7/1/25 City Council Overview

Who in the city leadership is responsible for when opportunity comes knocking?

Steubenville’s very own ‘Steubenville Grocery Box’ has been the front-page image for the Ohio Department of Development website for months.

Jacob’s Overture:

Tuesday night’s proceedings of council saw a new job opening created to bolster the support of the city’s water department. Additionally, the digital world became increasingly blended with the real one when the weekend’s Facebook posts about the broken Jim Woods splash pad became the subject of heated discussions in council chambers. Potential OMEGA grants to improve the Marina were also mentioned, along with news that the concrete for the Belleview Pool would be poured down in 10 days.

The through line at council tonight, though, were the themes of leadership and responsibility. The Jim Woods discussion led to a dialogue between Councilor Hoover and City Manager Mavromatis on whether it is the citizens’ or city staff’s responsibility to identify and raise the alarm on problems in town. Present were the proprietors of a local downtown grocer who looked to dialogue with city leaders about how to partner together to help alleviate the downtown food desert. When the grocers invited council to ask questions about the progress their store had made, and their goals for growth and development, not a single councilor or official behind the bar asked anything.

Who in the city leadership is responsible for when opportunity comes knocking? Additionally, who is responsible for when issues and criticism are raised? The local grocer will continue to operate without a municipal partnership while the downtown food desert needs to be delt with holistically. These opportunities are locally grown and are not national chains or mega industries. They are not clean cut and do involve a degree of risk. However, what they bring to the table in terms of civic pride and resilient growth are paid in dividends. So, when these opportunities knock at city council’s door, and are not nudged open with simply a ‘let’s talk’, should we continue to expect opportunities to come?

General:

• 5th Ward Councilman, Teddy Gorman absent, excused by all Ayes.

• 6/17/2025 minutes were approved.

• 6/24/2025 minutes were approved.

Petitions & Communications:

• Nothing this evening.

Ordinances and Resolutions:

• Ordinance No. 2025-48 – 3nd reading: An ordinance authorizing and directing the approval of expenditures without a purchase order over $3,000.00 pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 5705.41.

  • From the finance committee. None spoke on it

    • Albaugh: Aye

    • Gorman: Absent

    • Hernon: Aye

    • Hoover: Aye

    • Mayo: Aye

    • McManamon: Aye

    • Walker: Aye

      • Take affect July 30^th, 2025

• Ordinance No. 2025-51 - An ordinance amending the existing Table of Organization for the City of Steubenville, Ordinance Number 2025-14, for the Water Department, specifically and only, adding a second Heavy Equipment Operator and declaring an emergency

  • Jim Jenkins, Steubenville’s Water Superintendent, came to speak about this ordinance. This ordinance would create a new position in the Steubenville water department, promoting one of the existing five man (5) line break crew members into a heavy equipment operator position. This promotion would then vacate one of the truck driver roles allowing Jenkins to solicit a bid for a new driver. Jenkins clarified why promoting an existing employee and getting a new one is an emergency: The entire Steubenville line break team, as mentioned, consists of five men. Jenkins explained we had 85 breaks between December ‘24 and Feb ‘25. We regularly need to contract out line break support in the winter. With a team of six, Jenkins can split the team into two crews of three guys, being able to trade repair shifts, giving the men appropriate support on repairs and proper recovery time. Jenkins spoke highly of his team, and that this promotion and new employee would only improve their reliability. He did mention that while this would not totally eliminate needing to contract out support in the winter breaks, it would help.

  • Dave Lewis, Steubenville Finance Director, was present and said that we have the money in the budget to create this position.

    • Albaugh: Aye

    • Gorman: Aye

    • Hernon: Absent

    • Hoover: Aye

    • Mayo: Aye

    • McManamon: Aye

    • Walker: Aye

      • It will take effect upon the mayors signature.

• Shortly after, Hoover was congratulated by the Mayor for being selected as the new Principal of the Jefferson County Vocational School. Hoover spoke, emotional and heartfelt, about her 17 years at Steubenville City Schools. She is excited for this new chapter, in which she will be working alongside Councilor Gorman, who also recently was selected as the superintendent of Jefferson County Vocational School

Reports of Committees:

Finance: (McManamon, Hernon, Gorman)

• The finance committee meeting was moved to July 22^nd at 7:00pm. The auditors requested the change was made.

Service: (Hernon, Hoover, Walker)

• Nothing this evening.

Safety & Health: (Mayo, Walker, Albaugh)

• Nothing this evening.

Planning: (Hernon, Mayo, McManamon)

• Hernon shared that the Franciscan Square addition is progressing in getting its needed permits and variances.

Public Utility (Mayo, Hoover, Walker)

• Nothing this evening.

Building & Grounds: (McManamon, Hernon, Gorman)

• Nothing this evening.

Parks & Rec: (Mayo, McManamon, Albaugh)

• Albaugh mentioned the $25k grant the city was awarded from the Pugliese Foundation to repair things at Beatty Park. He also mentioned Mavromatis’ interview about the marina. Albaugh said that from a recent OMEGA meeting he attended, there are grants which can help the marina. There is a 50% match 50k-500,000k grant available for the boat ramp and the dock.

• Albaugh also began the conversation about the weekend’s Facebook posts about the broken Jim Woods park splash pad. He went to the splash pad recently and saw its disrepair. Eight of the ten water jets are broken, and the two that do work only shoot water up a foot and a half.

• Hoover followed and agreed with Albaugh. She asked that we get a handle on this, asking Lori about this. “We should be managing our parks better,” Hoover said.

