New trash cans for Steubenville are displayed
Council approves new signal light
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STEUBENVILLE -- City residents soon will receive new 96-gallon trash cans as the sanitation department prepares for a $1 million modernization of its operations.
"As soon as the last shipment of our new trash cans is delivered in the city we will start distributing the cans. Residents who feel they need more space for their garbage or trash can purchase a second can for approximately $55 or can buy trash bags with the city's logo on the bags at the utility collections office," Mavromatis told City Council members and audience members Tuesday night.
"We are also looking at putting additional cans in the city parks and in areas of the city that have a loose trash issue. I believe this will cut down on loose trash on our streets and stop people from putting their garbage in bags out two or three days before their collection day," continued Mavromatis.
"This will be a transition for our residents. But this will reduce the wear and tear on our employees. Eventually we will move to a four-day sanitation collection schedule and on the fifth day the sanitation workers will focus on other issues in the city. No other city in the valley has this type of operation, and I am already receiving calls from other city managers and community leaders regarding our new operation," stated Mavromatis.
"We have also retrofitted our existing sanitation packer trucks and purchased two new trucks. These trucks will be able to extend arms out to pick up the cans reducing the need for someone to pick up bags or cans full of trash and throw them in the packer truck. We will place directions on how to use the new cans in each container. And we will do an education campaign through the local news media. Our biggest challenge will be getting people adjusted to the new process," Mavromatis said.
"This is a step up in garbage collection for us," added Sanitation Superintendent Bob Baird.
In other matters, council introduced and passed a resolution on an emergency basis authorizing the city manager to apply for a $98,826 grant from the Ohio Development Services Agency and the Governor's Office of Appalachia for Franciscan University of Steubenville's plans to install a new traffic signal on University Boulevard.
The university will be responsible for the remainder of the cost for the light that will be placed at the main entrance to the campus and the entrance to the Inn at Franciscan Square.
"We wanted to add the traffic light to that intersection for the safety of our students and conference guests who may stay at the inn and walk to the campus," said Joe McGurn of the university's physical plant services.
He estimated the light will be installed by the end of the year.
Council members heard several first readings for new legislation, including plans to vacate portions of Wells, South Third and Bates streets and an unnamed alley at the proposed site for a new Pilot Flying J fuel and service center at the entrance to the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. Steubenville plant. And a first reading was heard for an ordinance creating the Brockton Road, Bryden Road and East Carlton Road Neighborhood Conservation District.
During a pride committee meeting prior to the regular meeting, council members turned down a request from Councilwoman at large Kimberly Hahn to plant boxwood shrubs near the north and south entrance signs to the city on state Route 7.
"We talked about evergreens but I am not in favor of that because they can grow out of control. And when we put the signs and flower bed in last year I had to get a jackhammer and backhoe just to break up the ground enough to work the soil. I am even hesitant to put in more flowers this year because I don't know if we will have enough volunteers to spend time every day watering the flowers," noted 6th Ward Councilman Bob Villamagna.
"Last year we had volunteers water the flowers. Can we get Bob Baird and his street department to take care of the watering of the flowers? Or maybe we can approach the city garden club to maintain the flowers," suggested Hahn.
"I am for mulch and large rocks for a rock garden. It would be a lot less maintenance. Maybe a year from now when Bob Baird has a full staff in his department we can look at them taking care of those flower beds," said Villamagna.
"I don't want to see that type of effort put into this until we take care of the trash issues on state Route 7," commented 3rd Ward Councilman Eric Timmons.
In other business, Villamagna said the improvements taking place at the Belleview Pool "have already made a difference."
"The pine trees are down, the new sidewalk is in place and it is looking 100 percent better. I will be meeting with Mayor (Domenick) Mucci to create a pre-opening work schedule for the pool," Villamagna remarked.
"But several of the memorial trees people paid to have planted at Belleview Park and Jim Wood Park have died and we need to do something about them. People paid $250 for a tree and a plaque and you can't read the plaques and the trees are dying," warned Villamagna.
Patrick McLaughlin announced Vapor Jet Professional Cleaning has volunteered to clean all carpet and furniture in the Belleview Clubhouse.
"There are several businesses in the community that are willing to do things like this for the city because they care," said McLaughlin, a Vapor Jet employee.
During the public forum, Brenda Fetty, president of the Gaylord Towers apartment complex, asked for help in resolving several issues at the building on Market Street, including rats in the facility.
"The Jefferson Metropolitan Housing Authority says it doesn't have any money, so how can we get the condition of the building and property improved? Can you direct us on where to go?" questioned Fetty.
"This is not our problem. This is a problem for JMHA to address. But I will make the rat issue known to Jefferson County Health Department Administrator Bruce Misselwitz. And I will give you the name and phone number for the top person at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Cleveland office," responded Mavromatis.
(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)