner of Lot 4621; thence west along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the south line of Lots 4621, 4620, 4619, 4601 and 4600, to a point on the east line of the northwest quarter of Section 19, Plain Township, thence north along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the east line of such quarter section, to a point on the south line of Everhard Road, S.W.; thence west along the south line of Everhard Road, S.W. for a distance of 20.0 feet; thence north along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the west line of Salway Avenue, S.W. to the southeast corner of Lot 4679; thence west along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the south line of Lots 4679, 4680, 4681, 4705 and 4704; thence north along the corporation line of the City of North Canton for a distance of 212 feet to a point on the north line of Linda Street, S.W., thence west along the north line of Linda Street, S.W. for a distance of 34 feet to the southwest corner of Lot 4697; thence north along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the west line of Lots 4697, 4696, 4695, 4694, 4693, 4692 and 4691, to the southwest corner of Lot 4677; thence westwardly along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the south line of Out Lots 211 and 212, the following four courses, N 78o 06' W for a distance of 3178.68 feet; thence S. 63o 54' W for a distance of 5.94 feet; thence S 61o 54' W for a distance of 224.40 feet; thence S 53o 09' W for a distance of 132.02 feet to a point on the east line of the B&O Railroad; thence N 27o 01' W and along the east line of the railroad, for a distance of 237.82 feet; thence N 24o 24' W, and along the east line of the railroad, for a distance of 283.95 feet to a point on the east line of Whipple Avenue; thence north along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, and the east line of Whipple Avenue, to the northwest corner of Lot 4747; thence east along the north line of Lot 4747 for a distance of 15 feet to the southwest corner of Out Lot 132; thence northwardly along the corporation line of the City of North Canton, a distance of 729.30 feet to a point; thence eastwardly along the corporation line of the City of North Canton a distance of 200 feet to a point; thence northwardly along the corporation line of the City of North Canton and the west line of Out Lot 131, to the northwest corner of Out Lot 131; thence eastwardly along the corporation line of the City of North Canton and the north line of Out Lot 131 to the northeast corner of Lot 3206; thence in a northeasterly direction along the corporation line of the City of North Canton and the west line of part of Out Lot 127, to the southwest corner of Out Lot 108; thence north along the corporation line to the southeast corner of Lot 5184; thence west along the corporation line to the southwest corner of Out Lot 249; thence north along the corporation line to the northwest corner of Out Lot 249; thence east along the north line of Out Lot 249 to the northeast corner of Out Lot 249; thence south along the east line of Lot 5184 to the south line of West Maple Street; thence eastwardly along the south line of West Maple Street to the west line of South Main Street and the true place of beginning.

Chapter 107 Public Records

Download and Print this Chapter

Section 107.01 Mission Statement

Openness leads to a better-informed citizenry, which leads to better government and better public policy.  Accordingly, it is the mission and intent of the City of North Canton to at all times fully comply with and abide by both the spirit and the letter of Ohio’s Public Records Act, R.C. § 149.43.

Section 107.02 Defining Public Records

1. A “Record” is defined to include the following: A document in any format – paper, electronic (including, but not limited to, business e-mail) – created, received by, or comes under the jurisdiction of the City of North Canton, which documents the City’s organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities.
2. A “Public Record” is a “record” that is being kept by the City at the time a public records request is made, subject to applicable exemptions from disclosure under Ohio or federal law.  All public records must be organized and maintained in such a way that they can be made available for inspection and copying.

Section 107.03 Response Timeframe

1. Public records are to be available for inspection during the City’s regular business hours and must be made available for inspection promptly.  
   1. Copies of public records must be made available within a reasonable period of time.
   2. “Prompt” and “reasonable” take into account the volume of records requested, the proximity of the location where the records are stored, the necessity for any legal review and redaction, and other facts and circumstances of the records requested.

Section 107.04 Processing Records Requests

1. No specific language is required to make a request for public records.  The requester must, however, at least identify the records requested with sufficient clarity to allow the City to identify, retrieve, and review the records.
2. The requester does not have to put a record request in writing, and does not have to provide his or her identity, or the intended use of the requested public record; the City’s general policy is that this information is not to be requested.  
   1. Ohio’s Public Records Act does, however, permit the City to ask for a written request, the requester’s identity, or the intended use of the information requested, but only if:
      1. a written request or disclosure of identity or intended use would benefit the requester by enhancing the City’s ability to identify, locate, or deliver the requested public records; and
      2. the requester is first told a written request is not required and the requester may decline to reveal the requester’s identity or intended use.
3. An electronic record is deemed to exist so long as a computer is already programmed to produce the record through the City’s standard use of sorting, filtering, or querying features.  In processing the request, the City has no obligation to create new records or to perform new analysis of existing information.  
   1. Although not required by law, the City may consider generating new records when in its discretion it makes sense and is practical under the current circumstances.  
   2. In addition, when processing a request for inspection of a public record, a City employee shall accompany the requester during inspection to make certain original records are not damaged, taken, or altered.  There is no charge to inspect public records.
4. A copy of the Ohio Sunshine Laws Manual is available via the Ohio Attorney General’s website for the purpose of keeping City employees and the public educated as to the City’s obligations under Ohio’s Public Records Act, Ohio’s Open Meetings Act, records retention laws, and the Personal Information Systems Act.

Section 107.05 Electronic Records

1. Records in the form of e-mail, text messages, and instant messages, including those sent and received via hand-held communications devices, are to be treated in the same fashion as records in other formats such as paper or audiotape.
2. Public record content transmitted to or from private accounts or personal devices is subject to disclosure.  All City employees or its representatives are required to retain e-mail and other electronic records in accordance with applicable City record retention schedules.

Section 107.06 Denial and Redaction of Records

1. If the requester makes an ambiguous or overly-broad request or has difficulty in making a request such that the City cannot reasonably identify what public records are requested, the request may be denied, but the City must then provide the requester an opportunity to revise the request by informing the requester of the manner in which City records are maintained and accessed.
2. If the City withholds, redacts, or otherwise denies requested records, it must provide an explanation, including legal authority, for its denial.  
   1. If the initial request was made in writing, the explanation must also be in writing.  
   2. If portions of a record are public and other portions are exempt, the exempt portions may—and sometimes must—be redacted, and the remainder must be released; the City shall notify the requester of any redaction or make the redaction plainly visible.

Section 107.07 Copying and Mailing Costs

1. There is no charge for making standard 8.5 x 11 inch copies of records or for e-mailed records.
2.  The requester may choose to have the record duplicated upon paper, upon the same medium on which the public record is kept, or upon any other medium on which the City determines the record can reasonably be duplicated as an integral part of its normal operations.
3. If a requester asks that records be delivered, the requester may be charged, in advance, the cost of postage, mailing supplies, and other costs of delivery beyond standard postage.

Section 107.08 Managing Records

1. The City’s records are subject to record retention schedules.  The current schedules are available at the Administration office, which is a location readily available to the public as required by Ohio Revised Code § 149.43(B)(2).  
2. This public records policy shall be included in the City’s employee handbook and shall be provided to record custodians who have custody of the records of their departments; the record custodians shall acknowledge receipt of a copy of this public records policy.