City Council moves forward with sidewalk improvements, board appointments

By Sarah Richardson

Lewisburg City Council met last week to discuss the Lafayette Street sidewalk project, name the Volunteer of the Year for 2021, and to hear updates on the ongoing parks upgrades and City Hall exterior revitalization project.

The city had applied for $144,097.50 in federal grant project funds through the WV Department of Transportation Division of Highways for the purpose of “US 60 South Lafayette sidewalk improvements.”

The DOH has “tentatively” approved $115,278 in these federal funds, contingent on the City of Lewisburg executing a 20 percent match for the project for $28,819.50. The council unanimously approved the resolution to use funds for this match. 

Mayor Beverly White announced that she has nominated the COVID-19 Task Force to be named as Volunteer of the Year for 2021. The group also received the Volunteer of the Year title in 2020. 

“I know normally we go into executive session to discuss this, but I felt that the COVID-19 Task Force, because they were [Volunteer of the Year] last year they should receive that honor this year because we are still fighting COVID-19,” said Mayor White. 

City Manager Misty Hill gave an overview of the final parks projects that wrapped up at the end of the year in order to quality for CARES Act Reimbursement funds, including new storage constructed at Hollowell Park and new lights at the skate park that are now in use. 

She noted that the exterior renovations to the outside of City Hall are also coming to a close. The project appears to be coming in under budget, and the city hopes that remaining funds from this project can be used to renovate the two bathrooms at Dorie Miller Park. 

Hill also said that there are new cameras installed outside of City Hall which record the main intersection downtown, the main sidewalk, the front and back of City Hill, and the Green Space. Lewisburg Police Chief Teubert said that the cameras on the intersection are especially “invaluable” when it comes to accidents and pedestrian safety downtown. 

In other news:

• Sam Argabright and Jamie Crosier were renamed to the Board of Zoning Appeals in a unanimous vote. 
• Ryan King was named to the Parks Commission for a six-year-term in a unanimous vote. King is also the new Ascend West Virginia representative for Lewisburg.