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St. C. goes with local building inspectors

T-L Photo/ ROBERT A. DEFRANK During last Monday’s meeting, St. Clairsville Mayor Terry Pugh, left, commends city employees for their response during recent bad weather. The council also voted to utilize the Mid-East Ohio Building Department out of Zanesville. Also pictured, Finance Director Cindi Henry, and Law Director Richard Myser.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A full council of held the third reading of an ordinance last Monday to establish a local building department with the intention of seeking inspections through the Mid-East Ohio Building Department in Zanesville.

Council members Jim Velas, Perry Basile, Mike Smith, Frank Sabatino, Mark Bukmir, Beth Oprisch, Linda Jordan and Council President Tim Porter were in attendance.

During past meetings, an official with the Mid-East Ohio Building Department, spoke to the council, saying area builders could see greater convenience in using the services.

St. Clairsville Safety and Service Director Jim Zucal has also spoken about the potential advantages in utilizing the local office rather than the state, including a shorter wait for results, due to the closer location and smaller caseload.

“There’s been some interest. People feel that the local flavor will help by being closer and not working through the state. That’s our opinion too,” he said, adding that he expected the rates would be lower,” he said.

Zucal also reported that Water and Wastewater Superintendent Kendal Weisend has informed the city he will be leaving St. Clairsville. He has worked for the city for 14 months. Weisand’s final day will be today. He found a position closer to his home town of Byesville.

“He resigned to take another position closer to home,” Zucal said. “He thanks the city. He enjoyed his time here.”

Zucal said the city will look into replacing the position.

In answer to a question from Sabatino, Zucal said the city is looking to schedule street paving in the future. A preliminary list of streets is being assembled and may be completed by April, with work to begin shortly afterward, depending on the weather.

Pugh commended the city employees for their response to recent bad weather.

“During the last two weeks, we pretty much saw it all again, from the high winds knocking out some electric in St. Clairsville, to water leaks and the water department is now repairing those, to terrible weather and of course the snow and ice,” he said.

Service Director Don Smithberger reported that a power outage Sunday was due to high winds, which took down a large pine tree along US 40 near a substation.

“It shorted out the 69 line for (American Electric Power). We found the problem, call them in, and they dispatched crews out here to resolve the problem as fast as they could. Unfortunately, it knocked out power to us and about 15 other stations for AEP,” Smithberger said. “At those high winds, we can’t get the buckets up because it’s a good chance it would upset them. The winds were 60 (miles per hour) or better.”

Pugh added that the city is also encouraging all residents to sign up for the county’s Code Red notification system.

“If we do have an outages in Ward 2 or Ward 3, we will be able to go on Code Red and single out that one ward and say we’re aware there’s a power outage,” he said.

The Cumberland Trail Fire District will meet at 3 p.m. March 20 at the firehall. The recreation committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. April 18 at the recreation center.

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