PRESS RELEASE
TO: MEDIA AND RESIDENTS
FROM: CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT JIM VELAS
SUBJECT: COUNCIL DORA COMMITTEE MEETING
DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
The City Council Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 17, at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building’s Council Chambers (100 North Market Street). This committee will study the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) concept concerning existing City ordinances and local qualifications. The Ohio
General Assembly amended the Ohio Revised Code (Section 4301.82), effective March 23, 2022, to create this exemption from specific open container provisions. Members of the public are invited to attend.
If questions during normal business hours on Monday through Friday (8:30 A. M. – 4:30 P. M.), please call 740-695-1324 to speak with the Council Clerk, Jacob DeBertrand.
September 5, 2023 Meeting
Jim Velas, Council President Kathryn Thalman, Mayor
Don Vincenzo, Council, 1st Ward Jeremy Greenwood, Public Service/Safety Director
Kristi Lipscomb, Council, 3rd Ward Don Smithberger, Super. of General Services
Terra Butler, Council, 4th Ward Annette Whealdon, Finance Director
Linda Jordan, Council-At-Large Matthew Arbenz, Chief of Police
Beth Oprisch, Council-At-Large Tom Murphy, Planning & Zoning Administrator
JC Thrash, Council 2nd Ward Elizabeth Glick, Law Director
Mike Smith, Council-At-Large
The meeting was called to order by Council President Jim Velas at 7:00 pm. President Velas led Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Members of the public were thanked for their attendance.
ROLL CALL:
Butler HERE Smith HERE
Jordan ABSENT Thrash HERE
Lipscomb HERE Vincenzo HERE
Oprisch HERE
Six (6) Present One (1) Absent
MINUTES: Council President Jim Velas confirmed all Councilmembers received the minutes from the July 17th Council Meeting. Councilwoman Butler made a motion to approve the minutes from July 17, 2023, Council Meeting; motion seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSTAIN Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO One (1) ABSTAIN One (1) ABSENT
Motion Carried
NEW BUSINESS: The St. Clairsville Homecoming Committee sought the Council’s permission to host their annual Homecoming Parade on October 4th at 7 pm.
Councilwoman Oprisch made a motion to allow St. Clairsville High School to host their annual Homecoming Parade on October 4th at 7 pm, seconded by Councilman Thrash.
ROLL CALL:
Butler YES Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN One (1) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Wendy Anderson of the St. Clairsville Chamber of Commerce requested three specific dates for the closure of Main Street. The first date is October 27th for the Halloween Bash, which will occur from 5-8 pm. The second date is November 18th for the Tree Lighting Ceremony, which will take place from 2-10 pm. Lastly, the Christmas parade will be held on December 3rd, with street closures from 1-6 pm.
Councilwoman Oprisch made a motion to close Main Street on October 27th for the Halloween Bash, which will occur from 5-8 pm, seconded by Councilman Thrash.
ROLL CALL:
Butler YES Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN One (1) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Councilwoman Lipscomb made a motion to close Main Street on November 18th for the Tree Lighting Ceremony, which will occur from 2-10 pm, seconded by Councilman Thrash.
ROLL CALL:
Butler YES Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN One (1) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Councilwoman Oprisch made a motion to close Main Street for the Christmas parade, which will be held on December 3rd, with street closures from 1-6 pm, seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler YES Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Six (6) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN One (1) ABSENT
Motion Carried
CITIZEN HEARING: None
CORRESPONDENCE: None
REPORTS:
Mayor Kathryn Thalman took a moment to honor attorney Charles Bean for his contributions to St. Clairsville. Charlie Bean generously volunteered his time and expertise to help improve the City. The Mayor thanked Charlie Bean’s family for sharing him with the community. The Mayor discussed at the meeting the ongoing project from the Attorney General’s office regarding veterans and PTSD, as well as how police officers interact with veterans. Chief Arbenz shared new information, and the Attorney General’s office provided updates on upcoming programs. The Mayor reported that the City was fortunate to avoid power outages during the night of August 25th. The crews responsible for completing the I-70 project worked tirelessly, often pulling all-nighters to get the job done. Mayor Thalman thanked them for their hard work and even brought them food from restaurants to keep them fueled. The Mayor also had a mayor’s court with several speeding cases resolved.
