STEUBENVILLE --- City Council heard the first reading of an ordinance at Tuesday night's regular council meeting that will eliminate a police captain position and add a police dispatcher to the department in order to put another officer on patrol.
Sixth Ward Councilman David Lalich introduced the measure last week during the council sunshine meeting.
City Manager Cathy Davison has recommended the elimination of the captain's position following Captain Paul Harbert's resignation from the police department.
"The hiring of a police dispatcher will allow us to put the night turn sergeant back on patrol instead of working the dispatch desk," said Davison.
The table of organization ordinance also eliminates the Parks and Recreation summer food kitchen staff and summer food program coordinator.
Recreation Director Troy Kirkendall has recommended the elimination of those jobs because the recreation board has approved contracting the annual summer food program to Sodexho Food Services.
The council authorized the city manager to seek loans from the Ohio Water Development Authority for work on the city's wastewater plant and a sewer line project on University Boulevard.
City Engineer Michael Dolak and Finance Director Alyssa Kerker had proposed applying for a $3.4 million loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority for the wastewater treatment plant upgrades project slated for this year.
Dolak said the University Boulevard sewer line project, also scheduled for this year will cost approximately $1.2 million, "and we may apply for an OWDA loan for that project as well."
Read the Wednesday edition of the Herald-Star for all the details from the city council meeting.
