Ironton Council adopts temporary budget, approves contracts and new sewer-tap fee; tables cannabis ban

The Ironton City Council on Oct. 9 adopted a temporary municipal budget for the 2026 fiscal year, approved an amendment to the 2025 operating budget, authorized a contract with Cooper's Glass and enacted a one-time sewer-tap installation fee, while tabling an ordinance that would have prohibited medical and adult-use cannabis operations in the city.

Council members voted to suspend the usual reading rules and moved Ordinance 25-45 — a temporary budget for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2026 — through second and third readings by title before adopting it and declaring an emergency. The council also adopted Ordinance 25-43, an amendment to the city’s permanent operating budget for the 2025 fiscal year, following a favorable recommendation from the finance committee.

Debate was most pronounced over Ordinance 25-39, which establishes a one-time sewer-tap installation fee for new services. A council member summarized the proposal as “a one-time service fee to install [a] sewer tap,” saying the measure applies to new construction only. Council discussion included contrasting that proposed fee with prior practice (which a speaker said had been a nominal $15–$20 inspection fee) and with figures reported for neighboring communities. One member urged additional research to avoid setting a fee “$1,000 higher than the other communities around us,” saying an excessive charge could discourage new housing or commercial connections. City staff said the proposed fee reflects the actual cost to install taps and to account for wastewater treatment and related work.

The council approved Ordinance 25-39 after discussion.

Councilors also considered Ordinance 25-36, which would have prohibited cultivating, processing, distributing, dispensing, testing or selling medical and adult-use cannabis within the city and which referred to municipal tax considerations intended to offset public-safety costs. A member moved to table the ordinance so the city could seek responses from state legislators and weigh timing issues — including a 120-day period after a dispensary receives licensure that can affect local authority to act — and the council voted to table it.

The council approved Ordinance 25-38, authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Cooper’s Glass. During deliberations members questioned product details including UV protection; council minutes record that staff confirmed the product has protective treatment.

In miscellaneous business, the council accepted the Sept. 24 financial reports. A council member requested an executive session to discuss litigation and property matters with the mayor and solicitor and asked that the environmental attorney and city engineer attend; no action followed during the public meeting.

The meeting included public comments on city operations: residents reported that roughly 900 water meters have been replaced to date and that the city expects that program to conclude in January, announced a planned dog-park opening Oct. 25, and described youth recreation registration plans and a citywide cleanup event.

What happens next: the cannabis prohibition ordinance will remain on hold while council members seek additional information; budget and fee ordinances approved at the meeting take effect as recorded.