PROPOSED MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 19, 2006
Elkins City Council met in regular session in the council chamber of city hall at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 19, 2006. Present were: Mayor Judith Ann Guye; Councilpersons: R. N. Beckwith, J. S. Bibey, V. T. Broughton, T. P. Ditty, H. R. Elbon, T. Z. Hensil, R. J. Malcolm, C. L. Metheny, K. L. Wilmoth and R. A. Woolwine; City Clerk P. J. Graziani, Jr., City Treasurer L. L. Crosston, Police Captain J. E. Batdorf, Fire Chief T. W. Meader, and City Attorney R. T. Busch. City Attorney J. E. Busch was absent.
AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS
1. Proposed resolution 055, authorizing application for grant funds for the use of the YMCA.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ila M. Kerns, resident of 1602 Taylor Avenue, appeared to invite the membership and general public to a Sago Miner’s Candlelight Vigil/Memorial. Ms. Kerns, an Elkins High School junior and president of the Randolph County Juniorettes, helped organize the event.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Cm Elbon, seconded by Cm Metheny, MOVED THAT COUNCIL ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 5, 2006 AS PRESENTED. The motion carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
No action was taken on Proposed Ordinance 022, amending the sewer rate tariff, pending a public hearing to be held Monday, February 6 at 7 p.m. Council determined that the regular meeting of February 2, 2006 would be rescheduled to Monday, February 6, immediately after the public hearing.
Cm Woolwine, seconded by Cm Ditty, MOVED THAT PROPOSED ORDINANCE 039, ANNEXING BY MINOR BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT THE REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS GRACELAND HILLS SUBDIVISION, BE BROUGHT FORTH, READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion carried.
Cm Woolwine, seconded by Cm Broughton, MOVED THAT PROPOSED ORDINANCE 040, ORDANING A 3-WAY STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF SYLVESTER DRIVE AND ROBIN HOOD LANE, BE BROUGHT FORTH, READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Cm Beckwith, seconded by Cm Metheny, MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE EMPLOYEE TRAVEL REFLECTED ON THE AGENDA. The motion carried.
Cm Metheny, seconded by Cm Ditty, MOVED COUNCIL ADOPT PROPOSED RESOLUTION 055, AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR $120,000 OF GOVERNOR’S COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANT FUNDING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE YMCA. The motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
BUILDING
The Committee received 7 building and 1 asbestos abatement permit applications since the last meeting of council, 2869 to 2876. Acting upon recommendation of the building inspector, the Committee approved all applications.
Cm Malcolm, seconded by Cm Beckwith, MOVED THAT COUNCIL GRANT THE 8 PERMIT APPLICATIONS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE. The motion carried.
PARKS
Cm Beckwith reported on the committee meeting of January 12.
Senator Barnes obtained Budget Digest funds to acquire a 72” mower/tractor for Glendale Park.
The Parks and Recreation Commission will sponsor an Open Gym night on Sunday evenings at Elkins High School. The event will be open to the community, but the Commission assumes no legal liability.
The regulatory compliance process to utilize funding to construct a footbridge to connect Glendale Bottom with Riverbend Park continues. Given current assumptions, construction could commence as early as August 2006.
Comments on the new Christmas decorations in Elkins City Park had been uniformly excellent. Elkins Junior Women’s Club sponsored the project, and their efforts were lauded.
PERSONNEL
Cw Wilmoth said the Committee approved an operator-in-training position for the water treatment plant.
The Committee has under consideration a proposal to implement employment contracts for city employees.
On behalf of the Committee, Cw Wilmoth expressed support for retaining the services of a city engineer.
Work continues on an updated organizational chart for the city.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The exam for entry-level positions within the police and fire departments will be administered on February 4 and 11, respectively.
The Volunteer Fire Association is considering replacement of its rescue truck with a more modern model.
Statistical reports were presented on behalf of both the police and fire departments.
Captain Batdorf said funding from a DUI grant made possible the overtime that resulted in the issuance of 14 varying citations and 1 arrest for driving under the influence.
SANITATION/LANDFILL
Cm Broughton said the landfill needs the services of an engineer.
WATER
Cm Ditty said he and others traveled to Roanoke, VA on January 7-8 to observe operation of a micro filtration water treatment plant.
The Committee intends to undertake a performance evaluation of its engineering firm, Chapman and Associates, within the next three months.
The firm of American Leak Detection was retained to identify leaks in the city’s water transmission and distribution supply lines, valves, and fire hydrant supply lines. The project should be completed within the next 30 days; however, consideration is being given to repeating the process periodically, as a matter of ongoing preventative maintenance.
The Committee recommended that the rates for the provision of potable water be increased an initial 10% and then annually by an as yet undetermined percentage.
OTHER BUSINESS
Cm Broughton inquired as to the status of the derelict property at 12 River Street. The mayor said the Enforcement Agency intended to proceed with the demolition process.
Cm Malcolm announced that the color of building permits would be changed every 6 months.
The meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
