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EAST PALESTINE -- East Palestine Council heard from a local engineer and survey firm about improving the look of downtown as the village continues to focus on revitalization and rebranding in the wake of last year's Norfolk Southern train derailment.
Jon Vollnogle of Salem-based Howells & Baird presented both suggestions and plans to revamp the streetscape from Main to Taggart streets during Monday's regular council meeting.
Vollnogle's presentation included repairs to sidewalks, storm drains, downspouts, curbs and public parking lots. It also included the installation of new light poles with panthers and outlets to allow for seasonal lighting and underground wiring as well as "bulb-outs" -- aesthetically-pleasing curb extensions that extend the sidewalk or curb line out into the parking lane and reduce the effective street width. Bulb-outs improve the ability of pedestrians and motorists to see each other and allow the opportunity for more green spaces to break up the continuous concrete-look of downtown areas.
Reconfiguring the current parking situation on North Market and downtown was also addressed in the proposal. Increasing the size of the current parking spaces and the addition of handicap parking were suggested. The changes would reduce the 51 parking places on North Market between Main and Taggart to 46 but would allow for easier parking in the business district. Improvements -- grading, paving, painting and fixing drainage issues -- of the public lot at the end of Meadow Lane owned by the American Legion but leased by the village would create 50 designated spaces. It was also suggested a public restroom be constructed near that parking area.
Other additions include another pocket next to the municipal building as well as a possible DORA area -- a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, is a specified area of land that city council or township trustees has designated as exempt from certain open container laws.
The proposal of downtown improvements is the first step. If council chooses to move forward, a cost analysis would be performed and funding opportunities explored.
In other matters, council heard from Brayden Tucker of Dying Breeds Diesels about holding the group's annual vintage semi-truck show inside the city park. Tucker explained the truck show billed as the "Dying Breeds Family Reunion" has been held in Columbiana for five years, adding that in the past the show has had as many as 47 to 107 trucks and has drawn people from as far away as Phoenix. Tucker said that although he appreciates the support he received from Columbiana in the past, he feels Dying Breeds "no longer fits their vision." Tucker chose to relocate the show after scheduling conflicts with another Columbiana event. Tucker asked for Oct. 12 but said he was flexible and added the trucks would be parked around the traffic circle only. He also said that East Palestine was his next choice when it became clear Columbiana would not work this year.
"I've had my eye on East Palestine for a while now. The strength and tenacity of this town reflects the strength and tenacity of the American trucker and that's what we are all about," Tucker said. "I think it's a good fit for us and I think we can build something special together for years to come."
In other business, Village Manager Chad Edwards reported that work on the water filter-project at the village water plant should be completed by the end of April. The carbon filters, bought by Norfolk Southern and manufactured by Calgon, are precautionary protection for the municipal water supply. Council first announced plans to install the carbon-filtration system in the months following the derailment. At that meeting, East Palestine Water Superintendent Scott Wolfe said that carbon filters were the direction the village was headed before the derailment and stressed the filters, which comply with the new federal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) guidelines, were a proactive approach taken by the village. No derailment-related contamination has been detected in the water supply.
Edwards also reported that he received no update from Norfolk Southern on the first responder training center that was announced last September. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in September at the former site of the Jasar Recycling facility located on Edgeworth Avenue in East Palestine. At the time, it was reported the center was in the "design phase" with construction set to begin by the end of 2024. The training center will provide ongoing, free training to first responders from Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the greater region. The center will offer traditional fire-service training to all first-responders, specialized training for rail response and other transportational-related hazmat emergencies. It will also eventually house the East Palestine Fire Department.
Council tackled several pieces of legislation including the first readings of ordinances to allow alcoholic beverages in the city park under certain circumstances, making admission to the pool free for active military or veterans and approving a wage bonus for temporary summer help. Council also passed resolutions to donate an out-of-service patrol car to the Columbiana County career and Technical center, to amend rates and taxes as necessary, approve the county 911 plan and to declare it necessary to renew a street levy for 5 mills.