Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OF THECOMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT5:30PMONSEPTEMBER 16,2025, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIAWEB-X. PRESENT: Mayor Ryan Neal, City Manager Phillip Jarrell, Interim Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler, City Attorney BillFile. Council Members: Nancy Shoemaker-Dingess, Frank Williams, Janine Bullock, Natalie Coots, KipBuchanan, Sherrie Hunter, and Cody Reedy. The following City employees were present: IT Director John Hopkins, ITTechnician Matt Blake, BPD Chief Bailey, Captain ofBFD EdWills, Director of Board ofPublic Works (BPW) Mike Bolen, Parks & Rec. Director Leslie Baker, Beckley Events Coordinator JillMoorefield, andChief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan. ABSENT: Susan Miller The Mayor ledinthePledge of Allegiance followed byprayer byPastor Sam Peterson withFaith Community Church. The public had theoption tojoin themeeting inperson, listen byWEB-X from their computer, orlisten byphone, using theweblink orphone number provided theday ofthemeeting onthe City’swebpage atBeckley.orgorthe City’sFacebook page. The Mayor called the meeting toorder at 5:31p.m. The Mayor said that all members ofCouncil arepresent. Council dispensed with thereading ofthe minutes from theSeptember 2,2025, Regular Council Meeting, copies of which hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten onamotion by Councilman Williams seconded by Councilwoman Bullock. PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Mayor announced thatifcalling byphone, dial 3toraiseyour hand. Ifconnected by computer, click the “hand icon” onyour participant’spanel. Mary West requested more speed humps/bumps onLarew Ave. She thanked theBPW andCode Enforcement for theirhelp onLarew. Paula Carol raised concern forminors riding fourwheelers onN.Highland Street. Shewasn’thappy with the response time from thepolice, the resolution, orthesituation. Scott Barber raised concern regarding the four wheelers onN.Highland St. Hefeltthat thepolice didnotresolve thesituation fairly orpromptly. Niki Kelly spoke concerning National ITProfessional Day, acknowledging BillKelly forhis contributions totheCity’stechnological advancements. Shestated thatheformed theITDepartment atBeckley and upgraded itover theyears. Through his efforts, shestated, every department throughout theCityhasbeen able to operate more safely and efficiently. Thomas Parham at315Hunter St. spoke ofproblems with avacant house at309 Hunter Street andwants help with the problem. Hestated that303 Worley Road was fullofcats anddogs andrequested an ordinance regarding cats anddogs. He wants the alleyway between Gregory/Hunter Streets addressed. Todd Cornett spoke onbehalf oftheDelaney Wykle Fund andisrequesting toputin a dogpark atMaxwell HillCommunity Center. Heisasking that acommittee be formed towork towards building adog park. Lastly, Rachel Cornett spoke in favor ofamemorial forDelaney Wykle that isfamily oriented, including adog park, playground, picnic tables, and restrooms. Next were Brief Comments From the Mayor, Council Members, and theCity Manager. Councilwoman Bullock expressed herappreciation forthequality ofthe9/11Memorial held downtown. Councilman Buchanan thanked Captain Morgan forresolving the Orchard Avenue problems. Healso addressed thespeeding issues onNorth Vance andtheneed fora petition forspeed humps. Councilman Williams told Chief Code Enforcement Officer Morgan that heislooking forward tothedemolitions inEast Park/Ward 3. Healso thanked BPW forlooking atthe multicultural building. Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess thanked both Todd andRachel Cornett for thedogpark idea. Shesaid thattwodogwaste stations were putinWard IIandwillberelocated tothe parks inWard II. Councilwoman Coots also expressed appreciation forthe9/11 Memorial downtown. Shealsoaddressed thespeeding complaints onMaxwell Hill Road. Mayor Neal said theFundraiser, Boots vs. Badges” raised approximately 3K. Hesaid itwasagreat community event, andalotofchildren were in attendance. Councilwoman Hunter stated thatthe9/11Memorial Service went well. Mountainview Christian Schol wanted to participate, andshewasexcited tohave kids wanting tobeinvolved. Shesaid that Mountaineer Food Bank willbeatEpling Stadium tomorrow. Shecommented on theprocess forCode Enforcement to enforce court orders. Sheasked that a bigger flag beordered forRural Acres/Maxwell Hillarea andthecostfor theflagcanbetaken from her discretionary fund. Councilman Reedy thanked BPW andMr. Jarrell forpaving andcurbing. Hesaid thathewas excited forthe work onthe Neville Street parking lot,andsaidthe dogpark willrevitalize theMaxwell Hill Park. City Manager Jarrell spoke regarding what wasaccomplished for parking indowntown. Hethanked the staff forthepaving efforts andforlooking atvacant properties. Mr.Jarrell spoke on acollaborative effort with WV Tech students todetermine thebest useofthe BKtennis courts. Heexpressed support foradog park. ENACTMENT OF ORDINANCES: There were noordinances. ADOPTION OFRESOLUTIONS: Next was theResolution toPermit Open burning ofVegetation fromOctober to December 2025. Mr.Filestated thatthis resolution isbi-annual andisresponsible forcontrolling theburning ofvegetation inCity limits, itisinaccordance with the WV Code Section 20-3-5. Theresolution states that open burning ofvegetation will beallowed inthecorporate limits ofthe CityofBeckley between thehours of5:00 p.m.and 7:00a.m.fromthe 1st day of October 2025, untilthe 31st day of December 2025. Prior totheopen burning ofvegetation, theowner ofthe property inwhich theburning willtake place must notify theCity ofBeckley FD. Theopen burning should notaffect the health, safety, comfort, andproperty of anyperson. Iftheopen burning is determined tonotmeet thiscriteria, BFD isauthorized toorder open burning to cease. TheMayor asked foramotion to approve theresolution aspresented. Councilwoman Coots made themotion to approve seconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. TheMayor asked ifthere were anyquestions orcomments. There were none. Council unanimously approved the resolution which ishereby incorporated into these minutes. OLD BUSINESS: There wasnoold business. NEW BUSINESS: Next wasthereceipt andaward ofbids forthedemolition of various structures, asbestos inspections, andasbestos abatement. Mr.Jarrell explained hiswishes forCouncil tovote onthebids atthat Council Meeting instead ofwaiting tovote atthenext meeting. This willexpedite thework. The only bidreceived was from Empire Salvage for $80,975.00forthedemolition ofseventeen properties. Council unanimously approved amotion by Councilman Reedy seconded by Councilwoman Hunter. Thebidfrom Empire Salvage ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next wasthereceipt andaward ofbids forthereconstruction ofMercer St., Nixon Dr.,andDorcus Ave. The only bid wasfrom Southern WV Paving. Mercer Street would cost $169,000. Nixon Drive would cost $7,600.00andDorcas Avenue would cost $64,000. Thebidfrom SWV Paving ishereby incorporated into the these minutes. Chief Code Enforcement Officer Morgan presented the notice ofapplication fora WVABVA Class BLicense for406 2nd Street, B&BDiscount. Hestated noaction isrequired from Council. Lastly, aProclamation for Constitution Week wasread bythe Mayor. Council proclaimed September 17-23, 2025, asConstitution Week in Beckley. POTENTIAL EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Mayor asked foramotion toenter into Executive Session. Councilman Reedy made themotion seconded by Councilman Buchanan which was unanimously approved byCouncil. Council entered Executive Session at6:17 pm. At6:44p.m.theMayor asked fora motion toenter back intotheRegular Council Meeting which was made by Councilwoman Coots, seconded by Councilman Williams. Council unanimously approved. The Mayor stated noaction wastaken inExecutive Session. With there being nofurther business to discuss, Council unanimously approved adjourning themeeting onamotion by Councilman Reedy seconded by Councilwoman Hunter. The Mayor adjourned themeeting at6:45p.m. The Parking Commission Meeting willfollow theCouncil Meeting. Mayor City Manager