WELLSVILLE – Wellsville Village Council members passed three ordinances crucial to the village maintaining quality housing and sewer services.

After much discussion and over numerous council meetings regarding housing and building codes in the village, the council members with an all-in-favor vote adopted legislation that repeals and replaces the village’s building code with an updated one that allows for the village to have a building inspector and stricter codes and enforcement on rental housing.

The legislation was drafted based of the former building code being described as “inadequate and insufficient in form and substance for the complete preservation of the public peace, health, safety and general welfare.”

The ordinance was adopted after going before council for three readings.

In an effort to update the village’s sanitary and storm water sewage system, council members voted unanimously to approve legislation by emergency measure authorizing Fiscal Officer Hoi Wah to advertise for and receive statements of qualifications for the evaluation and development of a plan to repair and upgrade the village’s sanitary and storm water sewage system.

Also passed by emergency measure was legislation for a sewer rate increase to go into effect Oct. 1 to prevent the village from going into the deficit in 2026 due to the increased cost to dispose of and treat hazardous and regulated waste, along with increased insurance costs and sewer repairs.

There has not been a sewer rate increase in the village since 2013. The annual average rate of inflation since then has been approximately 2.6%.

When the rate increase goes into effect in October, all classes of sewerage users in the village will be charged the rate of $24.68 for the first 2,000 gallons of use and $9.22 per gallon after that per month. Additionally, there will be a monthly surcharge rate of $5.

Bills totaling $1,100.77 were approved for payment.

During the public speaking portion, Eddie Murphy, president of The Wellsville Community Foundation, thanked everyone for all their assistance with making the community block party held Friday night a success. Murphy noted that while it was a fundraising event for the foundation, the event was more about bringing community together than raising funds.

A resident who lives at the intersection of 7th and Broadway streets requested the village clean out the drains along the road because with all the rain, flooding was causing water in her basement. Mayor Bob Boley said that would be addressed the next morning.

Boley noted that there have been a few people reporting problems with getting their sewer bills on time and that he was informed the problem was them getting hung up in the mail as the bills come from the Youngstown area.

He also noted that he spoke with the Columbiana County Land Bank about the demolition of the Shepherd Building on Fourth Street where the ceiling had collapsed and the front doors had blown off. He said he is hoping the land bank, which owns the building, will move on that within the next couple of days.

There is to be no parking on Third to Sixth Street between 4 a.m. and noon on June 25 as the street will be swept that day, and he also asked for residents to help with the village cleanup scheduled for June 28, to get the village looking nice for the all class reunion. Those willing to help should meet at the Gazebo at 9 a.m.

Council President Keith Thorn requested an executive session to discuss personnel matters and invited the mayor, council members and Fire Chief Barry Podwel into the session. The council reconvened the open meeting with no action taken.

Council member Aaron Smith said the Park Board will be meeting at Hammond Park, the lower pavilion, on June 19 at 6 p.m.

The Wellsville Village Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers at Wellsville Village Hall, 1200 Main St. The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 1.