By Dakota Baker
Ronceverte City Council held their monthly meeting on Monday, Mar. 4 at 7 p.m. The meeting began with the approval of minutes for the Feb. 5 meeting before the citizen comment period.
Reverend Robert “Bob” Daniels of the Ronceverte First Church of God addressed the council. He is also president of the Ronceverte Ministerial Association, which gave over $4,000 to help needy families in the city of Ronceverte last year, and wanted to inform the public that any families in need can apply for utility/financial assistance at the Ronceverte library. Applicants can complete the application process at the library and the treasurer of the Ministerial Association will immediately be contacted and will do their best to assist those in need. The Ronceverte Ministerial Association will help a family or individual one time per year. Reverend Daniels also happens to be a chairperson of the Ronceverte Food Pantry, which serves approximately 80 households a month. The food pantry operates on the second and fourth Saturday of every month from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
The council approved Resolution #3, which relates to the design and construction of the water upgrade project; an environmental report from E.L. Robinson related to the project; and also approved a second budget revision for the 2023-24 calendar year. Funding was moved from the contingency account to the law enforcement account for the hiring of staff and the cost of the police academy in Charleston, as well as additional equipment and uniforms. The council also went over the budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025, which was reduced by $40,000 compared to last year’s budget; this budget was approved. There is a vacant position in the parks and recreation board as well as the planning and zoning commission; anyone interested can submit a letter of interest to the city if wishing to apply. Letters of interest need to be submitted by Mar. 22.
The summer farmers market has an anticipated start date of Friday, May 31, from 5 p.m. to dark on Edgar Avenue. The street will remain open as vendors will set up on the sidewalks in front of businesses that are agreeable. The events and planning committee has proposed vendors for the farmers market to pay a one-time $5 fee to set up, or if they want an unlimited amount for the year, it would be a $25 fee. The farmer’s market is anticipated to be set up every Friday from May 31 until the end of summer. The council tabled this proposal until further review.
In other news, the Ronceverte River Festival will be bringing back its 5K run, and the Splash Pad plans to open around the middle of May.
