Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHECOMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT6:30PMONAUGUST 27, 2024, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIAWEB-X. PRESENT: Mayor Ryan Neal, Interim CityManager Billie Trump, Interim Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler, City Attorney BillFile, andthe Mayor’sand CM’sAssistant Susan Miller. Council Members: Natalie Coots, Nancy Shoemaker-Dingess, Frank Williams, KipBuchanan, Janine Bullock, andCouncil persons atLarge Sherrie Hunter andCody Reedy. The following City employees were present: Director ofIT BillKelley, Anthony Martin IT,Chief Coughlin ofBFD, Board ofPublic Works (BPW) Director Pam Frey, Chief Bailey ofBPD, Director ofParks & Recreation Leslie Baker, andChief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan. The Mayor called themeeting toorder at 6:30p.m.The public hadtheoption to jointhemeeting inperson orlisten by WEB-Xfrom their computer, orlisten by phone, using theweblink orphone number provided thedayofthemeeting ontheCity’swebpage atBeckley.orgor theCity’sFacebook page. Council dispensed with thereading ofthe minutes from theCouncil meeting dated August 13, 2024, copies ofwhich had been distributed toeachmember. Council unanimously approved theminutes as written onamotion byCouncilman Williams seconded byCouncilwoman Coots. . Next wasthe receipt ofthree separate contract bundles forDLAP Grant. Councilman Williams asked Chief Code Enforcement Officer, Donald Morgan if anyofthe properties thatare included in thisgrant areinWard III. Mr.Morgan said thatthe bids came inatamore affordable price than heanticipated and theapplication canbemodified toinclude more structures ifthegrant money from theState willcover it. Hesaid typically, thestructures thatgetonthelistfirst tobe demolished aretheowners who voluntarily allow the structures tobe demolished andthey may also qualify for lienforgiveness ifthey volunteer. The State determines which company willbe awarded thecontract forthework. The City pays foritandthe State reimburses theCity. Group 2consists of: 201 Hartley Ave., 301Westmoreland St. ,110 Grant Street withgarage, 216Mills Avenue, and367Mool Avenue. The following companies bidonGroup 2. WV Demo, Inc. $67,013., League Builders & Consultants $45,050., Tom’s Tear Down andTake Away, LLP 44,000., Empire Salvage & Recycling, Inc. $32,000., and Reclaim Company, LLC $56,700. Next, wasGroup 3 consisting of107Elco Lane and104 Hunter Street. WV Demo, Inc. $16,523., League Builders & Consultants $11,400., Tom’sTear Down & Take Away 11,000., Empire Salvage & Recycling, Inc. $11,000., andReclaim Company, LLC $23,850. Group 4consisting of313 Maplewood Lane Transite and938S. Fayette St.,WV Demo, Inc. $28,224.50, League Builders & Construction 18,600., Tom’sTear Down & Take Away $13,000., Empire Salvage & Recycling, $16,500., Reclaim Company, LLC $27,500.. Theproposals from the company(ies) selected foreach group will have theproposals incorporated intothe Council meeting minutes once theState makes itsselection. Next, Mr.Fileexplained that theprevious Council approved this ordinance inJune. Mr.Fileexplained thefourth paragraph of the ordinance should have contained the language “with Special Warranty “ which limits theCity’swarranty ofthetitleto thetime period itowned theproperty and added inthefifth paragraph language authorizing theMayor, City Manager or theRecorder Treasurer tosign any documents required tocomplete this transaction. Mr.File saidthat thisdoes notslow down thetransaction and counsel fortheDepartment ofVeterans Assistance agrees with these changes. Mr.File said thatthisisthesecond reading ofthisordinance. Heread the ordinance bytitle, ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING PROPERTY SWAP WITH WEST VIRGINA DEPARTMENT OFVETERANS ASSISTANCE. Mr.Fileopened the public hearing. Mr.Fileasked ifanyone hadanyquestions. Aquestion wasasked byamember ofthepublic. The gentleman wanted toknow ifthisfacility islocated close theVA Hospital. Interim City Manager Billie Trump said theVA Hospital isafederal facility and theone being constructed isastate facility. Mr. Filesaid thathehasamap that depicts the siteifanyone wants toview itafter the meeting. Sam Rich with Thrasher explained where theVANursing facility willbelocated inthePinecrest Park. Councilman-at-Large Reedy explained thattheVeteran’sAssistance iswanting toswap property because theproperty it hasisnottopographically suitable foritto build aonelevel facility. Therefore, itis requesting toswap apiece ofproperty with theCity thatismore suitable forthis type ofconstruction. Mr.Fileclosed the public hearing. TheMayor asked members ofCouncil ifthey hadany questions. There were notquestions. The ordinance was unanimously passed by Council onamotion byCouncilman-at- Large Reedy seconded byCouncilman Williams. The ordinance ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, wastheapproval ofThrasher’s proposal todevelop padready sitesfor Pinecrest Business Park. Theproposal is 480K. Billie Trump explained that five individuals scored theproposals and Thrasher scored thehighest among the fivewhich allowed Thrasher tobeupfor first consideration. TheMayor