Tax abatements offered to businesses have been discussed in more than one arena in the past few weeks and tonight the Ironton City Council will vote on whether to amend the 31-year old ordinances.

Resolution No. 14-14 specifies that an owner seeking an exemption in community reinvestment areas No. 3 and No. 4 must notify and obtain the approval of the Ironton Board of Education for any exemption request in excess of 50 percent for commercial and industrial property.

Ordinances 83-60 and 83-61 were adopted by Ironton City Council in 1983 in accordance with the countywide Community Reinvestment Act. City, county and school district officials have met numerous times during the past 10 days to discuss amending the ordinances.

Ironton City Schools Superintendent Dean Nance has been an outspoken proponent of amending the ordinance mainly because the district’s funding is generated from taxes.

Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship has praised the school district, the township trustees, the (Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization) and the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation for their joint effort in the process.

Other items on the agenda include:

• First reading of Ordinance 14-11 amending the annual operating budget for fiscal year 2014 and declaring an emergency;

• First reading of Ordinance 14-12 amending certain sections of chapter 660 safety, sanitation and health and chapter 660.16 removal of noxious weeds and litter of the codified ordinances of the City of Ironton and declaring an emergency;

• Third reading of Ordinance 14-09 adopting the temporary budget for fiscal year 2014, which is being read as a technicality;

• Adoption of Resolution 14-13 authorizing the mayor to apply for and administer the Ironton Riverfront Cooperative Boating Facilities Grant application with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources watercraft division and declaring an emergency.