STEUBENVILLE — City officials are breathing easier with key vacancies in the inspections and planning departments filled.

City Manager Jim Mavromatis told council Tuesday their new commercial building inspector, Dave Herron, will begin today. Herron “has all of the certifications we need, they’re interims which means he’ll have to test in the next two years,” Mavromatis said.

“But with those certifications as interim, he can sign everything he needs to sign and submit,” he said.

The position had been vacant since January, when longtime commercial building inspector Anthony Bodo retired. With a permitting backlog building, council had been making plans to essentially outsource the work before Herron emerged as a viable candidate.

“We’re very fortunate,” Mavromatis said. “He is young enough to have a career here.” Councilman at large Joel Walker said he hasn’t met him yet but “(I’m) very pleased that the position has been filled.”

“Now permits can be issued and work can be checked and approved,” Walker added.

Also, Mavromatis said Jessica Gunn will be the new planner. He told council Gunn, who has 11 years experience in government, had previously worked in Weirton and Follansbee. She’ll be starting work a couple of weeks from now.

“It’s a start,” Mavromatis said. “But even (retired planning director) Chris Petrossi said when he came here, there were things he didn’t know about the state of Ohio.

‘We’re in a building process here,” he added. “I think we got some solid candidates that are going to be here longer than two or three years, they want to build a career here.”

Second Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon said he’s “optimistic both of these hires will help move Steubenville forward.”

“They both have experience and the credentials to put a new face on the city as well as work to streamline our processes,” he said, adding he looks for them to “work together to be an efficient and effective building team as well as have a new passion to help our city grow.”

He said the city needs that “new energy” to propel it forward.

City Engineer Mike Dolak, meanwhile, told council the owners of the new Wash-Rite car wash being constructed on the old greenhouse property want to pave a section of DiGregory Avenue. The business is expected to open in mid-April.

“They offered to pay to do that section for us, do it to our standards,” Dolak said.

Council voted 5-0 to accept the offer. First Ward Councilman Dave Albaugh and Sixth Ward Councilman Mike Hernon were unable to attend the meeting.

Mavromatis reminded residents the old city building will be closed to the public April 2-4 so construction crews can finish renovations.

“It will be a little inconvenience but it will all be done,” he said.