STEUBENVILLE — City Council is making plans to hire a Bedford Heights firm to serve as Steubenville’s building official, at least for the short term.

Citing a backlog of permitting requests since the retirement of the city’s chief building official, Sixth Ward Councilman Mike Hernon introduced legislation Tuesday that would allow them to outsource the building official duties to SAFEbuilt LLC and declaring an emergency.

“The city will contract with SAFEbuilt to be our building official,” Hernon said later. “They will be able to sign off on all permits and act in an official capacity as our certified building official, (though) we will maintain, in-house, residential and commercial inspections.”

Hernon said they have someone on staff who is reviewing plans.

“But all applications and plans also need to be given to a building official so they can have the final permission and permits issued, then the city staff does all the inspections,” he explained.

He said they’ve scoured the state looking for someone with the mandatory certifications to no avail. Likewise, he said “no one applied who has all the criteria to be a building official.” They’d considered asking state inspectors to step in, but that apparently is not an option unless they’re willing to “turn the whole kit and kaboodle over,” which the city does not want to do.

“We cannot issue permits without (a building official),” he said.

He told council they’d have to pay SAFEbuilt “about $100 an hour, but we’d only pay for what we use as opposed to paying a big retainer or stipend.”

“A number of people are trying to get permits,” Hernon added. “Also, one very high profile business has been going through the process …”

With council’s approval, the proposal will take effect upon passage.

Hernon, meanwhile, reported that applications for a new urban projects director will be accepted “until we fill that position.”

“We had an initial round of applications, but we’ll continue (the search) until we find the right candidate to meet our criteria and be a good fit,” Hernon said. “It’s not going to expire until the position is filled.”

Also Tuesday, Finance Director Dave Lewis told council the city ended 2024 in good position, cash wise.

Lewis said the year-end adjusted general fund balance, after deducting nearly $3 million in ARPA lost revenue funds, was $5,141,000.

“That’s your key number, that’s what is left over for 2025,” he said, though he pointed out they can’t spend all of it: An earlier council passed an ordinance requiring they maintain a hold back enough to cover at least two months expenses.

“You want to stay … above about $3 million in percent general fund reserve, while the auditor recommends they hold the general fund,” he said.

Lewis said nearly all of the ARPA lost revenue money has been spoken for — including some for the renovations in the old city building, a new generator, funding for the Early Action Plan for the Steubenville North Choice Neighborhood project, and funding they’d set aside a year ago for a new ambulance.

He also pointed out department heads all finished the year under budget.

“The city ended 2024 with a good general fund carryover into 2025,” Lewis said later. “When council approved the 2025 budget back in December, they passed a balanced budget — meaning the 2025 projected revenue exceeded the 2025 budget. Knowing the year-end numbers and having a balanced budget is helpful as council plans for future capital improvements.”

Lewis did point out income tax collections were down slightly in 2023 and were flat from 2023-2024.

“The city should proceed cautiously when starting any new capital projects as operational costs tend to rise slightly from year-to-year,” he said.

Council approved third readings of ordinances:

• Creating a city manager search committee.

• Repealing the existing table of organization and replacing it with an updated version

• Authorizing Mavromatis to issue a request for qualifications for professional/consulting services under the state’s Community Housing Impact and Preservation Program.

• Emergency legislation authorizing Mavromatis to sign documents for a loan through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, clearing the way for the wastewater department to proceed with design services for its CSO12 Slack Street sewer repair project.

Second reading was given an ordinance that would convey a Lawson Avenue property to the Jefferson County Port Authority, which could transfer it to a homeowner who has been caring for it for years.