Steubenville Council deals with potential safety risk issue

City officials in Steubenville reported significant safety risks from falling facade pieces of the Sinclair Building, with City Manager Jim Mavromatis urging the property owner to take action. He emphasized the severe consequences of a falling piece on pedestrians and has implemented temporary measures to secure the area. Concurrently, the city faces a violation notice from the Ohio EPA due to the absence of a Class 4 plant operator at its water facility, which has a design capacity of six million gallons but typically produces around four million. Water Superintendent Jim Jenkins is nearing certification but proposed either allowing him to take the test early or reclassifying the plant to alleviate regulatory pressure. The council also considered declaring several buildings unsafe, potentially leading to their demolition.

These issues underscore the city's need for urgent infrastructure improvements and compliance with state regulations. Mavromatis's proactive approach aims to mitigate risks while addressing the water plant's operational challenges.