WELLMAN

If you’ve ever struggled to enter the manual doors at Parkside Community Center in Wellman, your experience is about to get easier. The Wellman City Council approved the installation of buttons that will open the doors automatically at their Sept. 3 regular meeting.

The $23,435 price tag includes buttons both inside and out at all three doorways at the community center – those to the YMCA, Jet Physical Therapy, and Sunrise Child Care. The city will use funds from their quarterly municipal grants from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation to pay for the project.

City Administrator Kelly Litwiller noted that Wellman’s city-wide cleanup will be held Tuesday, Sept. 24 through Thursday, Sept. 26. Curbside pickup will be available for $15 on Tuesday and Wednesday; households are allowed one pickup, must prepay, and have items to the curb by 8 a.m. on the day they choose. Unwanted items can also be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on all three days at no charge; dumpsters are located at the city maintenance building, 205 9th Ave.

The council also held public hearings for seven ordinance updates resulting from changes in state legislation. No public comments were made; the council proceeded to approve the first readings and waive the second and third for ordinances regarding bond requirements, electronic meetings, budget preparation, pedestrian rights-of-way, publication of minutes, sidewalk liability, and adult establishments.

The idea of adult establishments in Wellman afforded an opportunity for humor.

“[The ordinance] specifically governs nude or topless dancing but does not necessarily say whether you can do other things,” council member Aaron Fleming pointed out, eliciting laughter.

“It’s a starting point,” Mayor Ryan Miller quipped.

The city’s ordinance defines “adult establishment” as “any business that provides nude or topless dancing or operates any other adult oriented business.” The amended section proceeds to outline public safety nuisances – unlawful discharge of a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon, or engaging in a riot – and establish that the city attorney may file suit when an adult establishment is associated with such a nuisance.

The Wellman City Council will next meet on Monday, Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.