EAST PALESTINE — East Palestine Council took action on Monday to pave the way for a pending real estate purchase by the village’s Community Improvement Corporation (CIC). Council passed a motion waiving a vacant building tax lien against the former bank property located across the street from the municipal building on North Market.

The CIC announced its intent to buy the property and last month council approved a short-term, interest-free loan to CIC to help the organization do so. The motion released the former PNC bank property from the $2,442 lien. The CIC plans to acquire the old PNC Bank and parking lot on North Market Street for a purchase price of $100,000.

The ordinance that allows the village to level a lien against an unoccupied building recently made headlines when the owner of the former PNC property Don Izer sat down with media partner WKBN last week. Izer owns 10 buildings in the village and told the station that he “recently received $18,000 in fines” for having vacant properties in East Palestine. Izer, who owned and operated Dogs on the Run before shuttering it last year, called the ordinance “anti-business” and said the liens make it “hard to sell” the commercial properties he currently has listed. WKBN explained that if those properties do not sell within a year, Izer will be required to re-pay the $400 registration fee per building — a fee that doubles every year that a building sits empty, or unsold for up to five years, maxing out at $6,400 per property.

According to Ordinance 1246, which became effective one month before the Norfolk Southern train derailment, if the annual registration fee is not paid, a late fee of $1,000 or equal to the annual fee (whichever is less) is accessed. The ordinance also states that the fee increases annually to cover rising costs of hazard abatement, repair or demolition of vacant buildings, enforcement of the code and the zoning/building inspector.

The ordinance is intended to help “clean-up” the village and ensure vacant buildings are either maintained or sold to allow for future economic development.

Izer’s assertion that the vacant property fees make it difficult to sell property carries weight as the code requires that any fees accrued against a vacant property must be paid in full before any building permits can be issued or ownership of the vacant building transferred. In addition, a hold may be placed on the transfer or activation of utilities (water and electric) until all delinquent fees are paid.

However, there are exemptions. The ordinance states that while disaster affected properties, buildings under active construction or renovations with a valid current building permit, buildings listed for sale with a licensed realtor and buildings with a publicly visible “For Rent sign prominently posted must still pay the annual fee, those properties are exempt from additional vacancy-related fees for twelve months. To qualify for an exemption, the owner must be current with real estate taxes, have no outstanding or past due fines or fees due related to the property, not be in violation of any zoning or building codes and have an approved vacant building plan filed with the village. If all the criteria is met, the owner can submit a request for an exemption in writing to the East Palestine Zoning Department.

It is unclear if Izer requested such an exemption or not. It is also unclear if council intends to waive any other vacant property liens to allow for the sale of other buildings in town.

Also on Monday, council set a special park board meeting to address the current pool situation. The pool heater stopped working last season, but the village held off replacing it, as the new aquatic center and pool — part of Norfolk Southern’s $25 million pledge to renovate the city park — was expected to be completed and operational by the start of next swim season. However, it looks as if that deadline will not be met, leaving the village looking for a heater solution. Council was hopeful that a new heater could be installed at the old pool and eventually utilized at the new one. However, it was learned that doing so would cancel the heater’s warranty.

Council also learned that Phase I of the pool project is moving slower than expected as wintry and wet weather and supply shortages have caused a few delays. Phase II plans (which includes the aquatic center) have been submitted to the state for issuance of the necessary permits.

In addition, it was decided that the groundbreaking for the new “Welcome to East Palestine Sign” at the intersection of state Routes 170 and 14 will be pushed back to spring. Village clerk and acting village manager Misti Martin said installation of the sign, which is also being paid for by the railroad, will take 90 days and not having a sign during the winter months could pose a danger to vehicle traffic.

In other matters discussed on Monday:

— Council passed legislation as an emergency to establish a fund to receive and disburse local funds for One Ohio opioid litigation settlement.

— Council appointed Jim Wilson to the library board and Fire Chief Keith Drabick, Fire Battalion Chief Josh Foster, councilmembers Lenny Glavan and Jessica Rocco to the Volunteer Firefighters’ Dependents Fund Board.

— Council passed (after a third reading) an increase to police wages and the 2025 appropriations and expenditures as emergency.

— Council heard an update on the current renovations of structures at the Glenview Cemetery.

— Council reported that mandatory drug-free workplace training for employees will take place on Jan. 9 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the park community center.

— Council thanked both the fire and police stations for helping make sure that last week’s Snowflake Festival ran smoothly. Council also extended gratitude to all those involved or donated to the event which included a live Christmas tree lighting.

selverd@mojonews.com