WELLSVILLE – Wellsville Fire Chief Barry Podwel issued a warning at the Wellsville Village Council meeting Tuesday.

Powdel said he knew the village had a fire ordinance and that there were no fires in the entire state. He said he understands people are trying to have small fires, but his department dealt with two major fires Monday and one major fire in the last four days. He noted that he received phone calls Monday from Russell Heights residents concerned about embers from the Yellow Creek fires drifting into their area.

Podwel said in the past what he usually did when someone had a fire was to warn them and if they didn’t put it out, the department put it out.

“I’m not warning anyone, I’m going to charge them” » said Podwel.

Podwel also brought up a previously mentioned topic of establishing a committee in the event of a major disaster in the village. He had already raised this subject after the train derailment in East Palestine.

He visited Asheville, North Carolina, two weeks ago and saw the damage caused by Hurricane Helene and noted that the city was a mess.

As a precaution, he wants to create a committee to look at what the village can do to plan and prepare in the event of a catastrophic event in the village. He wants Mayor Bob Boley, Finance Officer Hoi Wah and Trustee Jeff Cope to be on the committee and to seek others around the state. He also wants input from Peggy Clark, executive director of the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency.

Wah said the village administration has met with the Port Authority, USDA, Buckeye Water District and OMEGA regarding the financing status of the Mariana project for which the village has acquired $625,000 in financing. She noted that they may be going to apply for a CBDG grant for storm sewer infrastructure in hopes of getting $750,000 for the dredging portion of the marina, as no funding has yet been secured for that .

The village is currently studying the cost of docks for the marina.

Council member Aaron Smith suggested considering incorporating Russell Heights into the village and a discussion about annexation followed. Council member Keith Thorn, who also serves as chair of the Claims, Rules and Ordinances Committee, will speak with Village Attorney John Gamble about the annexation of Russell Heights and other areas around the village .

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

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

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

There was no one to speak during the public portion.

The council approved payment of bills totaling $16,674.63.

The Complaints, Rules and Ordinances Committee will hold a joint meeting with the Property and Sewer Committee on November 12 at 6 p.m. in council chambers to discuss an ordinance regarding a building/housing inspector and the building code.

The Wellsville Village Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., in the council chambers of the Wellsville village hall. The next regular meeting is scheduled for November 9.