Safety Service Director Steve Wetz shares the reasoning behind job postings for summer workers during Thursday evening's city council meeting. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Marietta City Council approved several pieces of legislation Thursday evening at the Armory, including measures related to public works restructuring, seasonal employees, the Acme Street improvement project and police department hiring rules.

Councilman Harley Noland served as council president pro tem in the absence of Council President Susan Vessels.

Council removed Ordinance 40 from the table and adopted it in a 5-2 vote, with Noland and Councilwoman Katie McGlynn voting against it.

The ordinance authorizes the safety-service director to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Washington County Commission for services by the Southeastern Ohio Building Department. The agreement covers zoning code enforcement, property maintenance code inspection and enforcement, and related administrative services.

Council also voted to table Ordinances 46 and 47, with Councilman Bill Gossett and Noland opposed. Ordinance 46 would authorize a contract with McKay Lodge Fine Arts Conservation LLC for the creation of a bronze replica of the Start Westward Monument in Muskingum Park. Ordinance 47 would authorize a cultural project cooperative use agreement with the Ohio History Connection and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for the Start Westward Monument Project.

Chief Building Official for the Southeast Ohio Building Department Rick Dostal gives an update regarding re-roofing permits following a hail storm earlier in the year during Thursday evening's Marietta City Council meeting. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Councilman Jon Grimm later said the contract being considered with McKay Lodge was for $687,000, while a letter from the Ohio History Connection indicated the city would receive $600,000, leaving an unfunded gap. He also said the letter indicated the city would be responsible for the monument’s maintenance and upkeep, which he said had not previously been discussed.

“The state does not want to have anything to do with two monuments in the park or being responsible for two monuments in the park,” Grimm said, adding that the letter appeared to clarify that the city would have to take ownership of the monument.

Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 52 which restructures the Public Works Department – abolishing and creating positions as well as amending the city’s table of organization. Ordinance 53 was adopted and begins the process for selecting depositories for city funds from Sept. 19, 2026, through Sept. 18, 2031. Grimm said the ordinance allows the city to seek bids for funds it has on deposit.

Several new ordinances were introduced and adopted after council suspended second and third readings: Ordinance 57 appropriated and transferred funds, including money for seasonal labor at Mound Cemetery and the harbor; match money for the Hackney Street project; a temporary parking attendant position; a temporary public works office position; a contract with the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority; and pass-through donation money.

Ordinances 58 and 59 created temporary seasonal labor positions for the Public Works Department, primarily in the city’s cemeteries and at the Harbor of Marietta. Both carried emergency clauses.

Mayor Josh Schlicher gives an update on a meeting he had in Athens during Thursday evening's Marietta City Council meeting. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Safety Service Director Steve Wetz said the additional positions were needed because Job and Family Services provided younger workers than in previous years, which meant they could not operate weedeaters without close supervision.

“We haven’t asked for these positions for the last couple years, because Job and Family Services has provided us with young people that were of age to operate weedeaters on their own,” Wetz said. “This year, they’ve provided us with under that legal age, which meant that for them to operate weed eaters, we had to have a supervisor standing right beside them.”

Ordinance 60 authorized Wetz to enter into a contract with Cronin Enterprises Civil & Rail Division for the Acme Street water main and sanitary sewer improvements project in an amount not to exceed $1,822,682. Ordinance 61 authorized Wetz to enter into Change Order No. 1 with Strand Associates, Inc. for necessary changes to the Acme Street project in an amount not to exceed $343,875.

Council also adopted Ordinance 62, which amends the city’s police department ordinance – Councilman Ron Wesel said the change would allow the administration to raise the hiring age for police officers.

Mayor Josh Schlicher said he met earlier Thursday in Athens with the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, along with several other mayors and staff members. Schlicher said the discussion focused on what is happening in Marietta, the city’s current projects and what resources the Federal Reserve may be able to offer. He said the city presented certificates of appreciation this week to five members of the public works team, recognizing employees from the streets, public facilities, water, wastewater and buildings departments.

Rick Dostal, chief building official for the Southeast Ohio Building Department, told council the department had issued 110 re-roof permits after a recent hailstorm, along with 10 commercial agreements and several siding permits.

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. June 4.