Martins Ferry City Council Meeting Minutes of July 1, 2026
Posted on: July 17, 2026
The Martins Ferry City Council met in Regular Session on Wednesday, July 1, 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: A corrected copy of the June 3, 2026 Council Minutes and minutes of the June 17, 2026 Council Meeting were approved as written.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Reports of Officers of the City:
Mayor: Work has begun on Beretta Drive. Paving has begun on Fifth Street and should finish up this week. The company paving Fifth Street will stripe it from Ellett Street to Hanover Street. The city will have to get a price on striping Ellett Street to Center Street.
The Celebration in the Park will begin at noon on Friday, July 3. There will be a D.J., bands, vendors and food trucks. A fireworks show will begin at dusk. There will be a free swim at the pool and the number of participants may be limited to 150, depending on the number of lifeguards available. The Mayor asked that city officials attend the celebration, mingle with the citizens and show their support for the event.
Service Director: Mr. Sutak is working on an Opportunity Zone, available through the Department of Development, to attract industrial and commercial businesses to the city. Mr. Sutak would like to have a Resolution passed and a letter from President Wallace and Council stating the city supports the Opportunity Zone.
The sink hole over a sanitary sewer, near Broadway Gardens, proved to be too large of a job for city crews so a company was contracted to finish the job. Another part of this sewer may have to be investigated so it can be known how this line runs. The city has a lot of old infrastructure and funding needs to be sought to help alleviate some of the problems. Increasing the city income tax was mentioned as a possibility to the funding problems.
Mr. Sutak thanked city crews for fixing up the fountain, polishing the WWI Statue, and cleaning up the park for the July 3rd festivities. Mr. Larry Riser was also commended for cutting the grass along Route 7 and keeping it looking nice.
The Well Field cameras have been installed and are now operating.
Auditor: Mr. Regis could not attend this meeting but provided the statement of cash reports for Council. The 2027 Budget will be ready for the July 15th meeting to be voted on. A Public Hearing on the budget will be held at 5:00 p.m. before the Council Meeting on July 15.
Law Director: No report.
Police Department: Chief West distributed the June, 2026 Activity Report for the Department. The K-9 Officer received a safety vest that was donated by the local chapter of Warthogs. The vest was given in memory of a deputy that passed away a few years ago.
Fire Department: Chief Smith stated that the second quarterly report will be submitted tomorrow. During the second quarter, the department responding to 56 calls. EMS responded to 314 calls. On June 5, the department received the final abatement paperwork from the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation for violations received. Personal face pieces have been received for each member and Council was thanked for providing the funding for these purchases. The Department has also received a shipment of new intake valves which will replace the 2 intake valves on each apparatus.
Safety Director: Thirty-two violations will be sent out this week which will net the city $4,600 if all violations are paid. The GovPilot Project has begun and should be up and running by the end of July. Planters have been ordered and should arrive within 7-10 days. Ferry Hardware has offered to assist in setting the planters since they have a forklift truck. Ms. Yeso asked Mr. Schramm to set up a Safety Committee Meeting to review the quarterly activities for Chief West. Mr. Harris asked Ms. Yeso to check on a couple of properties on North 7th Street.
Code Administrator: No report.
Park District: No report.
Water Department: No report.
Reports of Committees of Council:
Finance and Audit: The Finance Committee met on June 22, 2026. The Service Director gave a report on the estimated costs of numerous repairs and projected repairs that will need funded. He projected a loss of $142,000 from the closing of East Ohio Regional Hospital. Mr. Hunker said the city will need to prepare for adjustments to the budget next year. Mr. Harris suggested starting the process of putting a levy on the ballot next year to increase the city’s income tax.
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: No report.
Real Estate/Building and Grounds: No report.
Utility: No report.
Income Tax: No report.
Citizens To Be Heard: President Wallace reminded citizens to limit their speaking to 5 minutes.
Richard Hord, 915 Virginia Street, inquired about funding for the Fireworks Display on July 3. Mayor Davies said the cost of the fireworks has been completely funded. Currently, there are no plans to fund a new city building. The former East Ohio Regional Hospital building will be up for auction on September 2. The situation at the Austin Masters Building has been completely resolved. The Chamber of Commerce is still operating out of the Recreation Center but currently has no Executive Director.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
An Ordinance Providing For Assessments To Be Levied And Authorizing The Service Director To Certify Those Assessments To The Belmont County Auditor And Declaring An Emergency.
This Ordinance was given a third reading. Mr. Echemann made a motion and Mr. Smay seconded to pass this Ordinance as read. A roll call vote was heard with Echemann, Smay, Robey, Harris, Agnew, Schramm, and Hunker voting yes. The motion carried and the Ordinance was declared passed.
An Ordinance Regulating The Operation Of Electric Bicycles, Motorized Bicycles, Motorized Scooters, And Other Low-Speed Micro-Mobility Devices Within The City Of Martins Ferry, Ohio And Providing For Safety Requirements, Operational Restrictions, Penalties, Impoundment And Enforcement.
This Ordinance was given a second reading. Mr. Schramm made a motion and Mr. Hunker seconded to suspend the rules for three readings. A roll call vote was heard with Schramm, Hunker, Harris and Agnew voting yes. Echemann, Smay and Robey voted no. The motion was defeated.
President Wallace asked Council Members to review the Resolution regarding adopting a budget for the city for the fiscal year 2027. This Resolution will have to be passed at the next Council Meeting on July 15. A public hearing needs to be held before the July 15 Council Meeting. Mr. Hunker made a motion and Rev. Agnew seconded to hold a Public Hearing regarding the 2027 Budget on July 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. A roll call vote was heard with Hunker, Echemann, Smay, Robey, Harris, Agnew and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried.
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. Schramm thank Larry Riser for mowing the grass and keeping Route 7 looking nice.
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 Rev. Agnew. 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 Statement of Cash Position. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion carried.
Mr. Smay made a motion and Mr. Echemann seconded to ask Law Director Stecker to create a letter indicating Council’s support for Martins Ferry being designated as an Opportunity Zone. Mr. Sutak will then have every Council Member sign the letter. A roll call vote was heard with Smay, Robey, Harris, Agnew, Schramm, Hunker, and Echemann voting yes. The motion carried.
Mr. Smay spoke of a proposed data center possibly locating in Warwood, WV, which is only 1400 feet away from Martins Ferry. Concerns have been raised about Data Centers including: noise pollution, light pollution, waste water pollution and air quality. Mr. Smay attended a Town Hall Meeting in Warwood and spoke to many local and state leaders, including WV State Senator Laura Wakim-Chapman, about the health and welfare of the citizens of both Ohio and West Virginia. Because of recently passed legislation, the State of West Virginia will regulate data centers which will include environmental impact studies, especially near schools and residential areas. County Commissioners have been notified that a potential data center may come to Belmont County. Mr. Smay suggested the city consider placing audio sensors that would detect both audible and infrasound around the city, which could establish a baseline of the environment before any data center is established. This could create a legal baseline to show if a data center is negatively affecting the environment. Such data could be used for future legal action.
Mr. Hunker moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Rev. Agnew. After an affirmative voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 6:19 p.m. with a salute to the flag.
The next meeting of the Martins Ferry Council will be on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. A budget hearing will be held at 5:00 p.m. on July 15 before this Council Meeting.
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Kay H. McFarlan, Clerk of Council Phil Wallace, Council President
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