BROOKVILLE — City manager Jack Kuntz announced virtual participation by the public at city meetings is ending.

“Beginning in 2020, the Ohio General Assembly passed several bills that temporarily permitted public bodies to meet virtually instead of in person, as is required by Ohio’s Open Meetings Act (R.C 121.22)” Kuntz said.

“The most recent legislation allowing virtual meetings took effect Feb. 17, 2022, and expired June 30, 2022,” Kuntz continued.

Kuntz noted Brookville “is one of the last remaining communities in our region that has continued to offer virtual participation despite state legislation expiring over two years ago.”

Kuntz said virtual participation by the public ends with the park board meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13 and the Tuesday, Aug. 20, council meeting.

Kuntz said the city will continue to offer live streaming of public meetings on the city’s digital Webex platform.

Kuntz, however, noted public engagement options during all city meetings will no longer be available after Aug. 20.

Kuntz said recordings of the city’s public meetings will continue to be available to the public on the city’s website.

In other matters, police chief Doug Jerome reminded citizens to continue participating in the department’s “9 p.m. Routine” to prevent the theft of vehicles and/or items left in vehicles and thefts from their homes.

The program consists of the following guidelines:

• lock your vehicles and remove garage door openers from inside the vehicles.

• lock the doors and windows of your home.

• lock your gate and shed.

• remove valuables from your vehicles, patios and yards.

• turn on outside lights, cameras and alarm systems.

• close your garage door.

Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].