The Ironton riverfront project inched closer to completion Wednesday evening at Ironton City Council.

The project was re-bid on Nov. 20 because the original bid came in too high. However, Allard Excavation, LLC is still taking care of the project, so Ordinance 15-38, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute an agreement with Allard Excavation, LLC for construction of the riverfront project and declaring an emergency, was able to be amended to reflect the changes to forego three more readings on a new ordinance.

The original bid of the riverfront project came in at $716,918.97 while the project was only projected to cost $659,448.00, which is what the funding is for.

The new bid from Nov. 20 came in at $668,877.79. The city is responsible for the difference of $9,429.79, but will cover that difference out of the general fund. Changes in the amended ordinance include date and amount changes.

Also during the meeting, vice mayor Craig Harvey thanked the city workers and civic organizations who donated time to decorate the downtown area with Christmas lights.

Newly elected councilman Chuck O’Leary explained some of his future plans, which include forming a committee for reviewing and updating the city charter, a 10-year business plan for city, a 20-year plan to repair sub-standard streets and alleyways, plan a new waterline above Lorain Street to Coal Grove for potential business development, plan to upgrade the floodwall pumping station antiqued equipment, volunteer committee to recruit industrial business, pursue county-wide insurance plan for all public employees, excluding school systems if possible, expanding city recycling programs, implementing zero-based budgets for every department and two spec buildings for the Malleable property.

Everything remaining was passed unanimously as follows, although councilwoman Beth Rist was not at the meeting. The three reading rule was suspended on all that applied in order to pass all of the items.

• Ordinance 15-42, to adopt the temporary operating budget for the city of Ironton for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2016, and declaring an emergency, which was also favorably recommended by finance committee.

• Resolution 15-43, authorizing the transfer of wastewater treatment plant equipment replacement funds to the wastewater operating fund for expenses and declaring an emergency, which was favorably recommended by the finance committee.

• Ordinance 15-39, rescheduling the regular scheduled Ironton City Council meeting and declaring an emergency, which would have moved the Christmas Eve meeting to the Monday before.

• Ordinance 15-40, amending chapter 890 of the codified ordinances of the city of Ironton regarding municipal income tax and declaring an emergency.

• Ordinance 15-41, amending the annual operating budget for the city of Ironton for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2015, and declaring an emergency.

• Ordinance 15-36 authorizing the mayor to purchase new dumpsters for the city of Ironton.