REGULAR
MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF POINT PLEASANT
August 11, 2003The Common Council of the City of Point Pleasant, a municipal
corporation in Mason County, West Virginia, met in Regular session at
the City Building, 400 Viand Street at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 11,
2003.The following were found present:
James H. Wilson - MayorStanton D. Burdette - City ClerkHarriett Nibert – Administrative Assistant
James M. Casey – City Attorney
and the following members of City Council:
Brian L. BillingsElaine G. HuntCarol C. JonesJames W. FettyRonald R. KappM. Leota SangRobert C. DoeffingerRobert A. Messick
Kevin R. Nott
Absent was Council member
William H. Wallace.
Council member M. Leota Sang led Council in prayer. The meeting was
called to order by Mayor James H. Wilson who led in the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag.Darlene Haer (Riverfront Park Project) presented Council with
invoices for payment. The first was from Woolpert, Inc. in the amount of
$1,700.00. The second was from Alan Stone (Pay Application #14) in the
amount of $122,654.12 for the handicap access ramp and stair rails.
Carol L. Jones made the motion to pay the invoices, Robert C. Doeffinger
seconded. The motion passed unanimously.Mrs. Haer presented a change-order dealing with anchoring three light
poles on the South end of the park. The total cost would be
approximately $1,000.00 for the anchoring of all three poles. Ronald R.
Kapp made a motion to approve the change order and Carol L. Jones added
the seconded. The motion passed unanimously.Lastly, Mrs. Haer presented a letter from Woolpert, Inc. asking the
City to extend their contract for administration services from 64 to 71
weeks in the amount of $9,300.00. Robert C. Doeffinger suggested a
change-order in the amount of $5,000.00 and if the City received
additional funding, the City would entertain a second request for
$4,300.00. Mr. Doeffinger then phrased his suggestion in the form of a
motion. M. Leota Sang seconded the motion and the motion passed
unanimously.Mayor Wilson recognized Betty Kauff of the Battle Days committee. She
stated Jack Coles would speak on the committee’s behalf. Mr. Coles
stated that the committee needed storage space for items that the
committee sells during events. The City has provided the committee with
various storage areas but all were undesirable. The committee needs dry
storage space for their sole use that can be locked. Mayor Wilson stated
that he would look into the situation and try to find a suitable
solution. George Lamp also remarked that Battle Days should be bigger
than ever with over 200 S.A.R.(Sons of American Revolution) members. He
stated that Raymond G. Musgrave is chairman of the National Society and
members would be coming from all over the nation.Mayor Wilson then gave the floor to City Police Chief Ronnie Spencer.
He spoke of the Regional Jail opening on November 15. The City will have
to transport anyone arrested to the new Regional Jail. It also will
present problems in transporting female prisoners, as it will take two
male officers or one female officer to transport them to the new jail.
Chief Spencer stated the Council and Mayor would need to make some
decisions on how to deal with this situation. Robert C. Doeffinger and
City Attorney James M. Casey stated the City should talk to other
municipalities that have already been through this. In closing, Chief
Spencer said he would be back to the next regular Council meeting.Robert C. Doeffinger made a motion to approve the minutes of the
Regular Council meeting of July 7, 2003, and the Special Council
meetings of July 22, 2003 and August 5, 2003; also the minutes of the
Public Hearings of July 22, 2003 and August 5, 2003. Ronald R. Kapp
seconded the motion. Upon discussion, Brian Billings noted that a change
of date was necessary to the August 5, 2003 minutes. (It was dated July
22, 2003). The motion passed unanimously upon the correction being made.Carol L. Jones made a motion to approve the Financial Statements for
the General Fund, Water/Sewer Fund and the Coal Severance Fund of July
31, 2003. Kevin R. Nott seconded the motion. In discussion, Brian L.
Billings asked if the City checked pricing when purchasing items. The
Mayor stated that larger items are checked for competitive pricing.
