Residents ask Struthers Council for a formal public meeting on 5th Street project

Patty Papadopoulos, of 1088 5th Street, asked the Struthers City Council on May 27 for a formal public informational meeting before the city advances approvals for the proposed 5th Street project, saying many neighbors learned about the plan only in the last week or two.

"I want to ask respectfully for the council to hold a formal public informational meeting before any approval moves forward so residents can see the plans clearly, ask questions, and better understand how the 5th Street project is going to proceed," Papadopoulos told the council during public comment.

Papadopoulos said neighbors who do not use social media and who do not follow local outlets had not been aware of the project. "Why were some people who are not on social media notified?" she asked, noting she has lived on the block about 30 years and had not known about council meetings or the project until she received a recent letter.

A city official responding in the meeting said the project had been publicized through multiple channels, including two public meetings during the planning stage, an active-transportation plan, notices in the Vindicator newspaper, a newsletter, flyers, social media and the city's website. The official also said ODOT-required letters were mailed as part of the process and that outreach had included engineer briefings at council meetings. "We are the most transparent city, probably in Ohio, if you want to ask any other city," the official said, adding the city will follow up on public input.

Several commenters raised site-specific technical concerns. A resident who gave the address 1158 5th Street said parts of the street sit much higher than adjacent driveways, and warned that installing drainage and stormwater features without addressing utility elevation could divert water onto neighboring properties. The commenter asked whether utilities—particularly a sanitary line noted as county responsibility—would be addressed alongside surface work.

The city official offered to have an engineer revisit the affected block and go over the planned layout in more detail. The official also said the project aims to create safer walking routes, and that some motorized vehicles (for example, golf carts) would be prohibited from certain paths; motorized bicycles and scooters were discussed as permitted in some areas, subject to rules.

Paul Roberts, a 5th Street resident, said the mailing arrived only within the past week or two and suggested the city use direct mailed notices or campaign-style mailers to reach residents who do not use social media. "We got the letter in the mail within the last week or two. Now everybody on that block knows about it," Roberts said.

Council members and staff invited residents with technical questions to schedule follow-ups with the mayor's office and said they will respond to public comments received in the outreach window. The council did not vote on project approvals at the May 27 meeting; officials said some project elements are part of prior legislation and ODOT processes and that staff will return with further details as requested.

The council also reminded attendees that the Finance and Legislation committee will meet June 3 at 6 p.m.