Martins Ferry City Council Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2026
Posted on: October 22, 2026
The Martins Ferry City Council met in Regular Session on Wednesday, October 7, 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 and Jim Schramm, Council at Large Members. Excused: Rev. James Agnew, Council at Large Member.
President Wallace thanked Mr. Echemann for presiding over the last meeting.
Minutes: Minutes of the September 16, 2026 Council Meeting were approved as written.
Correspondence: There was no correspondence.
Reports of Officers of the City:
Mayor: Mayor Davies reported that a meeting was held with the residents of Hillendale to discuss the closure of their road during the repair work. Mr. Smay suggested opening up West Road to help with access to the area. However, the city would have to grate the road and put gravel down which would cost $75,000 – $80,000.
The Crawford Heights and Beretta Road Projects should be completed shortly. The Hillendale project will continue starting on October 12 on the North Ridge side. Mr. Sutak did secure additional funding for the paving of this street, however County Permissive Tax Money can’t be used because it’s a dead end street. He will talk to Belmont County Commissioner J. P. Dutton regarding this funding.
Crawford Heights had a sewer line clogged and the city employees had a difficult job replacing this line.
Since the city did not purchase a lawn tractor this year, Mayor Davies asked for Council’s permission to purchase a snow plow for a city truck from the line item listed for tractors. This truck will be used to plow some of the smaller streets in the city. Estimates received are between $16,538 – $21,000. The company, that the snow plow is purchased from, will install it on the truck.
Trick or Treat will be on Saturday, October 31, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Service Director: The drillings on 6th Street were finished today and the city will now wait to get the core samples report.
The Engineering Company has asked residents of the Dutch Hill Road to water the seed beds so the grass could grow. Guard rails have been installed on Beretta Road for safety issues.
Auditor: Mr. Regis asked Council to approve the September Financial Statements. Four line items (Water, Permissive County Tax, Sanitation and Street) on the Statement of Cash Report are projected to be in the red next year. In the past, three of these items have usually improved and end up in the black by the end of the year but the Sanitation line item does not and keeps getting deeper in debt. Mr. Regis explained the situation with the Sanitation Fund and asked Council for direction on how to fix this problem. President Wallace asked Mr. Hunker to discuss this situation at the next Finance Committee Meeting.
Law Director: Mr. Stecker explained the details of two pieces of legislation (one Ordinance and one Resolution) that were presented to Council later in the meeting.
Police Department: Officer Skinner reported that the new Police Cruiser has been fully equipped and is now in service.
Fire Department: The Gobble Gallop 5K Race will be held on Friday, November 27 at 9:00 a.m. Proceeds from this race will benefit the Fire Department, Police Department and the Veterans.
The Christmas Parade will be held on Friday, November 27, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Children activities, including a reindeer display, ice skating and food trucks, will be held before the parade on 5th and Hanover Streets from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. The Department asks Council’s permission to close 5th Street, from Hanover Street to Carlisle Street for these activities from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Earlier this week, President Wallace witnessed a car accident on St. Rt. 7 and praised the Fire Department for their timeliness and quick action in extracting a pregnant woman from the vehicle.
Safety Director: Chief Smith reported Ms. Yeso could not attend this meeting. He stated that Ms. Yeso met with a representative from Unified Bank who approved the accounts for the GovPilot Program.
Code Administrator: No report.
Park District: No report.
Water Department: No report.
Reports of Committees of Council:
Finance and Audit: The Committee met on September 23 to discuss and review a list of repairs, including cost estimates, needed in the city. No decisions were made at that time. Another Finance Meeting, to include all Council Members, was set for Tuesday, October 13 at 5:00 p.m.
Street: Mr. Smay did not have a report but asked Mr. Sutak to check a street drain at 1113 North 8th Street. This drain might cause issues to cars in the area.
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: Mr. Hunker announced that the Utility Committee will meet after the “all Council” Finance Committee Meeting on October 13.
Income Tax: No report.
Citizens To Be Heard: President Wallace reminded citizens to limit their speaking to 5 minutes.
Kelly Davis, 1114 North 7th Street, complained about cockroaches coming into her house from her neighbor’s house at 1112 North 7th Street, which is rental property. Ms. Davis states she has lived there for over 22 years and has never had a roach problem. She has contacted the County Health Department but nothing has been done. Council was asked to change their Ordinance to address cockroaches. Mr. Sutak said he would contact the Belmont County Health Department to see if anything can be done.