asked members ofCouncil ifanyone hadany questions. There were noquestions. Council unanimously approved Thrasher toperform thesitedevelopment work for thePinecrest Business Park onamotion byCouncilwoman Bullock seconded by Councilman Williams. Acopy ofthe proposal ishereby incorporated intothese minutes. Next, Chief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan read theapplication for renewal ofWV ABCA license forJudy’s at275N.Eisenhower Dr. Acopy ofthe application ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Noaction was required by Council. Next, ontheAgenda wastheShooting Range Lease Agreement. Mr.File explained thatthislease isbetween the City ofBeckley andtheNew River Gorge Regional Development Authority NRGRDA) for $1.00/mo. foraterm of thirty-sixmonths and ensures protection forNRGRDA from anyliability. Mr.File asked Jina Belcher Executive Director of NRGRDA ifshehadanycomments. She said thatNRGRDA would liketoseethe shooting range operable andfor NRGRDA tohavenoliability. Councilwoman Bullock said thatformer Mayor Robert Rappold’sname islisted onthislease andneeds removed. Mr.File said Mayor Ryan Neal’sname willbe listed. The Mayor asked Council ifanyone had anyquestions. There were noquestions. The lease was unanimously approved by Council onamotion byCouncilman-at- Large Reedy seconded by Councilwoman-at-Large Hunter. Acopy ofthelease ishereby incorporated into these minutes. OLD BUSINESS: Councilwoman Coots asked ifCouncil could re-instate the public’sability tocallinduring public comments orjointhemeeting online to make public comments attheendofeach Council meeting aslong asthey identify themselves bygiving theirfirst andlast name. Mr.Filesaidyes. They should also state ifthey areaCityresident ornot. Councilwoman Bullock thanked Joanie Morris ofNew Hope Baptist Church for herassistance recently and thanked Mr. Fernett forhishelp ingetting thelawn cut atWright-Hunter Cemetery. Councilman Williams thanked Leslie Baker Director ofParks & Recreation and Chief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan for their hard work. Councilwoman Coots thanked Councilman Buchanan for inviting hertoaBeckley Housing Authority meeting. Councilwoman-at- Large wished Councilwoman Coots and herhusband ahappy thirty-sixyear anniversary. NEW BUSINESS: Councilwoman-at- Large invited everyone toattend the911 Memorial on9-11-24at9:30a.m.at Word Park. Councilwoman Coots said that shehas received alotofphone calls regarding a recent difference inopinion thatsheand City Attorney Mr.Filehad. She encouraged anyone with questions to direct them toMr.File. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mary West voiced concerns about herrising sewer andwater bills, thealleyways onLarew needing cleared out, andhelp toslow down drivers speeding. Councilwoman Bullock said thatshewould callBeckley Water Company tomorrow. Paul Brown voiced concerns about thegreenspaces being developed. Kayla Morey said the outdoor recreation space forkids and families atandaround Beckley Stratton does notallneed tobedeveloped. Christina Baisden spoke regarding Fruits ofLabor. Trina Dacal Executive Director ofUnited Way asked the City toconsider partnering with theUnited Way. She suggested theCity install signs encouraging those who wanttodonate money donate toorganizations thathelp people rather thantopanhandlers. George Barbera istheTrack Coach at Woodrow Wilson High School. He thanked theMayor forattending thetrack competitions lastweekend. Heasked the City toinvest intheyouth ofourarea when considering thedevelopment ofthe Pinecrest Park. Hesaid greenspace for outdoor sports/activities isneeded for families andkids. Lisa Shrewsberry shared herconcerns regarding the Pinecrest Property being developed and notleaving enough forteachers totake kids from Beckley Stratton, parents to take kids/families, etc. TomMosley asked theCity toconsider recognizing Greg Stoveall with aCitizens Memorial Award. Herecently passed away and did alotforsomany inthecommunity. Brian Brown spoke regarding his concerns oftheformer Fruits ofLabor building andwants answers regarding what the City plans ondoing with the building. Garrett Pritt voiced his concerns regarding the development of theproperty atthePinecrest Park. Mergie Bradley saidthere isaproblem with drivers speeding onAntinio Avenue. She said someone ranastop signthere and someone could havebeen killed. Councilwoman-at-Large Hunter asked Chief Bailey ofthePDifsigns could be installed there. Hesaid theportable signs areonorder. They arenotstrobing lights. They cost $3,000.00each andhave not arrived yet. Hesaid they simply display thespeed ofadriver. Councilwoman Bullock asked when did theperson run thestop sign. Mergie said itwasaround 1:00p.m.Saturday, August 24.th Danielle Stewart said aparking commission is needed. JimAccurso with theSmall Business Administration (SBA) encouraged people who have suffered loss ordamage ofhousing duetonatural disasters toreach outtotheSBA. Council unanimously approved adjourning themeeting at7:44p.m.ona motion byCouncilman Williams seconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. The Mayor adjourned themeeting at7:44 p.m. Mayor Interim City Manager