City of Wilmington “Government”

01/14/2026

For Immediate Release
City of Wilmingto, Ohio

January 13, 2026
**Retraction of previous press release naming Jonathan McKay as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the City of Wilmington.

After only seven days of employment on his the newly created job as the PIO, the Mayor has encouraged Mr. McKay to resign, effective immediately, from the position that was created especially for him as a courtesy from Mayor Haley after Mr. McKay’s ultimate failure as the Transit Department Director. The Mayor specifically requests you do not request any information about the chaos, mismanagement of records, and disorder currently happening at the Transit Department during this trying time

While the post of PIO, created by Mayor Haley specifically for Mr. McKay, had no official job description, list of duties, statement of obligations, civil service approval, approval of city council, any functional reason for being created, and failure to achieve non existent benchmarks of employment, these qualifications were subsequently unable to be met by Mr. McKay.

He was escorted from the City Building this afternoon.

Mayor Haley vows he will still be appointing several more unqualified individuals for additional newly created positions that do not have the blessings of civil service or city council, as required by the ORC. These positions will be ultimately filled by unqualified and “retire/rehire” friends of Mayor Haley.

11/07/2025

Per Mayor Haley, “Try that in this small town!”

BREAKING: Portsmouth Braces for Influx of Wealthy New Yorkers Fleeing City After “Disastrous New Mayor” Elected

PORTSMOUTH, OH — Portsmouth officials say they’re “on high alert” after online rumors suggested a mass exodus of Manhattan’s elite heading to southern Ohio, allegedly driven out of New York City by the new mayor’s policies and a desperate search for “a better quality of life.”

Early Wednesday, Zillow searches for “Portsmouth, Ohio mansions with doormen” surged 400%, apparently after a viral tweet claimed, “New York is done. Portsmouth is the future.”

City Official Larry Mullins called an emergency meeting to “prepare for the influx of millionaires who will soon realize our riverfront isn’t the Hudson.” Mullins told reporters, “We’re ready to help them adjust to rural life. We’ve already identified several potential penthouse conversions inside the Krogers.”

Local Realtor Brenda Skeens confirmed she’s been overwhelmed with calls. “One lady asked if her driver could pick up a latte in town. I told her, ‘Sure, there’s a McDonald’s, but you’ll need to order ahead if you want it iced.’”

Developers are already capitalizing on the rumor. The abandoned Kmart is reportedly being rebranded as The Portsmouth Residences, promising “luxury amenities” like two functioning vending machines and a view of the Speedway parking lot “without visible potholes.”

Longtime resident Dale “Bubba” Newsome isn’t impressed. “They can have their fancy words and tight jeans,” Bubba said. “If they think the mayor in New York was bad, wait till they see how long it takes to get a zoning permit here.”

Economists are calling Portsmouth “the new Upper East Side of the Midwest.” Insiders predict the migration could double the city’s population and drive up real estate values to “as high as $97,000 per house” within months.

City Council has already discussed renaming Gallia Street “Wall Street Extension” and adding a valet lane to the Moose Lodge to accommodate “incoming investors.”

Reached for comment, one alleged Manhattan transplant said, “The new mayor ruined everything. I couldn’t even find a clean sidewalk. Here in Portsmouth, you can see the stars and sometimes a loose dog, but it’s charming.”

09/11/2025

City of Wilmington – Public Notice

In our ongoing commitment to address quality-of-life concerns, Wilmington officials are proud to announce new initiatives to solve challenges created under current leadership.

Mayor Pat Haley has authorized additional police patrols to target speeding drivers. This decision comes less than two years after he directed the removal of ODOT-recommended traffic-calming signs, following complaints that traffic was moving too slowly. With the signs gone, traffic speeds increased — and now, the city will deploy officers to issue citations for the very conditions it created.

Safety Director Nick Eveland has reaffirmed Wilmington’s strong position on va**ng. Although Eveland has been observed va**ng on multiple occasions inside City Hall and during council meetings, a one-year moratorium on new v**e shops has been enacted. The measure ensures strict regulation for residents while preserving more flexible standards for city leadership.

Service Director Mike Crowe, who does not live within Wilmington city limits, continues to play a central role in shaping local policy. Crowe’s eligibility for his current position was made possible when Mayor Haley arranged for council to amend city law specifically to allow it. With that accommodation secured, Crowe is now urging council to make Wilmington’s temporary moratorium on ma*****na dispensaries a permanent ban, despite Ohio voters approving legalization statewide in 2023.

These actions highlight Wilmington’s dedication to ensuring laws are enforced rigorously for residents, while remaining adaptable for officials themselves.

