Ross Gallabrese DISCUSSION — Steubenville City Manager Mike Johnson covered many topics while speaking at Wednesday's meeting of the Steubenville Rotary Club.

STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville’s new city manager is straightforward about what residents can expect to see in the coming months.

“My vision for Steubenville is to provide the best possible service for the residents, leave it a little better than I found it, aggressively enforce the codes and the ordinances and make improvements so the city is more effective,” Mike Johnson told members of the Steubenville Rotary Club during Wednesday’s meeting at the JeffCo Event Center.

Johnson has been on the job since April 1, when he succeeded Jim Mavromatis. Mavromatis retired after serving in the role for 10 years.

A city native and Steubenville High School graduate, Johnson worked as a CPA focused on state taxation for 43 years before retiring two years ago. He said he was glad he decided to apply for the job.

“The first two months have been very busy,” Johnson said. “I am impressed with the strong department heads and employees that we have. Steubenville has a very dedicated staff, and they are hard-working — they are all trying to do what’s best for the city.”

“Like in any organization, there are some bad apples,” he continued. “In my experience with the department heads, you don’t have any bad apples. They are all dedicated, and the residents of the city should be very happy there is such a strong workforce.”

The state of the city’s parks and recreation department, however, has proven to be an issue. Since there was no department head when he started, Johnson became interim director.

“That was an eye-opener,” he said. “I guess I wasn’t expecting the park maintenance issues that I have encountered. The pool — that’s been a bit of a fiasco.”

Johnson pointed to a $50,000 slide purchased for the Belleview Park pool without City Council approval that did not meet code requirements. The slide had been manufactured in Canada and was not built to U.S. standards. Council voted during its May 12 meeting to remove the slide.

Johnson said another slide also was discovered in storage.

“I went up to the clubhouse the other day and one of the foremen asked me what we were going to do with the other slide in the storage area,” Johnson said. “I asked, ‘What slide?’ He takes me back and there’s a crate in the corner with a shipping tag on it.”

Johnson said he researched the purchase and learned the city spent $5,000 on the slide, which had remained boxed up since September 2023.

He also discussed problems with the crumbling surface of the Belleview Park tennis courts. A contractor who inspected the courts believes the issue is underground, noting the park was built on fill material. Johnson said once estimates are received, he plans to meet with officials from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, which partners with the city on the courts.

Johnson also raised concerns about the condition of the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, saying he noticed water stains on the gymnasium walls and dirty floors.

“An employee said that the toilets were leaking in the restrooms,” Johnson said. “He took me back to show me, and when you flushed the toilet, water poured out. Nobody turned that in — they were just mopping that up. I said that it doesn’t make any sense, so I got it fixed the next day.”

Johnson said proper maintenance is important.

“We need to make sure that the MLK Center and all of our facilities get the respect they deserve,” he said. “If you are coming in from out of town and you see the MLK Center and it is dirty, that reflects poorly on all of us.”

Continued vandalism of restroom facilities in city parks also is a concern. Johnson said the city likely will begin locking the restrooms overnight and reopening them during the day.

Johnson also discussed the future of the Fort Steuben Mall. During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, officials said mall owner Total Finance met with Wheeling architectural firm McKinley and Associates and plans to bring the main corridor up to code while mothballing the rest of the facility.

The move gives Total Finance 30 additional days to respond to the city’s April 27 letter ordering the company to either repair or close the mall.

Johnson said the owner indicated it hopes to reduce financial losses and eventually sell the property, adding at least two local groups have expressed interest in the facility.

“I know it is painful now, especially for the people who work out there and who have businesses there, but I think that three years from now, hopefully, the mall will be thriving in some form,” he said.

Johnson, who served as the city’s 2nd Ward councilman from 2014 to 2017, said code enforcement and neighborhood improvements remain priorities. He also said he believes the city would benefit from a rental inspection program.

The Jefferson Metropolitan Housing Authority currently performs inspections for Section 8 housing only, but Johnson said the city could incorporate those inspections into a broader program.

“I’m not doing it to make money, I’m doing it to improve the quality of life for everybody,” he said. “The more vulnerable tenants don’t have the voice to speak up for themselves. I believe that’s what the city should be doing.”

Johnson also highlighted several positive developments in the city. He noted the College of St. Joseph the Worker is purchasing several downtown buildings and appears financially prepared to support its plans.

“I’m looking forward to working with them,” he said. “If their vision comes through, I think it could be transformative for downtown.”

Johnson also noted Franciscan University is building a new dormitory along University Boulevard, the city has hired an economic development firm, and discussions have begun regarding replacement of the Market Street Bridge. The Belleview Park pool is scheduled to open June 8.