The outfall line of Ironton pump station #6 at Moltens Field will soon be in the first phase of improvements, as Ordinance 16-07, regarding E.L. Robinson designing and engineering the project in a contract with the city, was passed by Ironton City Council Thursday evening.

After going through both the finance and public utilities committees and getting favorable recommendations, the ordinance was amended Thursday to include the engineering cost of $97,000 for the first phase of the project before being passed.

The $97,000 for the first phase covers a gate being installed to seal out water, all of the water being drained and the installation of a manhole for the required U.S. Army Corps. Of Engineers inspections.

Currently, the line is completely submerged in water, water in the line reaches up to the pump station and a sink hole has developed in Moltens Field, all not allowing for the proper inspections. From there, the options of replacing the whole line for an estimated $911,184 or relining the pipe for an estimated $600,000 still remain.

However, it was determined to just go through with the first phase and then figure out what would be the best option because both require the same step.

The option to reline the pipe for $600,000 included one point repair, or a section of the pipe that needs replaced, which are estimated at about $60,000 each. If more than one were found, it could add to the estimated relining cost significantly.

Also at council:

Mayor Katrina Keith updated council on a few matters regarding the city, including looking into the aspect of small claims court on unpaid bills to help bring in funds, looking into starting a recycling program, and clean up days coming up later in the spring.

She also recognized Ironton High School senior Cory Rawlins, of Boy Scout Troop 106, for recently becoming an Eagle Scout and placing an American flagpole at Edna Kopacz Park for his Eagle Scout project. She presented him with a certificate for his accomplishment.

Ironton resident Hugh Scott suggested council looking into getting a camera to place somewhere overlooking the city for the purpose of making Ironton more visual on TV during local news broadcasts, as other communities do.

Ironton resident Elle Dew talked about her continuing efforts to save the old Ironton-Russell Bridge. She has a non-profit and said she was “extremely thrilled” and has made “tremendous progress.” The paper that she wrote about the bridge for a class at Ohio University Southern, that originally sparked her interest to save the bridge, is at the Ohio History Connection as well as the genealogy department at the Ironton Briggs Lawrence County Library.

She presented council with the total annual cost of $167,054.94 to keep the bridge open as a vehicular bridge that she obtained from the Ohio Department of Transportation.

She asked council for its support and council said that most support her and her cause individually and would like to see the bridge stay up if possible. As a group, however, there was nothing council could do.

Dew also mentioned plans that she has to try to open a free after school creative arts center for children to help keep them out of trouble.

Ordinance 16-15, authorizing the mayor to award bids for the purchase of chemicals for the year 2016, was passed.

Resolution 16-16, fixing the number and compensation of certain employees of the city of Ironton and declaring an emergency was tabled.