EAST LIVERPOOL – Among legislation approved Monday night by city council was an ordinance authorizing a loan for waterline replacements.

The ordinance authorizes the mayor to apply for a loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) for replacing outdated and deteriorated 4- and 6-inch lines with 8-inch lines, valves and hydrants.

Streets earmarked for the work include Cartwright, Pond, Cain, Andrews, Lang and Manor Lane.

The engineering for the project must be completed and bids advertised prior to a cost being known for the loan amount to be set, according to Service-Safety Director Brian Allen.

An ordinance was approved authorizing the purchase of a 2018 F-350 truck from Tri-State Ford in the city for Thompson Park at a cost of $53,836, through the state cooperative purchasing program. The cost will be paid from a park levy passed by voters.

Council also approved a resolution approving participation in the Community Housing Impact and Preservation Program (CHIP), partnering with the city of Salem, which will administer the grant.

This funding is available for rehabilitation projects for houses in low income neighborhoods.

An ordinance adjusting appropriations by $13,243 was also approved, which is the final amount needed to finish replacing windows in City Hall with new triple pane ones.

Mayor Ryan Stovall thanked council for appropriating a total of $37,904 for the window project, saying, “It’s not snowing in City Hall offices any more.”

Stovall also announced that a company will be moving into the city as a “direct result of the shale industry,” saying that, although not yet at liberty to name it, the company reported sales of $3.2 million and plans to hire 15 employees at an average salary of $18 per hour.

“Things are moving forward, we’re ‘Open for Business.’ We’ll work with any company,” Stovall said, using the new city motto he recently unveiled.

Cora Street resident Richard Cunningham addressed council regarding a recent move to create a new fund that will be used to collect grants and donations toward a spay/neuter program in an attempt to decrease the number of feral and stray cats in the city.

He produced a 2008 Akron Beacon Journal article in which Summit County residents discussed the feasibility of licensing cats after that county increased its dog license fee from $8 to $14 dollars.

The article noted that many communities nationwide – such as those in Kentucky, Washington, Indiana and Minnesota, require licenses for cats, and Cunningham also produced a copy of the Columbus Municipal Code that notes owners and possessors of both dogs and cats over 3 months old are required to have collars with ID tags attached that includes an owner’s name, address and phone number.

He said the notion that the new fund created by city council is open for donations is “kind of silly” and suggested cat owners could help fund the program through licensing.

The city does not currently have an animal control officer.

Larry Marshall of Alton Street also spoke to council, saying his is the only street in the neighborhood that did not receive one of the new blue and white street signs, which were purchased through a grant.

Saying most of the residents on the street have lived there 30 to 40 years, Marshall said, “We should be treated better,” also voicing concerns that he receives medication and he fears the deliverer may not find him.

Councilman Fred Rayl asked how much a sign costs, saying he would purchase one for the street, with Councilman Ray Perorazio saying he thinks the city could pay for it. No action was taken.

Fire Chief Bill Jones reported that assistant Chief Eric Croxall, burned during a fatal house fire, is still off the job but “doing well,” with another doctor visit planned Friday.

Stovall thanked the firefighters for the “spectacular job they do at their own safety.”