Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHECOMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT6:31PMONAPRIL 12, 2022, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS. THOSE PRESENT: Mayor Robert R.Rappold, Recorder-Treasurer Billie Trump, Secretary Susan Miller, ITDirector BillKelly, Assistant ITDirector Amy Evans. Council Members: Cody Reedy, Tom Sopher, Bob Canter, Kevin Price, Sherrie Hunter, Robert Dunlap, andJanine Bullock. Thefollowing Department Heads were present: Director ofBoard ofPublic Works, Jerry Stump, HRDirector Shirley Trotter, Chief Christian of Beckley PD, Deputy Chief Dean Bailey ofBeckley PD, Captain Morgan, Chief Code Officer, andParks & Rec. Director, Leslie Baker. ABSENT: City Attorney, Bill File. Guest Speaker Scott HillDirector ofTheatre WV. Guests also included Troop Leaders andBoy Scouts with Troop 1993. Cucumber andCompany was present. The Mayor reminded thepublic thatthey willbeable tomake comments when invited todosobyeither pressing *3on their phone andtheir callwillbetaken in theorder itisreceived, orif viewing by computer ortablet, raising your hand by right clicking your name andchoosing Raise Hand". Council members, Department Heads and thepublic joined themeeting either in Council chambers orbyWEB-Xfrom their computer, orbyphone, using the weblink orphone number provided the dayofthemeeting ontheCity’swebpage atBeckley.orgortheCity’sFacebook page. Troop Leaders andBoy Scouts with Pack 1993lead The Pledge ofAllegiance. Council dispensed with thereading ofminutes from the regular Council meeting dated March 12, 2022, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved the minutes aswritten onamotion by Councilman Price andseconded byCouncilman Dunlap. Council unanimously approved thepromotion of Deputy Chief Dean Bailey toChief ofBeckley PDon amotion byCouncilman Reedy andseconded by Councilwoman Hunter. The Mayor complimented Chief Lonnie Christian, Deputy Chief Dean Bailey, and Detective David Allard forgraduating from theFBI Academy.  Council unanimously approved thepromotion of Detective David Allard toDeputy Chief ofBeckley PD onamotion byCouncilman Sopher andseconded by Councilman Reedy. Scott Hill, Director ofTheatre WV, addressed the Mayor and Council requesting upto $15,000.00tobuild atheatre version ofCoalwood WV circa 1960 onthe Grandview stage, complete with Homer Hickam's boyhood home, OLGA thecoal mine, BigCreek High School classroom, Elsie Hickam's famous rose garden fence, plusacouple ofother locations needed to completely tell thestory ofthe Rocket Boys of McDowell County. These funds would also beused to bring Coalwood tolifewith dramatic period piece costumes which areneeded totake theatre goers back to the1960's WV coal town. Mr.Hillstated that supply chain issues could impact thecost. The Mayor complimented Theatre WV forhow they contribute to WV andthanked them. The Mayor willrequest a resolution topresent toCouncil atthenext Council meeting tocontribute fifteen thousand ($15,000.00) dollars toTheatre WV. OLD BUSINESS: TheMayor saidthatthedeed transfer forthe WJLS building was consummated yesterday. The Hive hasexpressed interest inleasing thisspace and pending grant approval they would liketorenovate thespace. The Mayor asked Leslie Baker, Director of Parks andRecreation, togiveanupdate onthelife- guard situation. Shesaid thatdetails regarding the agreement with USA Pools willbefinalized soon and she hopes togetthisitem onCouncil's next agenda. Shesaid that sixteen people took thelifeguard prerequisites through the YMCA, butnoonehassigned upfor the certification class. The Mayor said that theCity of Beckley isnotintheswimming poolbusiness tomake a profit. Itoffers access toswimming pools toserve thecitizens ofBeckley andwillcontinue astheCity can afford it.The Mayor said thatthisprogram may have the potential tobreak even. Leslie saidthatthe City isstillinneed ofpeople towork theconcession stands andadminister admission tickets forentry tothe pools. Councilman Reedy asked ifthecost of $16,000.00is the cost ofmaintenance forNew River Pool only and doesitinclude chemicals forthe pool. Ms. Baker said that chemicals anditems forthe concession stand are purchased separately inbulk locally