Robert C. Doeffinger questioned why the City spent approximately
$80,000.00 more this month than last month. Ronald R. Kapp said
$25,000.00 was for Liability Insurance. Mayor Wilson stated that Finance
Director Ronald Siders had been on vacation and he didn’t have an
opportunity to discuss the finance report with him. The Mayor stated he
would clarify the expenditures with Mr. Siders and back in touch with
Council. After all discussions, the financial statements were
unanimously approved. Upon presentation of the Outstanding Obligations
for July 2003, Ronald R. Kapp made a motion to approve, Robert A.
Messick seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.City Attorney James M. Casey said he has contacted the West Virginia
Municipal League for information on Uniform Ordinances and Bidding
procedures. He also has looked into the signs at the intersection of
Sand Hill Road. He stated these are against the City ordinances. The
Mayor added that he wanted to speak to Council about this before sending
letters to sign owners asking them to remove them. Attorney Casey
clarified the ordinance: NO SIGN SHALL BE PLACED ON PUBLICLY OWNED RIGHT
OF WAYS EXCEPT PUBLICLY OWNED SIGNS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL AND DIRECTIONAL
SIGNS. M. Leota Sang stated that Yard Sale signs have been a problem
again this summer and this ordinance should be enforced also.Next on the agenda was the final reading of THE REVISIONS OF THE 1972
CITY OF POINT PLEASANT ZONING ORDINANCE. Elaine G. hunt made a motion to
table any action until the next meeting. Robert C. Doeffinger added the
second. The motion passed unanimously. A discussion on fencing in the
regulations ensued. Elaine G. Hunt then amended her motion to lay over
to the next meeting with the right to amend the zoning regulation
changes.Attorney Casey then presented the zoning changes of 1516-1/2 Kanawha
Street from R3 to B2 (approved by Planning Commission) for Earl and
Betty Owens. This would be necessary for a craft shop. Robert C.
Doeffinger made a motion to conditionally approve the change as long as
Mr. & Mrs. Owens reside there, the property would revert back to R3
if they move or sell. M. Leota Sang seconded the motion. Upon
discussion, Mr. Doeffinger stated that this was a nice area, but with
spot zoning, if the Owens’ would move, someone might want to put a
less desirable business there. That is why he suggested it go back to
R3. The motion passed unanimously.Mr. Casey clarified the ordinance on fences around swimming pools. He
stated there must be a fence of at least 5 feet in height, either around
the pool or around the property. Also, he stated he was working with
Building Inspector Greg Walker on the ordinances dealing with abandoned
cars and distressed properties. They are currently working on a couple
of test cases to properly enforce the ordinances; these cases will go
before the municipal judge. Robert C. Doeffinger stated it was Councils
responsibility to the citizens to take care of these problems. Mayor
Wilson added that several abandoned automobiles had been removed from
First Street. Mr. Casey also stated that a party owing the City B&O
taxes had agreed to resolve that problem. Referring to the 26th Street Paving Project, Mr. Casey has been looking over letters from the
government dealing with the project. He stated the City had some
requirements to agree upon before the paving project could proceed.Attorney Casey stated he had also gotten material from the municipal
league to streamline the process for dealing with businesses that are
delinquent in B&O taxes. Again they will be forced to appear before
the Municipal Judge. Lastly, Mr. Casey talked about an Allegheny Energy
Co. 10’X10’ lease. Ronald R. Kapp stated the company was going to
put another station on this property. Mr. Kapp wanted clarification if
the lease allowed this.M. Leota Sang asked Mr. Casey for clarification on where the City is
now with regards to distressed property and abandoned cars. He stated
that an enforcement agency is being put together. They would set the
rules for enforcing the ordinances, and would notify owners and go
through a process up to and including bringing them before the Municipal
Judge.City Clerk Stanton D. Burdette asked for a motion to approve the
second reading of an ORDINANCE FOR APPROVAL OF THE REPLACEMENT PAGES OF
THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES. Robert C. Doeffinger made the motion and Kevin
R. Knott seconded. After discussion the motion passed unanimously.Next on the Agenda was a motion to approve the Codification
Supplement agreement dated June 13, 2003. Council had requested earlier
that other companies might be looked into for this agreement. Clerk
Burdette stated that he had not found another company that does this
type of work.The West Virginia Municipal League recommended the Walter H. Drane
Company, whom the agreement was with. Ronald R. Kapp made a motion to
approve the agreement, Kevin R. Nott seconded and the motion unanimously
passed.Clerk Burdette then presented the Krodel Walking Trail invoices in
the amount of $1,300.00. M. Leota Sang made a motion to approve, Kevin
R. Nott seconded and the motion passed unanimously.Presented next by Clerk Burdette were the Invoices for the River
Museum in the amount of $1,595.24. Robert L. Doeffinger made a motion to
approve and M. Leota Sang seconded. This motion also passed unanimously.Mayor Wilson then took the floor with the Mayor’s Agenda. He stated
the Riverfront Park Probably wouldn’t be done by August 22. He said
that he expected it to be delayed maybe a week or so. He stated he had
been to the River Museum Board Meeting and they think they have funding
secured for the elevator. They will have shortened hours in the winter.
