Martins Ferry City Council Meeting Minutes of May 20, 2026
Posted on: June 4, 2026
The Martins Ferry City Council met in Regular Session on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 5:30 p.m., in the Donald Myers Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Council President Phil Wallace with the Pledge of Allegiance recited by those present in chamber, followed by a prayer by the Clerk. Answering Roll Call were Bob Hunker, First Ward Council Member, Spencer Echemann, Second Ward Council Member; Andrew Smay, Third Ward Council Member; Ryan Robey, Fourth Ward Council Member; Gus Harris, James Agnew and Jim Schramm, Council at Large Members.
Minutes: Minutes of the May 6, 2026 Regular Council Meeting were approved with the following addition: The GovPilot project will be funded through the General Fund.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Reports of Officers of the City:
Mayor: Estimated revenue of 4 different proposed increases in sanitation charges was distributed. Council will need to decide which increase would be feasible. Sanitation rates have not been adjusted in 10 years. Recently adjustments were made in how the sanitation rates were applied to the high rise apartment buildings in the city. Mr. Sutak explained the extra expenses that are involved when a Packer is broke down. President Wallace asked that the Committees of Council meet and bring a recommendation to the next Meeting regarding this situation.
Projected cost of 7 projects, that need attention in the city, was also distributed. Not included in the list, but will probably be needed by the end of the year or early next year, is an additional police cruiser. Mayor Davies said there is a lot of work that needs done, some substantial. Revenue has been lost from East Ohio Regional Hospital and from the sale of Turf Care. Grant funding now is mainly matching grants. The Engineers are looking for funding for repairs at the Water Plant.
Service Director: The swimming pool will be open on Monday, May 25. Daily hours will be 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Admission Fees: Adults, $5.00; Students, $3.00; children 4 years and under are free. Life guards and pool chemicals have been secured.
A Permissive Tax Application has been submitted to the County Commissioners for the paving of 5th Street from Ellett Street to Center Street. Mr. Sutak hopes to get an approval letter by next week.
Mr. Sutak has contacted several companies for an estimate on fixing the lower end of Mackey Avenue where there has been several water breaks.
The Sewer Department employees have been out cleaning catch basins and checking on debri in several of the creeks. Employees have been digging a grave site and catching up on grass cutting.
Auditor: A Statement of Cash Position, Payroll Summary and New Hire Report were distributed to Council Members. Auditor Regis asked Council to approve a $50,000 purchase order for Erb Electric. The order was made out after the work was done on the generator in the well field. This money is being paid from the insurance claim.
Mr. Regis let Council know that Miss Yeso has approximately $2,500 invested out of her personal funds for sending Registered Letters for the city. He would like to see the city reimburse her.
The Sanitation Fund remains in the red and is now at a record high of $65,308. A loan payment of $46,776 is due on June 1st along with repaying the General Fund $93,000 over the next two years. Rates have not been adjusted in over 10 years which is the major problem.
Miss Yeso stated that she does not want to be reimbursed for the cost of sending the Registered Letters. She said this is her contribution to the city.
Law Director: No report.
Police Department: Chief West said he will be asking Council soon to update the Ordinance regarding electric bicycles and scooters.
Fire Department: Chief Smith reported the Lansing Sportsmen’s Club made a $5,000 donation to the department to assist in purchasing a skid unit for the back of the side-by-side. This will help to fight brush fires. Chief Smith, along with other Belmont County Squad Officers, attended the Belmont County Commissioners Meeting today. The Commissioners approved the purchase of a Fit Test Machine for the entire County. This was in response to the compliance issues recently experienced by the Martins Ferry Fire Department. When this machine arrives, it will be circulated, free of charge, to all the departments in the County.
Safety Director: Mary Greer, EMS Director, has received permission to place an ambulance for sale on the .gov website. She has also asked that one of the full-time positions be changed to a driver positon. Twenty-two letters were sent out for high grass violations and maintenance issues.
Park District: No report.
Water Department: No report.
Reports of Committees of Council:
Finance and Audit: No report.
Street: No report.
Ordinance: No report.
Sewer/Sidewalk: No report.
Safety: No report.
Service: No report.
Cemetery: No report.
Public Relations: No report.
Code Administration: The Committee met on May 19 regarding the GovPilot Project. The Committee recommended this project be paid from the General Fund. However, Mr. Sutak suggested paying this from the Service/Safety Fund and money received from Contractor Licenses and Building Permits, etc., to go back into this fund. This would enable the Code Administrator to pay for needed items for operation. If the money is taken out of the General Fund, the Ordinance will need to be changed and money coming in from Contractor Licenses and Building Permits, etc., will have to go back into the General Fund.
Real Estate/Building and Grounds: No report.
Utility: No report.
Income Tax: Mr. Echemann will be working with Mr. Regis to investigate the amount of income tax received from businesses.
Citizens To Be Heard: President Wallace reminded citizens to limit their speaking to 5 minutes.
Richard Hord, 915 Virginia Street, announced a meeting with the Belmont County Commissioners will be held on Thursday, August 13 at 6:00 p.m. at the Martins Ferry Public Library. No complaints have been received regarding the 2 hour free parking change. Council has not made any decisions regarding the status of the City Building. Mr. Sutak explained the difficulties of funding a new City Building or relocating to a new location. The former East Ohio Regional Hospital building is going into foreclosure and will be for sale soon.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
There were no Ordinances or Resolutions to be read.
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. Hunker made a motion to pay Erb Electric $50,000 from the holding account of the insurance money. This payment is for work done on the generator in the well field. Motion was seconded by Rev. Agnew. A roll call vote was heard with Hunker, Echemann, Smay, Robey, Harris, Agnew and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Robey and seconded by Mr. Hunker to note that Council has received and reviewed the Auditor’s Statement of Cash Position and to make this report part of the minutes. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion carried.
A combined Finance Committee and Service Committee Meeting was scheduled for Monday, June 1, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at the City Building. Discussion will focus on the Sanitation rates changes.
Mr. Schramm 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. Echemann. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion passed.
Mr. Echemann made a motion and Mr. Harris seconded to note that Council has received and reviewed the Payroll Summary and the New Hire/Termination/Retirement/Change Report from the Auditor. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion carried.
Mr. Echemann moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Rev. Agnew. After an affirmative voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 6:18 p.m. with a salute to the flag.
The next meeting of the Martins Ferry Council will be on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.
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Kay H. McFarlan, Clerk of Council Phil Wallace, Council President
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