Wellsville fire chief issues warning | News, sports, jobs

WELLSVILLE – Wellsville Fire Chief Barry Podwel issued a warning during Tuesday’s Wellsville City Council meeting.

Powdel said he knows the village has a fire ordinance and there are no fires happening statewide. He said he understands people are trying to start small fires, but his department spent Monday dealing with two large fires and one major fire over four days. He noted that he received calls Monday from Russell Heights residents concerned about embers from the Yellow Creek fires moving into their area.

Podwel said in the past what he usually does when someone has a fire is alert them, and if they don’t put it out, the department puts it out.

‘I’m not warning anyone, I’m going to sue them’ Podwel said.

Podwel also raised a topic discussed earlier about setting up a committee in the event of a major catastrophe in the village. He brought this up earlier after the train derailment in East Palestine.

He took a trip to Asheville, North Carolina two weeks ago, saw the damage from Hurricane Helene and noted that the city was in shambles.

As a precaution, he wants to set up a committee to investigate what the village can do to make advance plans and be prepared for a catastrophic event in the village. He wants Mayor Bob Boley, Fiscal Officer Hoi Wah and Administrator Jeff Cope to serve on the committee, and seek others from the state. He also wants to ask Peggy Clark, executive director of the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency, for advice.

Wah said the village administration is meeting with the Port Authority, the USDA, Buckeye Water District and OMEGA regarding the financing status of the Mariana project, for which the village has secured $625,000 in financing. She noted that they may apply for a CBDG infrastructure storm sewer grant, hoping to get $750,000 for the dredging portion of the marina, as funding has not yet been secured for that.

The village is currently investigating the cost of the marina docks.

Councilman Aaron Smith proposed bringing Russell Heights to the village, which was followed by a discussion about annexation. Councilman Keith Thorn, who also chairs the Claims, Rules and Ordinance Committee, will speak with Village Solicitor John Gamble about exploring the annexation of Russell Heights and other areas around the village.

Smith told the Council that a new sign was ready to be installed at the cemetery. He also noted that a $2,500 grant had been received from Hancock Savings for Hammond Park.

An ordinance was approved to increase appropriations for current and other expenses of the village.

An ordinance restricting the use of intermodal shipping containers in the village was placed on second reading.

During the public part there was no one to speak.

Council approved payment of bills totaling $16,674.63.

The Claims, Rules and Ordinances Committee will hold a joint meeting with the Real Estate/Sewer Committee in the Council Chambers on November 12 at 6:00 PM to discuss an ordinance for a building/housing inspector and the building codes.

The Wellsville Village Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the council chambers of Wellsville Village Hall. The next regular meeting is scheduled for November 9.