STEUBENVILLE — The city’s new bulk water station opens to the public Monday.

Water Superintendent Jim Henkins said the facility, located at 320 S. High St. along state Route 7 near the Pilot station, “is going to make our bulk water sales more efficient for the customer and the city.”

In the past customers went to the utility office, signed up for an account and just told clerks how many gallons they wanted and were trusted to stop filling up when they hit that amount.

He said the new system has two- and four-inch hookups and an overhead arm for larger tanker trucks as well as a direct hookup for recreation vehicles.

“Previously, (our) bulk water sales (system) was cumbersome and on the honor system, for the most part,” he said. “We’ve had several requests for one from water haulers over the last couple years to limit their travel to other stations.”

Jenkins said customers will be able to use cash or credit cards to make their purchases. Larger haulers will be able to set up an account so the city will be able to give them an access code without them having to produce a company credit card.

“It’s just kind of making everything more efficient and it’s going to bring in added revenue to the city,” Jenkins said. “It’s actually in a perfect location, right off of state Route 7, has easy access in and easy access out for larger trucks. So we’re really looking forward to seeing (the response).”

Buyers will pay $10 per thousand gallons to fill up.

“It will be a revenue generator for our city,” Councilman Tracy McManamon said. “That’s one of the reasons we went ahead and pursued this.”

City officials will also arrange for the two panels missing from the Wall of Honor to be repaired or replaced. Councilman Dave Albaugh said one damaged panel is being stored at Historic Fort Steuben but the second blew off and is laying in the street. “They’re ruined,” he said. “Repaired or replaced, it needs done.”

Also this week council:

— Appropriated an additional $5,000 for the Juneteenth Celebration, though Mayor Ralph Petrella noted that in the past separate committees have planned festivities and “encouraged everybody to come under one umbrella and form a single community committee–that way we have an enhanced celebration in one general location.” Councilman Royal Mayo said he hadn’t been part of the discussion, telling Petrella and council “we’ll talk about it.”

— Scheduled a finance committee meeting for 6:30 p.m. April 28. Finance Director Dave Lewis will update council on first quarter revenues.

— Were advised the surface of the tennis courts resurfaced last summer “is already coming up.” The city manager’s office is making the contractor aware of the problem.

— Learned crews will be ready to begin the Beatty Park stream restoration in the very near future. Engineer Mike Dolak said it “should be a four- to six-week process,” weather permitting, “and hopefully they’re out of there” no later than mid-May.