Ironton City Council on Thursday approved the purchase of a new fire engine in accordance with the city’s fire fee at its regular meeting.

Council member Bob Cleary made the motion and council member Aaron Bollinger seconded ordinance No. 14-22 authorizing the mayor to award the state contract bid for a custom fire engine and declaring an emergency. The ordinance had its first reading at council’s May 22 meeting and its second reading on June 12.

Ironton Fire Chief Tom Runyon said after the meeting he was pleased with council’s decision.

“When you’re inside a burning house and the truck you are depending on is more than 20 years old it’s a bit of a concern,” he said. “The truck we have now has been a good one but I’m glad we are getting a newer one.”

The lowest bid of $388,464 was submitted by Sutphen Corporation of Dublin.

Pearl Street resident Louis Martin addressed council about unkempt city-owned property adjoining his property that he said is an eyesore, a health hazard and a safety issue.

“There are trees growing up and brush and grapevines and it’s the city’s property,” Martin said. “I came home last week to a four-foot long snake in my house. My neighbor and I have killed more than a hundred snakes this year and I believe they are coming from that property.”

Martin also requested the city shut down the alley that connects Elm and Pearl streets.

“That alley is caving in,” he said. “If you shut down the alley, it would keep the garbage truck from driving through there, which is what is causing it to cave in.”

Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship said he would look at the property and meet with Martin in regard to his concerns.

Ordinance 14-23 authorizing the mayor to purchase new Dumpsters for the city had its second reading.

The four Dumpsters will serve the Holiday Inn Express and Suites being built as part of the Gateway Project. The cost shall not exceed $4,000, according to the ordinance, and will be purchased from the city’s garbage equipment replacement fund.

Ordinance No. 14-25 amending the annual operating budget for fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2014, and declaring an emergency had its first reading.

The absence of council members Dave Frazer and Craig Harvey made the required two-thirds majority vote to suspend the rules and declare an emergency unattainable.

Resolution No. 14-24 requesting the county auditor to certify the estimated property tax revenue for a renewal flood levy and declaring an emergency was adopted by council. According to Ohio Revised Code, resolutions do not require three readings.

The resolution states the city must obtain a certificate of estimated property tax revenue and submit the same to the Lawrence County Board of Elections in order to renew the one mill tax flood levy.

Ironton City Council meets in regular session at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays each month on the third floor of the city center on South Third Street.