Martins Ferry City Council Meeting Minutes of November 2, 2022
Posted on: November 17, 2022
The Martins Ferry City Council met in Regular Session on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., at the Donald Myers Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Council President Kristine Davis with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by those present, followed by a prayer by the Clerk. Answering Roll Call were Bob Hunker, First Ward Council Member, Bruce Shrodes, Second Ward Council Member; Suzanne Armstrong, Third Ward Council Member; Rick Rodgers, Fourth Ward Council Member; Tom Burns, Jim Schramm and Jack Regis, Council at Large Members.
Minutes: Minutes of the October 19, 2022 Regular Council Meeting were approved as written.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Reports of Officers of the City:
Mayor: The Veteran’s Monument, at the Riverview Cemetery, will be dedicated on November 13, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the American Legion. Refreshments will follow at the Legion.
The Mayor met with the Street Committee and received permission to pave Pearl Street (from Jefferson Street to Buckeye Street) and Seabrights Lane (from Zane Highway to the end of the Street). Paving on Pearl Street will begin on November 7 and will probably take the whole week to finish. Other bids were received for Adams Street and Carlisle Street but the Mayor did not think there would be enough time to pave these streets since the weather will be getting colder.
Funding is being sought from the Public Works Commission for paving and new guardrails on Beretta Drive.
The city annexed-in the School Road and Alumni Road but does not own these roads. It is unclear who is responsible for maintenance of these roads, especially during the winter months. Mr. Regis made a motion and Mr. Burns seconded to maintain the school roads (snow, ice removal, pothole repair) pending establishment of ownership. A meeting will be scheduled between the city administration and the school administration to discuss ownership and responsibility of maintenance of these roads. A roll call vote was heard with Regis, Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, Rodgers, Burns and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried.
Service Director: Mr. Sutak presented Council with a breakdown of the project requests to be paid from the American Rescue Fund Money. The Administration agreed to modify this list by reducing the Forced Main TurfCare Sewer Project by $6,000 and reducing the Waterline Main to the Hospital Project by $6,000. This will allow for the purchase of a surround sound system for Council Chambers (inserted as item #10 on the list) which will cost close to $12,000.
Mr. Sutak explained the Preliminary Consent Legislation which is presented in an ordinance to be read later in the meeting. Some of the guardrail along SR 647 needs replaced and the city is unable to fund this project. All guardrail work will be funded by the local Metropolitan Planning Organization (BHJ).
Mr. Sutak met with a representative from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and toured some of the areas that have had mine subsidence. More research will be done and hopefully an answer to the slippage problem can be found.
Council was asked to consider imposing a charge (Road Use Maintenance Agreements) to companies that have large trucks and vehicles using SR 647. This funding could be used for maintenance of that road.
The Auditor’s Office currently has a Petty Cash Fund of $100. Council was asked to make a motion to increase this fund to $200.
The city is ready for the winter weather. Mr. Sutak asked Council to approve the purchase of a Salt Storage Building, listed on the American Rescue Projects, so the road salt will be protected from the elements and work to its fullest potential.
Safety Director: The Christmas Parade will be held on Friday, November 25, 2022, staring at 6:30 p.m. A motion will be needed to use the city streets.
Council and the Administration were invited to the Annual Fire Department Organizational Meeting which will be held on December 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ladder Station.
Director Regis thanked Council for the two new Transport Vehicles.
Auditor: No report.
Law Director: No report.
Police Department: No report.
Fire Department: No report.
Code Administrator: No report.
Park District: No report.
Water Department: No report.
Reports of Committees of Council:
Finance and Audit: The Committee met on October 26, 2022. Discussion was held regarding employee paid time off “cash-outs” and the effect on the General Fund. The list of items to be funded through the American Rescue Money, was reviewed and the Committee recommends moving forward with the projects. Minutes of this meeting were submitted to the clerk and will be filed with these Council Minutes.
Street: A meeting was held regarding the extra streets to be paved which was mentioned in the Mayor’s report.
Ordinance: No report.
Sewer/Sidewalk: No report.
Code Administration: No report.
Safety: A meeting, with the Ray Zeakes Family, was held at the EMS Building on October 26 regarding a complaint of operation procedures of the EMS transport service. It was determined that protocols were followed. Mr. Regis was proud of the way EMS Management supported the workers. Minutes of this meeting were submitted to the clerk and will be filed with these Council Minutes.
Service: No report.
Cemetery: No report.
Public Relations: No report.
Real Estate: No report.
Utility: No report.
Income Tax: No report.
Citizens To Be Heard:
Larry Deaton, 1102 North 9th Street, School Bus Operator, praised the city for the upkeep of Riverview Cemetery. He also noted that over 30 bulbs in the decorative lamps around town are burned out and some of the globes are loose. The Mayor said he would try and address this issue tomorrow. Mr. Shrodes asked Mr. Sutak to check on the exposed wiring on the pole by Subway.
