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Ravenswood council awards demolition contract, approves cleanup grant and opioid-fund payment; sewer changes set for first reading
Summary
At its March 3 meeting, the Ravenswood Common Council unanimously awarded a $10,000 demolition contract to Empire Builders, approved a cleanup contract for Marion Construction and a $3,000 opioid-litigation fund payment to Hope House, and recorded a first reading of revised sewer-rate tariffs.
The Ravenswood Common Council met March 3 and approved several items affecting blight removal, grant-funded cleanup work and municipal funding to a local recovery organization.
The council unanimously awarded a DLAP-funded demolition contract for a dilapidated building to Empire Builders (bid $10,000), after considering a competing bid from JC Bosley ($12,477). Recorder Jared Bloxton moved the award; Jeff Koon seconded and the motion carried as recorded in the minutes.
The council also approved a $3,000 payment from the Opioid Litigation Fund to Hope House to purchase furniture. Councilor Dee Scritchfield moved the measure and Amanda Slaven seconded; the minutes record the item as approved.
Following an executive session on Waterfront Economic Enhancement Grant Fund projects and personnel-management restructuring, the council approved contracting Marion Construction to perform a cleanup grant project, with a stipulation that the work not exceed the contract amount. Amanda Slaven moved the approval and Jeff Koon seconded.
Separately, the council recorded a first reading of an amended ordinance revising the sewer-rate tariff described in the minutes as “technical changes.” The minutes do not show final adoption; the ordinance remained at first reading during the March 3 meeting.
During the public forum, several residents raised concerns about proposed redevelopment and transparency. Bob Staats urged caution on plans for a Welcome Center and business incubator and cited state code requirements for leases and public hearings. Buddy Jones asked for the city's 2025 financial statements, referenced FOIA requests for the McIntosh building and questioned a staff member's reported earnings. Mark Friend told the council he had limited participation until he sees change and questioned recent spending and the amount of interest earned on a settlement. Councilor Todd Ritchie praised law enforcement for a traffic response involving his wife.
The council also approved ceremonial proclamations, including a March 2026 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month designation and naming tennis courts in honor of Dave Crow, declared certain city-owned office items surplus, and referred a vending-machine procurement question to BOPARC for recommendation. The next council meeting is scheduled for March 17, 2026; the March 3 session adjourned at 9:41 p.m.
Actions recorded in the minutes are described as motions with seconding councilors and recorded as approved; the minutes use the phrase "All Approved" for passed items but do not list roll-call vote counts in every case.
