The
Common Council of the City of Point Pleasant, a Municipal Corporation in
Mason County, West Virginia, met in Regular Session at City Hall, 400
Viand Street at 7:00 p.m. on Monday October 10, 2005.
J. Glenn Long led Council in Prayer. The meeting
was called to order by Mayor James H. Wilson who led Council in the
Pledge of Allegiance.
The
Mayor stated that Darlene Haer of the Riverfront Park Committee was not
present. Mayor Wilson asked that Council approve the recommendation of
the Riverfront Park Committee to pay WOOLPERT, Inc. $1,197.00 for Design
Services. He added that the funds would come from the Port Authority
Grant money. Robert C. Doeffinger made the motion and Ronald R. Kapp
added the second. The payment was approved unanimously. The Mayor added
that The Alan Stone Company had expressed interest in bidding on Phase
II of the Riverfront Park construction.
The
Mayor then recognized City resident Larry Butler. Mr. Butler of 2510
Mount Vernon expressed concerns of vandalism and alleged attempted
breaking and entering in his neighborhood. He stated that he called the
911 Center and no police from the City responded. Mr. Butler asked if
there were enough police officers to properly respond to calls. Mayor
Wilson stated that he would talk to the 911 Center as to why the City
Police were not dispatched. He added that the City has had some
policeman leave but that replacement officers had been hired. Mr. Butler
added that City employees had been mowing the center aisle of Mount
Vernon and blowing the clippings and litter into the street. He stated
that this could cause storm drain back-ups.
The
Mayor asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Council
meeting of September 12, 2005. Brian L. Billings moved to approve and J.
Glenn Long added the second. The minutes were approved unanimously. The
Mayor then asked for a motion to approve the Financial Statements of the
General, Coal Severance, Water and Sewer Funds for the month of
September 2005. Ronald R. Kapp moved to approve the statement and J.
Glenn Long added the second. In discussion, M. Leota Sang asked if there
was going to be a separate account set up for the cemeteries. The Mayor
said there would probably be a separate line – item added to the
statement. The Financial Statement was unanimously approved. The Mayor then asked for a motion to approve the Outstanding
Obligations for the month of September 2005. J. Glenn Long made the
motion and Brian L. Billings added the second. The motion was passed unanimously.
Next
on the agenda was City Attorney James Casey. Mr. Casey explained that
the railroad company had not contacted him about a lease agreement that
they had sent the City. The agreement would adjust the lease payment
from annually to a one-time fee.
Mr.
Casey then discussed the Ordinance/Amendments for Council to enact in
order to install stop signs at intersections. He stated that Council
should follow standard Ordinance change/amendment procedure in making
changes with regards to stop signs. That would require a minimum of two
readings and a public hearing.
Mr.
Casey stated that the owner of a distressed property along 22nd Street had retained an attorney and that the attorney had requested a
continuance in order to prepare for Municipal Court.
The
Mayor stated that he had received a letter from Howard Yeager regarding
property he owns within the City. The Mayor reported that Mr. Yeager
proposed donating three parcels to the City. It was reported that at
least one of the parcels includes an older residence which is in a
serious state of disrepair. Mr. Yeager requested that the parcels be
designated as public parks if donated to the City. More specifically, he
requested that the Main Street location be named Battle Line Park. J.
Glenn Long made a motion for Council to send a counter-proposal to Mr.
Yeager that the City accept the three parcels with a Quitclaim deed and
commit to making the Main Street location a park or other appropriate
municipal use and no restrictions as to usage and or sale of the other
two parcels. Ronald R. Kapp added the second to the motion. In
discussion, it was asked if the properties contained asbestos and how
much demolition would cost for the structures on the property. Also, it
was asked if there were any liens or judgments against the property.
Some concern was raised that the City was taking on more properties to
mow and upkeep. It was noted that other Cities have the ability to
remove distressed properties. Mr. Casey stated that the other option was
for the City to remove the structures in disrepair and put liens on the
property if Mr. Yeager refused to pay for the demolition. After all
discussions, the motion to send the counter-proposal passed unanimously.
Mr.
Casey then presented an agreement between the WV Department of Natural
Resources and the City referencing the paving of the boat launch
facility. The Mayor stated that the facility is leased from the Corps of
Engineers and they had no objections to the paving. Brian L. Billings
made a motion to approve the agreement and M. Leota Sang added the
second. The agreement was approved unanimously.
City
Clerk Stanton D. Burdette explained that bids for the audit had been
received from three firms. (Bassett and Lowe-$5,550.00, Perry and Assoc.
