City Council

July 22, 2025 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 22nd day of July, 2025, at the Public Safety Building located at 500 Quincy Street in Fairmont, West Virginia. Mayor Bolyard called the meeting to order. Roll call of members was taken by the City Clerk. Councilmembers present were: First District Joshua D. Rice Second District Anne E. Bolyard Third District Rebecca Moran Fourth District Anthony T. Horton Fifth District Charles “Chuck” Warner Sixth District Daniel “Dan” Weber Seventh District Julia “Julie” Sole Eighth District Bruce McDaniel Ninth District Kandice “Kandi” Nuzum Also present were: City Manager Travis L. Blosser City Clerk Janet L. Keller City Attorney Kevin V. Sansalone Finance Director Priscilla A. Hamilton Marketing Manager David A. Kirk Planning Director Shae Strait IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Pastor Eric Hines gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Sole. APPROVAL OF MINUTES IN RE: MINUTES FOR THE JULY 8, 2025 MEETING Mayor Bolyard noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on July 8, 2025. She asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Councilmember McDaniel moved to approve the July 8, 2025 Regular Meeting minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. 1 The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. PUBLIC HEARING S No public hearings were scheduled for this meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: FOOD PANTRY Councilmember Moran announced that tomorrow there is a Food Pantry from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. IN RE: HOMELESSNESS IN FAIRMONT Councilmember Moran stated that we will never agree on the best path forward, but it is important that we work together on solutions. Can we do better and can we do more and the answer is yes, and it is always going to be yes because those needs are always growing. She said that it is inaccurate to say that no one at the City level or in charge is doing anything and that no one cares. She went on to say that she sits alongside city staff members who attend these community meetings, and they are looking for solutions. She said that Fairmont looks for strategies on homelessness and not empty ordinances. IN RE: FIVE NEW POLICE SERGEANTS Mayor Bolyard extended her congratulations to our newest Sergeants in the Fairmont Police Department. They were sworn-in last Monday, and congratulations were extended to: Sgt. Brice Fisher, Sgt. Reed Moran, Sgt. Corey Noechel, Sgt. Patrick Cochran, and Sgt. Brian Lemley. CITIZENS PETITIONS There were no citizens petitions for this meeting. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT IN RE: FEDERAL LEADERS THANKED FOR DISASTER DECLARATIONS Mr. Blosser said a word of appreciation to our Congressional Delegation, Governor Morrisey, as well as President Trump who signed, at 6:15 p.m. this evening, the declarations for both major disasters as well as emergency for both Ohio and Marion Counties. He noted that he appreciated the citizens who engaged with putting that information in for their disaster survey to be able to get the numbers where they needed to. These declarations will bring meaningful reimbursements to our community. Mr. Blosser stated that we are already working with the WV Department of Emergency Management and the Marion County Department of Homeland Security to make sure FEMA agents can get their relief stations up and running as soon as possible. He went 2 on to say that this will be a developing situation to figure out all of the details and we will be coordinating with them and ensuring that the facilities are made available. He noted that the Public Safety Building and other city facilities will be available for their use. IN RE: PAVING UPDATE The paving and storm water work as well as base-related work, removing some of the old brick streets, for Adams, Quincy, Jackson, and Cleveland, for all of those streets being resurfaced and the storm water work, those bids were due today at 10:00 a.m. He mentioned that three companies bid on the paving project and all range between $2 to $3 million dollar project so we will see who the final contractor is selected. The bids came in under what we had anticipated for the downtown sidewalk-related improvements as part of getting that work done. We will be pushing to work with the DOH around the selected contractor to have meetings. There are going to be some traffic inconveniences, and we have already had discussions with the public safety front to try to make sure that we are coordinating what those details are going to be. IN RE: UPDATE ON CITY PARKS The Manager said that Norwood Park is continuing to move forward. He said that he was not going to give a completion date on that as the rain continues to push us. We will work to make sure we publicly put out when we are going to do the ribbon cutting. Mr. Blosser said that regarding Windmill Park, the cornhole pavilion has been weather delayed but they are back to work this week. We are hoping that it will be completed in the next couple of weeks. He mentioned that crews are working on the water issues around the basketball court. They are also looking at potentially installing a french drain in that location because of the water sitting. The City Manager reported that there was some damage posted on social media that damage was done to the courts related to a fire. He said that the City has looked at it and they are potentially going to move forward with CK Services around the resurfacing of that. He added that since the construction of the courts, it has pooled water in a section of the courts and CK Services has given us a potential solution that would fill that in so the water will not lay there and then they will resurface the entire court section. Also, regarding Windmill Park, we will be working with CEC on a task order relating to the concession stand project. Regarding the Rotary Club of Fairmont Mini Park, prep work is happening by our in-house crews and all of the playground equipment will be arriving at the end of this month for the mini park as well as all of the equipment for Bellview Park. The Bellview Park playground equipment will not be installed until fall because we do not want to take that playground out of service until fall. