T-L Photo/JENNIFER COMPSTON-STROUGH Bridgeport officials, from left, Solicitor Michael Shaheen, Assistant Police Chief Darby Copeland and Councilman David Holmes prepare for a council meeting Wednesday evening.

BRIDGEPORT — Public officials are working to make spring cleaning a little easier for area residents.

Pease Township Trustee and Jefferson-Belmont Solid Waste Authority member Michael Bianconi visited the Bridgeport Village Council meeting on Wednesday evening to help spread the word about an upcoming event for that community. He said J.B. Green Team will host a community cleanup for Pease and Colerain Townships from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday on the lot behind CHapter Square, 68161 Commercial Drive, Bridgeport. The waste collection will accept “most old household junk,” including large and small appliances, microwave ovens, house and lawn furniture, carpeting, plastic riding and climbing toys, push lawn mowers (no lawn tractors), weed trimmers, tools, fixtures, mirrors, windows, doors, packing materials and car batteries. No tires or electronics, TVs, mattresses, box springs, garbage, leaves, lawn trimmings or hazardous materials will be accepted.

Bianconi pointed out that several additional cleanup events will be offered in various locations across Belmont and Jefferson counties during the spring and summer months. He stressed that any resident of either county can attend any or all of the free waste collections.

“You want to do that, rock ‘n’ roll go ahead and do it,” he said. “I’m just saying, people say there’s no opportunities to get rid of stuff except for throwing it over the hill and all that — it irritates me, and I’m sure it irritates all you guys. So there is an opportunity, there is a way to do it. It’s not new. … If you can’t make it this Saturday, there is a list and they’re posted all over the place.”

In addition to the colorful flyers that have been hung in communities around the region, people can call 740-526-0027 with questions or visit jbgreenteam.org for more information.

But Bianconi wasn’t the only one at the meeting with cleanliness on his mind. Mayor Norma Teasdale announced that the village itself with hold a cleanup day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 10. Residents can place unwanted items curbside for pickup, or for larger items dumpsters will be available at Kirkwood Heights Park, beneath the Ohio 7 overpass and in the DaVita Dialysis parking lot just off National Road. The event is being held in conjunction with Jochum Refuse in Wheeling.

Teasdale said the following items will not be accepted: Tires/batteries, liquid paints, propane tanks, refrigerators/dehumidifiers/air conditioners, flammables, chlorine/spa chemicals or oil/chemicals.

Resident Tim Smith also attended the meeting and announced that the village park board will conduct a community cleanup effort beginning at 9 a.m. April 13 at the municipal building. This will not be a household waste collection. Instead, participants will meet and fan out across the community to pick up litter and trash. Anyone who would like to help but who cannot meet the group can simply choose an area and clean up any litter they find there.

In other matters, council heard the monthly police department report from Assistant Chief Darby Copeland. He said officers responded to 319 calls to service in February and made 210 traffic stops. On 37 occasions, the officers assisted other agencies. They also responded to eight alarm drops, six suspicious person reports, three sex offense cases, two reports of shots fired and one animal complaint.

Of the traffic stops, 43% resulted in citations. Three stops involved illegal drugs, and officers handled three crashes.

Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi also delivered a report to council. He said he is seeking funding for a water meter replacement project in Bridgeport and Brookside through the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, Ohio Water Development Authority and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. He also believes funding might be available through the Ohio Public Works Commission. He said the work would replace 1,100 meters in the two communities.

Kosegi also continues to work toward development of a new village website. He said a company known as McGinnis Made reduced its estimated price from $4,000 to $2,000 for site creation upon learning that the community is seeking a very basic site. It would charge an annual fee of $1,000 for hosting the site. He is also taking with anothe web designer, Brandi Patt, and will provide details to council at its next meeting.

He also noted that the health insurance plan for village employees is due for renewal May 1. He is working with Michael Caruso of McCoy Wealth Management to find some options.

“I think I can get better — much better — prices,” he noted.

Council also unanimously approved the following pieces of legislation:

A resolution authorizing interfund transfers to cover normal expenses throughout the year;

A resolution hiring Michael Reese as the wastewater operator of record on a part-time basis at a rate of $800 per month. Kosegi said he would work for the village two to three days per week for 10-15 hours per day;

An ordinance amended charges to open and close graves at Weeks Cemetery, raising the fee from $900 to $1,000 on week days and $1,050 on weekends. This was passed as an emergency with council voting to suspend the rules that require three public readings of legislation prior to a vote;

A resolution to purchase a 2024 Dodge Durango for the police department with partial financing through WesBanco. The department is buying the vehicle from Greve Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Van Wert, Ohio, which participates in the state’s cooperative purchasing program. The price is $63,475, but the department already has about $40,000 on hand due to one vehicle being totaled in an accident and other vehicle being paid off. The village will borrow no more than $25,000 through WesBanco;

A resolution to create a fire/EMS fund to administer money collected via the fire and EMS levy;

An ordinance that will allow the finance director to move appropriated money from one fund to another as needed to cover costs as they arise;

And an ordinance amended line items in the appropriations, since additional money has come in since council approved a temporary budget for the first quarter of the year. According to Solicito Michael Shaheen, the village collected $15,000 from the fire/EMS levy and received two grants related to water maintenance and repairs, one for $1,000 and another for $10,302.25.

Council will next meet at 6 p.m. April 16 at the municipal building.