The Ironton City Council will hear the first reading Thursday of an ordinance that would re-establish a low price for businesses who lease space at the city center.

The ordinance, which was last re-established in March, would keep the prices at approximately $110 to $250 per space not including utilities, which is a 50 percent reduction of what the prices were when the ordinance was first adopted.

The purpose of the ordinance is to keep spaces at the city center occupied, Mayor Rich Blankenship said. He added that the city would rather have the spaces rented for a lower amount than not rented at all.

“(The ordinance) has been helpful,” Blankenship said.

Among the businesses located in the city center is the City Grill restaurant, which opened in January. Another business, Twigs & Berries Boutique, is planning to relocate to the center soon, Blankenship said.

The ordinance stipulates that the lessee will keep their account current and paid at all times; that if the lessee becomes delinquent during the discount period, the resolution becomes void and cannot be reactivated during the one-year period covered by the ordinance; and that all rents are due the first of the month and will be considered delinquent after the 15th of each month.

Also on the agenda for the Thursday meeting of Ironton City Council are:

• The second reading of an ordinance regulating street solicitors

• The first reading of an ordinance amending the temporary operating budget for the fiscal year 2011.

• The first reading of a resolution setting the salaries of non-union city employees. If passed, the resolution would mean that non-union employees would not get raises this year and that they would pay 5 percent of the their pensions.

• The first reading of a resolution allowing Blankenship to enter into an agreement with Reyolds Inliner Company for the completion of the city’s sewer relining project. The city needs to pay an additional $511,000 for the completion of the project. Blankenship said the city’s goal is to have the sewer-relining project completed by May. The loan will be paid for out of Wastewater and Storm Water Utilities Revenue, according to the ordinance.