The Ironton City Council Finance Committee will have much to discuss at its next meeting February 16.

The committee will hear presentations from three insurance brokers who are all vying for the responsibility of serving as health insurance providers for the city.

All three attended the regular council meeting Thursday night, but before they could address the council, they were asked to come to attend the finance committee meeting.

The committee is also currently working on the city’s budget, which has to be completed in March.

Mayor Rich Blankenship said the committee will be looking at the issue of the city’s enterprise funds, including water, garbage and sewer services.

“That will be another issue,” he said.

At Thursday’s meeting the council also heard from Carol Allen, co-chair of Ironton in Bloom, who requested about $1500 from the city to be used by the organization.

The funds would cover fees associated with being a part of America in Bloom, a competition that judges communities according to criteria such as urban forestry, environment efforts, tidiness and floral displays.

The organization entered the contest the first year it started and won an honor but the urban forestry section of the city was found to be lacking, Allen said.

In its two years of existence, Allen says the organization has done much to instill a sense of pride in the city of Ironton.

“It’s more than just flowers, what we’re trying to do is raise a level of pride,” Allen said.

Allen’s request will be discussed at the next finance meeting.

In other business, the Ironton City Council also:

Heard the first reading of an ordinance that would have the city vacate a portion of Cedar Alley. The alley is located between Madison and Jefferson Streets. R.A.C. II, limited and Kurt and Christina Hofmann, who separately own some of the surrounding lots of the Ohio Iron and Coal Company’s Second Addition, have petitioned for the vacation of the portion of the alley by the city

Heard the first reading of an ordinance that would allow businesses that currently occupy the Ironton City Center and are up to date in rent payments to have a 50 percent reduction in their rent costs. The reduction would be upon written request and exclude utilities.

Heard the second reading of an ordinance authorizing Blankenship to award bids for construction materials and concrete for the year 2010.

Heard the second reading of an ordinance authorizing Blankenship to award bids for the purchase of chemicals for the year 2010.

The next finance committee will be held 6 p.m. Feb. 16 on the second floor of the City Center. story