• Walker also read the stuff on Facebook and he went out there Monday and spoke to people walking around. They told him the splash pad has been in a state of disrepair for at least a year, of which he mentioned he has never heard before that it was broken. Walker gave his agreement in the assessment of the splash pad and commented that people said it was being vandalized.

• Mayo also commented that he has not been told it was broken “If we don’t use it, how do we know?” - Mayo said.

• Hoover concluded this portion of the discussion saying that if there was an issue, Lori Fetherolf, Steubenville Parks & Rec Director, should have told the council. They should not have learned from Facebook.

Transportation: (Mayo, Hoover, Gorman)

• Nothing this evening.

Economic Development: (McManamon, Hernon, Gorman)

• McManamon reported that Starbucks in the Rural King parking lot is close to being open. The Chipotle in the Lowes parking lot is close behind.

• There is no news on the Macy building at the mall.

• McManamon mentioned he is trying to find out more information about when the foreclosed Fort Steuben Mall will go to auction. He will report back as soon as he hears.

Pride: (Hoover, Albaugh, Walker)

• Hoover passed out two reports to council: one of them was the vacant residencies list. The other was vacant residencies that are registered through the building department. Hoover asked council to cooperate and create their own list of early nuisances, those properties which are not on this list but would likely end up on it if nothing is changed. ‘I am starting my list!’ said Hoover.

• This list is parcels in each ward without a water bill. While this doesn’t mean that they are unoccupied, a fair number likely are. If they are not getting water, this also means that they are not getting trash services.

• Hoover argued that just because somebody isn’t/can’t pay their water bills, that they shouldn’t be kept from trash pick-up.

• Albaugh stated from a conversation that he had with Andrew Henry, Jefferson County Health Commissioner, that the health code does not require people to have running water, but just access to water.

Reports of Administrative Officers:

City Manager: (Jim Mavromatis)

• Mavromatis talked about the Belleview Park swimming pool. Yesterday the state did its last inspection, so now the concrete can be poured. Concrete will come in July 10^th, then it needs to cure 28 days, then the final coatings will be put on.

• Mavromatis talked about the Jim Woods park splash pad. “We still have telephones and emails” he said. He did not like citizens raising a problem about the town on Facebook. He talked about how the parks have been trashed, toilets clubbed, and inquired as to who the parents of these teens are and what responsibility falls on them with their behavior? He said next Tuesday he will bring in the bill for what needs fixed on the splash pad.

• He also mentioned the parks and rec board will come to talk to council soon about a levy for the parks. Since he has been here, there has been no more than $100,000 budgeted for the parks each year. He mentioned that we will also look to OMEGA to try to tap into some of their monies for parks and rec.

• Hoover spoke and disagreed with Mavromatis’ stance that it’s the responsibility of citizens to send an email or call the city in order to get action happening on something that needs to be fixed:

  “Most people are going to check social media, and if our parks and rec director got out of her truck and relayed that information to us, this would be a different story… Kudos to those who posted on Facebook. Somebody from the parks department should have looked… Our department heads have to be accountable for not checking their work.”

• Mavromatis questioned: “How do you control the kids who damage the splash pads?!” Hoover responded,

“They are kids, we are the adults. We depend on our residents for so much, when are we going to start holding ourselves accountable… we can’t blame our residents for not calling in and sending emails and instead going to Facebook.”

• Mayo briefly chimed in saying he doesn’t think the Marina is worth investing in because of how expensive it will be, versus taking monies and investing them in parks.

Law Director: (Costa Mastros)

• Nothing this evening.

Miscellaneous Reports:

• McManamon called an executive session to consider the upcoming appointment of the new fire chief. Chief Capaldi would join them for executive session.

  • All ayes, except Gorman who was absent.

Public Forum:

• Greg Demary & Marc Barnes of the Steubenville Grocery Box came in and spoke about their work, in response to the discussion of council from last week about bringing in a mobile grocery truck with their being no grocery stores downtown. The Steubenville Grocery Box has been providing fresh and locally sourced meats, veggies, and shelf stable products to downtown Steubenville since 2019. They started as an online-order & pickup-downtown-only grocery store but acquired a physical storefront downtown in the past year and a half. They accept SNAP/EBT, cash, and all cards.

  Jacob’s Intermission: Their building was the first in the entire history of Jefferson County to win a Historic Tax Credit. Additionally, their business has been the face of the Ohio Department of Development website for months! (None of the italicized was mentioned by the proprietors at public forum, rather Strong Towns Steubenville added it for readers' context).

• They offered to council the time to talk about what they have accomplished and their goals going forth. Nobody in council asked any questions and they were ushered off the microphone.

• Houston Stetson came to speak. He is a pressure washer (S&S Softwash, licensed and insured, doing business for the past 5 years) located in Mingo Junction. He spoke about wanting to offer his services for revitalization. Through Ralph Petrella, he was connected with Lori to service the splash pad for free. He does graffiti removal as well.

• Gale Worrels: She came to speak about her streetlight issue. All four of the streetlights on her street are not working. She called AEP and the person she spoke with said that at least one of the light poles is not owned by anybody. AEP said she could put it on her electric bill for $8 a month. She asked why she would be responsible for that light if she never was before. Mavromatis responded, getting her address, and saying he will follow up with her.

Adjournment Time:

• The audience was ushered out at 8:34pm where council went into executive session.

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Overview written by Jacob Hyman, Founder of Strong Towns Steubenville