Linda Harris PUBLIC HEARING — Steubenville Law Director Costa Mastros moderates a public hearing prior to council’s meeting Tuesday on the proposed leasing of sub-surface oil and gas drilling rights to 19 city-owned properties. About 60 residents were at the meeting, held in the Steubenville High School auditorium, voicing concerns ranging from the impact on health, safety, roads and property to what the city will do with the bonuses and royalties they receive.

STEUBENVILLE — City officials are looking into the possibility of putting their water and wastewater departments under the control of a single utility director, a move they say could save Steubenville more than $100,000 a year.

During Tuesday’s meeting, City Manager Mike Johnson reminded council that Wastewater Superintendent Chuck Murphy’s planned retirement at the end of August gives them a window to reorganize operations. He asked council to sunshine the necessary legislation during its June 9 meeting and declare it an emergency.

If council signs off, current Water Superintendent Jim Jenkins would take the helm of both operations.

“We believe Jim has the necessary tools and skills to oversee both departments,” he said. “(But) the Engineering Department will also be impacted by the reorganization as it will now oversee all construction projects for Water and Wastewater.”

Johnson said the administration would like to see the measure passed on an emergency basis because “we want some overlap to ensure a smooth transition.”

“The emergency is Chuck is leaving, and we’ve got to get this thing up to speed (before then),” he said.

Johnson estimated the potential savings from consolidating the two positions at $122,000 a year.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to combine two positions,” Mayor Ralph Petrella said later. “The combination of these two positions will save the city (more than) $100,000 a year, which then can be used to help upgrade both systems.”

Council, meanwhile, signed off on a new contract for employees represented by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2015.

Johnson said the new three-year contract is retroactive to April 1. It gives workers a 3% wage increase each year for the life of the contract.

He also announced Police Chief Ken Anderson had submitted his retirement papers, effective July 20, so council called for an executive session during the June 9 meeting to “pick the interview candidates, and then we can call a special meeting for the 11th, if everybody’s available.”

Johnson said he’d like to interview the candidates as soon as possible “because time is of the essence.”

Parks and Recreation Director Don Patterson told council only one lifeguard has completed the required pre-hiring background check, physical and drug screening.

“I need about 10 … to be fully functional,” he said. “I’ve got five more that are going through the process, but there’s a shortage of lifeguards everywhere.”

Mayor Ralph Petrella said Public Safety Director Andrew Wilson, who will take over as Ohio attorney general next week, will be at Steubenville Strength & Wellness later this month to train police in “the submissive art of Jiu Jitsu … to help the better serve our community without using deadly force, and he’ll be working on self-defense tactics with them.”

“He will be our attorney general (but) he’s coming to Steubenville … working hands-on with our cops,” Petrella said. “That’s a really big deal.”