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Mingo Junction looking to fill positions

MINGO JUNCTION — The village of Mingo Junction is hiring.

Village Administrator Bob Smith informed council during his report that the village is still seeking a park manager for the village pool and two more life guards.

He said the last information he had there were four applicants for life guard, he would like two more, though filling the manager position is “the biggest concern.”

Council also approved the police and fire departments to add to their staffs following executive sessions with each.

Police Chief Willie McKenzie said his department will be advertising to hire three additional officers, two part time, and those interested can reach the department at (740) 535-1186.

Fire Chief Brandon Montgomery was also approved to advertise to hire one additional full-time firefighter. Those interested can reach his office at (740) 535-0482.

During discussions in regular session, Councilman Jack Brettell pointed out the village needs to hire at least two additional employees at the village garage.

“It’s incredible what those guys have been able to do,” he said of them working shorthanded.

Brettell and other members of council again addressed the topic of how to handle dilapidated buildings.

Montgomery told council his department is doing inspections and sending out notices.

It was noted by village solicitor Ernest Wilson that the village would have to hire an attorney to handle pursuing civil cases against building owners. He said handling such matters is out of the scope of the solicitor’s job and he would not be interested, nor does he have experience, in taking on such cases.

A St. Claire Avenue resident also addressed council on the problem of dilapidated buildings and property maintenance issues during public participation.

“People in this town for generations had respect for their property and neighbors … now they don’t care,” he said.

Also during public participation, a Grant Street resident addressed council about a dispute over his water bill.

The man, who said he owns multiple properties on Grant Street, told council he has been charged for sewage at residences that are not connected to the village’s system, a second home is tied into the same water hookup as his home but is being billed separately, and he’s being charged for water at two homes that he sold approximately three years ago.

Smith told council and the resident he was not familiar with the case but he would get involved in resolving the matter and told the man the shutoff notice he received would be canceled.

Smith also addressed water billing in the village during his report, telling council that the water department is cracking down on delinquent shutoffs, noting the village tried to work with people as much as it could before it got to this point.

“We have tried and tried and tried to make deals with folks and we took the bad end of that,” he said.

Smith also told council that while he, and members of council, have some ideas for how to use funds from the latest COVID relief package, exact details are not yet available.

He told council that a move to put a four-way stop sign on Elanor Street to combat speeding received push back “right away” and suggested council review other options.

Commenting on the ongoing storm sewer separation project, Mayor Ed Fithen remarked “this had to be done, it should have been done years ago.”

“We could have just said heck with it, too, and the EPA could have came after us. We took on the brunt of this.”

“We stepped up in a major way,” Councilman Adam Peeler said.

Fithen also asked village residents to be patient while the work, which involves roadwork, continues.

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