REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF POINT PLEASANT
May 10, 2004
Prior to the Council meeting, a reception was held at City
Hall recognizing participants of the City-Wide Clean-Up and the winners
of the poster contest that was sponsored by the Beautification Committee
of the City. Over twenty people attended and were treated to
refreshments. An attendance list is attached to the minutes.
The 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 May 10, 2004.
M. Leota Sang led Council in the Lords Prayer. The meeting
was called to order by Mayor James H. Wilson. Members of a local Boy
Scout troop led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Mayor Wilson opened the meeting and thanked M. Leota Sang for
organizing the April City-Wide Clean-Up and those present who
participated in the event.
Mayor Wilson then introduced Darlene Haer of the Point
Pleasant Riverfront Park Committee. Ms. Haer stated she had received an invoice from WOOLPERT, LLP
for Professional Services in the amount of $3,250.00. She added 50%
would be paid from 3RD year TEA-21 money and 50% from the
local account. Robert C. Doeffinger made a motion to pay the invoice and
M. Leota Sang added the second. Being no discussion, the motion was
approved unanimously. Ms. Haer added bids were opened for a portable
stage and entrance gates for the Riverfront Park and they would be
presented to the Riverfront Park Committee on May 17 at 7:00 P.M.
Mayor Wilson then introduced Mr. Greg Harrick of Burgess and
Niple, Inc. Mr. Harrick was presented council an update on the water
well fields located near the old Pantasote (Gencorps) property. He
stated that Gencorps had hired a consultant to do a cost evaluation and
preliminary report on the project and it was to be turned in to West
Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVVDEP) by May 14TH.
The WVDEP has 60 days to review the report and return it to the
consultant for their final review and comment. The final report would be
due back to WVDEP approximately in October and be followed by a public
hearing 30 days later. Mr. Harrick added that he had not seen the report
but assumed that it would call for continued blending of the water or
relocating the well fields as there appeared to be no other options.
Next, Mayor Wilson introduced John Sang and Homer Preece of
the Mason County Tourism Committee. Mr. Sang explained that the
committee was working hard to bring tourism to Point Pleasant and Mason
County. He added that the committee has an advertising campaign for this
season of about $20,000.00. Mr. Sang stated that the committee would
like for the City to partner with the Committee on a fundraising project
to help fund the advertising campaign. Mr. Preece then described the
fundraising project as a pictorial book that would be composed of photos
and information about the Farm Museum, Fort Randolph and Battledays. A
final chapter would be dedicated to other tourist attractions in the
City and County. Mr. Preece asked Council to partner with the committee
on this project and donate $3,900.66 for the down payment to get the
project started. Finance Director Ron Siders asked if any of the other
entities had been approached on this project. Mr. Preece added that the
other entities had donated on various fund raising projects in the past.
After a lengthy presentation and many questions by Council, Robert C.
Doeffinger made a motion to donate the $3,900.66 for the project. Kevin
R. Nott added the second and the motion was approved unanimously. Mayor
Wilson added that the money was not budgeted and had to be taken from
another line-item in the budget.
Mayor Wilson then asked for a motion to approve the minutes
of the Regular Council meeting of April 12, 2004 and Special Council
meeting of April 20, 2004. Ronald R. Kapp made a motion to approve and
Robert C. Doeffinger added the second. The motion to approve passed
unanimously. The Mayor then asked for a motion to approve the
Consolidated Income (Financial) Statement of the General, Water and
Sewer and Coal Severance Funds for the month of April 2004. Ronald R.
Kapp made a motion to approve and J. Glenn Long added the second. After
discussion, the motion passed unanimously.
The Mayor then asked for a motion to approve the Outstanding
Obligations for the month of April. Robert C. Doeffinger made the motion
and Ronald R. Kapp added the second. In discussion, Carol L. Jones asked
why some bills were paid before Council approval. Mr. Siders explained
that there was no difference in how the bills were being paid, only that
now he was showing all bills that had been paid since the previous
Council meeting. Carol L. Jones said she felt like no bills should be
paid without Council approval. City Clerk Stanton D. Burdette added that
only the bills that would become delinquent before the next Council
meeting were being paid. After all discussions, the motion to approve
paying the Outstanding Obligations was passed by majority vote with M.
