DOLLAR STORE IS OFF — At Tuesday’s Steubenville Council meeting, Mayor Jerry Barilla announced officials with Dollar General have dropped plans to build a new store on the former Grant School lot while council approved a memorandum of understanding allowing a company to pursue the development of a playground for children of various abilities. -- Warren Scott

STEUBENVILLE — On Tuesday, Mayor Jerry Barilla said officials with Dollar General have indicated they won’t build a new store at the city’s south end, while council has authorized a company specializing in playgrounds that may be used by handicapped youth to raise funds for it.

Barilla told Steubenville Council members at their regular meeting on Tuesday he’s learned the national retail chain has lost interest in building on the former Grant School lot without giving a specific reason.

“In vain, we tried desperately to keep them interested,” said Barilla, who noted he’d been a vocal supporter of the development.

“My concern was providing an easier access for people on the south end and to obtain goods for their daily lives,” he said.

The idea had received mixed reaction, with some residents telling council there are too many dollar stores in the city and they would prefer a store that sold fresh produce and meat.

Barilla said larger grocery chains were approached but weren’t interested in the less populated south end.

He said a dollar store there would serve residents who lack transportation to stores further away and find it difficult to carry multiple bags with them while walking or using public transportation.

On Tuesday, council heard from resident Brian Mitchell, who thanked all involved in the attempt to bring the store to that area, saying “It would have been a blessing.”

But he added the Steel Valley Regional Transit Authority offers rides to other areas of the city through much of the day and doesn’t restrict the number of bags that may be carried onto the buses, provided they don’t block the aisle.

City officials said the store’s development also was seen as a way to repurpose the vacant lot, which was said to require substantial remediation.

City Manager Jim Marvomatis said previously the demolition of Grant School was done according to protocols at the time, but a new owner would need to take additional steps to build at the site.

The lot currently is used for a weekly farmers market for several months of the year.

In other business, council approved a memorandum of understanding through which Unlimited Play of St. Peters, Missouri will receive $10,000 to raise funds for and design a handicap-friendly playground in the city.

The agreement states the city will form a fundraising committee and work with Unlimited Play to identify potential major donors.

It calls for Unlimited Play to assist with grant applications, create videos and other materials to promote the project, handle accounting for all donations and design the park.

The agreement notes the park’s surface will be smooth to accommodate those with walkers or wheelchairs or otherwise mobility challenged, have clearly defined pathways for the visually impaired and other features aimed at addressing special challenges faced by some youth while providing a fun experience for all.

Council has been advised it will have final approval over the park’s design, cost and location.

No location has been determined, but Jim Wood Park has been eyed because it already has access to utilities and parking and may require less groundwork.

According to its website, Unlimited Play has raised money through public and private grants, corporate and individual contributions and local fundraising campaigns for more than 100 playground structures in the U.S. ranging in cost from $300,000 to more than $2 million.

Also on Thursday:

• Mavromatis said about $2 million in renovations to the City Building are complete.

Supported by city funds and municipal court building funds, the work included new flooring, ceilings, an evidence room and lockers for the police department, doors with updated security features and other improvements.

He said the new upper deck for the swimming pool at Belleview Park will be poured Friday, with the pool’s bottom to be painted soon after. He said the pool will be filled and tested this month to ensure it’s ready for next year.

The pool has undergone just under $1 million in renovations.

The city manager said crews will conduct a ground penetration to determine the cause of soft spots in the park’s tennis courts.

He also advised crews have weeded the median and curbs along the southbound lanes of state Route 7 in the city and will be doing the same along the northbound lanes.

Council members had complained about the weeds at earlier meetings.

Fifth Ward Councilman Ted Gorman said weedkiller should be applied to those areas to prevent the weeds from growing back.

Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo said the Ohio Department of Transportation plows snow from the highway and cuts grass along it and should do the weeding also.

• Council reappointed the following board members: William Hendrix to planning and zoning, John Barnes to fair housing, Thomas D’Annniballe to income tax review; Lou DiGregory to building and engineering appeals and Scott Dressel and Michael Gray to historic landmarks.

• First Ward Councilman Dave Albaugh said a park and recreation committee meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. today at the City Building.

He also announced a Patriot Day service, to mark the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday outside McKinley STEM Academy on West Adams Street.