By Sarah Richardson
With the Mayor, Recorder, and all councilmembers present, the White Sulphur Springs City Council meeting was held on Monday, Feb. 10.
The meeting began with Councilperson Ryan Lockhart reporting that the general fund month-to-date excess revenue is currently $17,360.19, and year-to-date excess revenue in the general fund is $40,108.78. The water fund excess revenue is $25,191.34 month-to-date, and year-to-date is $218, 994.34. In the sewer fund month-to-date excess revenue is $4,760.68, and year-to-date is $58,401.35.
For The Ridges project, Mayor Kathy Glover reports that they are “working with Region 4 to procure a right of way agent. This project needs approximately 60 right of way remits in place before it can proceed.” She also reports that the Rt. 60 East Sewer Project is “really close” on their timeframe for the project, and are roughly 280 days into it. She explained that weather delays have been a factor, along with another situation requiring permission from the state as they need to “be back in the road again.”
As for the speed limit signs around Villa Park, Council received a quote for the signs on Nov. 14 last year following a discussion held about the signs on Oct. 28. The signs were ordered on Nov. 20, 2024, and were received at the end of December. Sign locations were made around Villa Park, however, weather delayed the sign installation and markers will need to be redone before moving forward under better conditions. Councilmember Lockhart interjected that the speeding in that area of town is severe, and said it is “unacceptable” that it’s taken longer than 30 days for the new signs to be installed. He insists on a heavy police presence to enforce the lower speeds, and says that a lack of sidewalks in the neighborhood makes safety a concern for those walking in the neighborhood.
“We’ve been kicking the can further and further down the road on these issues,” he said, and noted that he wants maintenance employees “held accountable” on completing this project. Mayor Glover said that she is working on implementing systems regarding overseeing employees in conjunction with council. After a heated discussion to determine who is responsible for overseeing this item, Lockhart pushed back on moving onto another agenda item, asking who he needs to address about getting this done. “Let’s hold these folks accountable that have failed to do so,” he said. “We will,” replied Mayor Glover.
New flooring for City Hall is in the works, and the project is being funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and will not be coming out of the city’s general revenue.
Mayor Glover reports that eight properties around town have taken advantage of the dilapidated buildings program and have “made it through the process.” Bids were brought in and reviewed by the Dilapidated Building Committee on Feb. 4, and an award recommendation was made later in the meeting. In total, five bids came in for the first group of buildings, and the lowest bidder was L.D. Hanna and Son Excavation at $23,380 for all four buildings, one of which tested for asbestos, which they have handled before. The second group of buildings had a low bid also by L.D Hanna and Son Excavator and Contractors at $23,681, and both were approved unanimously.
Mayor Glover also requested that anyone who is able to park off of the main streets during severe weather to please do so to assist with speedier snow removal by city crews.
Councilmember Taylor reminded citizens that council intends to “enforce their ordinances” in regard to property maintenance and cleanups this spring. “Folks, if they don’t want to clean their mess up, guess what? There is another arm that we can go in with, we can go in and clean them up.”
For Parks and Recreation, Audrey Van Buren said that Sen. Jim Justice has appropriated funds for White Sulphur Elementary to get a new gymnasium, and it “makes her day” that the kids will have somewhere to go play basketball.
Recorder David Dillon said that at the last meeting of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, they were behind in payments but have since caught up and no longer are delinquent. Councilmember Dillon also raised questions following a lack of appearance by the Fire Chief Brian Dolan at the meeting, saying he would like to discuss a previously proposed fire fee, but, “I’ve never even met the fire chief, and there is no report, any month. I would love to discuss that, but the fire department needs to show up and tell us what they are doing, period.” He voiced that if someone cannot attend the meeting, to send someone else with their report to keep council in the loop. “I agree with you, 100 percent,” said Mayor Glover.
In other news, Dry Creek Farms was designated as a Heritage Farm by council after a unanimous vote, and $193,276.46 was approved for the US 60 East Sewer project through TIF funding.
A first reading of an amendment to the police fee ordinance increase was held, with a proposed monthly service fee being $7.50 per apartment unit in town for an annual charge of $90 per unit, $10 per business per month or $120 per year, churches and sanctuaries would be exempt along with city buildings, government buildings are $10/month or $120/year, residential structures are $7.50/month or $90/year, schools are $10/month or $120/year, and vacant lots would be $5/month, or $60/year. The first reading passed with no comments, other than Councilmember Lockhart explaining that nothing else is changing; just the charges are increasing from where they were previously. The police chief noted that the fee for vacant properties actually will double after six months of sitting vacant, “because our call volume actually picks up at vacant properties” he explained.
A reading of a Garbage Fee Ordinance Increase was tabled until the March council meeting. Council then met in executive session with legal council to “see if there are any updates” to the 50 East encroachment onto City property. Upon reconvening, Mayor Glover noted that there was no action taken in executive session.
White Sulphur Springs City Hall will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17 and Tuesday, Feb. 18, and the next meeting of the council will be on Monday, Mar. 10, at 7 p.m.