Leota Sang abstaining and Carol L. Jones voting against.
Finance Director Ron Siders informed Council that he had
attended a 3 day seminar on municipal accounting and audit standards. He
stated that audit costs would probably increase due to the more
stringent reporting standards. In closing, he stated that the City was
going to be audited by the IRS in June.
Next on the agenda was City Attorney James M. Casey. Mr.
Casey stated that he had received notification of mediation that the
City would have to enter into with a contractor that did work that is in
dispute at the Point Pleasant Riverfront Park. When questioned, Mr.
Casey stated that the mediation was not binding and likely would not
settle the issue but might help to make the issues more clear to both
parties. Mr. Casey stated the City had been approached by Hartley,
Hartley and Hartley Inc. about the possibility of buying or leasing some
land that adjoins their property. They would like to expand an office
building that presently sits on the site. Presently, the City property
has a street that leads to the floodwall office. The attorney stated
that he had reviewed the new City of Point Pleasant Employee Handbook
and saw no problems with it. In closing, Mr. Casey stated that he felt a
policy should be adopted on how to handle funding requests from
delegations that come before Council. He added that typically a request
should possibly be brought before the finance committee and they could
make a recommendation to Council.
Next on the agenda was the City Clerk, Stanton D. Burdette.
He presented invoices for the River Museum totaling $516.79 from Thomas
Do-it Center ($56.39), Big River Electric ($11.05), Williamsons
Pallets($247.00), Point Pleasant Hardware ($86.60) and WV Electric
($115.75). Ronald R.
Kapp moved to pay the invoices and Carol L. Jones added the second. The
motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Burdette then presented the 3RD reading of
Article 705 Yard/Garage Sale Ordinance that was tabled from the previous
meeting. He offered some amendments that came from suggestions from the
public hearing and previous council meeting. Robert C. Doeffinger made a
motion to untable the ordinance and William H. Wallace added the second.
The motion passed unanimously. After discussion, J. Glenn Long made a
motion to table the motion for consideration and Kevin R. Nott added the
second. The motion was passed unanimously. J. Glenn Long made a motion
to return to the formal order of business and Kevin R. Nott added the
second. That motion also passed unanimously. J. Glenn Long made a motion
to adopt the Ordinance with amendments limiting when signs could be
posted and that the City would provide a sign to be posted in the yard
of the sale location. Ronald R. Kapp added the second and the ordinance
was adopted by majority vote of 6-2. Carol L. Jones and Kevin R. Nott
opposed.
Clerk Burdette then presented the 3RD reading of
an amendment to Article 739 General License Taxes that would raise the
fee from $10.00 to $20.00 for all professionals not otherwise listed in
the ordinance. William H. Wallace made a motion to adopt the ordinance
as written. Robert C. Doeffinger added the second and the ordinance was
adopted by majority approval of 7-1. Carol L. Jones was opposed. Finance
Director Ron Siders answered questions about the different types of
licenses and the costs of each.
Next, Clerk Burdette presented the 2ND reading of
revisions and amendments to ARTICLE 953 of the Codified Ordinances,
GARBAGE AND TRASH DISPOSAL. The amendment included a 30% increase in
fees for all garbage services. The Mayor stated that the increase was
discussed in the budget workshops. The Mayor added that he had been
working with the garbage routes to increase efficiency. Kevin R. Nott made a motion to vote on the ordinance and J. Glenn
long added the second and the motion passed unanimously. Ronald R. Kapp
made a motion to advance to the 3RD reading with right to
amend and Kevin R. Nott added the second. After discussion, the motion
was approved by majority vote and advanced to the 3RD reading
with right to amend. Elaine G. Hunt voted against.
Lastly Clerk Burdette presented the 2ND reading of
revisions and amendments to ARTICLE 747 of the Codified Ordinances,
MUNICIPAL SERVICE FEES. The revision would increase the monthly fee from
$7.00 to $10.00. The $3.00 increase would be distributed into the
police, floodwall, and street maintenance budgets. Ronald R. Kapp made a
motion to advance with right to amend to 3RD reading. J.
