City staff updated the Belpre City Council on several infrastructure and public-works items, including water-system work, a continuing trash-hauler contract with Rumpke and delays to EPA drinking-water grant contracts.

The overview matters because the items affect ongoing city operations and planned capital work that require signed grant contracts or parts deliveries to proceed.

A city staff member reported the municipal SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system will be modified to add operational data currently unavailable and that radio replacements for booster and lift stations are expected to be completed by mid‑summer. The staff member said the city inspected booster and lift stations with department heads while updating the capital improvement plan.

The council was told the city’s curbside and bin service remains with Rumpke; staff said contract changes are in progress to reflect that award and to preserve spring and fall cleanup dumpster days. Cat Orr, city staff, said SOPEC’s grant team is working with the city on park planning and on grant programs to help finance project phases.

On drinking‑water grants, staff said EPA awards have been announced but that the new Ohio EPA director has slowed issuance of signed contracts. The report said staff are reluctant to start work before receiving signed contracts from the Ohio EPA.

Backflow tracking and compliance were described as an Environmental Protection Agency requirement that has been difficult for several years. The staff report credited an employee named Angie Clinton Chris with operationalizing the process, but said commercial customers that need backflow-device repairs are waiting on parts because of supply‑chain delays. Staff described the city’s ability to compel private vendors to repair devices as constrained when vendors cannot obtain parts.

No formal council votes were recorded on these specific operational updates in the transcript; the items were reported as staff updates and next steps. Cat Orr offered to follow up on specific public inquiries raised during the meeting.

The city also recommended that council members take FEMA/National Incident Management System training courses (ICS‑100 and ICS‑700) as a preparedness measure. Staff said an engineer from the park planning firm will appear at a future meeting to present a park plan and discuss funding options.