MANY ISSUES — At its first meeting, a Follansbee Council comprised of nearly all new members discussed several issues, including the city’s water rates and the establishment of a code enforcement officer. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — In its first meeting with an almost entirely new membership, Follansbee Council discussed several familiar issues, including the city’s water rates and the establishment of a code enforcement officer.

Council also heard from a local business owner who suggested a monthly street fair on Main Street similar to Steubenville’s Fourth Fridays on Fourth Street or Wednesdays in Wintersville.

Councilman at large John Schwertfeger said while the previous council approved the first reading for a water rate increase in October 2024, it hasn’t been implemented, leaving the city without much needed revenue for its water department.

Council had agreed to raise the city’s base water rate from $11.29 per 1,000 gallons to $24.21 per 1,500 gallons.

City officials said the West Virginia Public Service Commission, which oversees all utility providers in the state, had encouraged them to raise the number of gallons on which the rate is based because most water providers base their rates on 2,000 gallons or more.

With the increase, bills for customers with an average monthly usage of 3,400 gallons of water would rise from $38.39 to $54.88.

But newly elected Mayor Scott McMahon questioned how many customers currently pay for 1,000 gallons of usage.

And 4th Ward Councilman Rudy Cipriani asked how close that is to their actual usage and whether the increase would be a hardship for them.

City Attorney Michael Gaudio said the recommended rate increase has shifted multiple times since for various reasons, including the need to replace money borrowed for related expenses from the city’s Urban Development Action Grant trust fund.

The fund was established with $8.75 million in in lieu of tax payments related to the development of the Wheeilng-Nisshin steel mill in 1986.

McMahon said the present council needs to know the current recommended rate and the rationale behind it.

But he also said the panel will need to consider some increases.

McMahon said he may suggest a $1 surcharge to repair or replace non-functioning fire hydrants. while the city’s residential garbage bill is about $16 per month when other local cities charge $25.

Bill Secrist, the city’s public works director, said some hydrants need to be repaired or replaced but some in the Hooverson Heights area have been bagged because they are connected to lines too narrow to provide adequate pressure for fire protection.

He agreed to provide council with a list of the hydrants.

Third Ward Councilman Nick Cekinovich asked council to revisit two proposals he’d presented to the previous council: The creation of a code enforcement officer and adoption of the International Property 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.”

Gaudio asked whether council wanted to use the code to address loose trash and high grass, the subjects of recurring complaints in recent months, or issues involving buildings.

He said enforcement of the latter would require someone with knowledge in that area.

Gaudio noted all new buildings must pass inspections by the state Fire Marshal’s Office.

McMahon said council should focus on trash and grass, while Schwertfeger said measures also could be taken against the presence of junk cars.

The mayor said the code enforcement officer should be a part-time position and tied to existing ordinances so there’s no question about that person’s responsibilities.

Second Ward Councilman John Casinelli said while the IPMC is is in place in many municipalities “but everybody tweaks it to their expectations.”

Casinelli said the code enforcement by the city shouldn’t be so restrictive that it dictates what colors residents may paint their homes.

Plans were made to discuss the matter further in August.

Council also heard from Monica Rotellini-Myers, a local business owner who has coordinated Sidewalk Saturdays events in which mobile vendors sell food and other merchandise along Main Street outside existing businesses.

Rotellini-Myers suggested a monthly street fair, similar to that and events held in nearby communities, with the possibility of live music outside the City Building on Penn Street.

She said the street fair could be held on Friday evenings and dubbed Fourth Fridays on Main and would help to attract visitors to the city’s businesses.

McMahon encouraged council members to prepare questions for her for future meetings while noting the idea dovetails with a proposal from 5th Ward Councilman Joe Kafton.

Kafton suggested council form an entertainment committee that could consider special events for the city.

He said the idea was spurred by the absence this year of Follansbee Community Days, whose organizers cited lack of funds for its end.

Kafton suggested plans could be developed for a smaller event, possibly no more than two days.

McMahon said he’s learned the Follansbee Garibaldi Lodge will be celebrating its 100th anniversary next year and suggested the city could hold a complementary event, such as a 5K run, around it.

He said the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce, which has held free monthly concerts at Follansbee Park, could be involved with the new committee.

Casinelli said the Garibaldi event and the street fairs proposed by Rotellini-Myers would serve as good trials for any other event that may be held.

Also on Monday:

• Council observed a moment of silence for the late Mary Lou Mirasola, who died Sunday at the age of 86. McMahon noted she had been active in St. Anthony Catholic Church and as a member of two civic groups: the Follansbee Civic League, where she served as president and in other leadership roles, and Theta Chi Alpha sorority.

• City Manager Chris Manack-Stover said she alerted officials with the local power company of streetlights that are out on Marquette Avenue but it’s not clear how soon they will be addressed.

Cipriani expressed concern about the lights, which he said have been out since April 30, and the difficulty in elderly drivers descending the steep road without them.

Steve Seminsky, who came to provide input as assistant state Fire Marshal but also is a Follansbee resident, said many youth from the Parkview area take the road to and from Follansbee Park and could be struck by vehicles in the dark.

• It was announced a special meeting will be held at 5:55 p.m. next Monday to consider three issues. They are: A lease-purchase agreement for a backhoe, a natural gas lease for a small lot owned by the city along Halls Road, and the representation of a law firm to represent the city in a lawsuit involving products containing per- and polyflouroalkyl chemicals commonly known as PFAS,

Used in firefighting foam and other products, PFAS have been linked to cancer and thyroid issues.