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EAST PALESTINE -- East Palestine Village Council kept its first regular meeting of 2024 brief on Monday, welcoming two new council members and reorganizing committee chairs.
Newly-elected council members Lenny Glavan and Tim Blythe will chair the street and utility committees, respectively.
Jessica Rocco, who was nominated and voted as Mayor Pro Tem for 2024, will remain as chair of Park, Recreation and Cemetery Committee while Linda May remains as financial chair, Thomas Povenski Jr. remains at safety chair and Doug Simpson moves to chair of the Legislation Committee.
Village manager Chad Edwards reported that things are moving forward with the WRL -- the Canton-based advertising firm hired by the village to help improve the village's image post-derailment. "We've been working closely with WRL. The new logo, themes and website will be available on or near the derailment anniversary," Smith said. "We are working to get a long-term recovery plan created and hope to have something by the next council meeting."
Edwards also encouraged members of council to take advantage of free emergency management courses offered by the Columbiana County EMA the weekend of Jan. 20. Smith. Smith also reported that the first monthly department head meeting will be held Thursday and will continue the second Thursday every month.
In other announcements, Mayor Trent Conaway reported the East Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce Milestone Awards, which recognizes businesses, organizations, and individuals for their success and development and fulfilling the mission of the Chamber ,will be held Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. in the municipal building with guest speaker Ohio Senator Michael Rulli.
In development news, May announced that the Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP) will be in town to discuss data collected during the Think Tank's Envision East Palestine workshop held in November. The workshop was meant to hear from the community as the village moves past the events of Feb. 3 and into a period of revitalization.
May previously reported the event was a huge success with nearly 10 times the amount of people attending than expected.