Butler City Council on Thursday discussed using federal COVID-19 stimulus money to replace the fire department's 2008 “workhorse” rescue truck that is showing its age.

Councilman Bob Dandoy said the department uses the truck daily to respond to medical emergency calls.

“It's in really bad shape. It's running, but it's on it's last leg,” Dandoy said.

He suggested using American Rescue Plan grant money and Community Development Block Grant money that the city will receive to buy a new one at a cost between $50,000 and $60,000.

The city is expected to receive $1.2 million from the American Rescue Plan.

The parks department also needs a new truck, he added.

Fire Chief Chris Switala said the 13-year-old truck has 50,000 miles, rust deteriorating the wheel wells and electrical problems, and it stalls.

He said rescue trucks typically last eight to 10 years.

“It's a workhorse,” Mayor Ben Smith said.

He said the stimulus money can be used for buying the truck, but council and the redevelopment authority must decide what to include in the CDBG application.

In unrelated business, council agreed to write a letter of support for the Butler Rotary Club's proposal to create an arts district downtown.

The district would be a place where art and cultural activities would be promoted, and would not affect the zoning ordinance.

Dandoy was appointed to represent the city on the Rotary's art district committee.

Council approved the settlement of a federal civil lawsuit filed by John J. Jackson against the police department and two officers alleging violation of his Fourth Amendment right of protection against a warrantless search and seizure.

The case was settled out of court in April.

Police arrested Jackson May 2, 2019, without incident and told him at the station he was arrested for assaulting his former girlfriend. In the suit, Jackson alleged he pleaded with officers, explaining that he had done nothing wrong, The suit claims the officers responded by attacking Jackson, and one of the officers tackled him to the ground and broke Jackson's arm.

The officers said Jackson “made an aggressive move.”

Police charged Jackson with simple assault and resisting arrest, but the charges were later dropped, according to the suit.

In other matters, Council approved a contract with the county for a $7,500 grant, which the city will match with $2,500, to replace wooden backboards in city parks with metal backboards.

Council also agreed to close Main Street from 4 to 6 p.m. July 22 for a motorcycle ride that is part of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau's Bike and BBQ event that runs from July 22 to 24. The event will take place at the Butler Farm Show.

Council agreed to allow Joseph and Jacquelyn Gray to refinance the $140,000 loan it borrowed from the Butler Downtown revolving business loan fund in 2019 to purchase the former Friedman's Freshmarkets building at 122 West Brady St. and renovate it into office space.

The money was borrowed at 4% interest, and the Grays asked for approval to refinance the loan at an interest rate of 2.375. Joe Gray is the city's engineer.

In addition, council appointed architect Marlene Myers to replace James L. Diamond on the code management appeal board. Diamond resigned.

Maggie Stock, a former mayor, was appointed to the zoning hearing board, and Thomas Graham was appointed to the civil service commission board.