The first Washington C.H. City Council meeting for the month of March was held in the basement of the Washington Police Department Wednesday due to ongoing repairs to the ceiling of the council chambers at the administration building on Main Street.

What began as just ceiling repairs has morphed into some structural deficiencies that need to be addressed before council can return to its regular meeting room.

In the city manager’s report, Joe Denen expressed his appreciation to all those involved in the successful DP&L site certification of the city’s industrial park. This is part one of a two-part certification series that will make the industrial park more marketable to businesses.

City council placed on first reading a resolution approving the city planning commission’s recommendation of establishing “certain restrictions, reservations and covenants for the purpose of insuring proper, prompt and appropriate construction and improvement of each building site located in the industrial park.”

Denen also asked and received approval from council to bid for sludge removal and street resurfacing. The last big item the city manager addressed was related to the issues from the large storm that occurred in many counties in Ohio. The Fayette County area received approximately three-and-a-half inches of rain in less than four hours, which is more than most drainage systems are designed to accommodate. There were water issues in the city, the county and the state.

Along with approval of the minutes of the Feb. 22 council meeting, council also approved minutes from the economic strategies and cooperation, and the finance and personnel meetings both held on Feb. 21.

The next meeting of the Washington City Council will be held on March 22 in the basement of the Washington Police Department, 130 N. Fayette St. beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.