EAST LIVERPOOL –With a six-to-one vote, East Liverpool City Council approved the Board of Public Utilities request for a sewer rate increase during Monday’s meeting.

Council members Jeff Kreefer, Fred Rayl, Tom Beagle, Scott Barrett, Brian Kerr and Tom Clark voted in favor of the rate increase while Council Member John Mercer voted against.

Effective May 1, residents will see an increase in sewer rates from the present rate of $7.52 per 1,000 gallons to $9.02 per 1,000 gallons.

Both city residents and county residents who use the sewer services will be impacted by the rate increase.

Council President John Torma noted that other cities such a Boardman recently had a rate increase bringing their rates to over $12 per 1,000 gallons.

Council members were unanimous in their votes to approve the Safety Service Director Bill Jones entering into a contract with Ohio Department of Transportation for the 2025 winter road salt program; authorizing the auditor to pay vendors; amending the budget ordinance by adjusting appropriations; and, authorizing the Board of Control to enter into a contract with Utility Services Co.

The contract is a scope of work of work No. 3 to the Master Service Agreement with Utility Service Co., to provide professional services needed to maintain its 22,000-gallon concrete asset located at 2220 Michigan Ave., which includes the upfront renovation of the tank and care and maintenance of it afterwards.

Tim Clark, former Board of Public Utilities member, now part-time utilities director,said the approval of these ordinances will help in fixing some of the violations issued by the Ohio Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA).

“There is a lot of things that have accumulated over the last so many years that we have gotten behind the curve on and the rate increase is one and some of the infrastructure that we have not maintained is another,” Clark said.

The council also unanimously approved the mayoral appointments of Brett Butler to the Civil Service Board and Bill Crawford to the Thompson Park Board to fill unexpired term of Amy McCormack.

Jones provided an update on the city’s new salt barn, saying it has been started, and the excavation has been done, the concrete padding poured, and the cement block put in place. Work will pause on the project for approximately 30 days to let the concrete pad cure. Once the pad cures, more blocks will be added to build the walls for the it and then the cover will be placed to finish it up.

The walls will be six feet tall with a 25-year vinyl covering over a metal arch frame. The new barn will hold a little more than 1,000 tons of salt. The barn, which was paid for with funding from the H2Ohio Rivers grant will be used to keep the salt dry and out of the weather.

Jones also discussed the work being done on St. Clair Avenue, noting that a storm sewer pipe blew out during one of the recent rainstorms resulting in a lot of soil eroding under the sidewalks. The pipe is in the process of being replaced and is almost done.

Mayor Bobby Smith said he wanted to publicly thank the city’s police department for the drug interdiction work they have been doing for the last 15 months which he feels is making a difference. He also wants to thank the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSP) for the help they have given the city in dealing with the city’s drug issues.

Council member John Mercer provided an update from the Council’s Licensing and Economic Development Committee Meeting held March 19.

Mercer noted that work is progressing on the Thompson Building and True North Building. He spoke with the new owner of the Little Building and extended an offer for any help needed on their project.

Mercer also said the committee will resume discussions on a designated outdoor drinking area downtown and the Downtown Redevelopment District. He plans to have Town Center Associates give a formal presentation to council and further look into an arts program. He has been in contact with the Lt. Governor’s office about being notified of potential grants and will follow up with that.

Mercer also noted the Lake to River Board asked about the city’s plans for developing the upstairs floors of many of the buildings downtown and suggested they be turned into housing. He is looking into Certified Local Government and how to join that because there are a number of funding opportunities available to Certified Local Government communities.

Mercer went on to say that May is Historic Preservation Month, and he would like to plan an event recognizing that.

Mercer wrapped up his report by saying the committee is looking into tipping/bulk shipping fees and will meet with the city administration on that on he will discuss zoning for self-storage facilities with Planning Director William Cowan

The East Liverpool City Council meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m., in council chambers at city hall. The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 5.