- $4,750.00, and Teed and Assoc. - $3,500.00) Clerk Burdette reported
that Bassett and Lowe scored the highest on the Audit Proposal
Scoresheet and the recommendation of the Procurement Committee was to
offer the contract to Bassett and Lowe. J. Glenn Long made a motion to
approve the recommendation of the committee and Brian L. Billings added
the second. The motion was approved unanimously.
Next
on the agenda was Mayor Wilson. Mayor Wilson reminded Council of
Trick-or-Treat on Thursday October 27th from 5:30-6:30 and
the Halloween Block Party starting at 6:00 P.M. Mayor Wilson asked
Council for $400.00 to be used in conjunction with Family Resource
Network for entertainment at the Block Party. Ronald R. Kapp made a
motion to sponsor the entertainment and J. Glenn Long added the second.
The motion passed unanimously.
The
Mayor then asked for a motion to adopt the Federal Standards for travel
expenses. Robert C. Doeffinger made the motion and J. Glenn Long added
the second. The motion was unanimously approved.
The
Mayor presented a letter that he had sent to Hartley, Hartley and
Hartley regarding the right of way to the floodwall office. The Mayor
explained that the Hartley’s were going to renovate a building
adjacent to the floodwall office. They had asked the City if the right of way to the floodwall office
could be moved. The Hartley’s said all work would be done at no cost
to the City. J. Glenn Long moved to allow the Right of way change and
Brian L. Billings added the second. The motion was unanimously approved.
The
Mayor informed Council that the Finance Committee had met and
recommended paying City Attorney James Casey one-half of his fees
associated with the Arbitration of contractual disputes involving the
Riverfront Park. The half-payment would total $8,655.00. J. Glenn Long
moved to make the payment and Robert C. Doeffinger added the second. The
payment was approved unanimously.
The
Mayor informed Council that Mr. Bonecutter had his property in Kingtown
surveyed but had not received the information back from the Surveyor.
The Mayor stated that he had also talked to the surveyor and the City
should receive information soon. Residents in Kingtown expressed concern
that in their opinion Mr. Bonecutter was constructing a building on City
property.
The
Mayor presented a letter from Robert Fowler addressing maintenance of
the floodwall. The Mayor stated that the Corps of Engineers conduct
regular inspections of the floodwall and he would address Mr. Fowler’s
concerns with them during the next inspection.
In
Council Concerns, M. Leota Sang asked if anyone had researched the
recycling issue since the last Council meeting.
James
W. Fetty stated he had been approached by residents with concerns over
an alternate route out of Kingtown. The Mayor added it had been
discussed before and he would look into it again. The residents also
asked when they were going to get a sewer system for the area. The Mayor
stated that the Sewer Committee would be meeting soon and they would
look into the issue. The Engineers had said previously that an income
survey of the residents living there may be necessary. Mr. Fetty also
asked if the City could enact an Ordinance restricting the use of
“Jake-brakes” on tractor-trailers. He said the trucks generate
excessive noise using the Jake-brakes when entering the City.
Elaine
G. Hunt stated that she had received complaints about trash behind the
new Dollar General Store. She stated that there were concerns regarding
cars parking on the sidewalk on Mount Vernon Avenue. She stated that
residents had asked if gates could be installed at the old Ordnance
School parking lot to discourage loitering and unwanted behavior. She
also asked for more police patrols in the Fifth Ward. In closing, Ms.
Hunt stated that she would like to thank Jacob Hill for helping her with
Certificates and Banners for the students participating in the Battle
Days contests.
Ronald
R. Kapp asked Council to
send a letter to the Haer Bears 4-H club thanking them for their hard
work in planting and maintaining the flowers at the Medal of Honor Park.
Mr. Kapp stated that the Planning Official from the City of Parkersburg
had informed him that the cost of their comprehensive plan was
$45,000.00 and not $75,000.00 as was earlier reported. In closing, Mr.
Kapp stated that City owns a parcel of land near the entrance of English
Court and that the gas company would like to lease it. He stated that
the City sewer main passes through the property and therefore no houses
could be built upon it. He added the gas company would like to install a
regulator station there as a second gas feed to the City of Point
Pleasant. He stated that the station would be a 10’ X 10’ building
with all associated plumbing enclosed.
Brian
L. Billings asked if the City had hired any Police Officers. The Mayor
stated that Christopher Oliver had recently been hired as a city
officer. Mr. Billings stated that a resident had informed him that she
had witnessed illegal transactions taking place at the tennis courts.
There
being no other business, Ronald R. Kapp moved to adjourn the meeting and
Brian L. Billings added the second. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15
P.M. by unanimous vote.
_______________________________ James
H.
Wilson,
Mayor
______________________________Stanton
D.
Burdette,
City
Clerk
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