Service/Safety Director Jeremy Greenwood provided updates on completed projects during the past week. The City received a workers’ comp grant of $40,000 for equipment, which will be combined with the $10,000 grant already received. With this, the City will purchase a vacuum trailer and valve exerciser, allowing them to access equipment much more efficiently than before. 217 water nodes and meters have been replaced so far, and six to ten requests for replacements are received monthly. The team is working to replace them. The 1982 light bulb tank and the 1929 witch’s hat were cleaned internally last week, and the team is awaiting a report from the company. The paperwork from the owners for the negotiated construction easements for the West End Waterline is still pending. All hook-ups for the I-70 project are complete, and the traffic control has been removed. The residents in Spring Park are now hooked up to the new service lines, and pavement patching is underway. The team is also working on the water line project on Walnut Street and Barton Road and will have a construction meeting this week to work out any remaining details. A new HVAC unit has been ordered for the recreation center, and the team is still working on some of the easements for the water distribution project. They are also preparing the second pump for the sewer pump station installation. Some old pipes on Walnut Street need replacing, and the team is currently working on this project. A grant for the Central Park sinkhole project has been submitted, which is anticipated to cost around $630,000. A grant for $226,000 has been submitted, and the rest will be a low-interest loan. The team is working on additional Culvers for Spring Park and will begin the Route 40 water line extension project as soon as the contractor finishes up with the I-70 project. Citizens are notified of updates through door hangers, utility bills, and Code Red. The team is working on the county water agreement and ASCME contract negotiations. Copies of the ASCME contract have not been made available for public review since the union has not approved them. A meeting can be set up if the council wants to see them or have conversations about it.
Councilwoman Oprisch asked what the status was of the Dorthy Water Tank. Mr. Greenwood stated that he is still trying to get some clarification from the EPA; he answered the NOV by saying they would disconnect the tank from the system. He asked them for a little more time until the end of last month because of the tank cleaning and the I-70 project. Councilwoman Oprisch asked if the City would still proceed with legal action. Mr. Greenwood confirmed he would still get the City to pursue legal action.
Police Chief Matt Arbenz reported that in August, there were 378 calls for service, ten crashes, 21 arrests, five warrants served, three domestics, and 73 traffic stops. Chief Arbenz reported that two officers were involved in a high-speed pursuit; unfortunately, both got dinged up. They were treated and released at Wheeling Hospital with concussions and should be cleared to return to duty next week. The cruisers are in the process of getting evaluated, uh, by the insurance company, and estimates should be back soon.
Finance Director Annette Whealdon reported that she is still waiting to hear back from the State Auditors with the audit report.
Councilman Smith asked if there would be a post-audit meeting after receiving the report. Ms. Whealdon stated they could discuss post-audit during the Finance Committee meeting.
Planning & Zoning Administrator Tom Murphy remembered Charlie Bean as a valued member of two important boards – the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals. Charlie always provided excellent legal advice and was respected by his fellow board members. He set a good example for new members by being honest and integral to the legal community of Belmont County. He will be greatly missed by the St. Clairsville community. The Board of Zoning Appeals will meet in the municipal building on Thursday, September 28th, at 6:00 PM. The only item on the agenda is the Cumberland Trail Fire District’s request for variances related to setbacks, structure, height, signage, and other site-related issues. All are welcome to attend the meeting. The DORA Committee met and has scheduled a meeting on October 17th at 6:00 PM. They encourage everyone, including city council members, to attend and gather information. This will help you make an informed decision later. Lastly, the home at 101 Woodrow Avenue that was destroyed by fire earlier in the year is being demolished. The project was delayed due to legal requirements and insurance matters, but it is finally underway.
