WINTERSVILLE – The Wintersville Council on Thursday approved the creation of a special fund for state money it hopes will pave Cadiz Road from Kroger Plaza to Indian Creek High School and replace a water line, restrooms and catch basins. along the four-lane highway.

Village Administrator Jesse Kosegi applied for funds from the Ohio Public Works Commission, while the council allocated $225,000 in local funds and secured a loan in the same amount for the project, which could exceed $1 million.

Mayor Mike Petrella noted that the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission secured a roughly $400,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to replace sidewalks along the road.

The village will provide $20,000 in grant money.

“The Cadiz Road will be beautiful when it’s finished” Petrella said.

He and other village officials said the work is delayed because the road hasn’t been paved in 20 years and the water line is believed to be more than 60 years old.

In related business, Petrella said residents have expressed concern about getting some roads repaired before winter. But he said there is enough asphalt for them to be addressed before winter.

Petrella also took time to thank voters who supported a new tax that supports the village’s police department and the officers and citizens who volunteered their time to hand out materials promoting it.

“I put knockers on every door” he said.

Councilor Jason Mattern also applauded the officers’ efforts, saying: “A lot of work has gone into this, so congratulations. You guys have earned this.”

Petrella said he was especially pleased to learn that the levy was supported by nearly 63 percent of the 2,036 Wintersville residents who turned out to vote.

To those voters, he said: “Thank you so much for your trust in Wintersville and our police department.”

The ongoing $5 million levy is slated to generate $437,000 a year for the police department and is intended to provide its officers with competitive salaries in an effort to retain them.

Petrella said concerns have been raised through social media that the money would go into the village’s general fund, but it won’t.

Rachel Morrison, the village’s fiscal officer, said funds from the tax will go directly into the police department’s fund, with the first allocations expected in April or May.

Charlene Prentiss, who along with Bob Laukert represents the village on the Steel Valley Regional Transit Authority board, told the board she was pleased with the passage of the tax and other support for public transit service.

Election clerks reported Tuesday that about 57 percent of 10,047 voters supported the 2-mill levy, which is slated to generate $751,000 a year for the SVRTA, which serves Wintersville and other areas.

In other business:

• Councilwoman Gael Damron, who is also treasurer of the Fort Steuben Kennel Association, presented the police department with a $1,649.99 donation for its K9 unit to purchase a bite suit used in police dog training.

Damron said the money was proceeds from various events held by the group, which sponsored a bite suit for the Steubenville Police Department’s K9 unit several years ago.

• Petrella reminded that village crews will continue to use vacuum equipment to collect raked leaves at the edges of properties next Tuesday and on November 18.

He said while the collected streets will follow the village’s spring cleanup schedule, an effort will be made to collect any additional leaves in Wintersville on the final day.

The mayor emphasized that leaves should not be raked onto streets, where they can collect in storm drains and clog them.

He added that while Monday, as Veterans Day, is a holiday for village staff, sanitation crews will collect trash from village businesses that day.

• Petrella also announced that the village’s Christmas parade will be held at 4:00 pm on December 8 as part of the Wintersville Winter Weekend event.

He said unlike last year, the lighting of the Christmas tree outside the Village Hall is scheduled for Dec. 8, with details to be announced.

Damron added that the beautification committee has arranged for Santa and Mrs. Claus to appear at the Wintersville Methodist Church from 2 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 8. She added that a photographer will be on hand for those who want to buy photos taken with the pair. .

Volunteers with Wintersville Wednesday are making other plans for Dec. 7, which will include lighting luminaries in memory or honor of loved ones along Main Street.