DISCUSSION — Incoming City Manager Mike Johnson, seated center, discusses dispensaries during his first council meeting Tuesday. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — Some city officials say it’s time to at least think about trying to get a licensed dispensary in Steubenville.

Councilman Dave Albaugh told council Tuesday it only makes sense to capitalize on what has become a lucrative revenue stream for communities across the Buckeye State, pointing out that Steubenville is missing out on a golden opportunity.

“The city needs the money, it’s as simple as that,” Albaugh said after this week’s meeting. “If one came here, it would make that big a difference — Wintersville’s had it for 14 months and (already generated) $900,000 (in tax revenues). We could pave a lot of streets with that– we can do a lot of things with a million dollars a year.”

He said the revenue could be used for things like street paving, demolishing dilapidated houses and upgrading parks and recreation facilities.

“I know people were against it, but people in Steubenville are going over there anyways and purchasing it so all our revenue is going to Wintersville when it could stay in the city of Steubenville,” he said. “A lot of things can be done with that money, so, yeah, it would make a great difference. It’s no different than (having) the liquor store at Kroger.”

Outgoing city manager Jim Mavromatis, just about 10 days away from retirement, said there’s roughly 147 dispensaries operating in Ohio statewide, two of them in Jefferson County.

“Right now, they have (paused) issuing any more licenses — it doesn’t mean it’s going to stop, but right now they’re not issuing any more,” Mavromatis said. It’s quite a lengthy process and it’s also quite expensive to get (a license)…but it’s something the city may want to look into.”

Albaugh asked incoming city manager Mike Johnson was asked to “stay abreast of it, try to keep looking into that and see what we can do because the revenue off it is astounding.”

“We should try to pursue it,” Johnson agreed. “It takes somebody with a lot of financial backing to open one of these…(but) we can indicate our willingness to welcome these businesses with open arms, and we can see what we can do to attract one.”

Johnson, meanwhile, reported interviews have been scheduled for four individuals interested in running Steubenville’s park and recreation department but resumes “will be accepted until the position is filled.”

He also said the county had asked him to submit a letter of support for federal funding for installation of sewers to acreage between Lowe’s and Youngstown State University’s academic building that the county has designated for economic development.

“We did have a meeting Monday with one of the county commissioners…where we talked about…the project. We want to make it a collaboration,” he said.

Council also agreed to send letters of support Fire Chief Joe Ribar requested in hopes of securing federal funding for a new firetruck. He said the current fleet is aging and a replacement could cost the city about $980,000.

“So this is…an attempt to get one and save the city a million dollars down the road,” Ribar said. “Two of our trucks are reaching about 15 years, one’s about 30 years, and the other one is at 20 years so they’re all aging pretty significantly at this point.”

If awarded the grant, he would move the 16-year-old currently in use at the West End station into reserve status and retire the 30-year-old truck currently being used as a backup.

“As these trucks age, the mechanical cost (to keep them running) becomes extremely high,” he said. “The more proactive we are in updating the fleet, the less we will have to be reactive to. We (don’t want to) have to replace two or three trucks all at one time because they are non-operational or beyond their life span.”

Council approved legislation authorizing the police chief to dispose of four police vehicles no longer being used and amended the property maintenance code regarding collection of demolition costs.

Also approved was emergency legislation renewing the city’s contract with Jefferson County General Health District.

Second reading was given to a proposal to appropriate an additional $5,000 for the city’s Juneteenth festival.