Sistersville City Council unanimously approved Monday night the second reading and adoption of an ordinance to prohibit overnight parking on Riverside Drive between Diamond and Catherine streets.

The measure came during the regular meeting that was preceded by a public hearing on the matter. Mayor Bill Rice said no one spoke out on the issue during the public hearing.

At last month’s meeting Councilman Phil Konopacky said the measure was spurred by a complaint of a box truck parked in that are that hadn’t moved since Thanksgiving.

Linda Henriksen reported that the Olive Branch Animal Rescue and Refuge has now taken 24 stray cats out of Sistersville. They have been altered and are currently at the Olive Branch ready to be adopted. That makes a total of 280 cats now at the refuge on Oil Ridge.

Henriksen noted that starting Thursday she will be putting two traps out in the Second Ward. The trapped cats will be checked to see if they have been altered. If not, Dr. Shaun Meckley will alter the animal and notch their ears.

“People who have cats, please put collars on them,” asked Henriksen.

It cost close to $1,300 to fix those 24 cats recently captured in Sistersville. “If anyone wants to make a donation, they can drop it off at our store on Wells Street or mail it to P.O. Box 183,” she said. “That would certainly help us continue our endeavor.”

In another matter, a resident asked about the paving of the city’s streets. Mayor Rice said it will probably be late in the fall before they do any paving because larger contracts get first dibs at the asphalt.

“We have money in the paving fund,” noted Rice, saying it contained about $35,000.

Also, Tim Meeks of the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council presented the final drawdown on the Hanford City sewer project. The invoices were from Precision Pump and Valve Services, $7,888, and S&S Engineering, $1,700, for a total of $9,588.

“There is about $10,000 left in contingencies,” noted Meeks. He said that will be used to purchase a back-up pump for the lift station.

Mayor Rice noted that the city did not receive any bids for someone do a “financial housekeeping” function on the city’s books.

Councilman Mark Klages asked that it be performed so the city would have some sort of fidelity and trust about what they are doing when they get reports. “We are still questioning what we are seeing,” said Klages via phone at April’s regular council meeting.

Only one bid was received to replace the library’s roof. It came from Precision Contracting of Paden City. It was for $12,150 for a metal roof or $14,825 for a shingled roof.

Rice said the library board has about $8,500 set aside for the project. The library board’s next meeting is June 2 at 12:30 p.m. Council unanimously approved the bid, pending the library board’s approval.

Councilman Harold Dally asked if the copula would be kept on the building. Rice said it is in the job description. “It’s never looked good,” Dally stated his opinion.

Council approved the payment of Sistersville General Hospital bills in the amounts of $306,725.59 for accounts payable and $302,464.91 for payroll.