Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher speaks during Thursday's City Council meeting. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Marietta City Council voted Thursday to support an effort to nominate the Start Westward monument for the National Register of Historic Places, while also advancing plans for a nonprofit to occupy a city-owned building and learned more about the multi-county human trafficking task force.

Council approved Resolution 7 (26-27) by a 4-3 vote, acknowledging and supporting the Start Westward Memorial Society’s effort to nominate the monument for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

Councilman Harley Noland opposed the resolution, noting council had previously withdrawn support from the society in June. He warned that reversing course could create confusion with state agencies and grant partners working on the monument project.

“We have a path as a city that has been working toward an end, and I believe that this will confuse those in Columbus and other granting agencies,” Noland said.

Noland said the city, the Ohio History Connection and other state officials are already working toward the monument’s preservation through a separate project involving the creation of a bronze replica.

Councilman Jon Grimm argued the resolution simply expresses support for the nomination process and does not change the city’s role in the monument project.

During public comment, Joe Grimm, president of the Start Westward Memorial Society, thanked council for reconsidering the issue.

“This is a critical start to our goal of accomplishing, by 2038, the full restoration of the sandstone Start Westward memorial,” he said.

Councilman Bill Gossett also raised concerns about the optics of the resolution, noting that Joe Grimm is Councilman Grimm’s father, and questioned whether the situation could appear to present an ethical issue.

“This doesn’t look good,” Gossett said. “If I see it and the public sees it, I think it kind of stinks.”

Despite concerns, the resolution ultimately passed with four votes in favor and Noland, Gossett and Councilwoman Kate McGlynn opposing.

Earlier in the meeting, Washington County Sheriff Mark Warden addressed council about what he called a growing problem of human trafficking and online exploitation of children in the region.

Warden said Washington County participates in a multi-county human trafficking and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force led by Noble County. The effort involves multiple law enforcement agencies working together to investigate exploitation cases that often originate online.

According to Warden, the county has handled 31 high-tech cases involving exploited children so far this year. Warden said investigators frequently review disturbing evidence while building cases against offenders.

“These officers have to sit there and look at some of these pictures,” he said. “It’s horrific.”

Many investigations begin online with contact between adults and children through social media platforms, online gaming services or messaging apps. Warden warned that predators increasingly target children through internet-connected devices used inside their homes. He urged parents and grandparents to monitor children’s online activity.

“Stranger danger now comes into your home through the internet,” said Warden. “Be vigilant about what they’re doing on social media and on these games.”

Warden also said narcotics trafficking contributes to human trafficking cases in the region, stating that many drugs enter Washington County from other cities and that addiction can leave victims vulnerable to exploitation.

Council unanimously approved Ordinance 29 (26-27) after suspending the second and third readings. The ordinance appropriates several transfers, including $65,947.65 from the Sandra and Sylvia Young donation fund for the fire department, $15,000 for technological upgrades for the law director’s office and $75,000 in the water fund for information technology equipment, including a fiber optic hub.

Ordinance 31 (26-27) was introduced and would authorize the city to advertise for proposals and enter into a contract for the operation of the Marietta Family Aquatic Center. McGlynn proposed the second and third reading be suspended.

“This is only going out for an RFP (request for proposal),” McGlynn said.

She said the measure is intended to get the processes started so the city can review proposals from potential operators before the pool’s typical Memorial Day opening weekend. McGlynn said the ordinance would allow the city to “get it out there” so interested operators could submit proposals and begin planning for the upcoming season.

The motion to suspend failed 5-2, following concerns from Grimm about the aquatic center’s financial performance in recent years. Grimm stated the city lost $60,000 in each of the past two seasons under the current arrangement and argued council should take time to review the contract and operating structure before moving forward again.

“I harbor no hope that we will actually make money on this,” Grimm said. “However, if we’re going to accept a loss to provide the service to the citizens, we should at least try to control those.”

Council unanimously approved Resolution 8 (26-27), which authorizes the city to advertise for bids for GoPacks, a nonprofit organization, to occupy the city-owned building at 308 Putnam St.

Council’s next meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. March 19 at the Armory.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com