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MARTINS FERRY -- Martins Ferry City Council met Wednesday to approve final appropriations for 2020 and also heard good news regarding East Ohio Regional Hospital.
After the meeting Council President Kristine Davis said Mayor John Davies said EORH is expected to reopen around mid-January, or in about two weeks.
"They're having some final inspections done," Davis said of the facility.
EORH was closed last year by its former owner Alecto Health Care Services. It was announced last May that Dayton-based psychiatrist Dr. John Johnson had purchased the facility with the intention of re-opening it as a hospital.
Meanwhile, Davis said the Martins Ferry EMS is set to receive two new ambulances in July that were purchased with federal CARES Act money.
Also, council approved making the mayor position full-time with benefits available. Davis said Davies already has been working daily every weekend day, in addition to some evenings during emergencies. The ordinance will allow Davies to get health insurance benefits if he wants them.
"It can be changed at the end of any term," Davis said.
She noted Davies took on more responsibility with overseeing the street department after the department's supervisor, Rob Duncan Sr., was laid off at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city also is continuing to work on possibly broadcasting meetings online. The current issue is getting the right hardware to do so and determining the resulting cost.
Most council members said for now they do not mind meeting in person at the city building.
Davis said Safety Director Jack Regis Jr. also announced that Ron Hilton was appointed acting chief II for the Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department. A formal vote to make him the permanent chief II will be taken during the VFD's Jan. 16 meeting.