Richard Hord, 915 Virginia Street, thanked the Police Force and Fire Department for the excellent job of patrolling the streets on Saturday, October 29 during Trick or Treat. The Mayor said he still plans to honor Ohio Valley Printing for operating in the city for 100 years. The procedure to replace Auditor Randall, who is retiring on December 31, was explained to Mr. Hord. The Mayor told Mr. Hord that numerous calls have been made to Bel-O-Mar regarding the demolition of the Curly Property. Mr. Sutak will send an email to Bel-O-Mar inviting them to attend a Council Meeting to explain why the Curly Property hasn’t been taken down. Only one house has been torn down by the Land Bank this year in the city.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
An Ordinance To Revise The Codified Ordinances By Adopting Current Replacement Pages, and Declaring An Emergency.
This Ordinance was given a second reading. Motion was made by Mr. Regis to suspend the rules. Motion was seconded by Mr. Schramm. A roll call vote was heard with Regis, Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, Rodgers, Burns and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried. Motion was made by Mr. Hunker to pass the Ordinance as read. Motion was seconded by Rodgers. A roll call vote was heard with Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, Rodgers, Burns, Schramm and Regis voting yes. The motion carried and the Ordinance was declared passed.
An Ordinance Providing For Assessments To Be Levied and Authorizing The Service Director to Certify Those Assessment To the Belmont County Auditor and Declaring an Emergency.
This Ordinance was given a first reading. Motion was made by Mr. Hunker to suspend the rules. Motion was seconded by Mr. Shrodes. A roll call vote was heard with Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, Rodgers, Burns, Schramm and Regis voting yes. The motion carried. Motion was made by Mr. Schramm to pass the Ordinance as read. Motion was seconded by Regis. A roll call vote was heard with Schramm, Regis, Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, Rodgers and Burns voting yes. The motion carried and the Ordinance was declared passed.
Motion was made by Mr. Regis to suspend the 72 Hour Rule. Motion was seconded by Mr. Burns. A roll call vote was heard with Regis, Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, Rodgers, Burns and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried.
Preliminary Consent Legislation, being the removal and replacement of old guardrail along State Route 647with new guardrail and posts from SLM 0.62 to SLM 1.61 within the city of Martins Ferry.
This Ordinance was given a first reading. Motion was made by Mr. Shrodes to suspend the rules. Motion was seconded by Mr. Schramm. A roll call vote was heard with Shrodes, Armstrong, Rodgers, Burns, Schramm, Regis and Hunker voting yes. The motion carried. Motion was made by Mr. Hunker to pass the Ordinance as read. Motion was seconded by Regis. A roll call vote was heard with Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, Rodgers, Burns, Schramm and Regis voting yes. The motion carried and the Preliminary Consent Legislation Ordinance was declared passed.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MARTINS
FERRY TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE ZANE
HIGHWAY 12” WATERLINE CONNECTION TO AETNA
STREET BOOSTER STATION AND DECLARING AN
EMERGENC
Miscellaneous Business:
Mr. Regis made a motion to allow the Fire Department to use city streets for the Christmas Parade on November 25. Motion was seconded by Mr. Rodgers. A roll call vote was heard with Regis, Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, Rodgers, Burns and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried.
Mr. Regis made a motion to increase the petty cash in the Auditor’s Office from $100 to $200. Mr. Schramm seconded the motion. A roll call vote was heard with Regis, Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, Rodgers, Burns and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried.
Mr. Regis made a motion to reflect Council has received reports from the Officers and Management, and to incorporate these reports into the minutes. Motion was seconded by Mr. Hunker. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion passed.
Mr. Burns made a motion to approve the attached American Rescue Fund uses, items 1 – 10, to include $12,000 for the audio system by reducing items 1 and 2 by $6,000 each. Mr. Schramm seconded the motion. A roll call vote was heard with Burns, Schramm, Regis, Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, and Rodgers voting yes. The motion was declared passed.
The Mayor would like to proceed to demolish the house on the “S” curve of Broadway. The owner was served a citation a couple of months ago and has been written up for the trash in the yard.
There has been no progress on getting South Zane Highway repaved by the contractor who did the Bridgeport water project connections. Mr. Burns made a motion and Mr. Regis seconded to authorize the Mayor to proceed with the repaving of South Zane Highway with money from the water line project. A roll call vote was heard with Burns, Schramm, Regis, Hunker, Shrodes, Armstrong, and Rodgers voting yes. The motion was declared passed.
The Mayor said Pearl Street and Seabrights Lane are scheduled to be paved and maybe later money will be available for a bigger project, such as Grant Avenue.
The Mayor will send a letter to the asphalt company, located in the former city garage, regarding the area where they should and should not park their trucks.
Mr. Regis reported several comments from residents on the courteous treatment from the city workers during Curbside Trash Clean-Up Week.
President Davis told Council if they would like to change their committee membership, please submit their request to her before the next meeting. She also reminded Council Members that they have 1 more year to complete their Sunshine Law Training. It must be completed by the end of their term.
Chris Baker has offered to meet and answer any questions Council might have regarding the new audio system for Council Chambers.
Mrs. Armstrong moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Mr. Hunker. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 6:57 p.m. with a salute to the flag.
The next regular meeting of the Martins Ferry Council will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. at the Donald Myers Council Chambers.
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Kay H. McFarlan, Clerk of Council Kristine Davis, Council President
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