Custom Tree Services will be leasing property from the City of Ironton starting early next year.

The Ironton City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Thursday night allowing Mayor Rich Blankenship to enter into a lease with the tree service company.

The lease states that the property, located at the intersection of Lawrence Street Road and beneath U.S. 52, is four acres and will be leased for $200 each month.

Custom Tree Services will use the property for storing a biomass fuel and mulch facility where only wood products will be accepted, according to the lease.

The agreement will be for 2010, after which the tree company will have the option of renewing.

The lease also states that the city has the option of terminating it, provided it gives 90 days notice to the company.

In other business, the Ironton City Council also:

Tabled two ordinances that would have amended the 2009 operating budget for the city and adopted a temporary budget for 2010.

Councilman Frank Murphy made a motion to table the ordinances, saying that the city did not need them anymore. The motions to table were seconded by Councilman Bob Cleary.

Passed an ordinance allowing Blankenship to purchase new dumpsters for the city. According to the ordinance, the cost of the dumpsters will not exceed $5,000.

Heard from Paul Woods, chairman of the Ironton Port Authority, about the state of the port authority. Woods said since the organization’s beginning in 2004, it has been instrumental in bringing 300 jobs to the city. The organization is also involved in development at a few sites throughout the city, such as the former children’s home and the county garage.

“I want you to know that we are pressing, pressing, pressing and trying to do anything we can and rest assured that if we need any help from you we won’t hesitate to come and ask you for it,” Woods said.

Received notice from Time Warner Cable that its channel line-up will now include NBA TV HD, Hallmark HD, and TLC HD.