STEUBENVILLE — On Tuesday, Steubenville Council agreed to meet with representatives of a national dollar store chain to discuss the possibility of one of its stores being built on the former Grant School lot at the city’s south end.

The decision came following a meeting of council’s economic development committee in which 2nd Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon asked fellow council members to respectfully share their thoughts on the matter.

Mayor Jerry Barilla said Dollar General is the second largest retailer, by location, in the U.S. and the proposed new store would fill a niche by serving south end residents who, if they lack transportation, must walk a mile to reach the nearest food store.

Barilla said because of the area’s lower population, larger grocery chains are unlikely to open there while adding the lot, at less than an acre, is smaller than that typically occupied by Dollar General stores.

Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo said he would be happier if the store sold fresh meat and produce while noting other privately owned lots could be purchased for such a business.

“Another dollar store doesn’t enhance us,” he said, adding the store would employ mostly part-time staff.

Fifth Ward Councilman Ted Gorman said he believes there are too many dollar stores in the city and hopes this would be the last one but the south end needs a grocery outlet.

He said it would be easy to find a new location for the farmers market that is held there several months of the year.

Gorman added he hopes the corporation will consider the site for one of its Dollar General Market locations, which sell meat and produce as well as dry goods.

First Ward Councilman Dave Albaugh said he initially opposed the idea but has heard from residents who want a grocery store close to their homes.

He added he has visited a Hopedale Dollar General store that sells meat and produce as well as the eggs, bread and dairy items found at other Dollar General stores.

“We nee something down there. That lot’s done nothing for years. Why not let it do something” Albaugh said.

Third Ward Councilwoman Heather Hoover said she also feels there are too many dollar stores in town, but as a busy mother, she included in her children’s menus some canned food like those found at dollar stores.

Sixth Ward Councilman Mike Hernon said he shops at dollar stores for some things, while adding the development of a store and paved lot would be an improvement.

“I don’t know what downtown needs, but vacant lots aren’t serving any purpose,” he said.

Councilman at large Joel Walker noted it’s been estimated that hundreds of thousands of dollars are needed to remediate the property, money the city can’t afford.

City Manager Jim Mavromatis said while the razing of Grant School following protocol for such demolitions at the time, a new owner will need to take measures before building on the property.

He predicted it will offer about a dozen jobs that could be filled by residents within walking distance of the store.

After hearing from everyone, McManamon said it’s been 23 years since the school was torn down and there have been no offers for it in that time.

Mavromatis said pending council’s approval, the property could be transferred to the Jefferson County Port Authority, which then could sell it to the retail chain.

Many on council said stipulations should be placed on the sale, ranging from requiring a timeline for the store’s opening and the possibility of the site’s ownership reverting to the city if the store should close.

Walker said council shouldn’t vote on the property’s sale until it has met with representatives of Dollar General.

On Tuesday, council made plans to meet with them before its Aug. 26 meeting.

Council also approved final readings for the renewal of two levies supporting street improvements and other expenses, both of which will be decided by voters in the May 5 primary election.

The two five-year levies are slated to generate more than $6.4 million per year for city.

A 0.7 percent levy will provide $500,000 for street improvements, $300,000 for city equipment and other capital improvements and $100,000 for parks and recreation while 85 percent of a 0.3 percent levy is to be used for wages and benefits, with the remaining 15 percent allocated for street improvements.

In other business:

• Council agreed to consider at next Tuesday’s meeting, payment of $10,000 to Unlimited Play, a Missouri-based nonprofit, to plan an all-inclusive playground, with recreational opportunities for youth of various ages and abilities, and seek grant monies and other funds for the project.

The move was made at the motion of McManamon, who said council wouldn’t be committed yet to building the playground or to its location, though Jim Wood Park has been discussed.

Mayo asked how much the city could expect to contribute for the total project, and Albaugh said Unlimited Play was able to secure $1.2 million for another city, with no local match required.

• Mavromatis said repairs to Belleview Pool’s floor and concrete deck are nearly completed.

He said since the pool must be filled and tested, he’d like to keep it open on three weekends in late August and early September, possibly with free admission, so visitors can appreciate the improvements this year.

• Council heard, at its utility committee meeting prior to the regular meeting, from Angela O’Brien of the Ohio Consumers Counsel, a state agency that advocates for affordable utility services for residents.

O’Brien said American Electric Power has filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for a rate increase that will amount to a monthly increase of $4 and a yearly increase of about $50 for a yearly increase of $50 for customers who use 1,000 kilowatts of energy per month.

She said in many cases, electricity providers are faced with additional costs to supply energy to data centers and cryptocurrency miners, but residential customers shouldn’t bear the burden of that.

O’Brien said public hearings must be held before the increase is considered next year, and the agency is pushing for a virtual public hearing to be held also.

She said written and e-mailed comment also will be accepted, and information can be found at https://www.occ.ohio.gov/consumer-alerts.