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STEUBENVILLE -- City officials are exploring the feasibility of partnering with Franciscan University of Steubenville for a sewage tie-in serving its new athletic facility as well as the city's parks and recreation department.
City Manager Jim Mavromatis and Utility Director Chuck Murphy told council the university has plans " to put in a sewer line, but it's on our property."
Mavromatis said the existing lines "cannot accommodate the sewage they'll put into them."
"What we need to look at is a partnership with the university," Mavromatis said. "They have plans to run a line all the way to Brady Avenue -- it's on our property, it's our sewer line. They have more flexibility as a private entity than we do to do these things, because there are more requirements on us as a municipality."
Mavromatis said the school is using a 22,000-gallon tank for sewage that will have to be drained periodically "because they do pay for sewage, we just don't have the tie in, because that line cannot handle what's being dumped in there by the university from this new facility."
Murphy said the university is looking to do additional projects on the old golf course, "so this line is going to go ahead and accommodate more than just that athletic facility, when it's all said and done, based on my understanding.
"What they're looking to do is install a new sewer line because the existing one that runs from the road that runs parallel to the pool all the way over to University Boulevard is in horrible condition. There are dips and valleys (and) parts of the pipe are broken away inside. There's no way in the world I can say go ahead and let's connect to that thing, knowing the (things) it's going to deal with and the fact that it runs between the retaining wall and the reservoir, no less. There are too many hazards associated with it, as well as public health and safety. Knowing we have to replace that line, it made good sense to partner with the university. It serves their need as well as the city's need, you kind of get a two-for-one type situation."
Murphy figured the city's cost would be roughly $200,000 and said they could use sewer funds to cover it.
"We would be able to benefit our parks and recreation department as well as the university," he said. "When you can have a win-win you've, it's a good idea to do it, especially when it's taking care of our needs."
Council has yet to decide on a proposal to set aside $700,000 in American Rescue Plan funds for "various projects" Urban Projects Director Chris Petrossi needs help funding.
In other matters:
• First Ward Councilwoman Asantewa Anyabwile asked council to consider setting aside $50,000 of that money to "build up these buildings that have been condemned (so we can) tryin order to keep the vagrants, rodents, fire hazards and squatting" under control and another $50,000 to repair sidewalks and curbs, "and if we can't get homeowners to do it (themselves), have a fund where the city fixes it and then get it refunded by the property owners."
Fifth Ward Councilman Willie Paul pointed out Petrossi had applied for $2 million in grant funds from the state for a downtown streetscape but was denied.
"I can't remember why we didn't get it," Paul said. "(But) I think we can put some money toward funding a matching grant, and let him (Petrossi) go to Aspire" and see if grant funding is available for funding for sidewalks in that area of Fourth Street. Aspire is the city's newly hired grant-writing consultant.
• Sixth Ward Councilman Mike Hernon was encouraged to draft a letter of support for the Market Street Bridge. Hernon said it's important to let authorities on both sides of the river know how important the bridge is to recreation and commerce. West Virginia officials have indicated they will close the bridge after the new bridge that will connect Brilliant and Wellsburg opens. No timetable for the closure has been announced, but construction on the new bridge is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year.
At tonight's meeting, council will consider:
• Emergency legislation authorizing city officials to accept the OneOhio Opioid Litigation Settlement Fund; emergency legislation authorizing Mavromatis to enter into a contract with Fort Steuben Maintenance for the backwash tank rehabilitation project at the water treatment plant and have Arcadis Engineering take on construction administrative services; emergency legislation authorizing Mavromatis to enter into a water pollution control loan fund agreement for planning, design and construction of the CSO 6 and 7 closure project.
• Third and final reading of an ordinance authorizing the live streaming of City Council meetings.
• Second readings of ordinances that would authorize Mavromatis and Petrossi to seek proposals for and hire a planning coordinator service should the city's application for a federal Choice Neighborhood grant be funded; and directing Mavromatis to "take steps to move forward with the development of a section of the Great American Trail."
• First reading will be given an ordinance authorizing Mavromatis to seek bids for supplies for the service department for 2023.
Council's finance committee will convene at 6 p.m. today, followed at 7:30 p.m. by the regular business meeting.