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STEUBENVILLE -- City Council agreed Tuesday to earmark up to $250,000 to help fund public restrooms and an education center at the Steubenville Visitors Center.
The vote was 5-2 in favor of using Lost Revenue/American Rescue Plan funds to help the non-profit with the project, which would serve locals as well as visitors in town for the weekly summer concerts, First Fridays on Fourth, Nutcracker Village and other special events.
Voting "yes" were Councilwoman at large Kimberly Hahn; Fifth Ward Councilman Willie Paul, who sponsored the legislation; Sixth Ward Councilman Mike Hernon; Third Ward Councilwoman Heather Hoover; and Second Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon. The two dissenting votes were cast by Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo and First Ward Councilwoman Asantewa Anyabwile.
"I'm not opposed to improving the Visitors Center, I think it's a good idea," Anyabwile said. "My problem lies in using funding we said we were going to try and put aside to improve recreational facilities here for the people who live here, in Steubenville, not people coming here for an hour or so and then leaving."
She complained that legislation that would have funded recreation improvements has been on the table for months, but funding for the fort was fast-tracked and said she "hates to see the city give up its parks and rec money and ARPA funds we've been trying to hold onto for this project."
Mayo, likewise, said the city needs to address recreation issues first.
"I think it's a worthy cause, but it's kind of like giving away a scholarship when you don't have money for your own kid to go to college," he said. "We've done nothing in the parks and recreation department and we're going to give $250,000?"
Mayo pointed out upgrades to the MLK Center and weight room still aren't done, and after council deadlocked last week on setting aside up to $200,000 for a splash pad in his ward, Mayor Jerry Barilla had cast the tie-breaking "no" vote.
"We have a parks director here begging for money for improvements and we've done nothing," Mayo said.
He also complained that council hasn't seen any details "on how much this project is going to cost."
McManamon, though, said the restrooms "are long overdue," pointing out visitors and locals currently "flood into restaurants downtown to use their facilities" during special events.
"I wish they'd put these in when they built the building," he said.
Paul reminded council they're planning to spend $300,000 to repair and upgrade Belleview Pool. Money for the MLK Center windows has also been set aside.
"This is something that's needed downtown," he said. "This is what the money was designated for, businesses and non-profits that lost revenue (during the covid pandemic).
"I agree, parks and recreation has a lot of needs ... there's a lot of money going to parks and recreation. I'm sorry what happened last week (the 3-4 vote against putting a splash pad at North End park), but I think this is needed across the street (at the Visitors Center)."
Hoover said city residents will benefit just as much as out-of-town visitors.
"Light Up the Night, First Firday's ... those are our own citizens looking for facilities to utilize. They don't just (look and leave), there's a lot going on downtown," she said. "I feel it will be utilized by our citizens as well."
Hernon called it "an effective use of resources" and said the Fort's project complements what is happening in the downtown.
"With all the ways we're trying to invest downtown ... it makes sense," he said. "It would be a wise investment for us."
Invited to comment, Historic Fort Steuben/Steubenville Visitors Center Director Judy Bratten told council it's "a way to prepare for more people to come into the area who want to spend money here."
"Its important to the economy to provide services (to visitors)," she said. "But we also also know people all day long are coming into the fort with kids ...o r they were meeting friends by the fountain ... it would be an asset."
She told Mayo "every penny" of the $250,000 will be accounted for, and essentially have two building plans -- one for the restrooms alone, the other including an education center as well as the new restrooms.
"The bigger plan is (with) the education center," she said, but whether that comes to fruition depends on upcoming grant opportunities.
Anyabwile reminded council they'll need to show the same "skin in the game" when it comes to "investing" in the North End to improve the city's odds of winning up to $50 million in Choice Neighborhood grant funds.
"I want to do what's best for the city, with all of us together," Paul replied. "Somebody said it's all about me, but it's not. I want to do what's best for the citizens of this city.
Council also reappointed John Westling and Michael Reed to the Board of Zoning Appeals, their appointments to expire in Septebmer 2028, and Kelly Herman to the Parks and Recreation Board.
Parks Director Lori Fetherolf told council total income for the 2023 swimming season was roughly $10,000, more than double the $4,220 the pool operation brought in in 2017. Attendance this year was 4,546.
She also told council she'd like to be able to sell hot foods at the concession stand, "but we're not licensed to sell hot food, it has to be pre-packaged."
Fetherolf said a contractor already told her it wouldn't be that hard to get the pool ready for hot foods. "I think it would be better if we sold hot dogs and pizza ourselves, rather than them bringing it in," she told council.