STEUBENVILLE — City officials have begun the process for putting renewal levies on the ballot to generate funds for street improvements, recreation and other pressing needs.

Council heard the first reading Tuesday of legislation that would put the 0.7 percent and 0.3 percent municipal income tax levy questions on the May 5 ballot as well as the first reading of corresponding amendments to the city’s table of organization.

“Both levies generate over $6.4 million per year for the city,” Finance Director Dave Lewis said. “The 0.7 percent levy provides $500,000 for street improvement, $300,000 for city equipment, $100,000 for recreation collections over and above the amounts allocated to the general fund to pay for wages and benefits of city employees. The 0.3 percent levy is allocated 85 percent to the general fund for wages and benefits and 15 percent to the street fund for street improvements.”

Lewis said levy funds “pay for about 80 city employees, about two-thirds (of them) being police, fire/EMS employees.”

“Other employees that the levies help pay for include employees from Municipal Court, Street Department, Electrical Department, Recreation Department and other administrative offices,” he said.

Lewis said the $300,000 earmarked for city equipment is used for the purchase of equipment, like police cars, fire vehicles, bucket trucks for the electrical department, plow trucks and firefighter turnout gear.

“The $100,000 for recreation capital improvements helps pay for park improvements, pool improvements, facility improvements (and other needs),” he added. “The city also uses these funds to leverage millions of dollars in federal, state and local grant funds.”

City Manager Jim Mavromatis said best case scenario, Belleview Pool will open for two or three weekends at the end of the season.

Mavromatis told council he spoke with Parks and Recreation Director Lori Fetherolf and the contractor, who advised there are still drainage issues, and they’re going to get corrected.

The new concrete, he said, “has to cure for 28 days. The best we can hope for is to open the pool for two to three weekends, no charge, so people can get some use in, see the pool and everything that was done. That’s the best we can do this year.”

Fire Chief Robert Ribar, sworn in two weeks ago, told council he’s “excited about the opportunity” to serve the city.

Councilman Dave Albaugh requested public works crews spray weeds between the pavement and curb on Sunset Boulevard and state Route 7.

“If you drive up Sunset, the (contractor) is moving along quickly (with the resurfacing), and the road is looking great,” he said. “But if you look at the sidewalk and that crack between the curb and the sidewalk, from one end of Sunset to the other end of Sunset, there’s weeds on it that are foot high all the way up both sides of the road.”

In other business, council members:

• Approved the third reading of an ordinance adopting the Fiscal Year 2025-2029 consolidated plan and FY 2025 one-year action plan for the city and authorizing city officials to submit it and enter into a contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the 2025 Community Development Block Grant funds.

• Scheduled an economic development committee meeting for 6:15 p.m. Aug. 12, followed at 6:45 p.m. by a utility committee meeting.

• Sunshined legislation authorizing the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.

• Were advised Chipotle will be opening “probably in the next couple weeks,” while Starbucks has already begun operations.