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STEUBENVILLE -- After much discussion, council decided that City Manager Mike Johnson should represent them in discussions pertaining to a "collaborative" application for an opportunity zone designation that could cross municipal boundary lines.
Opportunity zones are economically distressed census tracts where private investors "can receive tax incentives for putting capital into local businesses and real estate." Applications are due this week.
All agreed a tract that "essentially covers the majority of the downtown area, as well as the area where Franciscan University is located" has an "abundance of investable opportunities" and should be the city's primary focus, though it's not the only area that could benefit in the city. Regionally, council members concede that Mingo Junction's opportunity zone should also be a high priority, since it would benefit JSW and city residents are among those who work there.
Tempers flared at council's June 30 meeting because Councilman Tracy McManamon had invited the city's community development director, Jason Hamman, to tour a north end site with Franciscan University officials and business leaders as well as Mayor Ralph Petrella, without including other council members. Hamman, in turn, drafted an application for council to consider highlighting the north end site, which encompasses University Boulevard and extends into the downtown.
Several council members, led by Councilman Royal Mayo and Councilwoman Heather Hoover, took issue with not having been apprised of Hamman's visit, nor had council as a whole been involved in designating what area the city should prioritize as an opportunity zone. They also complained that Hamman had not consulted Jefferson County Port Authority Director Robert Naylor and Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Director Mike Paprocki prior to working on an application and a strategy for making it stand out, though Paprocki and Naylor, who met with council two weeks ago, also admitted they hadn't reached out to Hamman, either.
"I think what upsets me the most is there was no transparency in this," Councilman Dave Albaugh said. "When we hired Jason, we talked about it ... how there has to be collaboration, how we'd have to bring all three entities together (to work in unison)."
Johnson told council he also wants to see the north end site be designated an Opportunity Zone and would argue for it to be their top priority, but he, too, would like to see the Mingo Junction site be prioritized as well because it would benefit JSW -- preserving steel's legacy in the valley and also benefiting city residents who work at the mill.
Council, meanwhile, also scheduled a vote on underground rights for oil and gas on about 19 city properties for July 14.
- Passed an ordinance establishing a personal days policy for nonunion, full-time employees.
- Authorized Johnson to execute the contract for the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center roof replacement project.
- Signed off on emergency legislation adopting an indirect cost allocation plan.
- Agreed to adopt emergency legislation allowing the city to reimburse COBRA/health care costs for newly hired employees.
- Heard second reading of an ordinance authorizing the city manager to seek bids for the purchase of a replacement case management system for Steubenville Municipal Court.
- Passed resolutions honoring James McInnis, a senior member of the Steubenville Catholic Central track team, and Steubenville High School's Bri Hudson, Ziare Scurry, Chemier Adams, Josiah Rea and Landon Bowers for their accomplishments in the 2026 track and field season.
Council scheduled a committee meeting for 6:30 p.m. July 7 on electricity aggregation, a method through which possibly lower rates for residents could be negotiated.