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS 3 IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT: APPROVING, RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING THE PURCHASE OF THOSE CERTAIN PARCELS OF REAL ESTATE, TOGETHER WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS THEREON AND THE APPURTENANCES THEREUNTO BELONGING, BY THE FAIRMONT BUILDING COMMISSION FROM BELTLINE, LLC, THE PURCHASE OF WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY ORDINANCE NO. 2060, FOR USE AS A FACILITY TO ASSIST IN PROVIDING THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES CONDUCTED BY THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ’S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH PARCELS OF REAL ESTATE ARE MORE PARTICULARLY BOUNDED AND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: Description District / Map/ Parcel 8015 SQ FT 10 th & MINOR Fairmont City 6 / 0143 0001 0000 th 25158 SQ FT (0.578 AC) 10 ST Fairmont City 6 / 0144 0000 0000 0.07 AC (3026 SQ FT) 10 th ST Fairmont City 6 / 0169 0002 0000 AUTHORIZING THE FINANCING OF THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR SAID REAL ESTATE, AND RELATED COSTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, THROUGH A PURCHASE MONEY LOAN EVIDENCED BY THE ISSUANCE, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY BY THE FAIRMONT BUILDING COMMISSION OF A PROMISSORY NOTE PAYABLE TO WESBANCO BANK INC., IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $665,000.00, TOGETHER WITH INTEREST OF 4.600% PER ANNUM FOR A TERM OF TEN (10) YEARS; AND AUTHORIZING THE LEASING OF SAID REAL ESTATE, TOGETHER WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS THEREON AND ALL NECESSARY APPURTENANCES THEREUNTO BELONGING, BY THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AND THE LEASING OF SAID REAL ESTATE TO THE CITY OF FAIRMONT FROM THE FAIRMONT BUILDING COMMISSION; AND PRESCRIBING THE FORMS AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY BY THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AND THE FAIRMONT BUILDING COMMISSION, AS APPLICABLE, THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, GOVERNMENTAL CERTIFICATE, BUSINESS LOAN AGREEMENT, PROMISSORY NOTE, DEED OF TRUST, ASSIGNMENT OF RENTS, LEASE AND/OR SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTS OR INSTRUMENTS AS MAY BE CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO EVIDENCE SUCH LOAN AND THE SECURITY THEREFOR, THE LEASING OF SAID REAL ESTATE, AND THE RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES; AND AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING OTHER DOCUMENTS AND MATTERS RELATED TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE LOAN AND THE SECURITY OF THE LENDER AND PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH The City Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. 4 Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for the introduction of an ordinance approving the purchase of certain parcels of real estate belonging to the Fairmont Building Commission from Beltline, LLC for use as a facility for Public Works. Motion: Councilmember McDaniel moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Warner seconded the motion. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for August 12, 2025. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ’S 2025-2026 ANNUAL BUDGET: GENERAL FUND The City Clerk read the proposed resolution by synopsis for the first time. Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution providing for a General Fund Budget Revision. Motion: Councilmember Warner moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Nuzum seconded the motion. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT AIRPORT AUTHORITY, UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING OCTOBER 1, 2025. Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for one appointment to the Fairmont Airport Authority for an unexpired term ending October 1, 2025. Motion: Councilmember Sole moved to appoint Tim Bayne to the Fairmont Airport Authority for an unexpired term ending October 1, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Moran. The Mayor declared Tim Bayne appointed to the Fairmont Airport Authority for an unexpired term ending October 1, 2025 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT AIRPORT AUTHORITY, UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING OCTOBER 1, 2025. 5 Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for one appointment to the Fairmont Airport Authority for an unexpired term ending October 1, 2025. Motion: Councilmember Nuzum moved to appoint Chris Egress to the Fairmont Airport Authority for an unexpired term ending October 1, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Sole. The Mayor declared Chris Egress appointed to the Fairmont Airport Authority for an unexpired term ending October 1, 2025 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE RE-APPOINTMENT, ICC BOARD OF APPEALS, FIVE-YEAR TERM ENDING AUGUST 24, 2030. Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for one re-appointment to the ICC Board of Appeals for a five-year term ending August 24, 2030. Motion: Councilmember McDaniel moved to re-appoint Richard Hovatter to the ICC Board of Appeals for a five-year term ending August 24, 2030. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. The Mayor declared Richard Hovatter re-appointed to the ICC Board of Appeals for a five-year term ending August 24, 2030 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for Council to adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to WV Code 6-9A-4(2)(9) and City Charter Section 2.11(a)(3) – To consider matters involved or affecting the purchase, sale, conveyance, or lease of real property, etc. Motion: Councilmember Sole moved to adjourn to Executive Session. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned to Executive Session by voice vote of Council at 7:23 p.m. She announced that Council will not be discussing any additional business when the meeting is reconvened. IN RE: MEETING RECONVENED The Mayor declared the meeting reconvened at 7:59 p.m. ADJOURNMENT 6 The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Sole moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Weber. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:59 p.m. 7