Glenn Long added the second and the ordinance was passed by majority
vote with Elaine G. Hunt voting opposed.
Next on the agenda was Mayor Wilson. The Mayor presented a
bid from the Cool Shack for a lease agreement for the concession stand
at Krodel Park. The mayor added that another party had expressed
interest but did not provide a bid. Kevin R. Nott made a motion to
accept the bid on the lease agreement and J. Glenn Long added the
second. The motion passed unanimously. The mayor added that a public
hearing and resolution would be forthcoming.
Mayor Wilson stated that the Mason County Emergency Ambulance
Authority had contacted him in regards to the City needing to appoint a
representative to serve a three year term on the Authority’s Board of
Directors. Council expressed gratitude for the job Elaine G. Hunt
presently does on the board. Robert C. Doeffinger made a motion to
appoint Councilwoman Hunt to another term. Ronald R. Kapp added the
second and the motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Wilson presented Council with the Employee Handbook.
Kevin R. Nott made a motion to adopt the Employee Manual and
M. Leota Sang added the second. The motion was passed by majority vote
of 7-1 with Carol L. Jones opposed.
The Mayor discussed events planned for the Riverfront Park
and asked for a motion to provide $1,000.00 for entertainment. J. Glenn
Long made the motion and Carol L. Jones added the second. The motion was
approved unanimously. He added also that there was a contractor coming
to look at ways to try to fix the leak at the Harmon Park Pool.
Next, Mayor Wilson asked for a motion to appoint Jane Martin
to a vacancy on the Point Pleasant Housing Authority and Charles Garland
for re-appointment to his present position on the board. Kevin R. Nott
made the motion to appoint and J. Glenn Long added the second. The
appointments were approved unanimously.
Ronald R. Kapp made a motion to go into Executive Session to
discuss financial matters and Kevin R. Nott added the second. Kevin R.
Nott made a motion to come out of executive session and J. Glenn Long
added the second.
The Mayor presented samples of new signage that was being
proposed for the City. He stated that a proposal would be made later
with all costs included. The mayor stated that Ohio Valley Bank was
going to permit the City to erect a Welcome Sign on their property.
In Council Concerns, Robert C. Doeffinger stated that holes
needed to be repaired where a utility company had replaced poles. Mr.
Doeffinger also suggested Buster Riffle for appointment to the Cemetery
Committee.
M. Leota Sang asked if it were possible to use inmates to
help do work at the cemetery. She also wanted to know the status of the
North Point Pleasant Drainage Project. She added that she had received
many good comments on the work the City employees were doing at the
cemeteries.
William H. Wallace stated that manholes needed raised on
Lewis Street and that Parrish and Chandler Streets needed some concrete
replacement.
Kevin R. Nott added that some of the campers would like to
have cable and phone hook-ups at the Krodel Campground.
Carol L. Jones thanked Council for sponsoring the Donnie
Jones Basketball Camp in the past. She stated that Donnie had to cancel
the camp due to difficulty arranging for Liability Insurance and only
had a 3 day window in which to conduct the camp. She added that he was a
Point Pleasant native and recently was inducted into the Pikeville
College Hall of Fame. In closing, Ms. Jones stated that it was more than
just a basketball camp. It encompassed drug education and lessons for
living a good life. Robert C. Doeffinger added that it had been a great
program for the youth of the City.
Elaine G. Hunt stated that she had many of the same concerns
as others including the drainage project and the problems associated
with mosquitoes. She also requested that gravel be put on the lower end of
Madison Avenue. In closing, she added that she had concerns about the
need for a new well field.
Being no other business, Ronald R. Kapp made a motion to
adjourn the meeting. Kevin R. Nott added the second and being
unanimously approved, the meeting adjourned at 10:45 pm.
_______________________________ James
H.
Wilson,
Mayor
______________________________Stanton
D.
Burdette,
City
Clerk
|
|
