PROPOSED MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 21, 2007



Elkins City Council met in regular session in the council chamber of city hall at 7:04 p.m. Thursday, June 21, 2007. Present were Mayor Judith A. Guye; Councilpersons: R. N. Beckwith, V. T. Broughton, J. S. Bibey, T. Z. Hensil, R. J. Malcolm, C. L. Metheny, I. D. Talbott and R. A. Woolwine; City Clerk P. J. Graziani, Jr., City Attorney R. T. Busch, Police Captain J. E. Batdorf and Fire Chief T. W. Meader. Councilwomen H. K. Burford and K. L. Wilmoth and City Treasurer L. L. Crosston were absent.


AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS

There were none.


PUBLIC COMMENT

Edward Gatehouse, Joe Sabatino, Alice Sabatino, David Rice, Mike Knicely and Justin Sandridge each commented on some aspect of the ongoing initiative to establish a skatepark in Elkins. Among the various talking points mentioned were that consideration should be given to alternate sites for a skatepark; the Vision 2010 study indicated a high priority for recreational activity, specifically a skatepark; council members need to honor the two-week commitment made at the meeting of June 7 for identification of additional sites for a skatepark and report on the investigation of resources that might be earmarked for its construction; a skatepark should be put on the property of the former rail yard; the skatepark locations decision had been put off too long, it’s time for council to keep its promise; skateboarders paid taxes and its time the city did something for them.


CONSENT CALENDAR

No minutes were presented for consideration.


UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was none.


NEW BUSINESS

Cm Metheny, seconded by Cm Hensil, MOVED THAT COUNCIL GRANT THE REQUEST OF THE RANDOLPH COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITOR’S BUREAU FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE VACANT LOT BEHIND CITY HALL ON AUGUST 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH BY PARTICIPANTS IN THE NATIONAL AUTO SPORT ASSOCIATION’S WEST VIRGINIA ROAD RALLY. The motion carried.

Proposed Ordinance 63, adjusting the water rate tariff, was not ready for consideration.

Cm Beckwith, seconded by Cm Bibey, MOVED THAT COUNCIL ADOPT PROPOSED RESOLUTION 085, ACCEPTING A PRESERVATION ALLIANCE OF WEST VIRGINIA MINI-GRANT AWARD OF $7,200. Cm Talbott recused himself because he was a member of the board of the Alliance. [Project Number BD07.007 was assigned to the award. The funds will be used to underwrite the cost of cultural heritage-related signage.]

Cm Hensil, seconded by Cm Broughton, MOVED THAT COUNCIL ADOPT PROPOSED RESOLUTION 086, AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR FUNDING TO COMPLETE A DAVIS AVENUE SANITARY SEWER SEPARATION PROJECT. The motion carried. [An application was submitted to the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council.]

Cm Talbott, seconded by Cm Bibey, MOVED THAT COUNCIL ADOPT PROPOSED RESOLUTION 087, AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR 2007 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT FUNDING. The motion carried.


COMMITTEE REPORTS

BUILDING

The Committee received 18 building permit applications since the last meeting of council, 3334 thru 3351. Permit Application 3296 remained unconsidered. Construction drawings had not yet been received by the building inspector. Acting upon recommendation of the building inspector, the Committee approved all other applications.

Cm Malcolm, seconded by Cm Woolwine, MOVED THAT COUNCIL GRANT BUILDING PERMITS FOR THE 18 APPLICATIONS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE. The motion carried.

PERMIT	APPLICANT	LOCATION	DESCRIPTION	VALUE
3334	Davis Trust Bank	227 Davis Av	Interior remodel	$684,828
3335	Sullivan, William	112 Vector Av	Replace windows	$4,000
3336	Bonnett, Ronnie	113 Evans Dr	Replace windows	$1,100
3337	Bond, Mike	447 Central St	Re-roof	$3,000
3338	Skidmore, Charles	1305 S. Kerens Av	Re-roof	$3,713
3339	Engh, Sandiann	106 Harpertown Rd	Enclose porch, re-roof	$10,858
3340	Lock, Michael	23 Moore St	Wood deck	$2,500
3341	Randolph Co. Housing Auth	211 Davis St	Demolition	$5,970
3342	Woodlands Development	1 Wilson St	Asbestos abatement	$ 950
3343	Woodlands Development	116 Henry Av	Asbestos abatement	$5,880
3344	Randolph Co Housing Auth	1 Wilson St	Demolition	$7,970
3345	Grubowski, Joe	107 Main St	Demolition	$800
3346	Martin, Steve	122 Robert E Lee Av	Re-roof, addition	$5,000
3347	Desbrow, Sandra	95 Elm St	Interior remodel	$3,000
3348	American Mountain Theatre	Corner Martin and 8th St	Signage	$22,000
3349	Talbott Realty	224 Third St	Interior remodel	$20,000
3350	McGraw, Richard	7 S Randolph Av	Asbestos abatement on roof	$5,489
3351	Varner, Alfred	1629 Lavalette Av	Replace windows	$950

MUNICIPAL PROPERTY

Cm Broughton said he will use information on file at the county courthouse to identify suitable alternate sites for a skatepark.


PARKS

Cm Beckwith said the component parts for the Glendale pedestrian bridge should arrive the week of June 25, and the assembled bridge should be ready for use by the beginning of August.

Cm Woolwine said the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission (EPRC) contingently offered a site in Glendale Bottom, outside the floodplain, to the Y.E.S. group as a site for a skatepark. Y.E.S. will have to provide copy for a sign enumerating the rules for usage of the facility and the dimensions of the park to be constructed. Alice Sabatino said the Y.E.S. group had met and accepted the EPRC’s offer, and a proposal would be submitted to the Commission by June 25. Y.E.S. wanted to begin immediate development of a skatepark; it didn’t want to wait for the Commission’s full development of Glendale. Alternately, Mrs. Sabatino said a site in the rail yard could serve as a temporary site for skateboarding. She indicated that her discussions with Randolph County Development Authority Director Jennifer Giovanetti indicated some receptivity to the idea.


PUBLIC SAFETY

Cm Bibey said the tuition to have a new officer trained and certified at the State Police Academy had increased to $1,500.


WATER

The Committee continued to work on the Rule of 42, the document exhibiting the financial justification for an increase in water utility rates. Upon its completion, each council member would be provided with a copy.

The city owned sufficient land at the top of High Street to locate a new water treatment plant there.

Cm Hensil said water treatment plant filter backwash water is now being released into the river, as opposed to the sanitary sewer system.



OTHER BUSINESS

Cm Malcolm said the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant is ahead of schedule.

A July 9 official opening of the train bridge into the rail yard has been announced by the Randolph County Development Authority.

A public hearing has been scheduled for local redevelopment committee members to hear comment by Beverly community residents as to plans for an alternate use of the U.S. Army Reserve Center.


The regular July 5 Elkins City Council meeting will be held in the large pavilion of the downtown city park.


The meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m.


/s/ Judith A. Guye, Mayor
/s/ Philip J. Graziani, City Clerk


OTHER BUSINESS

Cm Malcolm said he attended the official opening of the Valley Village apartments on Ward Road. They were fantastic, he said.

Cm Woolwine encouraged the personnel committee to consider an incentive program whereby exceptional performance by individual employees could be recognized and rewarded.


The meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m.


/s/ Judith A. Guye, Mayor
/s/ Philip J. Graziani, City Clerk