Ironton council gives first reading to ordinance change, asks ODOT to limit Iron Russell bridge closure and moves to executive session

The Ironton City Council handled several procedural and policy items, including a first reading of an amendment to a no-camping ordinance, a formal request to the Ohio Department of Transportation about the Iron Russell bridge, and a move to executive session to discuss litigation and real estate.

Councilmember Brown moved to amend Ordinance 24-38 by striking the words "for overnight stays" in section one; the clerk gave the amendment a first reading by title. The amendment targets the city's anti-camping language governing public property; the motion received a second and will return for further consideration under the council's ordinance process.

Separately, the council approved making part of the minutes a letter from the city solicitor to the Ohio Department of Transportation requesting that the Iron Russell bridge not be fully closed and that only one lane be closed. The motion was seconded and placed in the record as council direction to the solicitor's office.

Council also received the August financial statements and was informed that the Ohio auditor released the 2023 audit with a clean opinion; members recognized the finance team for the result.

Later in the meeting a councilmember moved, and members seconded, to enter executive session to discuss litigation and real estate. The motion named expected attendees—city solicitor, mayor, finance director and others—and specified that no action would follow the executive session. The council adjourned after the motion to enter executive session.

No formal votes on substantive policy items (beyond the motions to record or read items) were recorded during the open meeting portion.