Trending
STEUBENVILLE -- City Manager Jim Mavromatis told council this week the city's application for a $50,000 grant for Beatty Park was denied.
Parks Director Lori Featherolf said Tuesday that they'd hoped to use the money for the bridge project.
"It's sad news, but I understand they have a lot of people who apply," Mavromatis said.
City Police, however, were granted $25,000 to refurbish their weight room. "It's nice they were able to do that," he said.
Meanwhile, Mavromatis said he's waiting for their architect, McKinley Architecture and Engineering, to send him the final plans for proposed renovations to the old city building.
While they eventually hope to do upgrades on the upper level, council several weeks ago decided to focus its attention -- and money -- on getting the first floor renovated, with much-needed upgrades to the men's and women's restrooms, the police evidence room, community room and probation officer room. They also need to carve out a locker room for female police officers.
Mavromatis said there's already been interest in the project, "but they are waiting for us to get our final numbers, then get it bid out."
Council also was told the Choice Neighborhood committee task force meetings are ongoing.
In December, Steubenville was one of nine communities across the U.S. awarded $500,000 planning grants, money they are to use to develop a strategy for reinventing a distressed neighborhood. Steubenville's target zone is the north end.
Urban Projects Director Chris Petrossi said a survey has been developed and will soon be distributed to residents. He also told council the committee has posted a video on their website, Steubenvillechoice.com.
"The video is about the start of the planning process," he said, adding updates and links to other sites of interest also are posted on the webpage.
Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo reminded council the real money -- potentially as much as $30 million to $50 million -- would come if the city is awarded implementation grant funding.
"The real money is in the implementation phase, that's $30 million to $50 million, so we have to be ticking the boxes," he said. "They're going to look at what commitment we have (to the north end), what have we done."
He said receiving that kind of grant money would be "transformational," but again pointed out the city needs to show it has skin in the game.
"Whatever money we have that we can put into that park, the North End, we need to show our (commitment)," he said.
In other matters, council:
— Discussed problems with raised sidewalks, particular in the Nutcracker Village walking area.
Mavromatis told council sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner, though areas where the buckling was caused by the trees previous councils planted in the business district would be the city's headache.
"Where trees were put in, clearly the wrong trees were put in and will be the responsibility of city," he said, adding, "The owners have to be notified first, it's their responsibility."
Mayo said he wasn't convinced the city should be responsible for all of the sidewalk that buckled because of trees. "If someone bought the property and the sidewalks were already messed up, I don't think it's the city's responsibility," he suggested.
"I think Royal's point is that (city funded repairs) should go only to the original owner, which I disagree with," Sixth Ward Councilman Mike Hernon said.
Third Ward Councilwoman Heather Hoover, however, said she "somewhat agrees" with Royal. "This could open a can of worms," she said. "We have trees in neighborhoods (all over the city), I'm worried people are going to say 'I didn't plant this tree and my sidewalk is buckling.'"
Petrossi reminded council they allocated $25,000 to assist with identifying sidewalk issues, saying his staff started in the South End. "Owners will be given time to repair them," he said, adding, "Twenty-five thousand dollars isn't a lot, but it's a start."
"My hope is our Appalachian Community Grant will be funded and this whole discussion will be moot because we'd be replacing all the sidewalks anyway," he said.
Council passed emergency legislation authorizing Fetherolf to apply for an Ohio Natureworks Grant to replace play equipment at Beatty Park. Second reading was given legislation calling for a public hearing and adoption of the FY 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 applications for CHIP funding and Asphalt Art Initiative Grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Council also was:
— Invited to the Our Place open house from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Westminster Church, 235 N.Fourth St. Our Place, an activity and resource center for the senior population, is geared to providing education and socialization during the journey of aging.
Organizers say Our Place is an effort to make the adult population aware of programs already in place in Steubenville and Jefferson County.
"We've only been open seven days and we already have 90 members, so the need is there," one said. "We're excited to see where this takes us."
They plan to go out in the community in June and let people know the program is available. Speakers and classes also will begin.
— Told the annual Ohio River Sweep will be June 10 from 9 a.m.-noon.
"It's a great opportunity to work alongside people and help clean up the riverbank," Councilwoman Kimberly Hahn said.
She also said Belleview Pool opens Saturday, with all lifeguard and concession stand positions filled.
Councilwoman at large Kimberly Hahn also told council Mount Carmel Community Baptist Church is seeking donations of bicycles and bike helmets, or donations for new ones. "Their goal is to have 100 bicycles and helmets available to give to kids."