City Council

August 12, 2025 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 12th day of August, 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 Planning Director Shae Strait Marketing Manager David A. Kirk IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. Josh Morgan gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Nuzum. APPROVAL OF MINUTES IN RE: MINUTES FOR THE JULY 22, 2025 MEETING Mayor Bolyard noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on July 22, 2025. She asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Councilmember McDaniel moved to approve the July 22, 2025 Regular Meeting minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Sole. 1 The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. PUBLIC HEARING S IN RE: 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 2 Pursuant to a notice duly published in the Times-West Virginian on July 25, 2025, a public hearing was convened to obtain citizen input on 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. The Mayor asked if anyone present desired to speak to the proposed ordinance. Priscilla Hamilton , Finance Director, spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. She said that the Fairmont Building Commission met today and unanimously passed this ordinance. This ordinance will provide essential warehouse space for the Public Works Department. She then asked Council to pass this ordinance. There being no one else to speak, the public hearing was called to a close at 7:06 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: COMMUNITY CONVERSATION Councilmember Moran reported that she will be hosting a community conversation on Saturday, August 16th at 6:00 p.m. at The Joe in downtown Fairmont. She said that everyone is welcome to show up, hang out and talk about anything that is going on in Fairmont. IN RE: FOOD PANTRY Councilmember Moran announced that tomorrow is a food pantry day from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the door beside the Mission. IN RE: SALE OF JOHN MANCHIN HEALTH CARE CENTER Councilmember Moran stated that she is deeply disappointed by the sale of the John Manchin Health Care Center. Our community has advocated for it for many years in a row and local folks went down and shared information with the decision makers and they were able to learn what an asset it is to our community. She went on to say that when our local legislators were not even consulted, she has to wonder how informed that decision really was. She noted that this was not a good thing for our community. IN RE: FLUORIDE IN THE WATER Councilmember Weber reported that he has been very concerned with the Federal Government’s Health and Human Services leader talking about the fact that we may have to get rid of fluoride in our water. He said that with the last utility bill that he received, it showed all of the different regulations contaminants that we have and that we have fluoride in our water. He went on to say that the idea for fluoride is for the water additive that promotes strong teeth in children. He suggested for the City Manager to make sure that when this comes down from the federal government to the state government to the 3 county government to the city government that we stand in favor of fluoride in our water for our children. IN RE: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL DINNER Councilmember Sole thanked fellow Councilmembers and the representatives from City staff for attending the annual Chamber dinner showing support for all of our businesses and the business community. She said that she was thankful that we were there to support our City Manager who was given the Community Impact Award. She noted that the entire City was recognized for their response to the flood of June 15th and the disaster relief that was forthcoming after that. She said that she was proud of the group for representing the City of Fairmont so well. Councilmember McDaniel agreed with what Councilmember Sole said regarding the Chamber dinner. He mentioned that he has heard nothing but good about our response to the flood. Councilmember Nuzum also extended congratulations to the City Manager. She said that she was glad they saw in him what Council saw in him. IN RE: ANNIVERSARY DATES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES Mayor Bolyard reported the following anniversary dates for several city employees:  Lt. Hudson, 19 years with the Fairmont Police Department  Lt. Hayhurst, 22 years with the Fairmont Police Department  Firefighter Trippett, 23 years with the Fairmont Fire Department  Paula Friend, 26 years with the City of Fairmont, currently she is the HR Manager  Police Chief Shine, 30 years with the Fairmont Police Department IN RE: BACK TO SCHOOL The Mayor announced that August brings people back to the City of Fairmont. August 18th students will return to Fairmont State University. CITIZENS PETITIONS IN RE: MRDC UPDATES Gerry Schmidt , 15 Tiger Trail, and Nick Fantasia , 625 Columbia Street, addressed Council with updates regarding the Marion Regional Development Corporation (MRDC). Mr. Schmidt addressed some of the things that have already occurred since the last fiscal year and Mr. Fantasia talked about the future. Mayor Bolyard asked Mr. Fantasia how they work with other municipalities, like White Hall or Monongah or Mannington. Mr. Fantasia responded by saying that thus far they have had very limited exposure with 4 White Hall or Pleasant Valley or Mannington. It has been discussed with their board and the City Manager has discussed putting together a series of meetings with the leadership in those communities to try to get them to be involved but if you look at the history of MRDC, the principle players have been the principle players since the 1970’s, however, there is certainly an opportunity for that to grow and there is an opportunity for change. He also