By Sarah Richardson
The White Sulphur Springs City Council met this week in council chambers to discuss infrastructure, large trash disposal fees, and more. Mayor Kathy Glover explained some of the expenses and costs with regards to keeping water and sewer service, along with other infrastructure, running for residents.
“Currently we do have what is called a number three loop rotator at the wastewater plant that has gone bad,” she said. “In it is also a gearbox, and altogether, before labor, parts are going to run about $18,000 to $22,000 just for parts. It takes 60 days to get them here, then there is the labor, and also a crane that will have to be available on site to pull the rotor and the shaft and the pulley out, and all of that has to be ready and ready to roll and that crane is paid for by the hour.”
The Wastewater Sanitary Board gave approval for the mayor to spend up to $30,000 on this repair, but “hopefully it won’t take that much,” said Glover. “But there is a possibility that it could.”
Additionally, there is a sludge pump that needs rebuilt, and the Sanitary Board authorized up to $25,000 to do so. “We are hoping that it will come in around $21-22,000 and won’t take that much,” said Glover.
Glover also reviewed a 10-inch main line water break that happened on Jan. 16 on Route 92, and that repair incurred additional costs of $6,000 for road work and cleanup after the repair was complete. “We lost a million gallons of water in six hours,” Glover reports. She said that city work crews were spread thin, but commended city employees for jumping in “and doing whatever it took” to make that repair.
Councilmember Ryan Lockhart reported that the Finance Committee is considering a garbage pickup rate increase to offset an increase in dump fee rates. He explained that at this time no firm rates have been decided, but there are several possibilities being considered at this time. He hopes to have more information by the next council meeting.
“Currently we pick up everything: sofas, large pieces of furniture, large pieces of trash, and we’ve done that for a long time as part of the $19.50 rate. We may look at continuing to pick those things up, but maybe with a charge.” He used a $5 or $10 per large item pickup charge as an example as a way to offset the monthly cost for families where budgets are tight. “We’d like to look at first, a small increase, and then in six months visit it again and probably do another increase within a 12-month period so you won’t feel the effects all at one time.”
Councilmember Thomas Taylor added, “In reality, our garbage truck should only be picking up regular household trash that’s bagged,” but said a call to the waste facility for large pickup items on an individual basis is something more in line with how he believes the service should work.
When asked if this will affect this year’s spring cleanup in April, councilmembers said they doubted this would be implemented in time to have any impact on the annual cleanup for this year. Several members noted that they still support the spring cleanup with no additional costs for those wanting to participate.
In other news, Councilmember Lockhart reports that financial trends for the city are heading upwards, “improving every month,” and attributes it to “not splurging and buying, and truly thinking about things before we do it, and researching it.”
Also, a fully-funded stormwater project grant is under design, with hopes it will be put out to bid in either late spring or early summer.
Councilmember Taylor read part of a press release stating: “Gov. Jim Justice and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) announced that 69 communities will receive over $15.6 million in grant funding as part of the second phase of the State’s Reclamation of Abandoned and Dilapidated Properties Program (DLAP). The funding represents a significant step forward in the state’s ongoing efforts to address and mitigate the challenges posed by abandoned and dilapidated properties across West Virginia. In this ambitious second phase, a total of 69 communities, including towns, cities, and counties, have been approved for grants amounting to $15,662,250.”
Of this funding, White Sulphur Springs is slated to receive $234,000 to help with dilapidated properties throughout town.
Councilmember Audrey Van Buren reports that softball signups have started and memberships are growing. Councilmember G.P. Parker said that the Recycling and Beautification Committee is pricing flowers to place on the walking bridge this year, as well as flowers for Main Street.
Susan Lyons approached Council to ask if they could place a Blessing Box on Tuckahoe Road at Rotary Park, which was unanimously approved by Council.
An ARPA funding request for $2,500 for up to 10 participants to participate in a website operations training program was approved by Council. Mayor Glover said this could be useful for accessing forms, posting emergency communications, and improve overall communication between Council and the community. The request for funding was approved by Council.
A representative from the White Sulphur Springs Public Library presented to Council an overview of the services the library provides to the community. As part of the library’s five-year-goals, they would like to stay open later the in day, two days a week, to help improve access for those who work during regular hours. The library has lost some funding, and has applied for a grant to replace the aged carpet in the building, with the $7,000 grant requiring a $7,000 match to be secured. For more information on how to support the library’s carpet fundraising, call the library at 304-536-1171.
A city-wide cleanup is planned in partnership with the Greenbrier County Health Department on Mar. 13, with the Health Department providing supplies. More information will be available closer to the date of the event, and volunteers are needed. To participate in the cleanup, reach out to the Health Department for more information.