Councilwoman Oprisch inquired about potential obstacles for the fire department expansion. In response, Mr. Murphy explained that the variances being requested are aimed at benefiting the neighborhood. For instance, a new or expanded parking lot is planned behind the existing firehouse, which is located near a residential area. To avoid disturbing residents, the parking lot will not be fully lit in accordance with code requirements. This is just one of the logical setback variances being requested, as many existing structures in the area are already pushing the need for variances due to the small lot size. Although public hearings can be unpredictable, Mr. Murphy believes that the expansion will move forward as it is a public safety structure. Moreover, the expansion is necessary to modernize and improve the inadequate facilities that currently exist within the structure.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Finance Chair Don Vincenzo No report.
Utilities Chair Terra Butler reported that in the Utility Committee meeting, AEP came in and gave a presentation on battery storage. There’s possibly some opportunity to save money, but more communication between Jeremy Donnie and AEP needs to be had. She suggests if anybody has questions about that, take them to Jeremy while they’re in conversation with the guys from AEP.
Police Chair Mike Smith No report.
Streets – North Side Chair Mike Smith No report.
Streets – South Side Chair JC Thrash No report.
Safety Chair JC Thrash No report.
Buildings and Grounds Chair Beth Oprisch reported that the Building and Grounds Committee met on August 22nd at 6 PM with the Junior Sports Committee. Matt King, Matt Lucci, and Justin Clifford represented the Junior Sports Committee Officers. The meeting was productive in bringing both groups together to discuss how City and Junior Sports can be good partners. One of the plans discussed was to review the 1988 contract to see if it needed updating. The City also uses the Junior Sports Complex and wants to continue an open dialogue with the committee. The focus was finding ways to support the Junior Sports Committee’s work. The next Building and Grounds Committee meeting is scheduled for September 16th at 6 PM. The goal is to continue the dialogue on how to work cooperatively with the Junior Sports Committee.
Planning Commission Chair Kristi Lipscomb reported that on August 23rd, the DORA Committee conducted a meeting, which was attended by some members of the public. As a next step, several committee members plan to connect with other municipalities of comparable size that have passed DORA legislation to gather more information and feedback. The next meeting is scheduled for October 17th at 6:00 PM, and Councilwoman Lipscomb encourages all council members to attend. The meeting will provide a platform to gain insights, ask questions, and seek answers.
Fire Chair Linda Jordan No report.
Recreation Chair Kristi Lipscomb reported that the Craft and Vendor Fair will be held on September 9th at the Rec Center from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This event will take place inside the Rec Center. The Fall Fest will commence at 4:00 PM and last until 10:00 PM, featuring three bands, food trucks, and a beverage station. This will be the year’s final concert, and we hope everyone takes advantage of this wonderful opportunity. The last event did not receive a lot of attendees, which was due to the back-to-school events happening at that time. However, we assure you that these events are delightful, and Eric Gay has put in a lot of effort to make them successful.
Park District Chair Linda Jordan No report.
ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS: Law Director Elizabeth Glick
No Ordinances or Resolutions
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to come before Council, Councilwoman Oprisch made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Councilwoman Butler. The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 P.M.
The next meeting will be Monday, September 18, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. All Councilmembers will be present at the City Building for the next meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting in the Council Chambers.
_______________________________ ________________________________
Jacob DeBertrand, Council Clerk Jim Velas, Council President
Excavation and water line replacement work will begin in your area on or around Wednesday, September 13th, 2023. Tap replacement work will follow at a later date. This work is part of the City’s Water Line Replacement Project.
Addresses that are affected:
E. Main Street -159,161, and 165
N. Sugar Street-99,100, and 101
Newell Avenue-104
As this project progresses, residents may experience periodic:
Traffic in neighborhood, and no “on street” parking to allow the contractor to perform the needed work.
During this period, the contractor will cooperate with the residents to provide temporary access to existing driveways.
Sidewalks, streets, yards, etc., will be restored after completion of the work.
If you have any questions, please contact the Utility Office at 740-695-1410.