stated that they have stuck with the business plan that we have. The Mayor said that she would be happy to be a part of that if they expand that and anything else she can do. Mr. Fantasia noted that they just need someone to bring the players around the table. The Mayor said that there has been some interest from Monongah and Mannington as well as White Hall. Councilmember Moran stated that she attended a workshop almost two years ago now where Mr. Sexton had presented what he could bring to the community, if hired as a consultant. He was hired as a consultant and a larger community buy in was brought to the table. She said that MRDC has not been funded for that from the County or from the City or from anybody. She stated that they were going to move forward, she was bought in on that and thought it was a good idea, but she would really love to have a plan in place somehow for that to happen. She added that it feels like Marion County, not necessarily the MRCD, and all municipalities that have been playing that economic development for a really long time and it is time to buckle down and get serious. She then asked how we are going to get to that point where we can hire that economic developer. Mr. Fantasia replied that the County Commission agreed to fund that and there were no MRDC funds, and no City funds tied into that. The County Commission agreed to fund that. Once that funding was in place, they took more of a hands-on consultant and as a result that has not worked out as they had thought it was going to work out, however, that consultant is in place and there are things that consultant is doing, it is just not what they anticipated as a collaborative adventure. He added that they have to get to a point, they made the first step, now we have to make the second and third one to make it work. Mr. Blosser said that Mr. Fantasia had mentioned his comment about putting folks together because when we have that conversation about putting money to be serious about it, we are not funding economic development as robustly as we need to. If we are going to hire somebody, we are going to have to pay that person and pay that person a decent wage if you are going to get somebody who has some experience, knows what they are doing and has the contacts, and we have not been doing that but he thought there was an opportunity if we put the White Hall’s, the Monongah’s, the Pleasant Valley’s together. He added that they are not going to give those types of dollars, but he knows White Hall wants to be a player, he knows that they are interested and if we get those meetings together and figure out how do we have those joint discussions and how do we provide the necessary funding that will be necessary to really truly. . . you cannot be serious about economic development if you are not going to put money behind it. 5 Councilmember Moran stated that next year, she hopes to see other communities buy-in and we are, at least, taking steps. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT IN RE: FEMA UPDATE Mr. Blosser gave Council an update around FEMA. He said on tonight’s agenda there is one emergency ordinance, but it is ratifying agreements that our City Attorney reviewed, and we made changes to and signed with the WV Emergency Management Division so that we can get the disaster recovery center operational here. We also have the ability to host pop-up sites inside the city limits for much longer than three days at a time. He said all agencies are working together to get a temporary facility going at East Side Fire Station until we can get this robust facility operational here for them. He said that it is going well, and we are seeing the numbers that folks have submitted with the initial disaster survey. He said that the numbers are coming in about in-line with each other so that is telling us that folks are heeding the advice to file claims and to seek that. He encouraged folks to go through the appeal process and seek these resources while they are available. The Disaster Declaration keeps the individual assistance available until September 22nd to apply for that; however, these facilities may not be open until September 22nd because we have no date on when that is going to happen. He then thanked Monongah and Pleasant Valley for communicating with us and making their facilities available to host FEMA pop-up locations. IN RE: DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS AND STATE PAVING PROJECT The City Manager reported that the downtown sidewalk project is moving forward. The company started today and on Monday we found out that the street paving, base repair, and storm water work that will be conducted by the State on all of the downtown streets will begin in September. The local DOH folks are waiting on a pre-construction meeting to occur and then we can get information out to the public about the streets to be impacted and when. IN RE: CITY STREET PAVING LIST Mr. Blosser said that the City street paving list is out to bid. Bids are due August 26th. He reported that we had to re-bid the streets because the initial contractor that was the successful bidder, we have not been able to come to terms around a contract, and we have also made some substantive changes. He noted that Sallyfield Estates and Bright Drive will not be included with the new list because they are going to be separately bid out as there are some base-related work that needs to be done to those streets as well as some additional stormwater work. He mentioned that they will be bid out separately by CEC who has done the design work for us around those two areas in particular. IN RE: NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Mr. Blosser gave a shout out to all of the volunteers for National Night Out. He noted that 6 it was a huge success as well as all of the sponsors and folks that contributed money to that to be able to have