BUDGETARY ISSUES AT HAND — Toronto Council considered budgetary and other matters at Monday’s meeting. -- Warren Scott

TORONTO — Toronto is among communities along the Ohio River expected to seek reimbursement for expenses arising from the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern trail derailment in East Palestine.

On Monday, Toronto Council authorized Mayor John Parker to enter into an agreement by which the Morgan and Morgan Complex Litigation Group and the Weirton law firm of Frankovitch, Anetakis, Simon, DeCaptio and Pearl will pursue claims on the city’s behalf.

After the meeting, Parker said costs for the law firms’ representation will come from whatever funds they’re able to secure for the city.

Following the derailment, Toronto personnel and others at water treatment plants along the Ohio River have reported taking additional measures to prevent butyl acrylate and other chemicals spilled by the train from entering their water supplies.

“We’re treating (the water) with triple the amount of chemical and paying for testing on top of what we would normally do,” said Parker.

He and other Toronto officials said as a more modern facility, the city’s water plant is well equipped to address such situations.

Garry Daugherty, the city’s water superintendent, earlier reported that state officials had recommended using 30 pounds of powder activated carbon, a charcoal like filter, to remove any butyl acrylate present and while the Toronto plant normally uses 60 pounds of carbon per day, it has been raised to 125 pounds as a safeguard.

He said in addition to the plant’s normal use of 1.4 milligrams per liter of chlorine — used to oxidize the chemical — potassium permanganate at Toronto’s river intakes also serves to remove the chemical over a two-hour period before it’s exposed to the carbon.

Because traces of chemicals from the train have been charted from streams near the derailment to the river, samples of its water have been sent by officials in Toronto and Steubenville to a lab in Cincinnati.

Parker said no chemicals have been detected in the city’s samples, but crews will continue to monitor the water for months, if not years, into the future.

Also on Monday, council approved a $12.4 million budget for the 2023 fiscal year after receiving no comment on it at a public hearing held prior to Monday’s regular meeting.

Councilman at large Mike Burkey, who chairs council’s finance committee; and newly appointed City Auditor Kayla Whitlatch said revenue for the city has gradually risen since the pandemic but it also has has seen a rise in costs for various materials, particularly at the water treatment plant.

They added a spike in health care costs for city employees is expected later this year, and the budget reflects an increase of 25 percent.

Burkey said the finance committee hopes in six months to consider replacing a number of aging city vehicles, pending available funds.

He added there are plans to add a second shelter at the city’s swimming pool, which would generate additional revenue for the recreation department through rentals for private parties.

Burkey said the budget includes one director and two part-time staff for the Karaffa Recreation Center, which most feel is adequate at this time.

He applauded the city’s supervisors and department heads for staying within their budgets in the last year and thanked them for their input at a series of finance meetings that led to the budget’s development.

Burkey also thanked fellow council members for their attendance at the meetings, saying he believed it was informative for all involved.

In other business:

— Council approved the first reading of an ordinance raising pay for the city’s water superintendent and assistant water superintendent by 30 percent over the next three years, as it has done in recent months for other city staff.

— City officials commented on reports of the city’s water bills reaching customers late.

Second Ward Councilman Steve Sninchak said his mail has arrived seven days later than others and he’s brought it to the attention of Toronto’s postmaster.

Parker said customers who pay by credit card should be aware notices of their next bills arrive by e-mail only.

Water customers also may arrange for automatic withdrawals from their checking accounts.

Noting all bills are due on the 20th of each month, Burkey suggested, “If you don’t see a water bill by the 10th, you should make a call (to the city’s utility office).”

The office can be reached at (740) 537-2428 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

— City Police Chief Charley Daniels noted the Pat Campbell Fighting Cancer 5K Run and St. Patrick’s Day 5K Walk will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

To accommodate a new course for the event, no parking will be permitted along North River Avenue from Crossroads Church to Spring Street and the block of North Fourth Street before the John F. Kennedy Highway at the city’s north end.

As a timed event, the race is expected to draw more participants than in recent years, and drivers are asked to be patient.

— City Fire Chief Bill Scheel noted under state law, no burning is permitted between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in March, April or May.