MARTINS FERRY — During a short Martins Ferry City Council meeting Wednesday, Service Director Christopher Cleary said his department would seek funds to repair a new sinkhole which appeared in the last week.

Cleary said the 12-inch sinkhole, which opened up at the end of South First Street, would be alleviated with a temporary cover while the city seeks funding through the Ohio Public Works Commission for a more permanent solution.

“We’re going to set up a temporary cover to try to keep surface water from getting in, and keep it from getting bigger than it needs to be,” Cleary said.

He added that engineer Jeff Vaughn has already begun work to remedy the problem, and to check whether the sinkhole is a symptom of a larger concern with the 8-foot bridge structure in which it’s appeared.

The amount sought from the state has yet to be determined.

“(Vaughn) has already contacted the appropriate state agencies to seek funding sources, and he’s contacted us to see about setting up an exploratory look at this, the piping. If a few bricks have let loose, is the rest stable? We’ll take a look at that in the coming weeks,” Cleary said.

This sinkhole is the latest in a string of sinkholes which have afflicted Martins Ferry, most notably during heavy rain on June 23 at the Jaycee Manor Apartments, when a 30-foot wide, 30-foot deep crater opened in the parking lot. No one was injured.

Cleary said the city’s sinkhole problem is attributable to its ancient infrastructure, as the oldest settlement in Ohio.

“We have some of the oldest infrastructure in the state, and therefore our stuff’s been here longer than anyone else,” he said. “It’s primarily caused by sanitary and storm sewers, and over the years. In some cases, over the years, we’ve come across creeks and tried to run those through pipes, and galvanized pipe only lasts so long. We’re here now, and we’re the ones who have to deal with it. The structure they built years ago is amazing, but it just can’t last forever.”

Although council did not vote on any legislation Wednesday, members did unanimously agree to cancel their Aug. 2 meeting in honor of Betty Zane Days festival. The following meeting, at 6 p.m. on Aug. 16, is to be held at the Liberty Fire Station.