BELPRE — Belpre City Council received an update on projects and programs coming up in the city of Belpre at Monday night’s regular meeting.

In the meeting, held by Zoom, Safety-Service Director Connie Hoblitzell reported that repair work on the Drag Strip Road slip began Oct. 5. If work progresses as planned, the project should be completed by Thanksgiving, she said.

Following a Utility Committee meeting on Oct. 6 to discuss natural gas aggregation, council approved a voice vote giving Hoblitzell permission to begin working on the gas aggregation agreement with AEP Energy. Two public meetings will be scheduled in the neat future before council takes action on an ordinance approving the next aggregation agreement.

Mayor Mike Lorentz said natural gas prices are so low in general at this time that he doesn’t anticipate any problems or surprises in the agreement.

The city of Belpre is nearly finished with the necessary equipment and software installations that will allow the full council to meet in person in its chamber with the public attending by Zoom in accord with state regulations regarding COVID-19 restrictions. That may be in place by the next October council meeting or in early November.

In his mayor’s report, Lorentz said the Belpre Lions Club, the Belpre Woman’s Club and the Belpre Holiday Lights Committee will be working together this year for the Belpre Holiday Lights Festival and the annual parade on the Saturday after Thanksgiving that marks the official lighting of the holiday lights displays with a parade.

On Nov. 28, Lorentz said this year’s event will begin with a “reverse parade” at Belpre High School. In a “reverse parade,” the floats and displays will be static and visitors will drive through them instead of the usual parade on Washington Boulevard.

A Finance Committee will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19 to begin the 2021 budget approval process.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will be at Howes Grove Park to hold a Drug Takeback Day in Belpre, Lorentz said.

Wayne Towner can be reached at wtowner@newsandsentinel.com