End of Release

08/21/2025

****MEDIA RELEASE****

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2025
Media Contact:
Nick Eveland
Acting Director of Communications
937-382-6509
[email protected]

City Acknowledges Citizen Protest and Mayor Haley’s Declining Support
WILMINGTON, OH — The City of Wilmington formally acknowledges the citizen-led protest held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, where fewer than a dozen residents gathered downtown to express concerns over crime rates and Mayor Pat Haley’s handling of public safety issues.
Despite the modest turnout, the protest carried significant weight as several elected council members participated, signaling a growing divide between the Mayor and his previously steadfast supporters.
Protesters voiced frustration that the Mayor continues to rely on statistical data rather than engaging with the community's real concerns. Signs such as “We Voted Pat, Not Excuses” and “Numbers Don’t Walk Our Streets” highlighted the disconnect felt by many residents.
The City recognizes that when council members join constituents in protest, the issue transcends perception and points to a leadership crisis. Wilmington officials assure the public that, regardless of the Mayor’s reliance on data, the City remains committed to addressing residents' concerns and fostering a safer community.
For further information, please contact Nick Eveland, Acting Director of Communications, at 937-382-6509 or [email protected].
Tip Hotline: Citizens with information regarding the individual observed va**ng in council chambers are encouraged to report leads—because nothing says public safety like keeping an eye on indoor smoke clouds. Call 937-382-6000 or email [email protected].

07/30/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Department of Urban Sanitation, Wellness & Environmental Equity (DUSWEE)
July 30, 2025
Contact: Pat Haley, Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (937) 382‑5458
Website: wilmingtonohio.gov

CITY ANNOUNCES “COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK” TO ADDRESS PUBLIC DEFECATION BY 2037
Wilmington, OH — In a bold step toward addressing the long‑acknowledged phenomenon of human defecation on public sidewalks, alleys, parking lots, and municipal flower beds, the Department of Urban Sanitation, Wellness & Environmental Equity (DUSWEE) has unveiled its 164‑page Strategic Plan for the Multi‑Phase Response to Uncontained Human Waste (SPMRUHW).

This initiative, first proposed in 2013, has finally secured approval for preliminary pilot subcommittee formation funding, which will empower city officials to hold preliminary listening sessions to determine if additional funding may be secured to explore whether something should eventually be done.

“This is a turning point,” said Acting Director Nick Eveland, reading from a pre‑approved statement. “For too long, we have looked the other way. Now we’re prepared to look directly at the problem, discuss it at length, and publish several reports with infographics.”
MULTI‑STEP APPROACH WITH NO CLEAR STEPS

The Strategic Plan outlines a groundbreaking 7‑phase approach:

Phase 0 – Feasibility Assessment: Evaluating whether evaluating solutions is feasible.
Phase I – Community Engagement and Focus Group Scheduling (Tentative): Identifying potential times for focus group discussions in fiscal year 2028.
Phase II – Policy Framework Drafting Committee Charter Subcommittee: Formation of a subcommittee to draft the charter for the committee that may someday draft policies.
Phase III – Public Education Campaign: Launching an initiative titled “Pavement is Not a Privy™,” pending trademark resolution with a competing department.
Phase IV – Infrastructure Enhancements: Exploring the possibility of constructing a single pilot latrine prototype in the city’s least accessible neighborhood.
Phase V – Evaluation of Phase IV’s Outcomes: Commissioning a third‑party consultant group to evaluate whether Phase IV occurred.
Phase VI – Celebration and Final Report Binding: Publishing a commemorative report and hosting a catered press event.
EARLY RESULTS PROMISING, SORT OF

Since the plan’s unofficial soft rollout in April (due to a clerical misfiling), several members of the public have reportedly continued defecating in the exact same manner and frequency, confirming, according to city officials, the “urgency of developing urgency around this issue.”

“We’ve done a remarkable job appearing to respond,” said Deputy Coordinator of Urban Sanitation Dialogue Logistics, Diana Bonecutter. “We’ve assembled panels, task forces, even a full‑color logo. And we’re proud to say we’ve reached consensus on a mission statement—something not every city can claim.”
OPPOSITION RESPONDS

Critics of the plan have questioned its scope, timeline, and general existence.

“You don’t need a 7‑phase plan to put in toilets,” said one concerned resident, speaking on condition of anonymity outside a business that has experienced “multiple unfortunate sidewalk events” in the past week alone. “You need toilets.”
In response, DUSWEE officials noted that “toilets are not a panacea” and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to “multi‑lateral, inter‑agency synergistic urban interventions,” though no one on staff could define any of those terms when asked.

NEXT STEPS

DUSWEE has invited the public to attend a virtual “Toilet Town Hall” scheduled for Q4, to be rescheduled pending clarification of which fiscal calendar the city currently uses.

