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Martins Ferry council hears updates on water-plant work, lead-line repair, paving plans and stalled Dutch Hill project
Summary
Mayor and council discussed pothole repairs, water-plant filter work, a discovered lead service on Fifth Street slated for replacement, plans to pave Elliot Street funded partly by county permissive tax (balance about $124,000), and paused work at the Dutch Hill site while engineers resolve storm-sewer and catch-basin design. Council also noted the sanitation fund is in the red and a street-sweeper replacement was quoted at $301,078.40.
During the April 15 Martins Ferry City Council meeting the mayor and staff provided updates on several public-works and development matters.
Water and streets: The city is preparing hot-patch pothole repairs and will begin work on an additional filter bed at the water plant after recent EPA review confirmed the filtration medium in use. Staff reported a cracked lead service line on Fifth Street (across from the Legion) that will require excavation and replacement work, including curb/box replacement. The mayor said the city will bring an ordinance forward to authorize paving on Elliot Street from Elliot to Center Street; the project would be paid from the city’s county permissive-tax balance, which the mayor said is about $124,000.
Sanitation and budget risk: The mayor warned the sanitation department is operating in the red and may require a rate increase or other fiscal action to repay a prior loan to the general fund. Council scheduled finance discussions and will review options at a finance and safety committee meeting.
National Limestone / Dutch Hill project: A resident asked why heavy equipment had been removed from the Beretta/Dutch Hill site. City staff said National Limestone paused on-site asphalt and earthwork to address catch-basin and sewer-line issues, returned project plans to engineers for redesign, and expected to provide an update within about a week.
Street sweeper: In public comment, a resident quoted a replacement street-sweeper price of $301,078.40 and council noted procurement and operational constraints (operator availability and maintenance costs) before any purchase.
Other items: Chief West urged council to support a renewal levy (he emphasized it would not raise rates), and Ms. Yesso announced a $10,000 award through JB Green Team and Project Forward for downtown commercial planters. The council approved a request from the American Legion for Poppy Day fundraising on May 22 at the corners of Zane & Hanover and Hanover & 5th by voice vote.
The council made and passed a roll-call motion to receive March payroll summaries and financial reports; the roll-call recorded affirmative responses from council members present.
