T-L Photo/KAILEY CARPINO Martins Ferry Councilman Spencer Echemann discusses project ideas that could be funded through state grant money.

MARTINS FERRY — Service Director Andy Sutak discussed the Capital Budget Bill through the state, which could provide grant money for city improvements, during the Martins Ferry City Council meeting Wednesday.

He said that the same bill provided funding for the splash pad last year.

Sutak provided council with a list of project ideas that could be funded by the grant.

Some of his ideas included improvements to the pool and recreation center to create an aquatics center, a new shelter at the park and new restroom facilities at the park.

Sutak said the city would have to pay for the project initially and get reimbursed, and he is unsure of how the city would provide funding for any of the projects on his list.

He said he hopes a local business or organization or several organizations would lend the city money to support the project.

Sutak said the aquatic center would be available to rent out, which would put money back into the facility.

Auditor Jack Regis said the aquatic center would also help Martins Ferry City Schools save money used to transport the swim team to meets.

He said the swim team could meet and practice in Martins Ferry instead of traveling to other schools and facilities to use their pools.

Sutak said a shelter at the park could also be rented out for parties and events to provide funding for the city.

Councilman Spencer Echemann said he liked the idea of building a new shelter at the park.

“I think that’s going to be something that will be in use a lot, you know, for family reunions, high school graduation parties, you name it. I think that’s a great idea,” he said.

Echemann also suggested building a theater or auditorium for performing arts.

“I’d love to see if we can do something with that. I think that’d be a great way of getting our community together,” he said.

He said that as a former theater student, he would like to help out with the project if it moves forward.

Sutak said creating a performing arts space would be reasonable and that the rec center could serve as its location.

“We got the property. We got the location. We got the rec center. There’s property there to expand on, so that would be a program that is not out of reach,” he said.

Council plans to keep discussing the possible projects more in the future.

In other news, Sutak also said a realtor recently contacted him about a client who is interested in putting a scrap yard in the city. Sutak said he talked about it with Solicitor Paul Stecker to see if the city has any laws or regulations on scrap yards.

Stecker said he did not find any ordinances related to scrap yards, so Sutak said he plans to check with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to see what the proper guidelines are for scrap yards.

Sutak also said the scrap yard would have to be located in Martins Ferry’s industrial park.

“The realtor will have to talk to one of the industries or property owners in our industrial park. That’s the only place that they could put any type of scrap yard,” he said.

Sutak said he is waiting to hear back from the OEPA and ODRN before contacting the realtor to move forward with any decisions.

Councilman Thomas Burns said he is glad that Sutak is looking into the environmental guidelines for the potential scrap yard. He said the city had problems with people dumping chemicals in the 1990s.

Mayor John Davies also hinted at the council meeting that new businesses may be coming to the Purple City.

“Right now, we hate to speculate on it or anything, but we’ve talked to several different business owners that are looking to relocate here,” he said.

He said the owner of Cloud 9 Salon recently purchased the former Tina’s Sweet Celebrations Bakery building at 819 Zane Highway, but he did not know any more details.

“We just have to wait and see because we’re kind of in the middle of the business owner and the property owner,” Davies said.

Council voted to cancel the regular council meeting scheduled for Dec. 20.