EAST LIVERPOOL – Mayor Bobby Smith addressed the East Liverpool City Council during Monday’s meeting to say that he was disappointed about the way he learned of the city’s financial status and the threat of layoffs at the end of the year.

This follows an announcement from a meeting last week where city Auditor Marilyn Bosco said the city’s general, police and fire funds would be in the red and due to the financial situation layoffs could happen. Smith made it clear to the council that he was against any layoffs, and a solution needs to be found.

Council Member Fred Rayl said in his years on council he doesn’t recall seeing the city in such a dire financial situation.

Smith said he spoke with a state representative about the money the city was hoping to receive off the sale of marijuana products after it became legal. He said he was told the situation was uncertain and a formula was being worked on to try to get cities that need the money some funds, but there are no guarantees on that right now.

Safety Service Director Bill Jones said the city’s new salt barn was done and it was completed by the Aug. 31 deadline that was required by the grant they received for reimbursement.

Legislation approved by council with an all-in-favor vote, with the exception of Council Member John Mercer who was absent and excused, included a resolution to withdraw the city’s objection to the renewal of the liquor license for Lena’s Lounge.

Immediately prior to the council meeting the Licensing/Economic Development Committee met and voted to send the resolution onto council for approval. Prior to the council’s vote on the resolution, council members met in executive session to discuss pending legislation regarding Lena’s Lounge. After returning to an open meeting the council voted to adopt the resolution.

Council approved six ordinances including authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Myers Equipment to purchase a chassis and remount a box from an existing ambulance, to repel a 2015 ordinance that excluded the Riverview property area from zoning for residential and adopt a new chapter Plan Unit Development as the zoning classification, authorizing the safety service director to enter into an agreement with Dallis Dawson for engineering design services for phase 2 of the Col-Dresden Avenue project and authorizing the planning to enter into an with Land Staff for the right of way acquisition for the path/trail project with East Liverpool Riverfront Trail phase 1.

A public hearing was held prior to the council meeting for the rezoning of the Riverfront property, but there was no one to speak for or against it. The new plan with the new zoning allows the city to have safeguards in place allowing the city to control what can be developed in that area. Potential developers will have to submit plans to the Planning Commission and then the council will have to approve the plans before development can begin. The council hopes that by expanding the zoning to include residential, the area could be used for affordable housing.

Council also voted to amend the budget ordinance by adjusting appropriations and to adopt the city’s 2026 tax budget.

During the public speaking portion of the meeting several residents of the Market Lofts asked council to issue parking passes so they could park on the street. They cited health issues and said parking in the designated lot for the building was difficult.

Multiple council members said that due to zoning ordinance city laws, they were unable to issue parking passes for street parking and suggested the tenants talk to the building managers or owners. Smith noted that he has tried to make contact with the owners.

Several residents spoke out about the issue on Ridgeway and storm water issue on 8th Street and the sink hole from a runoff line that broke.

Road Foreman Scott Barrett and Jones both said that it needed to be repaired but it was going to be an expensive repair. There are grants that could possibly pay for the repairs, Jones said, but an engineer study would need to be done first, and the city would have to come up with the funds for that.

Resident Bill Ash who handles the military banners hung through the city said if he didn’t get volunteers to help take them before winter they were going to have to be left up. He noted the banners have been taken down every year for the last eight years after Nov. 11 and put back up before Memorial Day and that’s why they have lasted so long. He said he would continue to run the program for another year to hopefully get some new volunteers to take over, but he can’t do it any longer than that. Smith said he could post something on the city’s Facebook page for information for anyone willing to help with the program.

The Refuse and Recycling/Public Utilities/Franchise Committee will hold a joint meeting with the Finance/Labor Committee to discuss an increase for garbage fees and the purchase of two new garbage trucks along with a claw truck on Aug. 26 at 3 p.m. The Streets/Land and Buildings Committee will meet following that at 4 p.m. Both meetings will take place in council chamber at East Liverpool City Hall.

East Liverpool City Council meets the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in council chambers at East Liverpool City Hall. Due to the Labor Day holiday, the September council meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 2

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com