Thank you.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE CITY COUNCIL
August 21, 2023 Meeting
Jim Velas, Council President Kathryn Thalman, Mayor
Don Vincenzo, Council, 1st Ward Jeremy Greenwood, Public Service/Safety Director
Kristi Lipscomb, Council, 3rd Ward Don Smithberger, Super. of General Services
Terra Butler, Council, 4th Ward Annette Whealdon, Finance Director
Linda Jordan, Council-At-Large Matthew Arbenz, Chief of Police
Beth Oprisch, Council-At-Large Tom Murphy, Planning & Zoning Administrator
JC Thrash, Council 2nd Ward Elizabeth Glick, Law Director
Mike Smith, Council-At-Large
The meeting was called to order by Council President Jim Velas at 7:00 pm. President Velas led Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Members of the public were thanked for their attendance.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith HERE
Jordan ABSENT Thrash HERE
Lipscomb HERE Vincenzo HERE
Oprisch HERE
Five (5) Present Two (2) Absent
MINUTES: Council President Jim Velas confirmed all Councilmembers received the minutes from the August 7th Council Meeting. Councilman Smith made a motion to approve the minutes from August 7, 2023, Council Meeting; motion seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Council President Jim Velas confirmed all Councilmembers received the minutes from the August 7th Special Council Meeting. Councilwoman Lipscomb made a motion to approve the minutes from August 7, 2023, Special Council Meeting; motion seconded by Councilman Smith.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
NEW BUSINESS: Councilwoman Lipscomb made a motion to have the City’s Trick or Treat on Tuesday, October 31st, from 6 – 7:30 pm. Councilman Smith seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
CITIZEN HEARING: None
CORRESPONDENCE: Samantha Hearn of the Belmont County Soil and Water Conservation District requested permission from the Council to host the 6th Annual Boo at the Bike Trail event on October 24th, from 4-6 pm.
Councilwoman Oprisch made a motion to allow Belmont County Soil and Water to host their annual Boo at the Bike Trail event on October 24th, from 4-6 pm, seconded by Councilman Smith.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
REPORTS:
Mayor Kathryn Thalman reported several meetings with the service director and the fire department to discuss concerns and issues. She attended the American Legion Picnic on August 12th to thank the Legion for their commitment to our veterans. She also participated in an EPA Zoom meeting with Jeremy regarding the tank and an Omega lunch on August 15th, where she could network with Congressman Johnson and Senator Vance’s representatives about city issues and concerns.
Additionally, she met with Wendy Anderson from the Chamber to discuss upcoming events like the Christmas parade. She also attended an open house at Barolos Engineering, formerly AJ Smith’s, to congratulate them on their merger. Mayor Thalman has also been driving around the city on hot days, delivering freeze pops to city workers.
With the election year approaching, Mayor Thalman took the opportunity to remind everyone of some of the wonderful things the Council and Mayor have accomplished in the last four years. They prevented the sale of water to Aqua, settled two lawsuits, saved money by moving away from chlorine tablets in the water plant, put new competent people in finance and service director positions, and acquired leak detection equipment to find waterline breaks more quickly and efficiently.
Furthermore, they were able to maximize and wisely spend their COVID money, bought gently used cruisers for the police, acquired two police dogs through donations and networking, filled vacant space, hired a wastewater superintendent to replace an outside contract firm, acquired a full-time employee rather than paying 10,000 more for part-time help, and brokered the sale of the fire department building to the fire department so they could apply for grants and loans to update the building and stay in town. Switching city insurance also saved them $40,000 a year.
Service/Safety Director Jeremy Greenwood reported that he received a phone call from an engineer regarding the Dorothy Water Tank. The engineer admitted that they had not obtained a permit for the tank’s current location but also shared an email sent to council members on August 10th discussing the installation key and notice of violation. As a result, Mr. Greenwood has requested an executive session to discuss this matter later. In addition, several other completed projects have been reported, including water node meter installations, sink repairs, and a successful meeting with Shepherd Terrace regarding the Dorothy Water Tank. Negotiations for easements and temporary construction easements for the West End Route 40 Waterline project have also been completed, and paperwork is expected to be returned soon. Furthermore, the Federal EPA inspection report has been reviewed, and corrections have been submitted. The Water Distribution Project is working its way down the north side of Route 40, and most Spring Park services have been hooked up to the new line. Communication is being improved, and upcoming projects are being planned. AEP has proposed a tentative power outage this Friday at midnight for 12 hours due to power loads. Still, more information will be available after Donnie’s meeting with AEP to confirm details. The rec center gym HVAC unit has been ordered, and the Route 40 water line extension project is expected to start in two weeks. Water distribution projects are ongoing, and citizens are being notified with door hangers, code reds, and other methods. The first water tank has been drained and cleaned out, and the 1929 tank will be cleaned out on Thursday. A voluntary conservation order was issued to the public last week due to these projects. Border patrol will remove all the air out of the line on all I-70 next week, and the 29 water breaks this year are estimated to be due to the water distribution project.
