COUNCIL — Mingo Junction Village Council met in regular session Tuesday. Council meets at 7 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of the month in the city building. -- Christopher Dacanay

MINGO JUNCTION — With the village’s trick-or-treat planned for Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Mingo Junction Police Department is going to experiment with closing some streets this year for participants’ safety.

Village Administrator Darrin Corrigan told Mingo Junction Village Council Tuesday that Police Chief Willie McKenzie III developed a plan to bar vehicular traffic from six streets and part of another. In a written report, McKenzie said this is being done to “ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for our children.”

“We’re going to try to implement (the plan) and see how this works to remediate some of the traffic of parents not wanting their kids to walk by themselves, wanting to follow them in their car,” Corrigan told council. “We are going to block off some streets this year. You will not be able to drive your care there to follow (your kids).”

Affected will be the 200 block of Eleanor Street, Scenic Drive, West Benita Drive, Paulman Circle, Valuska Drive, Brian Street and Helenka Drive. Those streets will be closed to traffic from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and will only be accessible for foot traffic.

Volunteers will be stationed at certain junctures to allow residents in and out of the streets, Corrigan said. McKenzie’s report states that identification may be required for access during that time.

Individuals driving their kids to trick-or-treat should park at Aracoma Park, the Mingo Junction Knights of Columbus hall, First United Presbyterian Church or any public parking area. The Steel Valley Regional Transit Authority will be providing shuttles to and from the Knights of Columbus hall, Corrigan said.

McKenzie noted in his report that vehicles parked in “No Parking” zones may be ticketed and towed.

Corrigan added that Jeffrey Schuetz of Schuetz Funeral Home will be hosting a Halloween party at Aracoma Park immediately after trick-or-treat, running from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

On a related note, Corrigan reported that plans are being made for the village’s light-up night, which is set for 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 9. This year, he said, the event will take place at Aracoma Park because the green space next to the city building provided too little room for attendees.

The Knights of Columbus will once again provide parking, Corrigan said, and SVRTA will shuttle individuals from the Knights of Columbus hall and downtown to Aracoma Park. Also, Schuetz plans to provide fireworks, Corrigan said, and individuals have already volunteered to serve hot chocolate and doughnuts.

Separately, Mayor Judy Ruckman reported on takeaways from her meetings with the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress, which include a $30,700 grant.

Ruckman said that, with the MPP’s help, the village was able to acquire phase one funds for Commercial Street redevelopment planning. CT Consultants will prepare the study, which will provide the village with shovel-ready projects, Ruckman said. Phase two funding is available for another $16,300.

Additionally, Ruckman said the MPP arranged for her to have a tour through Connect Housing Blocks in Columbus, which creates affordable housing through a modular process. She reportedly exchanged information with a representative, in case of any development opportunities in the village.

Ruckman also planned to have Ben Turin, transportation and community development planner for the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, take a tour of the village on Oct. 31 to converse about grant opportunities for the village.

In other business:

• Corrigan thanked Ruckman, Denise Bennington, Dorothy Mazik and Mariah McClelland for volunteering to paint several village parks over the weekend, using paint obtained through a large donation from Kristen Wheeler of Wheeler Funeral Home. More parks will receive the same treatment soon if the weather cooperates, he said, adding that more volunteers are needed.

• Corrigan reported that an individual will soon begin ripping up concrete to install a new diving board at the village pool, with work expected to be complete by Monday. Additionally, he reported that World Radio Telecommunications will begin installing 15 new security cameras — which will provide 24/7 surveillance — at Aracoma Park on Thursday, with work expected to conclude within several days.

• Ruckman provided council members with information regarding virtual training by OhioSE Economic Development, entitled “Building a Machine: Strategic Roles for Economic Developers, Board Members and Elected Officials.”

• Council members Jodilynn Fitzgerald and Adam Peeler were absent but excused.

• During public forum, former village Fire Chief John Wright claimed circulating rumors are false that suggest Fire Chief Brandon Montgomery’s being placed under investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Investigations was orchestrated by Ruckman to get Wright his job back.

• Wright inquired about whether the village’s EMS department eliminated soft billing — its policy since the 1980s that accepts whatever a patient’s insurance can pay, while not holding him or her to the bill’s remainder. Ruckman said this would be looked into.

• Village resident John Shaw requested that the village re-paint the speed humps on Eleanor Street, which have become faded and pose a risk for drivers who do not know they’re there. Shaw said he’d do the job if the village provided him with paint, a proposal Ruckman agreed to.

• Resident John Pesta inquired about the village’s income tax levy, to which Ruckman responded that it’s “very, very important” that Mingo Junction voters approve the levy during the Nov. 5 general election. Pesta also asked about who is responsible for maintaining sidewalks in the village, and Ruckman identified that as the individual landowner.