Common Council

AWORKSHOP OFTHE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT5:00PM ONMARCH 4,2025, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIA WEB-X. PRESENT: Mayor Ryan Neal, Interim City Manager Phillip Jarrell, Interim Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler, City Attorney BillFile, andthe Mayor’sand CM’sAssistant Susan Miller. Council Members: Natalie Coots, KipBuchanan, Nancy Shoemaker- Dingess, Frank Williams, Janine Bullock, Sherrie Hunter, andCody Reedy. The following City employees were present: ITTech Anthony Martin, Director ofP&R Leslie Baker, Supervisor ofBoard ofPublic Works Mike Bolen, Captain Parson ofBFD, Director ofBoard of Public Works (BPW) Pam Frey, Beckley Events Coordinator JillMoorefield, Chief Dean Bailey ofBPD, andChief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan. Guest speakers: JinaBelcher, NRGRDA Executive Director, Andy Davis with NRGRDA, Sam Rich with Thrasher Engineering, and SamWilkes with Thrasher. The Mayor called themeeting toorder at 5:00p.m. The public hadtheoption to jointhemeeting inperson, listen by WEB-Xfrom their computer, orlisten by phone, using theweblink orphone number provided thedayofthemeeting ontheCity’swebpage atBeckley.orgor theCity’sFacebook page. You mayview theworkshop bylogging ontoBeckley.orgorgoing totheCity's Facebook page. TheMayor reminded everyone that thisisaWorkshop. No votes willbetaken andnodecisions will bemade. Itisopen tothepublic, but there willbenopublic comments. TheMayor said theAgenda hasthree items withthe first being theremediation ofthe oldBeckley Landfill Site onNew Jersey Avenue. Sam Richwith Thrasher Engineering discussed aremediation grant fortheoldBeckley landfill site on New Jersey Avenue. A feasibility study foravisitor center andamphitheater, potential relocation ofTheater West Virginia, andvarious development plans need tobedecided upon byCouncil. He said theproject team isupdating Council. The options forcleaning upthe landfill include off-sitedisposal, on-site repository, orcapping inplace. Thrasher recommends capping inplace asthemost feasible andcost-effective option for remediation. The City ofBeckley received a $500,000grant forthe environmental cleanup and redevelopment ofthe oldBeckley Landfill site. Afeasibility study is needed todetermine thescope andcostof theproposed visitor center and amphitheater. The City needs toconsider committing tosupporting thefinal grant request andpotentially matching funds for thefeasibility study. Thefacility is owned bythepark service, butthey don't have themoney tomaintain it. Theater West Virginia isdiscussing thepossibility ofmoving toanew location. The proposed project could include avisitor center andamphitheater, butthere isroom forflexibility indetermining the final asset. Councilwoman Hunter asked ifthere are anyother public areas forcampgrounds besides theoneatNew River Park. Sam Wilkes said plans forinterpretive trails from thevisitor center tothemillsiteare needed andafeasibility study isneeded to determine thebest usefortheproperty such asatheater andother potential developments. Jina Belcher said the relocation oftheshooting range androad planning should be considered inthe overall project. Finalization oftheremediation plan and construction documents areneeded. Implementing access controls andfencing contaminated areas will address contamination atthe millsite ifnecessary. NRGRDA isawaiting finalization ofthe State’sbudget todetermine thefunding amount toseewhat hasbeen approved. NRGRDA would liketodetermine the commitment andsupport ofCity Council forthefinal grant request andlong-term sustainability oftheproject. NRGRDA also suggested thatafeasibility study for theproject beconducted andtheproject cost bedetermined. Councilman Reedy suggested thatatour ofthe property for theCouncil members bescheduled for thisspring. Thrasher will assist in obtaining thenecessary permits forthe project. Councilwoman Hunter said theneed to assess theneedfor capturing andtreating leachate once theareas are capped is important. NRGRDA asked theCity to consider matching funds forthefeasibility study. Andy Davis with NRGRDA suggested prioritizing andplanning in phases fortheproject implementation. NRGRDA plans onputting outanRFP forfirms torespond towithacost estimate forthefeasibility study, source proposals anditwillcome back to Council with arequest formatch funding. Jinaasked Council toconsider the relocation oftheshooting range andstart looking forpotential properties. Shesaid thegrant money willbespent andsubmit reimbursement requests willthen be submitted totheEPA. Tom Sopher spoke infavor ofdeveloping thearea being discussed. Director ofParks & Recreation Leslie Baker explained the vicinity oftrail development andMitch Lehman explained how thisplan cantie intotheoutdoor economic development plan aswell asthecomprehensive plan. Therepresentative thatwas toattend and discuss adogpark wasnotable toattend. Formore detailed information, the recording including aslide presentation andmaps thatwere shared during this workshop andcanbeviewed byvisiting beckley.org. With there being nofurther business todiscuss the Mayor adjourned themeeting at6:20p.m. Mayor Interim City Manager