Meanwhile, the city urges residents to use “traditional facilities where feasible, appropriate, or achievable,” and to “remain open‑minded about sidewalk‑based sanitation behaviors as cultural expressions.”

The department has also released a 12‑minute animated explainer video narrated by a cartoon owl named Mr. Ploppy. The video has received over 6 views on the city’s internal Vimeo channel.

# # #

For more information, a physical copy of the Strategic Plan (on recycled parchment paper) may be requested by submitting Form 42‑B (Request for Form 42‑A) in person at the DUSWEE Annex (Building D, Sub‑basement 4, Room 3A, Window 5).

Welcome to Wilmington, Ohio.

07/29/2025

“Please avoid all filming.” https://buff.ly/Dv0WlbY

05/20/2025

For immediate release:

City of Wilmington Administration released a statement this afternoon addressing the existence of “invoices” from a legal representative that are circulating on the internet and social media.

“These so-called “invoices” are not evidence of wrongdoing. I am a former law enforcement officer and Sherriff, so it is actually impossible for me to have committed a crime”, Mayor Haley said in the statement. “If these invoices do exist, which I would swear an affidavit that they do not, they were obviously fabricated by the Wilmington Police Department in an effort to make me look bad, in light of their recent secret vote of no-confidence. I can also think of at least 4 more employees, all women, who have a vendetta against me that could have also been involved in the fabrication of these lies. They have been all placed on administrative leave as a precaution.”

“The city has only paid a little over $120k to Issac Wiles attorneys in the past year and a half,” Mayor Haley continued, “I don’t think that seems out of the ordinary. They’ve given me great legal opinions, for example, how I can shield my wife from prosecution after she hit a citizen after he said disparaging things about me during a City Council meeting. They are doing great work for me personally and the city.”

For more information, please contact Mayor Haley directly at 937-205-7844

02/25/2025

Per our snow plowing plan. If you are the driver of this plow, and you need new employment, contact our HR department.

02/06/2025

-PRESS RELEASE-

Public comments will not be allowed at tonight’s February 6th council meeting.
The administration is working on declaring a state of emergency for the city of Wilmington under the new ICE guidelines.
Once that is finalized the city will start its purge of unworthy organizations and democratic owned businesses. Also, under the new guidelines, individuals on a bicycle with a backpack will be declared a terrorist and treated accordingly. The lawlessness days are over. The administration will also be sending out packets to the proper citizens stating how you need to carry your identification and how to handle yourself when you encounter our new security checkpoints that will scattered throughout the city.

Mayor Haley can be reached at 937-382-5458.

10/04/2024

City of Wilmington- City-Wide Bicycle Ban
For Immediate Release: Mayor Pat Haley has announced a city-wide ban of all bicycles, effective immediately. “I’ve had several complaints from citizens around town regarding bikes being ridden on streets, trails, and sidewalks in our peaceful. This is a safety hazard for all our elderly citizens who use these areas, so I am banning the use of bikes at this time. Everyone has access to a vehicle, so I don’t personally see why anyone would even need to ride a bike, it strikes me as very strange. These city trails were made to be walked slowly or admired from afar, not to be abused by bike riders.” The Wilmington Police Department will begin enforcing this ban immediately and anyone found riding a bike within the city limits shall be arrested, their bicycle confiscated, and they will be subject to fines from $500-$1000 for each individual offense. Mayor Haley stated, “from day one my administration has had a “no tolerance” policy on individual personal enjoyment, and we intend to continue cracking down on these dangerous types of activities.”�
Released by: Chief of Staff, Michael Cluxton
City of WIlmington, Mayor’s Office

09/25/2024

*Construction to Begin on Four Pedestrian Crossings**
LOCATION – Wilmington, Ohio
The City of Wilmington, announces the commencement of pedestrian crossings improvements at
four locations:
1. Truesdell Street near Roy E. Holmes Elementary School
2. Thorne Avenue at Wilmington High School/Alumni Field
3. Nelson Avenue at the Luther E. Warren Peace Path
4. S. South Street north of Linton Avenue
The project will establish or improve pedestrian crossings to increase pedestrian safety.
Construction will begin on Monday, September 30 and the project is scheduled to be completed
no later than November 15. Work will begin at the Holmes Elementary location and will last
approximately 3 weeks. The Thorne Avenue/Wilmington High School location is scheduled to
begin October 21 and last approximately 2 weeks. Construction of the Nelson Ave. and S. South
St. locations will be completed throughout the duration of the project. Dates are approximate and
weather permitting. There will be no detours during construction. Traffic will be maintained using
single-lane closures and flaggers.
The City of Wilmington is managing the project. L.J. Deweese has been awarded the construction contract.