andthe $16K isfor NewRiver Pool only. Councilwoman Hunter asked iftheslide isready foruse. Ms. Baker saidthatitneeds inspected bythestate. ShesaidthattheState ofWV Dept. ofLabor considers thewater slide inthesame category asacarnival ride which requires nooneless than eighteen years oldtowork atthe slide. Councilwoman Hunter asked how many concession stand workers areneeded. Ms. Baker said thatshewould like tohave three ticket takers andthree concession stand workers. Councilwoman Hunter asked ifadiscount is available forthose interested inboth theNew River Pool andNew River Park. Ms. Baker said yes. Ms. Baker said thatadmission rates for thepool have not increased intenyears, andthey may beconsidering an increase buthave notyetdecided. The Mayor said thatthe total revenue from admission tothe pools and concessions in2016 was $143,000.00andthetotal cost foroperating thesingle pool atNew River Pool was 143,000.00. Ms. Baker clarified that 2016 was theyear theCity made $83.00from providing access tothe pool. The Mayor asked forcontinued prayers for Christian Martin, Councilwoman Hunter's grandson who isinabattle withavery serious illness. NEW BUSINESS: TheMayor said thatTuesday, May 10th isElection Day andherequests Council consider cancelling themeeting. Council Chambers in City Hall willbeused asavoting precinct that day. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Kimberly Burks andLatasha Williams spoke about thedeath ofKim's son, Quantez Lamer Burks asking theBeckley PDandtheMayor for answers. The Mayor said thatthe caseisin litigation and theCity isnotallowed todiscuss anything thatisinlitigation. Thomas Parham asked foran update ontheflooding project involving Hunter, Hagar, Hartley Streets. TheMayor explained that the planning stages fortheproject areunderway andtheCity hopes togetgrants tohelp with thecost ofthis project. This isthefirst project onthe listpending the proposed rate increase ofSanitary/Sewer & Stormwater rates and/ortheaward ofgrants. Mr. Parham asked ifPolice Officers are prohibited from joining hate groups. Deputy Chief Bailey said yes. Kevin Reedy spoke voicing hisconcern regarding thetiming of therateincrease duetoprice gouging andinflation. He feels likenow isnottherighttime toincrease rates. The Mayor clarified that anew building fortheBeckley Sanitary Board (BSB) isatthebottom ofthelistand theCity wasable tonegotiate agood price ontheloton New River Drive outofforeclosure. The Mayor said thattherequest fortherateincrease isnottobuild anew BSB building. The Mayor stated thatthe City of Beckley isprohibited bylawfrom intermingling Cityof Beckley funds with BSB funds. The Mayor explained thatthere hasnotbeen anincrease inthe Sanitary/Sewer system forseven years. There hasn't been anincrease inStormwater rates infifteen years. The Mayor stated thatthecost oftheHagar, Hartley, Pinecrest, Beckley Little League project isincluded in therateincrease. Doug Epling asked ifthe business/commercial rates would increase. The Mayor said yes. Mr. Epling said that these increases affect people onfixed incomes alot. JimPeterson saidthat Beckley lostoneofitsbest citizens when itlostSharon Dempsey. Hesuggested that New River Park Pool be named inherhonor. The Mayor said thatSharon will behonored. The Webelos Pack 1993 thanked Council andtheMayor forallowing them toattend. Senator Roberts stated that adental/oral health care bill (upto 1,000.00perfiscal year) was passed for Medicaid recipients orindividuals that make upto138% ofthe federal poverty level. The Mayor announced ifanyone wished tospeak byphone orbycomputer they could do so. The Mayor announced thatMay 14, 2022, isthe 1st Annual BillWithers Festival. ACity event called Sweet Treats willbeheld themorning oftheevent. Amy said that noonewas signed uponline forpublic comments. Councilwoman Bullock thanked Board of Public Works Director, Jerry Stump, Deputy Chief Bailey, andChief Code Enforcement Officer, Donald Morgan. Sheasked forprayers forthehurting mother, Kimberly Burks, who spoke earlier during public comments. With there being nofurther business to discuss theMayor adjourned themeeting at7:21p.m.on amotion byCouncilman Price andseconded by Councilwoman Bullock. Mayor Recorder-Treasurer