Belpre – Belprey City Council in its regular meeting on Monday night cleared the way for a new business to open in Belpre.
Council held a public hearing and approved all three readings of the ordinance making proposed zoning changes for the property on Farson Street from R1 to C2 to allow for the construction of a new pharmacy.
Although previously zoned residential, the space was being used commercially for years. The new owners plan to start work in the near future to build a small pharmacy at that location.
Mayor Mike Lorentz said the water line project on Farson Street is nearing completion. The final connection of the hospital property is expected by Saturday.
With the exception of the paving it should end at Farson Street and run well with the paving on the south side of Braun Avenue, he said.
The council unanimously approved the second reading of a resolution authorizing the city auditor to establish a special revenue fund to receive funds under the American Rescue Planning Act pursuant to Ohio House Bill 168. A final reading will be held at a future Council meeting.
The council also approved all three readings of a pair of resolutions approving the creation of the OneOhio Opioid Settlement Fund and the fund’s governance structure under the OneOhio Memorandum of Understanding.
As part of his mayor’s report, Lorentz said that he and security-services director Connie Hoblitzel discussed the possibility of having street crews clear snow on school property during the winter months with Belpre City School’s maintainers. Representative Scott met True. The city’s street foreman and service director will work out the cost and bring them to the council for discussion, he said, adding that the school system has neither the manpower nor the equipment to accomplish this task.
Lorentz said he recently discussed the potential for running a bus line through Belprey with representatives from the Interstate Planning Commission, the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority and the Ohio Department of Transportation. Lorentz said that with funding available to study the issue, no match is needed from Belpre. He urged the council to be ready to act in some form or the other.