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STEUBENVILLE -- City Council wants to know how much it's going to cost to fix up the old city building and some other city-owned property.
Council told City Manager Jim Mavromatis they'd like a total cost, with the ability to pick and choose projects.
"I think we had discussed and I think would support getting a bid on all of it, then fashion it so we can (choose) what we want," 6th Ward Councilman Mike Hernon said.
With $12.6 million in federal American Rescue Plan money that has to be spent, Fifth Ward Councilman Willie Paul reminded council he'd like to use some of it to "spruce up our parking lots, take care of city building."
"I want to put money back into our property, our roads, our infrastructure," Paul said.
1st Ward Councilwoman Asantewa Anyabwile asked if the city ever bought buildings and tried to repair them instead of demolishing them.
"I don't believe we ever have," Law Director Costa Mastros said. "As long as I've ever been here, we've never tried to do that. It's too costly…We're not in the buying business, we don't have the funds. We can tear them down, because we have to. But we can't sink the money into rehabilitating them, that's a lot of money."
Mavromatis, meanwhile, recommended council consider repaving Johnson Road "as soon as possible." He said he's getting calls from "hospital people and ambulance drivers alike."
"Think about this and try to act on it, as soon as we can," he urged.
McManamon introduced Fort Steuben Mall Operations Manager Trey Jeter, who reported all but three storefronts have been filled.
Anyabwile said 1st Ward volunteers will be picking up litter again on May 14, starting at the corner of 5th and Adams.
Council passed emergency legislation "determining to proceed with the submission of the question of renewing an existing tax levy in excess of the 10-mill limitation for the propose of current expenses of the City to the electors of the City of Steubenville."
First reading was heard of an ordinance authorizing Mavromatis to seek bids for professional engineering services for the Belleview Park ball field lighting project.
Council also sunshined resolutions that would designated May 15 as Peace Officer Memorial Day, May 11-17 as National Police Week and May as Motorcycle Awareness Month.
Hernon said residents attending his ward meeting had "two top concerns…getting the water fixed and getting roads repaired." He said the condition of Johnson Road came up as well, along with the mall.
"It was clear we had the basics our citizens" are looking for, though they want to see quality of life enhancements, he said.