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EAST LIVERPOOL -- During the Oct. 5 meeting of the East Liverpool City Council, council members approved one ordinance with amendments per the request of the East Liverpool Community Improvement Corporation (CIC).
The ordinance to authorize the mayor to enter into a memorandum of understanding between the city and the CIC for a Facade Loan program had been tabled for further discussions and changes, and brought back before council members to discuss, amend and vote on.
The ordinance, which previously allowed the Facade Improvement Grant Program to be used only for improvements in the historic downtown area of the city, was amended to remove the historic area specification and allow the funds to be used for facade improvements throughout the city.
The ordinance also makes provisions for the city to transfer $75,000 to the CIC to fund the Facade Improvement Grant Program with money from the City Cannabis Tax revenue fund.
The ordinance passed council with a unanimous vote.
Council President Pro Tem John Mercer said he received a communication from Columbia Gas saying they have petitioned the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to raise rates and they want to inform the city that they are going to ask to raise the gas rates.
For committee reports, Brian Kerr, chair, Finance/Labor Committee, reviewed what was discussed at their previous meeting regarding ordinances that were passed at the special council meeting held Sept. 29. One of the issues discussed was an unpaid balance for Valley Office Supply that had been outstanding for several months. Kerr said he received the check from the auditor and took it to Valley Office Supply, and the city is now in good standing with the business.
Kerr also noted that the committee received a tax revenue report from the city's treasurer who said that tax collection is up from last year.
Councilman Tom Clark said he sent an email to each council member requesting a wish list for streets that need patched or repaired in their district.
Debra Danver, chair, Safety/Rules Committee, reminded council of the discussion the committee had on purchasing a new generator for the police department and other updates made at the fire department following the power outage, the development of a Crisis Management Plan and other items discussed at the previous council meeting.
Danver also noted that there were discussions on the Wharf and operating hours.
Mercer, chair, Licensing/Economic Development Committee, said there was discussion regarding repairs needed in the Diamond and is waiting for additional information on that and there have been several grant applications submitted for the work at the Wharf.
For officer reports, Safety-Service Director Bill Jones said the Crisis Management Plan is under construction, and that work is set to begin on the Park Boulevard Paving project, which is being funded by a Columbia County Flexible Opportunity Grant Fund.
"This will create a beautiful driving effect for our beautiful park," Jones said.
The grant is fully paid with no matching funds required
Mayor Bobby Smith told council that the grant from the county was a suggestion from the county commissioners.
Smith said he wanted to thank City Law Director Charles Payne for helping the city out with several issues over the past week regarding empty houses in the city and fast tracking them for demolition.
The East Liverpool City Council meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers, East Liverpool City Hall, 126 W. Sixth St. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2.