Councilwoman Oprisch asked why the City has been experiencing so many sinkholes. Mr. Greenwood noted that most of the culverts in the City are galvanized, and over time, they rust and disintegrate and become an issue when heavy rainfall occurs. Furthermore, Councilwoman Oprisch asked for clarification, stating that an email sent to just Council ended up to the engineering firm that installed the Dorthy Water Tank. Mr. Greenwood noted that that was correct, and the email was sent to the Council, the Law Director, the Council Clerk, and the Council President.
Police Chief Matt Arbenz reported that all our staff are healthy and working. They have made it through the vacation season with plenty of cooperation on schedule changes. They are preparing for the new school year to be back in session. He thanked Harbor Freight for a $300 gift certificate to purchase supplies for the department. He recently got confirmation from the state that our 24 hours of continual professional training, which every officer must do for the year, would return to the department. So that’s about $3,400 in training that will come back to the department.
Finance Director Annette Whealdon reported on September 12th at 8:00 AM OPERS, and in conjunction with Colonial Life, will be at the City to offer plans for anyone who works for 10 hours or more a week for the City if anyone’s interested. Furthermore, she is still waiting for the results of the 2022 audit. They’ve finished asking all the questions and are just waiting to hear back the results.
Planning & Zoning Administrator Tom Murphy announced that the Dora committee will meet this Wednesday at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the concept of a designated outdoor refreshment area, or Dora, and to establish guidelines for it to determine if it would be suitable for St. Clair. This is an educational meeting, and no decisions will be made. The public is welcome to attend, and the committee members include Councilwoman Oprisch, Councilwoman Lipscomb, and Councilman Thrash. The Fire Department’s project progresses slowly as they finalize their plans and the related variances. Once this is complete, a public hearing for the variances will be scheduled, but no date is set yet. There was also a project with Columbia Gas near Christ the King Church and the Bell Store on Route Nine. They plan to upgrade an older line accidentally placed through one of the sanitary manholes during Bell Store’s construction. This may cause construction and traffic delays for the next few weeks, but they will have flaggers and workers on site to help. Lastly, a new jewelry business called River Valley Designs will open in the Zelle building at 100 West Market Street. The owner hopes to open a storefront if things go well eventually. Keep an eye out for updates on this new addition to the town.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Finance Chair Don Vincenzo brought up Ordinance 2023-23 which pertains to supplemental appropriations. He noted that he discussed the reasoning behind this ordinance and will be open to answering any questions about it later on.
Utilities Chair Terra Butler No report.
Police Chair Mike Smith No report.
Streets – North Side Chair Mike Smith received a complaint from a local business owner about water draining into the back of their body shop. Mr. Greenwood explained that there are two different property owners involved, neither of whom is within the city limits. The owner of the retaining wall needs to clean it out, while Whiteside must clean out the back of their building.
Streets – South Side Chair JC Thrash No report.
Safety Chair JC Thrash No report.
Buildings and Grounds Chair Beth Oprisch No report.
Planning Commission Chair Kristi Lipscomb No report
Fire Chair Linda Jordan No report.
Recreation Chair Kristi Lipscomb reported fall baseball and softball leagues, along with flag football and volleyball, are scheduled to begin next week and the second week of September, respectively. Councilwoman Lipscomb announced that the leagues will run until the first week of October, and 194 kids have already signed up. The fall festival is set for September 9th. The craft and vendor fair will occur at the rec center in the morning, followed by bands and festivities outside at 4 p.m. Three bands are scheduled to perform; you can find more details on the rec website and Recreation Facebook page.
Park District Chair Linda Jordan No report.
ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS: Law Director Elizabeth Glick
FIRST READING
ORDINANCE No. 2023-26 – AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUES FOR THE NORMAL EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE, STATE OF OHIO, FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2023, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2023, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
A motion was made by Councilman Smith that the rules requiring three separate readings be suspended on Ordinance No. 2023-26 and that the Ordinance, be passed on an emergency basis; seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Councilman Smith made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2023-26, the motion was seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
ORDINANCE No. 2023-27 – AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE INTERFUND TRANSFERS FOR THE NORMAL EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE, STATE OF OHIO, FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2023, THROUGH DECEMBER 31,2023 AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
A motion was made by Councilman Smith that the rules requiring three separate readings be suspended on Ordinance No. 2023-27 and that the Ordinance, be passed on an emergency basis; seconded by Councilman Vincenzo.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Councilman Smith made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2023-27, the motion was seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Ordinance No. 2023-28 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2023-15 IN ORDER TO CORRECT A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR TO THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL WATERRATES NOT WITHIN CITY LIMITS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
A motion was made by Councilman Smith that the rules requiring three separate readings be suspended on Ordinance No. 2023-28 and that the Ordinance, be passed on an emergency basis; seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Councilman Smith made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2023-28, the motion was seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
ORDINANCE No. 2023-29 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2023-21 IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR SAID LEGISLATION AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
A motion was made by Councilwoman Oprisch that the rules requiring three separate readings be suspended on Ordinance No. 2023-29 and that the Ordinance, be passed on an emergency basis; seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Councilwoman Oprisch made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2023-29, the motion was seconded by Councilman Smith.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
ORDINANCE No. 2023-30 – A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING KATHRYN THALMAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE, TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION STATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND/OR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM(S) AND TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS AS REQUIRED AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
A motion was made by Councilman Thrash that the rules requiring three separate readings be suspended on Ordinance No. 2023-30 and that the Ordinance, be passed on an emergency basis; seconded by Councilman Vincenzo.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Councilman Trash made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2023-30, the motion was seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Councilman Thrash made a motion to enter an Executive Session under ORC Section 121.22 (G)(2), seconded by Councilman Smith.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Executive Session entered at 8:03 pm
Councilman Thrash made a motion to exit Executive Session, seconded by Councilwoman Lipscomb.
ROLL CALL:
Butler ABSENT Smith YES
Jordan ABSENT Thrash YES
Lipscomb YES Vincenzo YES
Oprisch YES
Roll Call Vote: Five (5) YES Zero (0) NO Zero (0) ABSTAIN Two (2) ABSENT
Motion Carried
Executive Session exited at 8:51 pm
Council President Jim Velas reported that no action was taken in Executive Session.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to come before Council, Councilwoman Lipscomb made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Councilman Smith. The meeting was adjourned at 8:52 P.M.
The next meeting will be Monday, September 5, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. All Councilmembers will be present at the City Building for the next meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting in the Council Chambers.
August 21, 2023 Council Minutes
This evening, September 5th, 2023, there is a water line break located in the vicinity of Barton Road and Forest Lawn.
Crews are making repairs. During repairs, you may experience water loss, discoloration, and pressure issues.
Addresses that are impacted are:
Forest Lawn – 100,103,105,107,109,110, and 112
Walnut Avenue-100 and 101
East Lawn-101
For those that experience water loss, please note that there will be a 48 Hour Boil Order once water is restored.
If you have any questions, please contact the Utility Office at 740-695-1410.
Thank you.
This afternoon (August 30th, 2023) a water line break was discovered on Reservoir Road which will cause Reservoir Road residents who receive water service from the twelve-inch line to lose water. Crews are working to make necessary repairs. Once repairs are completed and water service is restored, there will be a 48-Hour Boil Order in effect for residents who lost water service. This expected 48-Hour Boil Order will be in addition to the current City-wide Boil Order in effect now. Temporary pressure issues and discoloration may be experienced as well by Reservoir Road residents who are City Municipal Utility customers.
If questions, please contact the Utility Office at 740-695-1410 between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. An after-hours answering service is available on this phone line. Thank you.
