STEUBENVILLE — The archaeological consultant hired to determine whether remains buried at a Sunset Boulevard property that once housed a Catholic cemetery more than 140 years ago is awaiting state approval before beginning on-site work.

Councilman Tracy McManamon told council the consultant, ASC Group, has finished evaluating nearly all of the dirt hauled off-site before crews spotted pieces of grave markers in the field.

“I understand there were quite a few (truckloads), but they’ve been over there probably a month now, going through that dirt,” he said. “They’ve been through that dirt and they’ll give us a final report here very soon and we will be happy to share that with you.”

Developer Woda Cooper previously reported roughly 146 truckloads of soil were removed from the site and said all of it was taken to a contractor’s private storage yard in West Virginia. However, a Jefferson County resident confirmed four truckloads were transported to properties he owns in Ohio. He said he would divulge the locations only to the “appropriate authority,” ASC Group, but efforts to relay that information to Woda and ASC Group were unsuccessful, and it is not known whether he contacted the firm himself.

“They (ASC Group) cannot start on the site on Sunset until they complete some other legal documentation with the state,” McManamon said. “Once that’s done we’ll be given a heads-up as well and we’ll let everyone know when that (work) will commence at the site.”

Woda Cooper hopes to build as many as 50 affordable senior housing units at the site.

Council also introduced legislation that could bring the city’s tentative agreement with AFSCME Local 2015 to the floor for a vote as early as next week.

City Manager Jim Mavromatis said he will make sure council receives “the red line version” and the executive summary for review.

“And then what I’d like to do next week … is an executive session,” he said.

Mavromatis said council could take action at the June 2 meeting or wait until the following week and still remain within the 30-day review period. If no action is taken within those 30 days, the agreement would automatically take effect.

Law Director Costa Mastros also told council there was a printer error in a recent letter sent to households within 500 feet of parcels the city is considering leasing mineral rights for oil and gas interests.

Mastros said the firm inadvertently described each parcel as being in the Beatty Park area.

“While this is accurate for many of you, there are other parcels not near Beatty Park,” he said.

He said the parcel number and accompanying short description in each letter were correct.

Mastros also clarified there would be “no surface activity” on any of the city’s parcels, noting there is no language in the proposed lease giving the oil and gas company the right to conduct surface activities without a separate written agreement signed by both parties.

A public hearing on the proposed lease will be held Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the Steubenville High School auditorium.

In other business, council was told repairs to the oldest shelter at Beatty Park are expected to be completed by June 1, but the pool is not expected to open until June 8.

New Parks and Recreation Director Don Patterson said he needs at least four more lifeguards to operate the pool on a regular schedule and that changes are needed in the concession area.

“My target is June 8, depending how many lifeguards we have,” he said. “Hours will vary according to how much staff we have.”

The nearly completed renovation included an upgraded concession area, but Patterson said he is “still finding equipment.”

“The only thing I found was a pizza warmer,” Patterson said. “There’s a new sink and part of a hood that was supposed to be installed but wasn’t.”

McManamon also said he had been told “nine new businesses started up in Steubenville (over the last couple of months) and that’s really big news for us.”

“I think we all realize that small business is the backbone of our economy, and that’s really something that all of us here are really trying to generate, increase, improve.”