WARREN — Council voted 9 to 1 to approve legislation to use $2.5 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to allow the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership to continue its emergency home repair program, for the Trumbull County Land Bank cleanup at the former gasification plant on the corner of Mahoning Avenue and South Street, and the demolition of various abandoned properties.

Only Councilman Ken MacPherson, D-at Large, voted against the legislation.

With this passage, the city will provide $1 million to be used for a 25 percent local match for Trumbull County Land Bank to receive a grant totaling $4 million. It also is providing $500,000 to be used as a 25 percent local match for a $2 million grant obtained by the land bank for the remediation of the gasification site.

The money for the cleanup of the former gasification plant will be used to remove contaminated soils and oils in groundwater and other remedial work to ensure compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency.

The vacant property has an industrial history dating to the late 1800s and has been an incinerator, ammonia well and has stored coke and coal. Coal tar is present on the property.

After it is cleaned up, the site will be marketed for residential, commercial or industrial development.

• Passed a resolution that will allow body-piercing operations to open within the city limits.

The legislation establishes annual fees for licenses in the city.

It also requires body-piercing professionals to have training in first aid, safety and sanitation requirements for prevention of transmission of infectious diseases and provide appropriate tattoo and piercing after-care.

Councilwoman Ashley Minor, D-5th Ward, pushed for the passage of body-piercing legislation because she felt there was no reason why body piercing should not be allowed in the city when shops and professional body piercers are in communities around the city;

• Heard from Mayor Doug Franklin, who congratulated the owners of Diane Sauer Chevrolet for making the final payment of a loan that allowed it to purchase the property where it is located, build a new 19,150-square-foot service building and renovate an existing 37,725-square-foot building. The cost of the project was approximately $5 million, which included a loan from the city of $1.7 million.

The final payment of the city’s loan was made last week.

• Placed in first reading legislation that would provide a 10-year tax abatement agreement in an enterprise zone for a proposed Cleveland Steel Container Corp., which is projecting an investment between $11.1 million and $17.2 million.

Council will have community meetings on the plant in September after it returns from summer recess;

• Unanimously voted to honor Margaret Scott for her 35 years working on the Warren Board of Health.

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