Due to a water line break that occurred this evening (Wednesday, August 30, 2023) on Reservoir Road in St. Clairsville, the city-wide Boil Order for all Municipal Utility Water Customers that was going to expire tomorrow (Thursday) at 11 A. M. has now been extended and will end this Friday, September 1st at 7:30 P. M.
As a reminder, customers may experience pressure issues and/or discoloration within the 48-Hour Boil Order time frame.
To repeat, all Municipal Utility Water Customers are currently under a Boil Order which will end this Friday, September 1st at 7:30 P. M.
If questions, please contact the Utility Office at 740-695-1410 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 A. M. to 4:30 P. M.). The office will be closed on September 4 in observance of the Labor Day federal holiday.
Thank you.
RESOLUTION NUMBER 2023-30
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING KATHRYN THALMAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
ST. CLAIRSVILLE, TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE OHIO PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION STATE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT AND/OR LOCAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM(S) AND TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS AS REQUIRED
AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, the State Capital Improvement Program and the Local Transportation Improvement Program both provide financial assistance to political subdivisions for capital improvements to public infrastructure; and,
WHEREAS, the City of St. Clairsville is planning to make capital improvements to the Central Park Drainage and Sinkhole; and,
WHEREAS, the infrastructure improvement herein above described is considered to be a priority need for the community and is a qualified project under the OPWC programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO:
SECTION 1: That the Mayor of the City of St. Clairsville is hereby authorized to apply to the OPWC for funds as described above.
SECTION 2: That the Mayor of the City of St. Clairsville is authorized to enter into any agreements as may be necessary and appropriate for obtaining this financial assistance.
SECTION 3: That this Resolution is declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City of St. Clairsville, and in order to meet the September 1, 2023, grant funding submission deadline.
SECTION 4: That this Resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by the Charter of the City of St. Clairsville, Ohio.
PASSED at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of St. Clairsville on this 21st day of August, 2023, by the affirmative vote of 5 members of the Council.
Resolution Number 2023-30
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-29
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2023-21
IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR SAID LEGISLATION AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, Council desires to provide for the payment of legal fees incurred by individual Council Members up to the amount of $15,000.00 for outside representation in legal matters that arise from the individual Council Member’s exercise of Council duties during the regular course of Council Meetings and at any other officially sanctioned events as approved by Council.
WHEREAS, Council desires to provide for an effective date of January 1, 2023 for the payment of said legal fees as provided for in Ordinance Number 2023-21.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO:
SECTION 1: That Ordinance Number 2023-21 is hereby amended to provide an effective date of January 1, 2023 for the payment of said legal fees as provided for in Ordinance No. 2023-21.
SECTION 2: That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City of St. Clairsville, in order that the proposed amendment can be immediately implemented.
SECTION 3: That this resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by the Charter of the City of St. Clairsville, Ohio.
PASSED at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of St. Clairsville on this 21st day of August, 2023, by the affirmative vote of 5 members of the Council.
Ordinance Number 2023-29
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023-28
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2023-15 IN ORDER TO CORRECT A
TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR TO THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL WATER
RATES NOT WITHIN CITY LIMITS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, the City of St. Clairsville operates a municipal water system with the responsibility to provide clean potable water to all of its customers; and,
WHEREAS, the cost of production of said potable water is escalating; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to have income to meet expenses, plus generate funds for system operation, maintenance, and repair.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO:
SECTION 1: That Ordinance Number 2023-15 is hereby amended in order to correct a typographical error in the section entitled “Residential And Commercial Water Rates Not Within City Limits” in order to change the cost per 1,000 gallons listed in Block 1, First 2,000 Gallons from $22.96 per 1,000 Gallons to the correct rate of $22.26 per 1,000 Gallons.
SECTION 2: That the effective date of this Ordinance is July 20, 2023.
SECTION 3: That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the City of St. Clairsville, in order that the proposed amendment can be immediately implemented.
SECTION 4: That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force from and after the earliest period allowed by the Charter of the City of St. Clairsville, Ohio.
PASSED at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of St. Clairsville on this 21st day of August, 2023 by the affirmative vote of 5 members of the council.
Ordinance Number 2023-28