STEUBENVILLE — City Law Director Costa Mastros has informed council that Steubenvile’s mineral rights are “back in play” and likely will need to be readvertised.

Mastros said during the holiday break, an oil and gas company reached out to him.

“I would just say the minerals are back in play, and I’m working out the details,” he said, adding he’ll update council as warranted.

“Actually, I think we can get this done, and that’ll be a great, great financial boost to the city,” he said.

Mastros also told commissioners the Brookfield Group has filed an administrative appeal of the Planning and Zoning Commission’s denial of a conditional use permit that would have allowed them to open a 26-bed, for-profit recovery center and mental health and behavioral facility at the old Catherine’s Care Center, 717 N. Sixth Ave.

Brookfield needs the permit to operate the treatment center because the property is too close to Beacon House. Because Brookfield would offer services similar to what Beacon House already provides, the city’s zoning ordinance requires at least a 1,250-foot buffer between them.

In October council adopted a non-binding resolution recommending the planning board deny Brookfield’s application. A number of area residents also submitted letters in opposition to putting another recovery center in the North End.

In other matters:

• Third Ward Councilwoman Heather Hoover said the America 250-Ohio committee is partnering with Friends of Beatty Park, the First Fridays on Fourth organizers and others to coordinate activities and events in recognition of the nation’s 250th birthday. Suggestions should be routed to Hoover, who said she will take them to the full committee.

• City Manager Jim Mavromatis said he hopes Tuesday to have the city’s final budget ready for the year, open the books and our purchase orders.”

“But I’m waiting to see what we’ve been able to capture from the previous year,” he said. “Until we get all our purchase orders processed and open up the 2026 funding, I won’t know. So hopefully by next Tuesday, we’ll have that.”

He said there are “projects that people would like to see completed and we have a month. I’ll give you my recommendations but it’s council’s (decision).”

Mavromatis plans to retire in March, and council will meet at 6 p.m. today for final interviews of the two remaining candidates to serve as his successor.

Prior to the start of Tuesday’s business meeting, council will gather at 6 p.m. to meet with their grant-writing specialist and Ohio Mid-Eastern Government Association representatives. The regular meeting will follow at 7 p.m.