EAST LIVERPOOL — East Liverpool Mayor Bobby Smith updated council members on the lack of communications from Scout Solar during Monday’s council meeting.

Smith said he doesn’t know what is going on with them, he has not been able to have any communications with the company for some time and he is concerned that they are not doing any work anywhere.

He said the last time he heard from Scout Solar he was told it would be October before they got back to the structure at the water plant because they were waiting on a transformer. He also noted that the company left the structure site at Laura Avenue a mess.

“It looks like we have gotten burnt,” Smith said.

Smith said that state Sen. Al Cutrona reached out to him about a drug rehabilitation center being put in the city, and he told Cutrona no, that the city did not need any more drug rehab centers, no more low-income facilities, that the city has enough of that stuff.

He also commented on the work done by the youth of the East Liverpool Youth Academy on Sunday at the End Park and that the park looked really nice.

Smith said he heard from the Ohio Department of Transportation about how bad state Route 11 looked, and he told them it was a staffing issue, and they were working on it. Smith said he asked ODOT to make a couple of passes for trimming on the route, and they said they would.

Smith also said that the Columbiana County land bank was starting to tear down homes and the city has 32 to be torn down.

Smith is requesting to form a pool board for management of the pool.

Council Member Jeff Kreefer during a Safety Committee meeting brought up concerns over the cardiovascular and cancer rates in retired firefighters and said he wants to establish a wellness program for the employees.

Fire Chief Antony Cumo said that 13 people recently took the entry level test for the fire department and the fire department will hold agility testing before making a hiring decision.

Cumo also said that firefighter Alex Estelle will be promoted to lieutenant.

Safety Service Director Bill Jones addressed rumors that the city’s Mower Max was broken. He said the mower did not hit or damage a hydrant, which is a rumor going around. The mower is not operating right now due to a shortage of manpower, and he is working to find a solution to that problem.

Jones also noted that the storm sewers are a mess and the city is working on those.

Council unanimously approved multiple pieces of legislation, including a renewal levy for Thompson Park, asking the Ohio General Assembly to reject legislation that eliminates inside millage and transfers, amending the budget ordinance, authorizing the auditor to pay vendors, authorizing the city to adopt two amendments to the agreement between Utilities Services Company and the city to address EPA violations, authorizing the Control Board to advertise for bids and enter into a contract with the lowest bidder for the Washington Street project, and two ordinances to provide funds and enter into a contract with Myers Equipment to purchase a Ford chassis to remount to the existing box from a city ambulance.

The Refuse & Recycling/Public Utilities/Franchise Committee and the Finance Committee will meet jointly on July 29 at 3 p.m., in council chambers to discuss the Garbage Department, equipment needed and the garbage rates

The East Liverpool City Council meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers at East Liverpool City Hall. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 4

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com