EAST LIVERPOOL — The East Liverpool City Council, led by President Pro Tem Fred Rayl due to the excused absence of President John Torma, had a lot to consider during Monday’s council meeting.

Mayor Bobby Smith announced the retirement of William (Bill) Cowan, director for the city’s Planning Department which oversees planning and zoning for the city, executive director for the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) and member of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU).

Cowan, who has officially retired from the planning department and resigned as director of the CIC, has not yet officially resigned from the BPU, but his resignation is anticipated.

Smith said now it’s a matter of figuring out what to do with Cowan gone and that there have been a lot of suggestions. He noted that he has spent six months talking with Cowan about what to do, and he is unable to make a decision on what to do at this point with the position because the city cannot pay enough to get what they need.

Smith is meeting next week with Dallis Dawson, of Dallis Dawson and Associates, to try to figure out some of this.

Smith said that on Wednesday, the director of the America 250, who has joined forces with the East Liverpool Community Partnership for Revitalization (ELCPR), will be in East Liverpool to try to promote The East Liverpool Heritage Trail, a bike and walking trail along the Ohio River. He noted that the city has most of the funding, which indicates the interest for the trail is there, and they need approximately $150,000.

A kickoff event for a fundraising event will take place Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Museum of Ceramics for the trail.

Smith also said that he has been getting emails from Scout Solar containing documents to be signed before the power is turned on for the Laura Avenue solar structure and he has questions regarding what the documents are saying, such as the city is responsible for the operation, maintenance, security of the structures and repairs. He noted the city has no one who knows how to maintain solar structures. He provided council members with copies of the document to review.

Smith also noted that there has been interest in the purchase of property on the east end and the Riverview Florist property.

He said there is someone coming on Thursday to look at both properties. The potential buyers are interested in the property in the east end for building electrical components and the Riverview property for housing development in which a minimum of $80,000 annual income would be needed to get into one of the houses if developed.

The mayor reiterated his previous statements that he would not allow any more low-income housing or drug rehabilitations to come into the city.

Smith also commented on the recent closing of the Sixth Street Cafeteria and Deli, saying he spoke to owner Ray (Chef Ray) Stephens, and that he thinks everyone saw the writing on the wall there. He noted the sewage line was a $30,000 repair, and the business didn’t warrant that kind of expense, so they shut it down.

Smith also brought up the issue of the city not having a drug sniffing dog and the issues that are resulting from it, such as the police knowing someone has drugs in the car but not being able to hold someone at a traffic stop until a K-9 is available from a neighboring police department and having to let them go.

Smith said he understands the problem they did have when the police department had a K-9, but he also understands the problems the city has now with not having one.

Smith said the city has to be proactive on this, and he is not talking about a biting or apprehension dog, but one just to detect drugs.

He then noted that the end decision would be up to the police chief.

Tim Clark, utility manager, provided an update to the council on the violations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, steps to correct them and where they are in the process. He also noted that the city has been requested to create a masterplan for water and wastewater. The city could face being fined by the EPA if the violations are not taken care of.

Clark also repeated his request which he has made at several council meetings to allow the BPU to set the wages and benefits for the non-union water and wastewater employees.

There were no committee reports except for one from the Finance Committee given by Rayl, which was a recap of the most recent committee meeting.

There were no reports from the police chief and safety service director who were absent from the meeting.

Council members approved eight ordinances with all in favor votes. Ordinances approved include authorizing the vendor to pay certain vendors, amending the budget ordinance to adjust appropriations, entering into an agreement with Farmers Bank to be the city’s depository, establishing a cyber security program for the city, establishing a policy for temporary employees of the city, authorizing the Board of Control to advertise for bids and enter into contract for design, engineering and construction of a storage building for the fire department; accepting a temporary budget for January through March of 2026 and authorizing the mayor on behalf of the Board of Public Utilities to purchase a 2024 F-550 chassis 4×4 from Tri-State Ford.

Council also approved the appointments of Amy Mabbott to the East Liverpool Carnegie Public Library Board of Trustees to fulfill the unfinished term of Cindy Waggle and Jessie Smith to replace Kevin Kerr on the East Liverpool Board of Health.

Additionally, they approved and accepted the minutes for the Aug. 4 and Aug. 2 meetings and the special meeting held Sept. 15.

There was no one to speak during the public speaking portion, and no unfinished businesses to discuss or communications to report.

There will be no council committees meeting in November except for the Finance Committee which will meet on Nov. 25 at 3 p.m. in council chambers at East Liverpool City Hall.

Rayl said the Finance Committee would be considering utilities manager Tim Clark’s request to allow the Board of Public Utilities to set the pay scale and benefits for the city’s non-union water and wastewater employees.

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 meeting is scheduled for Dec. 1.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com