Common Council

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BECKLEY CONVENED AT 6:30 PM ON MARCH 25, 2025, IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIA WEB-X. PRESENT: Mayor Ryan Neal, Interim City Manager Phillip Jarrell, Interim Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler, City Attorney Bill File. Council Members: Natalie Coots, Kip Buchanan, Nancy Shoemaker- Dingess, Frank Williams, Janine Bullock, Sherrie Hunter, and Cody Reedy. The following City employees were present: IT Tech Anthony Martin, IT Director Bill Kelly, Director of P&R Leslie Baker, BFD Chief Thompson, Supervisor of Board of Public Works (BPW) Mike Bolen, Beckley Events Coordinator Jill Moorefield, Chief Dean Bailey of BPD, and Chief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan. ABSENT: Susan Miller. Guest speaker was Nancy Johnson with The Raleigh County Humane Society. The Mayor led in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a prayer by Reverend Susan Claytor with Stephens Episcopal Church. The public had the option to join the meeting in person, listen by WEB-X from their computer, or listen by phone, using the weblink or phone number provided the day of the meeting on the C page. The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The Mayor said that all members of Council were present and there was a quorum. Council dispensed with the reading of the minutes from the March 11, 2025, Council Meeting, copies of which had been distributed to each member. Council unanimously approved the minutes as written on a motion by Councilwoman Coots seconded by Councilman Reedy. Council dispensed with the reading of the minutes from the March 13, 2025, Workshop copies of which had been distributed to each member. Council unanimously approved the minutes as written on a motion by Councilman Reedy seconded by Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess. On a motion by Councilman Reedy, seconded by Councilwoman Bullock, City Council unanimously adopted a Resolution accepting a grant of $15K for one PRO Officer at Woodrow Wilson High School through the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). The resolution is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next on the Agenda was Brief Comments from Council Members, the Mayor, and the Interim City Manager. Councilwoman Bullock honored the recent passing of local attorney Wilbert Payne by having a moment of silence in his memory. She congratulated Pam Frey Director of Board of Public Works on her upcoming retirement and Damon Cain on his retirement. She thanked Jill Moorefield for her work on the upcoming unveiling of the Bill Withers Sculpture. Councilman Buchanan also thanked Jill and he said that Spring Cleanup starts on 3-31-25. He thanked Shirley Trotter Human Resources Director for providing a list of vehicles owned by the City. Councilman Williams and Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess did not have any comments. Councilwoman Coots thanked Jill and said that she learned a lot about landbanks at the Municipal Conference this week and hopes to attend next year. The Mayor thanked the Board of Public Works for the repair of all of the potholes filled throughout the City. Councilwoman Hunter said the Raleigh County Make It Shine Litter Sweep has several upcoming events. She expressed her concerns for the abandoned Queen Ann Drive due to the potholes. She encouraged anyone who has the title to a vehicle that they own and need to get it removed from its location to contact her. She can assist in getting this done at no charge. She thanked Affordable Towing for this service to the public. Councilman Reedy said that he and Jill attended Downtown Pulse by the Chamber of Commerce during which parking issues downtown were discussed. He said there will not be a Parking Commission Meeting tonight. He recommended that Prince Street, Main Street, Neville Street, and a small part of Fayette Street (that connects Main Street and Prince Street that goes around the courthouse) become two hour free parking temporarily. This would only be until a permanent solution is reached. Councilman Reedy would like to see this on the April 8, 2025, Council Meeting Agenda. He said this would be an ordinance requiring two readings. Councilman Reedy said that the Chamber asked if the City has a GSI interactive map. Councilman Reedy said that he will reach out to the Director of IT Bill Kelly to discuss this soon. Interim City Manager Jarrell said that he has had the pleasure of meeting several local residents and working with several organizations recently. Mr. Jarrell said that the developer of both streets (Queen Ann Street and McCulloch Drive) is preparing a deed so the City can adopt those streets. Mr. Jarrell said that the stores on these streets are major B&O contributors. Mr. Jarrell said that he met with Dr. Starcher from the Raleigh County Board of Education regarding the opioid funds and discussed how the City may be able to utilize some of it to help the schools. He invited everyone to attend the Bill Withers unveiling on March 28th at 12 noon. OLD BUSINESS: Next was the (SHARP) Soaring Hope Animal Rescue Partners Contract. The Mayor said that this was tabled at the March 11, 2025, Council Meeting. The Mayor asked for a motion to bring the SHARP Contract off of the table. Councilman Reedy made the motion which was seconded by Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess. Interim Recorder- Treasurer Jessica Chandler said the amount that SHARP