Common Council

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BECKLEY CONVENED AT 5:30 P.M. ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2025, IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIA WEB-X. PRESENT: City Manager Phillip Jarrell, Interim Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler, City Attorney Bill File, Council Members: Janine Bullock, Kip Buchanan, Frank Williams, Nancy Shoemaker-Dingess, Natalie Coots, Sherrie Hunter, and Cody Reedy. The following City employees were present: Chief of BFD Ed Thompson, BPW Director Mike Bolen, Chief of Code Enforcement Donald Morgan, IT Technician Matt Blake, Director of Parks & Recreation Leslie Baker, Chief of BPD Dean Bailey, Director of IT John Hopkins, and Beckley Events Coordinator Jill Moorefield. ABSENT: Mayor Ryan Neal and Susan Miller. Councilman Reedy led in the Pledge of Allegiance. 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 City's webpage at Beckley.org or the City's Facebook page. Councilman Reedy called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Due to Mayor Neal's absence, Councilman Reedy asked for a motion to nominate a Council member to chair the meeting. Council unanimously approved the motion to nominate Councilman Reedy which was made by Councilwoman Hunter, seconded by Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess. Councilman Reedy said that all members of Council were present. Council dispensed with the reading of the minutes from the August 19, 2025, Regular Council Meeting, copies of which had been distributed to each member prior to the meeting. Council unanimously approved the minutes as written on a motion by Councilwoman Coots, seconded by Councilwoman Hunter. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Councilman Reedy announced that if calling by phone, dial *3 to raise your hand. If connected by computer, click the "hand icon" on your participant's panel. Mary West requested more speed humps on Larew Avenue. She said that speeding in the City is a problem. Christina Baisden said she will always support transparency and will continue asking for it from the City. She said that in the ordinance which passed during the August 19th meeting regarding amending the Code Chapter 2, Section 2-204 it did not say that Council can not respond; it said that they are not obligated to respond. She expressed dissatisfaction with the format of the Agenda. Calvin Moore said he still needs help with the flooding issue at his house. He said he is asking Council to help, as this has taken too long and is still a major issue. Councilman Reedy asked if anyone was online to speak. Danielle Stewart spoke, saying the City should conduct a Community Needs Assessment (CNA) for substance use disorders before any opioid funds are used. Next were Brief Comments From City Council and the City Manager. Councilwoman Bullock said that Calvin Moore received some help from the Beckley Sanitary Board and is hoping the City can help him also. She inquired about the Land Reuse Agency. City Manager Jarrell said that he has requested members to join the committee and is waiting to hear back from them. She said sidewalks on S. Kanawha Street and S. Fayette Street need attention. She inquired about these with City Manager Jarrell. He said that he and Grants Administrator Angela King have discussed this as these are streets owned by the State. Councilwoman Bullock congratulated Reverend Staples for his lifelong accomplishments and the impact he has had on the community. Councilman Buchanan said thoughts and prayers are with the Mayor. He said the Boots versus Badges Fundraiser was great. He thanked the Eplings for use of their stadium for the fundraiser. He is looking forward to helping out with the Kids Classic this weekend. He thanked Mr. File, City Manager Jarrell, and the department heads for their work. Next, Councilman Williams thanked Chief Code Enforcement Officer Morgan and the Code Office for their help in East Park and requested their assistance regarding abandoned cars in Ward 3. He said that he thinks the City is headed in the right direction. Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess said that speeding on Woodlawn Avenue is a problem. Councilwoman Coots said that she and Councilwoman Bullock walked around downtown, and attention to aesthetics is needed to make it attractive for small business owners to invest in downtown. She said the City of Hinton is an example of a City doing well. She said more than one business can be in the same building and share the rent. She welcomed suggestions on how to interest people in investing in downtown Beckley. Councilwoman Hunter said she thinks Council needs to be the governing body over the opioid funds. She said sidewalks need to be repaired, and weeds are growing through the cracks. She congratulated Coach Pete Culicerto for receiving the recent dedication of Woodrow Wilson's High School Football Field. She said the Mayor did a great job presenting Mr. Culicerto with a key to the City. She invited everyone to attend the 911 Ceremony at 9:00 a.m. at Word Park on September 11th. She said that she agrees with Councilman Williams and thinks the City is headed in the right direction. Councilman Reedy said the Boots versus Badges Fundraiser was a success. He said tractor-trailers are still causing a problem in the Pikeview Drive/Harper Road area and hopes the City can work with the Department of Highways to resolve this problem. City Manager Jarrell said that he is aware of the condition of the sidewalks. He said the City needs a jumpstart, and investment needs to be made for the downtown area. He said the application for opioid funds is on the City's website. He said that he emailed Council regarding the parking application, and it will be on the City's website soon. ENACTMENT OF ORDINANCES: There were no ordinances. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS: Next was the Resolution Honorarily Naming Portion Of Patch Street Rev. N.B. Staples, Jr. Way. Mr. File presented the resolution. Councilman Reedy asked for a motion to approve the resolution as presented. Councilwoman Hunter made the motion, seconded by Councilwoman Bullock and the Motion was approved unanimously. Councilman Williams congratulated and recognized the Staples family, as did Councilwomen Hunter and Bullock. Councilwoman Bullock asked Councilman Reedy if Dr. Reverend Jerry Staples could speak. Dr. Reverend Jerry Staples thanked Council for passing the resolution and invited them to church. He is the Senior Pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The resolution is hereby incorporated into these minutes. OLD BUSINESS: There was no old business. NEW BUSINESS: Next was a presentation by Mr. Marcus Jordan, Director of RRG Behavioral Health. Mr. Jordan said that RRG Behavioral Health is a for-profit organization and would like to open an office in Beckley. They would start with an office and hope to have room for a few beds for inpatient care. He said that RRG Behavioral Health focuses on primary, integrated, and addiction care. The organization provides care to individuals from the beginning through the completion of their care, rather than the patient having to go to multiple places for various types of care. He said in other cities they have two hundred fifty clients and hope to have more by adding an office in Beckley. He said a lot of resources are here already. Next was the reappointment of Sandra Sheatsley to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Councilman Reedy asked for a motion to approve. Councilwoman Hunter made the motion to approve, seconded by Councilman Williams. Councilman Reedy asked if there were any comments. There were none. Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Sandra Sheatsley to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Next was the appointment of Stephen B. Nickell to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Councilman Reedy asked for a motion to approve. Councilwoman Bullock made the motion to approve, seconded by Councilwoman Coots and the motion was approved unanimously. POTENTIAL EXECUTIVE SESSION: Councilman Reedy said Council needs to go into Executive Session for a personnel matter. Council unanimously approved entering into Executive Session at 6:09 p.m. on a motion by Councilwoman Bullock, seconded by Councilwoman Coots. Council unanimously approved entering back into the Regular Council Meeting at 6:51 p.m. on a motion by Councilman Williams, seconded by Councilwoman Coots. With there being no further business to discuss, Council unanimously approved adjourning the meeting on a motion by Councilman Williams, seconded by Councilwoman Coots. Councilman Reedy adjourned the meeting at 6:52 p.m. ___________________ _____________________ Mayor City Manager