that event. He also thanked the Police Department for attending the event and they made sure the kids had an amazing time. IN RE: NORWOOD PARK RIBBON CUTTING The City Manager announced that the ribbon cutting for Norwood Park will be held on Thursday, August 21st at 6:00 p.m. He noted that he expects a fairly large crowd and East Fairmont High School Busy Bee Band and Honeybees will be participating. He said information will be put out around parking. He encouraged everyone to attend. IN RE: ALL-STAR COMMUNITY AWARD Mr. Blosser said that on behalf of staff and Council, the City of Fairmont received an award for Norwood Park, the All-Star Community and Enrichment Award, at the Municipal League Conference last week in Morgantown. The plaque will be hung in City Hall. IN RE: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL DINNER Mr. Blosser thanked those that made it to the Chamber Dinner last Wednesday. He noted that he was shocked he received an award after he recognized that they were talking about him. He said that he cannot do anything with community impact without the personnel that work alongside him every single day. That award is just as much his and it is for Council and staff. IN RE: PASSING OF MR. BLOSSER ’S GRANDFATHER The Manager thanked everyone that reached out to him on the passing of his grandfather, both in the community and City Council. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: ADOPTION, 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 7 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 title. Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for the adoption 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 Weber moved for the adoption of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember McDaniel seconded the motion. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the ordinance adopted by unanimous vote of Council and the ordinance designated as Ordinance No. 2078 was duly adopted. Mr. Blosser mentioned that he will be sending out email notifications for when the Public Works crew is available for Council to take a tour of the building and have lunch with the 8 Public Works department. He said that they also made the same commitment to the Fairmont Building Commission members since they were part of this transaction. IN RE: ADOPTION, AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AUTHORIZING, APPROVING, RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING THOSE CERTAIN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AND THE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION (WVEMD), AS FOLLOWS: 1. LICENSE/USE AGREEMENTS FOR CERTAIN CITY PROPERTIES UPON WHICH WVEMD WILL OPERATE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO PERSONS IMPACTED BY THE JUNE 15, 2025, FLOOD EVENT; AND 2. A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN WVEMD AND THE CITY OF FAIRMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT COORDINATING SECURITY SERVICES The City Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis. Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for the adoption of an emergency ordinance approving the agreements between the City of Fairmont and the WV Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management Division for certain city properties to operate as Disaster Recovery Centers to persons impacted by the June 15, 2025 flood event. Motion: Councilmember Sole moved for the adoption of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Weber seconded the motion. The Clerk read the proposed resolution by synopsis for the first time. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the emergency ordinance adopted by unanimous vote of Council and the ordinance designated as Ordinance No. 2079 was duly adopted. IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF THE FOLLOWING REAL ESTATE BEING: Description District Map/ Parcel PCL 12 th ST Fairmont, Fairmont City 7 / 0074 0003 0000 FROM MARK A. TARLEY AND MICHAEL D. TARLEY FOR PURPOSES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PORTION OF THE WEST FAIRMONT RAIL-TRAIL SYSTEM/, APPROVING THE FORM OF THE PURCHASE SALE AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER SAID AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, AND TO 9 DO ALL THINGS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH; RESERVATION OF RIGHTS. The City Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for the introduction of an ordinance authorizing the purchase of real estate from Mark A. Tarley and Michael D. Tarley for purposes of the development of a portion of the West Fairmont Rail-Trail System. Motion: Councilmember Weber moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Warner seconded the motion. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for August 26, 2025. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AUTHORIZING, APPROVING, RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A MEMORANDUM OF EXTENSION OF AGREEMENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AND THE MARION REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026, EFFECTIVE AS OF JULY 1, 2025. Councilmember McDaniel asked to be excused from the meeting for this item of business. The City Clerk read the proposed resolution by synopsis for the first time. Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution approving the extension of the agreement for economic development services by and between the City of Fairmont and the Marion Regional Development Corporation for fiscal year 2025-2026. Motion: Councilmember Weber moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Warner seconded the motion. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council with Councilmember McDaniel not voting on this item. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. 10 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 7:48 p.m. 11