Challenges ahead in Ferry
City leaders tackling multiple issues in 2025
MARTINS FERRY — City Council started its work for 2025 Wednesday with an eye toward several concerns and news that residents should expect some changing of the guard.
Council President Kristine Davis opened the meeting by announcing that she will not seek reelection to her position and will end her more than 20 years of service on council in December. Later in the meeting, Councilman Ben Neiman followed suit, citing health reasons for his decision to not seek reelection and to conclude his service in December.
Davis reminded members who do intend to seek reelection that their petitions for candidacy are due to the Belmont County Board of Elections by 4 p.m. Feb. 5.
Noting that he is “just tired,” Mayor John Davies added that he expects to reduce his hours in the office from full to part time beginning in March. Davies said after five years of working for the city every day, he feels the need to step back and let others take on some of his responsibilities.
One way that might happen is through the hiring of an assistant service director. Councilman Robert Hunker said the matter was raised at a Finance Committee meeting held earlier in the day. Davies pointed out that even if that position is added, the city will still have one less “boss” than it employed in past years and that a person in that position could be paid from multiple funds so as not to deplete any single fund.
According to Hunker, the committee also heard a request for a salary increase for Police Chief Jerry Murphy, along with a request from Davies and Safety/Service Director Andy Sutak to restore income tax proceeds that had been removed from the recreation and street funds to help balance the budget in 2023.
“Of course they explained how difficult it is to run those two right now, especially street with the salt and everything,” Hunker noted.
During his report, Davies had pointed out that the city is in Ohio, and “it snows in Ohio.” He asked for residents’ patience and understanding as crews continue work to clear and maintain the 39 miles of roads for which the city is responsible. He said their top priorities are ensuring access to East Ohio Regional Hospital and to Martins Ferry City Schools.
Sutak added that the city recently obtained two truckloads of road salt that had been stored in Cleveland by its supplier, and that that supplier is currently working to replenish its stock. He said crews are mixing grit with the salt to help provide additional traction for motorists.
Hunker also said 2025 will be a demanding year for city leaders.
“We’ve got so many things right now,” he said, citing the need to repair the roof of the city building as a top concern.
“We would like to have a workshop with city council, the mayor, the service director, the auditor,” Hunker said. “… We can all sit down and discuss and go through everything so everybody understands where we’re at and what we’re looking at. Because there’s so many things going on — so many things that down the road we’re going to have to repair or fix. The biggest things right now is right above us, the roof. … At this point right now, there doesn’t seem to be any funding out there.”
Davis said the public would be welcome to attend that workshop session, which will be scheduled at a later date.
Councilman Spencer Echemann was absent and members discussed that he is taking classes that conflict with the regular 6 p.m. meeting time. On a motion by Councilwoman Suzanne Armstrong, council unanimously voted to hold its meetings at 4:30 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of each month through the end of May to accommodate Echemann’s schedule.
Meanwhile, Davies said the Ohio Department of Transportation will be “revamping” the pedestrian bridge that crosses Ohio 7 to provide access to the schools’ Dave Bruney Football Complex. He said ODOT is cutting branches and limbs in the area now, but people are moving barricades and using the bridge despite the work. He urged residents not to use the bridge until the project is complete.