Steubenville City Council Receives Updates from Port Authority Executive Director

Steubenville City Council Receives Updates on Major Projects

Steubenville City Council received an update from the Jefferson County Port Authority on Tuesday regarding various projects in progress. Port Authority Executive Director Robert Naylor provided information on ongoing projects and discussed a major funding opportunity that did not materialize as expected.

Naylor highlighted the county’s disappointing performance in the recent Appalachian Community Grant awards, where Jefferson County received only $5 million out of the approximately $500 million distributed among Ohio’s 33 Appalachian counties. Despite the low funding allocation, Naylor emphasized the importance of learning from the experience and setting a vision for the county’s economic sustainability moving forward.

One of the key projects discussed was the application for grant funding to remove three dilapidated buildings on a 7-plus acre parcel that was part of Weirton Steel’s Steubenville works. The potential removal of these buildings could open up additional acreage for development, potentially leading to new business opportunities and job creation.

Additionally, Naylor mentioned a pending decision on a $200,000 capital budget request for major repairs at Belleview Pool, as well as updates on the Market Street bridge in West Virginia. The bridge may face permanent closure, but efforts are underway to secure federal funding for its replacement.

Mayor Jerry Barilla also inquired about the progress of redeveloping the old Exchange Realty building on Market Street, highlighting the challenges and potential costs associated with renovation or demolition.

Overall, the Port Authority and City Council are focused on developing a strategic plan for Jefferson County to address future population changes and promote regional development. The council also took action on various legislative matters during the meeting, including authorizing the purchase of parcels to maintain sewer system integrity and conveying a downtown parcel to the Jefferson County Land Bank.

The meeting concluded with a closed-door session to discuss the city manager’s six-month evaluation. Stay tuned for more updates on these important projects and initiatives in Steubenville.