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Steubenville Council approves raise for city manager

STEUBENVILLE — City Council approved a 2.2 percent raise for City Manager Jim Mavromatis, who is entering the third year of his three-year contract with the city.

Sixth Ward Councilman Bob Villamagna cast the lone “no” vote on the raise, but would not comment publicly after the meeting about the reason for the vote. Villamagna has been heavily questioning Mavromatis in recent weeks on several issues.

Council set a planning committee meeting for 6:30 p.m. May 1 to hear from City Engineer Mike Dolak regarding issues and possible solutions for repair of Efts Lane. The street, at the west city limits, is an unimproved residential street that also serves several neighborhoods. Also at the meeting, council will discuss the procedures for building code violations based on a report from the building department that was presented last week.

Mavromatis notified council that demolition contractor White Hawk Industries has closed. The company had been the low bidder for demolition of a total of 11 abandoned homes in the city, including fire damage removal of one on North Fourth Street and one on Oak Grove Avenue.

Mavromatis said the contracts have been re-issued with Extreme receiving two contracts and RSV Inc. the other nine. Mavromatis said the contractor’s bond for the White Hawk contract will be used to pay the difference in costs.

A meeting will be held at 6 p.m. May 15 for council to discuss issues in the wastewater system. Mavromatis said he wants council to be properly briefed on the water and sewer issues, potential projects and financing issues.

“You need to get the whole picture,” he said.

Second Ward Councilman Craig Petrella asked Water and Wastewater Superintendent Chuck Murphy for a visual presentation that clearly sets out projects and their costs and how long the projects will take, to allow council to set priorities.

A future meeting will be set for a water system update. Mavromatis said he is being “bombarded with letters from the EPA” regarding the water issues and he’s waiting to hear if the city has been approved for financing. The city applied for a $7 million low-interest state loan, with possibly half of that amount to be forgiven, to undertake a critical water valve replacement program. The city is under a consent decree for the sewer system and is facing the potential failure of one of its sewage digesters.

Fifth Ward Councilman Willie Paul said heavy trucks are avoiding the detour to get onto U.S. Route 22 East from state Route 7 North by turning onto Logan Street or Washington Street and driving through downtown to get to the Veterans Memorial Bridge. He said that’s causing traffic and safety issues.

The posted Ohio Department of Transportation detour runs northbound traffic onto Route 22 to the John Scott exit and then back south to the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Dolak said he will check to see if there is anything that would prohibit trucks from using Logan Street or Ross Street, a block to the north. He said Washington Street is a state route and trucks may use it.

In other business:

• Mavromatis reported getting quotes for work at the city maintenance garage on South Lake Erie Avenue. He said the garbage packer garage heater low quote was from Fort Steuben Maintenance at $12,950, and for complete restroom repairs, Cattrell Cos. had the low offer at $42,900.

• An ordinance to renew the contract for Bob Disch, the city’s Class IV water plant operator, was introduced. He works as a contract employee. Murphy, in response to questions from council, said there are only about 140 Class IV operators in the state and they’re required for each water system in the state. He said with all the issues facing the city water system now, the city would be facing paying a full-time Class IV employee a six-figure salary. He said the water department is working toward having a Class IV operator in-house but is a few years away in the process.

• Mavromatis said parking restriction signs have been ordered for the lot at Fourth and South streets, with staff and clients for the Ohio Valley Health Center to be permitted to use the lot, as well as parking for various city events. There had been issues with semi-trailers being parked in the lot. Mavromatis said there will be no overnight parking permitted.

(Giannamore can be contacted at pgiannamore@heraldstaronline.com.)

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