Martins Ferry council passes ordinance requiring use of city sanitation services amid budget questions

Martins Ferry City Council on Sept. 17 unanimously passed an ordinance requiring utilization of the city's sanitation services, after councilors discussed sanitation fund balances and recent unanticipated expenses.

The ordinance was read aloud at the meeting and the council voted to suspend the rules so the measure could be considered and voted that night. The motion to suspend the rules was made by Councilman Hunker and seconded by Councilman Schramm; the subsequent motion to pass the ordinance as read was made by Schramm and seconded by Eshman. Roll-call votes showed all members present voting yes and the ordinance was declared passed.

Council discussion before the vote flagged recent sanitation operational problems and cash-flow uncertainty. One council speaker reported a cash-flow snapshot that showed sanitation with about $9,800 in expended balance and $10,700 in encumbrances, and noted that revenue for the current month (not yet posted to that snapshot) totaled $21,271.64. The mayor and other members referenced an auditor estimate that sanitation could run a shortfall of roughly $256,000 through the end of the year, although the council's own revenue projections showed about $340,000 in expected sanitation revenue for the same period. Council members questioned why revenue and encumbrances had not been presented earlier to inform any decision to raise rates.

The ordinance's passage was tied in council discussion to the city manager/service director's need to make operational decisions with respect to sanitation customers and contracts; the mayor urged an expedited vote so staff could proceed. The meeting record shows the motion to suspend rules carried, and the final roll call vote to adopt the ordinance was unanimous.

Council did not adopt a rate increase at the Sept. 17 meeting; members said they expected to review sanitation finances again in September to determine next steps.