“We had some amazing interviews and the decision was a difficult one to make,” said Ronceverte Mayor David Smith during an executive session on Monday in which the council selected Deena M. Pack to serve the remainder of council member Bob Baker’s tenn ending in June of 2019. Baker, who passed away unexpectedly last month, was re-elected to city council in the 2015 election.

In other business during the meeting, City Administrator Reba Mohler confirmed that the city’s consideration to hire a general contractor was awarded to the Thrasher Group, and was approved by the council. The position was advertised for last fall, with several firms applying at that time. In late March, interviews were scored and rated on a scale provided by West Virginia’s Region 4 Planning and Development Council. Thrasher Group scored the highest, Mohler said. She thanked the other engineering finns that also applied.

A review of the Small Cities Block Grant application is set for an Apr. 24 meeting, in which representatives from the Region 4 Planning and Development Council will attend, said E.L. Robinson Engineering representative Bob Hazelwood. The project, detailed at the March city council meeting, refers to Ronceverte’s plans to replace and repair the city water pipes and aging water tanks.