EAST PALESTINE — The majority of January’s regular council meeting included extensive discussion regarding enforcement of the village’s parking ordinance and reworking the vacant structures ordinance.

Village manager Antonio Dias-Guy explained Wednesday morning that the parking ordinance hasn’t really been enforced since COVID, and he looks to return to that.

He said many people are unaware that there is a prohibition against parking on streets or highways during snow emergencies and they can be towed if illegally parked.

The penalty is a minor misdemeanor punishable by a $150 fine for a first offense. Subsequent charges can be elevated.

In addition to snow plows often encountering issues — especially if the street is particularly narrow and people are parking on both sides — Dias-Guy said it is problematic when the village cannot fit a responding police cruiser or fire truck down the street.

The 13-page parking ordinance is detailed under article 452 of the village’s code.

During his report, he also suggested that council take another look at the vacant structures to make sure that it still is business friendly, specifically the section on registration and accompanying fees for unoccupied structures and penalties for violators, which members months before the train derailment.

Diaz-Guy also detailed upcoming village projects and discussed the chamber’s small business grant program as well provided the 2025 annual report.

Councilwoman Barb Kliner also updated her peers on recent activities involving ELGO, which is the village’s senior citizen group.

It was a busy month for the street department, which had began December with pre-maintenance on their trucks, plows and related equipment.

Authorities detailed the process, which is to clear the majority of roads, waiting for the snow to stop, and then doing a final sweep to avoid snow freezing on streets.

The design phase is done for the East Palestine Park project and they are busy working on the pool and beginning planning for summer events.

Members learned during the water department update the village water plant produced 118.1 million gallons of water in 2025, with the wastewater treatment plant processing 224.9 million gallons.

The water department is moving on to replace lead service lines and service hydrants this year.

Among the safety forces, the last few months saw police providing security for events like the Christmas parade and raising money for Shop With A Cop through their No Shave November participation.

The fire department kept busy for the holidays with community outreach projects, such as chauffeuring Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch around town on the fire truck and distributing cookies to all village departments, the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency, Ohio Highway Patrol and local businesses.

In other action, council approved emergency legislation dealing with their Teamsters and FOP union contracts as well as had the first reading for its White Book, which is the updated employee handbook.

Council next meets on Monday, Jan. 26, at the municipal building in downtown East Palestine.

sujhelyi@mojonews.com