COLUMBUS, Ohio — New legislation with Columbus City Council is looking to hold property owners accountable for ponds or bodies of water on their property.
According to a Franklin County child fatality review from 2013-2022, 47 children in Franklin County died from drowning. About 43% of those drownings were from open water.
Columbus City Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans said after a drowning about six months ago, he decided it was time to try and make a change.
“Unfortunately, we have had dozens of children die in ponds and bodies of water in our community,” said Dorans.
If passed, the new legislation would make a process to identify and address hazardous ponds near multi-family properties in Columbus. The properties would have to follow a number of safety guidelines including signage and a safety shelf.
10TV asked Dorans why now for this legislation.
“Once we realized we could use the nuisance code in a way that’s very customizable approach towards requiring safety improvements in place where we know it’s needed,” said Dorans.
Just last week in London, Ohio officers saved a boy who has autism and ran into a body of water.
Sheletta Brundidge, a mother of three children with autism, saw the video and it struck a chord with her.
“My son Daniel is a wanderer. Anytime there's a door cracked, anytime there's a window open, anytime there is an opportunity, he's going to run off full speed,” said Brundidge.
Four years ago, Brundidge started giving away interior locks for free for caregivers and parents of children who have disabilities.
“You have to have a 6 to 10 digit code. If you don’t have that code, you can’t get out of the door. There’s a key bypass in case of a fire or emergency,” she said.
Now, she wants to help families in Ohio.
On Friday at London City Hall from 11 am to 1 p.m., she will be giving away 100 free locks.