Ironton City Council adopted two ordinances at its meeting last Thursday.

Ordinance 16-44, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation to provide the bridge inspection as set forth in the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Bridge Metrics and ODOT PID 102554 and declare it an emergency, was passed.

The city determined the need for the project includes, but is not limited to bridge load-rating calculations, scour assessments, bridge inspections and fracture critical plan development.

The rules were suspended after the first reading to give the second and third readings of the ordinance, where the five council members present passed it.

Also passing was Ordinance 16-45, authorizing and directing the mayor to execute an agreement with Southern Ohio Trenching and Excavating Inc. for the Memorial Hall Park improvements and declare it an emergency.
On Nov. 3, 2016, the city opened bids on the project with the winning bid coming from Southern Ohio Trenching and Excavating Inc. at $15,727.

Improvements will include new sidewalks, a bench and a flagpole, and the city was given an allocation grant of $24,000 from the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization to complete the project.

After the first reading, the rules were suspended and given second and third readings. The ordinance passed unanimously by the five present council members. Ironton City Councilman Dave Frazer was not at the meeting.

The second reading of Ordinance 16-42, prohibiting the parking of certain recreational vehicles upon the city streets, alleys and public rights-of-way was given, although two residents questioned how the ordinance would be enforced.

Prior to the Ironton City Council meeting, the Ironton Public Utilities Committee recommended a federal loan through the Department of Energy and Financial Assistance at 0 percent interest for phases four and five of the EPA mandated storm/sanitary separation project. The Finance Committee then favorably recommended the application to Ironton City Council. The project began in 2008 and is expected to be complete by 2023. The deadline for the loan application is Dec. 30.

Also at council:

• Carol Allen, of Ironton In Bloom, spoke about the city’s report the group recently received from America In Bloom. She said that this year was the third time America In Bloom has visited Ironton, and the city’s score has steadily improved each time, going from a low 3/5 to a higher 3/5 and this year the city received a high 4.

• Ironton Mayor Katrina Keith said another stop-work order would be issued to developer and Whitwell School owner Jack Hager due to the city’s attorneys not agreeing with his compliance with the city zoning. Hager is turning the school into an apartment complex with separate buildings with breezeways in-between and one roof, causing zoning disagreements. Keith said that his plans state that he will have separate roofs, although he is still working as if there will be one continuous roof. With the stop-work order, Hager will not be able to continue construction on the building until everything is in compliance.

• Following the meeting, council went into executive session to discuss city workers and personnel.