Wintersville — The Wintersville Village Council approved a three-year loan from First National Bank to finance work tied to a water line for the accredited fire school, after the administrator presented loan options and projected costs.

Administrator Jesse presented an engineering estimate of about $88,000 to construct roughly 400 feet of water main to provide a dedicated hydrant and metering for the fire school training facility. He summarized financing options the village had considered: a 20-year loan through the EPA at about 2.14 percent (which he said would total roughly $125,776 in payments over 20 years and, per the administrator, carried restrictions on early payoff) and a local bank loan through First National Bank at an approximate government rate of 4.88 percent with shorter terms. Jesse told the council the three-year bank option would have a monthly payment of $2,632 and total interest of about $6,777.

Jesse described the water-line work: "it's going to go about 400 feet of line" from Luray Drive to serve the first part of the fire department with a new hydrant and a meter so the village can monitor water used for school and training. He also advised the council the EPA loan could not be paid off early without penalty, whereas the bank loan gave the village more flexibility.

Council discussed financing timing and appropriation. Administrator Jesse said the village could appropriate one-third of the repayment in each of the next three fiscal years. A council member moved to proceed with the First National Bank three-year loan; the motion was seconded and passed on recorded roll-call votes. Members recorded as voting yes were Mr. Merryman, Mr. Mattern, Dr. Scarpone (recorded elsewhere in the transcript as Dr. Rapone), Mr. DeStefano, and Mrs. Damron.

The administrator also noted related facilities work and maintenance matters in his report: upcoming roof replacement work on the municipal building, crack sealing on Main Street, reopening and plumbing repairs to public bathrooms, and routine sanitation pickup schedules.

The council did not attach additional conditions or alternative bids to the loan approval in the recorded discussion; staff indicated they would manage appropriations and return with any further fiscal adjustments as needed.