The new faces on the Ironton City Council will begin their tenure by deciding whether or not the city will take out a $921,279 loan.

Money from the loan, if approved, will be used to help the city create its combined sewer overflow long-term control plan.

The ordinance, which will have its first reading during this evening’s meeting of the council, would allow Mayor John Elam to enter into a loan agreement with the Ohio Water Pollution Control Fund to the tune of more than $921,000.

The matter will be discussed at 6 p.m. today in council chambers in what will be the first meeting for newly elected Ralph Huff, Leo Johnson, Rich Blankenship and Bob Cleary.

Elam said that he suspected that the ordinance, which has been declared an emergency, could be passed at that same meeting, forgoing its second and third reading.

“I would think that it’s going to be passed right away in order for us to be able to lock in a lower interest rate without having to worry about it jumping up,” Elam said.

The ordinance would also designate the soon-to-be-established stormwater utility fund as the source of funds for repayment.

Elam said that the passing of the ordinance won’t officially take out the loan, but rather allow him to begin the loan submission process.

The council will also give the third and final reading of an ordinance that will establish a stormwater fund. The fund is where all CSO fees will be deposited, which will enable the city to track the revenues and expenditures associated with the program.

Also during the meeting will be the first reading of an ordinance, which will alter the city’s recreation budget for 2005. The change will allow the city to purchase uniforms for the city basketball league. The recreation director has already turned in funds to offset the costs.