Toronto Council approves demolition, is updated on projects

TORONTO -- On Monday, Toronto Council members supported the demolition of a Market Street building and received updates on three water projects after several city officials were administered oaths of office.

Mayor John Parker told council the Cooper building at 300 Market St. has been acquired by officials with the Jefferson County Land Bank, who asked the city to contribute 25 percent of an estimated $250,000 needed for its demolition.

While a large mural paying tribute to military veterans has improved part of the three-story structure's east wall, its overall appearance and condition were described as poor.

Council President Frank McEwen said there have been many complaints about the building over the years, and following the meeting, Parker said its roof is collapsing in.

In a report from council's finance committee, Councilman at large Mike Burkey advised the extension of water lines to four homes at the south end of Titanium Way is nearly completed.

Funded by a $1.6 million loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority, the extension of water to that area also is intended to support a planned expansion of the TIMET plant.

To accommodate the expansion, plans also call for Titanium Way to be closed to through traffic, and a road to be extended to the homes from Nebo Drive.

Parker said residents along Titanium Way have begun tapping into the main line that has been built.

The mayor also elaborated on two other water projects mentioned by Burkey during the meeting.

He said engineering designs are being developed for the replacement of aging water lines in the East Fernwood Drive area of Walton Acres and the project should be advertised for contractors soon.

It's being funded with about $850,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission and $600,000 in other federal funds secured by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

Parker said the city is awaiting an environmental permit to proceed with advertisement of a nearly $1 million project involving the replacement of water lines in the area of North Fifth and Myers streets.

He said the project will be part of an ongoing effort to replace lead lines in the city while greatly improving water pressure for customers in that area.

The project is being supported by a grant from the state's Broadband, Utilities and Infrastructure for Local Development program.

Burkey also advised work on the Alexander Street Bridge has been delayed while the contractor and officials with Norfolk-Southern Railroad are in talks about improvements that will comply with an acceptable clearance above the railroad tracks below the span.

Part of the Robert Urich Interchange between Ohio Route 7 and North Fourth Street, the span has been reduced to one lane while crews replace half of its deck.

Temporary signals have been used to regulate traffic across the open lane and will be shifted to the other lane when the first half is completed.

Funded with about $837,489 from the Ohio Department of Transportation and $283,000 in city funds, the project also includes the construction of new approach slabs, support walls and expansion joints.

Prior to the meeting, Toronto county court Judge Lisa Ferguson administered oaths of office to a mix of new and returning city officials.

They included: Clark Crago, who won a race for council's 1st Ward seat in the Nov. 7 general election; 3rd Ward Councilman Troy Stewart, who was appointed by the county's Democratic Party to serve the unexpired term of Jason Fogle, who resigned as 3rd Ward Councilman; and the following officials who were unopposed in the election: Parker, City Auditor Kayla Whitlatch, City Law Director Craig Allen, 2nd Ward Councilman Steve Sninchak and 4th Ward Councilman Greg Herrick.

During the meeting, council reappointed City Services Director Linda Burkey as clerk of council, a position that involves taking minutes during the meeting and preparing proposed ordinances; and appointed Councilman at large Ron Holmes as president pro tem, which involves presiding over meetings when Council President Frank McEwen is absent.

Oaths also were administered prior to the meeting to Jason Hanlin, a new addition to the city's police department hired to enforce the recently adopted International Maintenance Code.

The code was developed in 1998 by members of the International Code Council -- Building Officials and Code Administrators International Inc. "to establish minimum requirements to provide a reasonable level of health, safety, property protection and general welfare insofar as they are affected by the continued occupancy and maintenance of structures and premises."

City Police Chief Charley Daniels said the veteran law enforcement officer's first day in his new position will be today.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the judge who administered the oaths.