City officials warn of illegal signs

EAST LIVERPOOL Safety-Service Director Ryan Estell spent a big part of the day Monday taking down illegal signs that popped up overnight.

A stack of signs encouraging people to apply for car loans with $99 down, even with bad credit, was piled in the planning office, awaiting retrieval from the car lot's owner.

The signs were found throughout the city, even on back streets in residential neighborhoods, not just on the city's main thoroughfares, according to officials.

Estell reminded residents and business owners that posting signs other than election campaign signs violates city zoning ordinances.

He and Mayor Jim Swoger said these types of signs, attached to springy metal poles, are cropping up everywhere and are unattractive, but their main concern was they are prohibited.

Also illegal, they reminded people, is attaching any type of sign to utility poles, because the staples and nails used can pose a potential hazard to utility workers who wear insulated clothing while working on lines.

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City's Board of Control meets

EAST LIVERPOOL Local companies submitted the highest and lowest bids for demolition of 14 derelict buildings as part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, with a total of five bids opened Monday by the city's Board of Control.

The lowest bid of $45,250 was submitted by X-Treme Trucking and Demolition of Wellsville, while Mike Pusateri Inc. of the city submitted the highest at $86,140.

In between were A. Bonamase Contracting of Boardman, $51,350; Kemppel Industries Inc., Akron, $61,400; and M. Betters Construction, Monaca, Pa., $74,100.

The bids included breakdowns for each house ranging from a low of $2,000 for a Maple Street structure proposed by X-Treme to a high of $8,940 for a home on Almont Street proposed by Pusateri.

The board of control voted to take all the bids under advisement, and Safety-Service Director Ryan Estell said after the meeting work will begin on the demolition next year.

Houses earmarked for demolition are located at 935 St. Clair Ave.; 2015 Harvey St.; 509-511 Maryland Ave.; 529 Maple St.; 806 Oak St.; 428 Vine St.; 1005 Dresden Ave.; 1048 Dresden Ave.; 728 Green Lane; 407 Almont St.; 824 Northside Ave.; 1298 Sunnyside Ave.; 1219 Pennsylvania Ave. and 709 John St.

- Staff Reports