requested was to increase from $1,500/mo. to $2,000/mo. along with a four run kennel building with the cost not exceeding $10,500.00. This cost would be split between the City and the County. Council unanimously approved the amendments to the contract as presented on a motion by Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess seconded by Councilwoman Coots. NEW BUSINESS: The award of bid from the DLAP Demolition Group 6, which included 13 structures was next. Councilman Reedy said that the lowest bid was in the amount of $80K from Empire Salvage. Council unanimously approved the award of bid to Empire Salvage on a motion by Councilman Reedy seconded by Councilman Williams. The bid from Empire Salvage is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next was the award of bid from the DLAP Demolition Group 7 which included 2 structures. Councilman Reedy said that the lowest bid was in the amount of $37,650.00 from Aster Oilfield Services. Council unanimously approved the award of bid to Aster Oilfield Services on a motion by Councilman Reedy seconded by Councilman Buchanan. The bid from Aster Oilfield Services is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Jessica Chandler said that the Assets to Dispose lists have been cross referenced among the various departments within the City and these items are not needed and are ready to be auctioned through govdeals website. Council unanimously approved the disposal of the surplus assets on a motion by Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess seconded by Councilman Williams. The lists are hereby incorporated into these minutes. Jessica said these will be done ten or fifteen at a time and will be advertised in the newspaper. Next was the resolution to adopt the budget. Jessica said the resolution needs to be adopted tonight but changes can be made at any time. This is the adoption of the general fund and the coal severance fund budgets. She said the only change that has been made following the Workshop was the contribution for The Raleigh County Humane Society which is $69K. The amount for capital improvements decreased. Council unanimously approved the FY25-26 Budgets as presented on a motion by Councilman Reedy seconded by Councilwoman Coots. The budgets are hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Nancy Johnson with The Raleigh County Humane Society spoke. She said she implemented a touch screen showcasing the dogs needing rescued. They use the touch screen instead of encouraging walk-ins to go to the back to see the dogs because it helps increase adoption rates and it is safer for people and employees. This is a no kill facility so the dogs are kept until a home is found for the dog(s). One kennel is left open in case a dog is returned. She said that The Raleigh County Humane Society is a private business, it is not a government agency. The Raleigh County Humane Society is run off of contributions and grants. It also provides a pet food pantry for pet owners that cannot always afford pet food. She reviewed numbers regarding what it takes to operate The Humane Society. She said that there is a State law that the shelter cannot house vicious animals. She said the animals get exercise daily by the employees who walk the dogs. Volunteers can walk the animals after the proper paperwork is completed. You must be eighteen years old to walk a dog. Grant writing is done by two employees. Next, Council unanimously approved the appointment of the Interim City Manager to the Raleigh County Convention Center Board of Directors on a motion by Councilwoman Coots seconded by Councilman Reedy. PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Mayor announced that if calling by phone: dial *3 to raise your Anthony Martin, IT Technician, anyone who signed up to speak online. Mary West thanked the City for the speed humps installed on Larew Ave. She expressed concern about children losing free school lunches and veterans getting meals. She inquired about the possibility of residents being allowed to have chicken and turkey coops on their property in City limits. She said a left turn signal arrow needs installed on the traffic light on 3rd Avenue. Teresa Dennison, , reviewed numbers for 2024 about how many adopted and rescued Tom Moseley asked the City to close the gap on how long it takes to see concerns addressed by residents. Nate Syndor the Executive Director of Piney Creek Watershed Association, thanked the City for working with the Piney Creek Watershed earlier in the week to clarify what paperwork is needed on a regular basis from Piney Creek Watershed to continue receiving support from the City. Next, Christina Baisden spoke about her dissatisfaction with having to put in a FOIA request to receive documents pertaining to the budget that was discussed at the March 13, 2025, Budget Workshop. She said that she appreciates the Council unanimously approved entering into Executive Session at 7:32 p.m. on a motion by Councilman Williams seconded by Councilman Buchanan. Council unanimously agreed to enter back into the Regular Council Meeting at 8:15 p.m. on a motion by Councilwoman Hunter seconded by Councilman Buchanan 8:15 at p.m. (No actions were taken in the Executive Session.)  With there being no further business to discuss Council unanimously approved adjourning the meeting on a motion made by Councilman Reedy seconded by Councilwoman Hunter. The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m. _______________________ _____________________ Mayor Interim City Manager