East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway swears in Barb Herriot as the village’s newest member of council during Monday’s meeting. Herriot fills the seat vacated by Doug Simpson who resigned last month. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

EAST PALESTINE — East Palestine council took actions to move past last month’s resignations of village manager Chad Edwards and councilman Doug Simpson during a regular meeting on Monday.

Council passed a motion to appoint Barb Herriot as Simpson’s replacement and a resolution to accept a mutual release agreement with Edwards. Herriot, who was sworn in by East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway at the start of Monday’s meeting, was one of five residents who were interviewed by council during a special meeting last week. Robert “Rube” Ginder, Darren Miller, John Simon Jr. and Mary Huff also submitted letters of interest to serve out the remainder of Simpson’s vacated term which expires at the end of next year.

Simpson resigned from council on Oct. 28 in protest of what he considered poor treatment of former village manager Chad Edwards who stepped down just days earlier. Edwards cited “deep divisions” and an inability to bridge gaps left behind in the wake of last year’s Norfolk Southern train derailment as the reason for immediately stepping away from his position.

Council is accepting applications for Edwards’ replacement through Dec. 6. Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter and resume by noon on the deadline date to m.martin@eastpalestine-oh.gov by email.

Applications can also be mailed to or dropped off at the East Palestine Municipal Building up until the deadline.

In additional legislation items, council passed a resolution to provide the East Palestine Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) a short-term loan to purchase real estate. On Friday, the CIC approved the acquisition of the old PNC Bank and parking lot on North Market Street for a purchase-price of $100,000.

Council clerk and acting village manager Misti Martin read the resolution in full.

“The EP CIC has received pledges for significant funds but has not received said funds and the EP CIC has an immediate opportunity to enhance economic development through the acquisition of real estate,” she read. “The village financial director is hereby authorized to lend the EP CIC for a period not to exceed 90 days a sum not to exceed $85,000. Due to the fact the EP CIC is acting agent for the village, said loan is approved without interest.”

In other matters, Martin reported that work on Phase 1 of the $25 million project to renovate the city park funded by Norfolk Southern is ongoing.

“The curb work is nearing completion. There was an issue with one of the curbs that had to be torn out and repoured and that delay resulted in another delay to asphalting the sports courts,” Martin said. “That is now tentatively scheduled for the week of Dec. 2. Last week, the week of the 18th, they began electrical work, installing some junction boxes and they are beginning sidewalk installation on the westside of the infield. This week, they will only be working Monday through Wednesday, but they assured everything will be cleaned up and ready to go so there is no issue with the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving.”

Martin also reported that there is still no start date on Phase 2 (the construction of the new pool and aquatic center) as design firm Michael Baker International “works through design questions and permitting issues”.

“We are just not any further on that just yet,” Martin said.

Originally, Norfolk Southern and Michael Baker both promised completion of Phase 2 for the start of next swim season. With that projected goal up in the air, council has been mulling over how best to address the non-working heater at the current pool. Martin said Michael Baker reached out to the manufacturer to find a new heater could be installed at the old pool and eventually utilized at the new one. However, it was learned that doing so would cancel the heater’s warranty. With that option out, Michael Baker and the park board are looking into alternative solutions.

Also at Monday’s meeting:

— Martin thanked Gary and Patty Linhart of Town-n-Country Nursery for the donation of the live Christmas tree which will be lit during a ceremony tagged “Brighten Our Future” after the village’s Holiday parade on Dec. 7. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. and is part of the annual Snowflake that will offer activities all day for all ages at various locations through the village. Social media updates of the scheduled events will be posted as they become available.”

— Council also held second readings of ordinances to adopt increased police wages effective Jan. 1 and adopting appropriations for current expenses and estimated resources for fiscal year 2025, as well as a first reading of legislation regarding the terms of employment for the K-9 officer effective Jan. 1.

— Residents were reminded that village offices will be closed Thursday and Friday this week in observance of Thanksgiving Holiday and that curbside leaf pick-up continues in the village. Leaves in paper bags placed on the curb will be picked up as man-power permits. No plastic bags will be accepted.

— Council heard that a portion of North Market Street in front of the municipal building was repaved on Monday.

— Finance committee chair Linda May reported that the village Think Tank met last week to discuss various committees. The group will not meet until the first of the year.

— Council learned that the village is still searching for a site-based pharmacy to replace the now-closed Rite-Aid. May reminded residents that two Columbiana pharmacies offer delivery to East Palestine as does Walgreens in Boardman.

— Martin reported that Michael Baker is expected to give a tentative start date to replace the “Welcome to East Palestine” sign on state Route 14. The bill for the new sign will be footed by the railroad.

selverd@mojonews.com