MARTINS FERRY — Police Chief John McFarland, speaking Wednesday on behalf of the absent Mayor John Davies, said the city will no longer administer warnings to people with unkempt properties who don’t cut down their grass or allow other dilapidated conditions to continue.

“There will be no warnings, no letters or anything issued of any sort for anyone that has trash laying around their house or high grass,” McFarland said. “We’re going to continue as we go forward, looking at different code violations to see if we are going to continue with no warnings for those as well, but we’ll advise everyone prior to that time.”

Village Solicitor Paul Stecker added that those warnings McFarland spoke of are not required.

“There’s no change that’s required, we’re just enforcing the laws as they’re read,” Stecker told council.

Councilman Bruce Shrodes spoke of a service committee meeting held earlier this month where it was discussed that City Council be more proactive regarding properties and working with police officers. He added that trash and rundown properties are “becoming a point of accountability.”

“And we all agreed that if individuals are responsible for their own homes and if they are not going to maintain everything then it will be forwarded,” Shrodes said.

McFarland also said dimensions for the city’s new proposed impound lot are in the works. He said it will be 107 by 90 feet.

“So that’s moving forward,” he told council.

Also, McFarland reminded council that Code Administrator Betty Suto is retiring and the position needs to be filled. This led to a longer discussion on how this would be done. For the time being, police Officer Tim Starkey will be taking over those duties.

“But all the officers are going to contribute into enforcing code laws,” McFarland said, with the main concerns being high grass and the trash situation.

Later, Councilman Rick Rodgers raised the issue of Ordinance 129.05.B, which deals with the code administrator issue. He then read the ordinance that states that “the approval and confirmation of council” is needed to choose and employ a person for that position.

“So we have to have a director of public safety make a recommendation to us with our approval,” Rodgers said. “That’s the way it’s written.”

Rodgers said he was only asking the question about the situation to avoid any trouble down the road. McFarland, though, pointed out that Starkey would not be the administrator but would only enforce the code as a lead officer with the help of the others on the force. Stecker agreed that Starkey would not be the code administrator but said the police do have the authority to enforce those codes and while it may sound the same, regarding administrator and enforcer, it is not.

Stecker then offered to prepare an ordinance clarifying that. When asked, he also said the position could remain unfilled if council chose.

“We don’t have to do anything and then we can just leave it like it is and it’s fine,” Stecker said.

This led to talk of allocating funds where council, with Service Director Andy Sutak’s lead, decided to have the contractor’s license and building permit funds placed into the general fund. Stecker said an ordinance would be needed for this move.

Sutak also welcomed anyone wishing to donate to the recreation center’s new splash pad. He said they would like to keep the splash pad opened after the pool is closed. He said turf would be laid down around the baby pool area as well to keep it clean.

Council President Kristine Davis said work is moving forward on installing an up-to-date recording system for council meetings with new microphones and a camera.

Also, it was announced the chamber of commerce banquet will be on Sept. 15 with the keynote speaker being Wheeling Nailers head coach Derek Army. The event will be held at the city rec center.