Richard Hord, 915 Virginia Street, was told that a company is continuing to check for lead pipes in the city. A total of 8 buildings have been or will be demolished by the Land Bank this year. Further discussion of the repairs to the City Building, along with 20 other projects, will be discussed at the Finance Committee Meeting on October 13. Currently there is not a Director for the City’s Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Stecker is taking care of all the Chamber’s business. The former Dollar General Building, located on 4th Street, is tied to the bankruptcy lawsuit of the former East Ohio Regional Hospital, which is now controlled by Belmont County. There are no available updates on the former Staffilino Building.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
An Ordinance Authorizing The Issuance Of $6,000,000 Of Water System Improvement Bond Anticipation Notes Series 2026 (Third Renewal), To Renew Notes Originally Issued To Pay Part Of The Costs Of, And To Pay Additional Costs Of, Water Well Upgrades, Water Plant Upgrades, Pumping Station Upgrades, And Other Related Cost And Improvements, Including But Not Limited To Motors, Pumps, Controls, Generators, Filtration Screens, Transfer Switches, Electrical Upgrades, Computer Control Systems, Heating And Dehumidifying Systems, Contract Tank Repairs, Compressor Units, Valve Repairs/Upgrades, And Other Water Works And/Or Water System Permanent Improvements And Declaring An Emergency.
This Ordinance was given a first reading. Motion was made by Mr. Hunker and seconded by Mr. Schramm to suspend the rules. A roll call vote was heard with Hunker, Echemann, Smay, Robey, Harris and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried. Motion was made by Mr. Schramm and seconded by Mr. Echemann to pass the Ordinance as read. A roll call vote was heard with Schramm, Hunker, Echemann, Smay, Robey, and Harris voting yes. The motion carried and the Ordinance was declared passed.
Motion was made by Mr. Hunker and seconded by Mr. Echemann to suspend the 72 Hour Rule for reading this Resolution. A roll call vote was heard with Hunker, Echemann, Smay, Robey, Harris and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried and the Resolution was given a first reading.
A Resolution Authorizing The City Of Martins Ferry To Participate In The Proposed Class Action Settlement With Amerex Corporation, Archroma U.S. Inc. Carrier Global Corporation And Nation Ford Chemical Company In The Public Water Systems’ Portion Of The Multi-District Litigation Matter, In RE: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams Product Liability Litigation, MDO 2:18-MN-2873-RMG, Relating To PFAS Contamination Of Drinking Water; Authorizing The Service Director To Complete All Documentation And Execute All Releases And Agreements Necessary To Participate In The Settlements With Amerex Corporation, Achroma U.S., Inc., Carrier Global Corporation, And Nation Ford Chemical Company In The Public Water System’s Portion Of The MDL; And Authorizing Outside Counsel To Continue To Pursue Claims Related To PFAS; Providing An Effective Date.
Motion was made by Mr. Schramm and seconded by Mr. Hunker to suspend the rules. A roll call vote was heard with Schramm, Hunker, Echemann, Smay, Robey, and Harris voting yes. The motion carried. Motion was made by Mr. Echemann and seconded by Mr. Robey to pass the Resolution as read. A roll call vote was heard with Echemann, Smay, Robey, Harris, Schramm and Hunker voting yes. The motion carried and the Resolution 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. Hunker made a motion to change the wording of the “Tractor” Line Item in the Appropriations Budget under Miscellaneous-General Fund to the “Snow Plow” Line Item. The purchase of the snow plow shall not exceed $20,000. Mr. Harris seconded the motion. A roll call vote was heard with Hunker, Echemann, Smay, Robey, Harris and Schramm voting yes. The motion carried.
Motion was made by Mr. Schramm and seconded by Mr. Hunker to note that Council has reviewed and accepted the Auditor’s Statement of Cash Position, Payroll Summary and New Hire/Termination/Retirement Change Report. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion carried.
Mr. Robey made a motion and Mr. Schramm seconded to allow the Fire Department on November 27 to close 5th Street, from Hanover Street to Carlisle Street for activities from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion carried.
The Mayor asked Council for a decision on opening up West Road in Hillendale. Council decided there were no funds available to open the road.
Mr. Echemann made a motion and Mr. Robey seconded to excuse Rev. Agnew from tonight’s meeting. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion carried.
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. Robey. After an affirmative voice vote, the motion passed.
Mr. Hunker moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Mr. Echemann. After an affirmative voice vote, the meeting was adjourned at 6:24 p.m. with a salute to the flag.
The next meeting of the Martins Ferry Council will be on Wednesday, October 21, 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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