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STEUBENVILLE -- After months of planning, Councilwoman at large Kimberly Hahn reported the Beatty Park Bridge project could be ready to go out to bid in November.
Hahn told City Council during Tuesday night's meeting that they're waiting on decisions on two grant applications before they finalize things.
"Those have to be in place first, then we'll know what we're voting on," she advised.
Hahn also said demolition on the old Moose building on Fourth Street has begun.
She relayed Parks Director Lori Fetherolf's request that council consider committing $200,000 as a local match for lights at Belleview Park ballfields so she can seek grant funds, drawing the ire of Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo, who said the funds are needed for other projects that make much more sense. "We have $2 million in proposals and this is the only one creeping through," Mayo responded. "There's a whole lot of things in recreation we've got to take care of -- we don't need lights to have games."
Mayo reminded council that the city's application for federal Choice Neighborhood grant funding could hinge on them showing a willingness to invest city dollars in the North End.
Steubenville was one of nine communities across the nation chosen to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds to develop a plan for reinventing the North End neighborhood. If the city's application is selected it could pump $30 million to $50 million in federal funds into the community.
Mayo said HUD expects communities to demonstrate a willingness to invest city funds in project areas and not rely solely on the federal government's largesse.
"If we don't invest ourselves in the North End, we're not going to get that money," Mayo said. "That's $30 million to $50 million in free money that's going to be whisked away because we're not putting our money in. We're going to lose that money if we don't put some of our own money into it."
Also Tuesday:
— First Ward Councilwoman Asantewa Anyabwile said the Steel Valley Regional Transit Authority is putting together a reduced fare plan to get children to Belleview Park pool this summer "and they'll be taking them to and from the pool safely."
— City Manager Jim Mavromatis reported vandals ripped a sink off the wall at Murphy Park over the weekend. He told council they're reviewing cameras to identify the offenders.
"If they are juveniles, we will hold parents accountable for this," he said. "They are responsible for their conduct. We have to control the vandalism that goes on in the city."
— Hahn sunshined emergency legislation authorizing the parks department to seek funding through Ohio Nature Works.
— Council appointed Lynnette Gorman to the Community Reinvestment Council.
— First readings were heard for legislation calling for a public hearing and adoption of the fiscal 2024 tax budget; authorizing Mavromatis to contract with Ohio Regional Development Corp. for administration of the 2023 Community Housing Impact and Preservation Program and authorizing submission of the city's application for CHIP funding; and authorizing the city to apply for an Asphalt Art Initiative Grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies.