Two Council Members ‘throw in the towel’
by Bruce Yarnall, Barnesville Area News
By public meeting standards, Monday night’s Barnesville Village Council meeting could be deemed very productive most notably progress on a decades old effort to expand public water service to Hendrysburg and Fairview. Below the surface, however, a division that has played out in public sessions for the past three years reached the point of no return.
Following the meeting two council members, Steven Hill and Brian Yarnall, submitted resignation letters to Mayor Jake Hershberger.
Steven Hill
“Mayor Jake Hershberger – I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as Barnesville Councilman due to an unworkable environment. Effective January 28, 2025.”
“Thank you for t he opportunity as councilman and wish all good luck.” signed Steven Hill
Brian Yarnall
“Mayor Jake Hershberger, Council President Tony Johnson – In my 3 years on council, I always made my decisions for the best of the village and its residents not by personal agendas. It has come to the point that I can’t any longer work with this present administration. Effective January 28, 2025, I am resigning my position of a village council member. I hope that my replacement can bring Barnesville forward where I failed.” signed Brian Yarnall
Opening the council meeting on August 26, Mayor Hershberger implored the six member of board to work together in a prepared speech titled “A Call to Service: Refocusing Our Purpose.”
“As your mayor for the past eight months, I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges we face. The recent drama and discord in our proceedings are not just disappointing – they’re heartbreaking,” Hershberger said.
“It is time to set aside politics and concentrate on problem-solving. We cannot afford to be paralyzed during meetings. Instead, we must actively share ideas and collaborate on solutions.”
Hershberger also wrote and said:
We must remind ourselves why we’re here:
- Not for personal agenda
- Not to protect or attack any individual, elected or employee
- But to serve the people of Barnesville, who entrusted us with this responsibility
“Thank you for your continued support and trust. Let’s move forward with purpose and unity”, the mayor concluded.
While there was no spoken or visible response in real time to the mayor’s plea, what did follow that night was an unscheduled executive session.
When members returned to the chambers, they voted 4-2 with little comment to eliminate the position of economic development director, a position held by Bill Knox since 1992. Both Hill and Yarnall opposed the move. Following the meeting Hershberger said he was not aware of the move beforehand.
Over the past three years while Hill and Yarnall were on the council, there have been a series of 4-2 votes on a wide range of policies and issues including the demolition of three village-owned North Chestnut Street historic buildings and the sale of that now vacant lot for $20,000.
Also netting a 4-2 vote was the proposed sale of village owned Bohandy building at 102 East Main to local developer/entrepreneur Joel Braido.
A longstanding practice of declaring pending ordinances and resolutions “emergencies” allowing for passage of measures the meeting they were introduced, was also a sticking point drawing resulting in numerous 4-2 tallies. Ohio law requires three-hearings, or six-week review, before a final vote is taken if an “emergency” is not declared.
Following the resignations that were effective Tuesday, Hershberger said he had reached out to Village Solicitor Richard Myser for directions on how to fill the vacant positions as prescribed by state law.
The two replacement council members will serve the unexpired terms of Hill and Yarnall through December 31, 2025.
Both council positions and the two currently held by Tony Johnson and Les Tickhill, four-year terms running from 2026 to 2029, will be on the November General ballot.
Partisan candidates including Democrat and Republican registered candidates must file for the May 6 primary by February 5 while nonpartisan candidates have until May 5 to file petitions.
More information is available on the Belmont County Board of Elections website.
