By Sarah Richardson
At the last meeting of the Lewisburg City Council, councilmembers discussed several administrative items, approved appointments to local boards, and more. City Manager Misty Hill reports that the Mountain Transit Authority has had in increase in bus riders from 108,022 riders to 127,697 riders the following year. “I commend that effort by the MTA,” said Hill. She also reports they have “several” applications from food trucks applying to be a part of Mashup Mondays, which will be food trucks set up on Church Street in downtown Lewisburg each Monday afternoon.
Lewisburg Fire Chief Joey Thomas said that the department is seeking funding for a LUCAS CPR device, which costs $18-19,000. The Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS) device provides mechanical chest compressions to patients in cardiac arrest.
Ordinance 324, titled, “Removal of Dog Waste from Private or Public Property; Animals Prohibited in the Center Green Space,” was approved unanimously.
Mayor Beverly White presented the following individuals for reappointment: Helen Harless and Margaret “Ghee” Gossard to the Planning Commission, Jim Rowe and Jerry Thompson to the Library Board, and Stephen McBride to replace Andrea Izzo on the Historic Landmarks Commission.
WVSOM’s Don Smith provided scheduling information for WVSOM events in Lewisburg for city officials and locals alike. Sept. 12 of this year will be the White Coat Ceremony at the school, so parents and other family members will be visiting town to attend. First-year students are now back on campus as of mid-July, as well.
In other news:
Lafayette Street Stormwater Project Pay Request #1 was approved unanimously in the amount of $53,503.20. Two change orders were also approved to Lynch Construction for the project, relating to traffic flow and keeping the road open in the constriction zone. An agreement with Hudnall Wildlife Service was approved, relating to skunks, with no changes from previous contracts. A contract with Triple H. Outdoors relating to deer was also approved with no changes from previous years. A water plant operator contract with Teddy A. Mills was also approved with all members voting in support.
Councilmember John Little closed in saying that he always looks for more community engagement with council meetings and other public meetings, so residents may see the inner workings and behind-the-scenes detail of how much work goes into decisions made by council and other boards.