Krodel Park has been doing well with the campers. They have been full
all summer and are working on the overflow area. The drainage canal
project has about half of the property owners signed on to allow the
project to proceed. The first phase may be started after the Mayor
speaks with Mrs. Lutton and the Sewer committees. The first City
Newsletter is about ready to be circulated. It contains a lot of
information citizens want and need to know about the City. It will be
called, "A Point of Interest." The Mayor stated the City will
begin painting crosswalks next week in preparation for the school year.
He stated the City would have to work with the school system on the
traffic flow around the new Point Pleasant Intermediate School. The new
slide has been ordered for the City pool but it has not arrived yet. The
"Hometown Pride" committee has been formed. This is the
committee Sandy Dunn suggested the City form to bring activities to the
Riverfront Park to help increase commerce in the downtown area. There
are 15 members from several different organizations. The Mayor stated
the committee has been working on the activities for when the Riverboat
Tour is here on August 25 and 26. Hopefully, this will encourage more
boat tours to stop.Mayor Wilson then asked for a motion to nominate Elaine G. Hunt to
the Emergency Ambulance Authority Board. Ronald R. Kapp made the motion,
Brian L. Billings seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Elaine G.
Hunt was asked to report back to the Mayor on how long the term will
last. Mayor Wilson commented on the fine job Mrs. Hunt does on this
board.Mayor Wilson subsequently asked for a motion to change the September
council meeting to Tuesday September 9, 2003, due to the annual meeting
of the WV Rural Water Association. Kevin R. Nott made the motion and
Carol L. Jones seconded. The motion passed unanimously.The Mayor also stated that he was working with the Fire Department
and might be able to burn some distressed properties. Also he talked
with the Finance Director Ron Siders about the billing invoices for the
fire truck. Jeremy Bryant told the Mayor the City hadn’t been paying
the invoices on the truck. The Mayor stated that he will try to resolve
the problem.M. Leota Sang stated that the street lights are going on and off
intermittently. The Mayor stated that the City would get in touch with
AEP.Kevin R, Nott mentioned the new pavement on Jackson Avenue near Wendy’s
has slipped. The Mayor stated that Street Commissioner Jim Fetty will
get in touch with the D.O.H.Carol L. Jones stated the concrete is broken badly at the Bays
residence on Meadowbrook Drive.Brian L. Billings stated that stop signs in Ward 2 have been spray
painted and the brush along the bridge at the Route 2 bypass needs cut.Ronald R. Kapp added that the October meeting is on Columbus Day.
That meeting date will need to be changed.In closing, Mayor Wilson read a letter of appreciation from Donnie
Jones for for the City’s assistance with the Donnie Jones Basketball
Camp. Also, the Mayor received letters of thanks for work done by City
employees from Susan Bowser, Ellen and John Ross, and Diana Dingess.
Earl and Betty Owens also sent a letter of appreciation for being chosen
for the Yard of the Month award.Being no other business, Kevin Nott made a motion to adjourn. Carol
L. Jones seconded and the meeting adjourned at 9:42 pm.
_______________________________
______________________________
Stanton D. Burdette, City
Clerk
James H. Wilson, Mayor
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