EAST PALESTINE Outgoing councilman gives advice

The city manager will apply for a grant for projects such as a nature trail through city park.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
EAST PALESTINE -- Councilwoman Becky Burns did not want to hear what Councilman Doug Simpson had to say.
Monday's meeting was the last for Simpson, who has served on council 10 years, and Daniel Wilkovich, who has served five. Neither sought re-election.
Simpson, chairman of the utility committee for many years, said although he did not have a committee report, after so many years on council, he did have a few observations.
Simpson and Burns have often been on opposite sides of issues and at times engaged in heated debates.
At Monday's meeting, as Simpson began a commentary on how council should refrain from micromanagement of the city, Burns excused herself. She asked Mayor Raymond Hull to have someone come and get her when Simpson was finished, and she stepped into the hall.
Words of advice: Simpson advised council members they should not "follow the good-old-boy network." Council has hired a professional city manager to manage city operations and they should allow that to happen, he said.
He also urged council members to consider annexation with care and keep a close watch on utilities. There is room to grow through annexation, he said, if it is handled properly.
After Simpson's remarks, Hull instructed Wilkovich to tell Burns that Simpson had finished speaking. Wilkovich did so, and Burns returned for the remainder of the meeting.
To apply for grant: Council approved an ordinance allowing city manager Gary Clark to apply for a new state grant for park improvements.
Clark said the grant through the Clean Ohio Program provides funding for environmental clean-up projects and open space and conservation preservation projects.
He said environmental and design studies are in progress for the city lake and the park.
Clean Ohio grants can be used for passive recreation projects such as bicycling or nature trails, but not for improvements such as baseball fields or tennis courts, Clark said.