A GOOD CATCH — Steubenville Cultural Trust’s Gretchen Nelson, seated, and member/supporter Ken Perkins discuss the non-profit’s newest project, placing 18 handpainted five-foot tall catfish throughout the business district in hopes of bringing tourist. — Linda Harris
STEUBENVILLE — Urban Projects Director Chris Petrossi added his voice Tuesday to the call for council to show its commitment to the city’s North End before they ask HUD to give them $30 million-$50 million in grant money to implement the Steubenville North redevelopment strategy.
“We got a planning grant, we’re fortunate to have received it,” Petrossi said. “We’re in the process of developing the implementation plan. It’s a two-year process which we started in January. However, when we apply for those implementation dollars at the end of that two year process, one of the things that they will be looking for is what are other entities, including the city, as well as others are investing into the project as well. If they’re going to put 30-$50 million into the neighborhood they want to see that there’s other things happening in the neighborhood, including investment on our part, a buy-in from the city itself.”
Councilman Royal Mayo has been pleading with council for several weeks to earmark money for North End projects.
“We have that grant, $500,000, for planning, but implementation funding, which is $30 million-$50 million, is heavily dependent on what investment we, as a city, make,” Mayo said. “If HUD doesn’t see us investing in that neighborhood, neither will they, so we have to do something leading up to it if we’re going to have a chance.”
He said the city, one of nine across the country awarded $500,000 planning grants, has bout a 33 percent shot of receiving an implementation grant. I would like to see us put some plans together on what we want to do .”
“That’s a big chunk of money,” Mayo pointed out. “That’s three timres more than we just got from ARPA (American Rescue Plan funding) that we’ve been fighting (how to spend it for a couple years.”
Council also briefly discussed the proposed Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in Steubenville, which would allow patrons to drink out of doors as long as they stay within the boundaries. Last week Harmonium Project President Marc Barnes brought them a draft ordinance to use as starting point.
Councilman Mike Hernon, meanwhile, ask ed council’s permission o invite Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District’s Aaron Dodds to be at council’s June 13 meeting to discuss his Appalachian Community Grant application.
JSWCD withdrew its application for funding to develop trails as well as pollinator trail and a hellbender reserve. Dodds and Jefferson County Port Authority Robert Naylor were invited to present commissioners with a status update.
Hernon said he thought it important for Dodds to speak with them about his vision prior to taking it to commissioners first, calling a planning committee session for 6:30 p.m. June 13.
Council also got its first look at the fish-shaped creatures that will take front stage during the new Catfish Crawl Art Walk. The catfish, each five feet tall, are being hand-painted by artists who applied for the honor.
“This is a pre-unveil of what’s to come,” SCT’s Ken Perkins Jr. said, describing the organization amplified role in future events. “Steubenville Cultural Trust is more or less a silent, but very import partner” in bringing visitors into the downtown.
Perkins said they’ve planned a fundraiser/awareness event for June 14 outside his business, Tri-state Financial Service. They’ll have several of the 18 catfish they’re started out with handpainted by local artists.
“We’re proud to be members of SCT as well as being Nutcracker Kingdom sponsors of the trust,” he said, pointing out it was established only last year.
“This is another opportunity to discover your cultural trust … which is more or less a silent partner, but a very, very important partner in our in our city.”
Also Tuesday:
— Paul introduced emergency legislation authorizing City Manager Jim Mavromatis to ink a contract with James White Construction Co. for the Pico Street and Hollywood Boulevard stormline repair.
“Its not good, what happened here,” Paul said, adding Mavromatis told him, “People are dumping there.”
Law Director Costa Mastros pointed out, “Some storm sewer pipe failures cause erosion, which could cause collapse as well as a hazard on Hollywood Boulevard, so it’s kind of imminent.”
Mastros also told council they should have the draft revisions of the parking ordinance to look at and potentially discuss at their June 13 meeting.
— Paul scheduled a finance committee meeting for 6:30 p.m. June 27.
He also said he’d like to honor the Big Red Girl’s Softball team for its outstanding performance, winning their first district and regional championships to earn their first appearance in the state tournament.
“I think that was pretty awesome,” he said. “And they did it with four seniors, the rest were underclassmen.”
— Councilman Mike Hernon sunshined an ordinance that would pave the way for demolition of properties at 234 South 8th St., 315 Union Ave. 329 Union Ave. 406 spring Ave., 408 spring Ave. 138 Butte St., 719 North St. and Marsh Alley, 1507 Ridge Ave., 1399 Orchard St., 849 Lincoln Blvd., and 1412 Oregon Ave.
In response to questions, Petrossi told council it was his staff that evaluated the structures and developed the priority list, and said the 10 in the pending legislation were, in fact, dangerous. He said they don’t jump properties on the list unless there’s fire damage, adding that they try to recoup the cost of demolition from the homeowners but many times they’ve been declared indigent by the court “so there’s nothing we can do.”
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