Inside New Martinsville City Building on March 6th, a quorum was declared. Kim Whiteman, City Clerk chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Hunt. In addition to Mayor Hunt absence, Council Person’s Isaacs and Smith were not in attendance.

First on the agenda was the approval of the February 2023 council meeting. Reading was waived and approved by members present.

Guest and special agenda items: First on the evenings agenda was Ms. Holly Morgan, representing the Upper Ohio Valley Conservation agency. She explained that the agency will construct garden boxes in the Brooklyn area. The hope is that people will use them and help provide vegetables for their table.

Next Ms. Morgan talked about the Back Home Festival. She requested approval of the use of property located below the college and along Harland Drive. She explained to council that this year they would be charging admission to the festival to help with increasing cost and self-reliance. The four council members approved the request for using the property.

Next on the Special agenda list was the approval of Wesley Tenant to WD certification and water operator 1 certification pay. Motion to approve was made and passed.

Next on the evenings agenda was a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission, requesting approval to purse Brownfield funding for the Demolition of Bruce Pool project. Motion was approved by all members present.

Next was another recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission: Requesting approval to hold the property at Lewis Wetzel for a potential Youth Complex/Multi-purpose building. Motion was approved by council members that were present.

Both the previous motions were approved with the stipulations, public hearings would be held in the future to discuss the two projects and their impact on the city.

A recommendation from State Auditor’s office: Requesting approval that beginning July 2023, any city employee with a take home vehicle/ cruiser will be taxed as a fringe benefit. The item was tabled for the current time.

A request was made and approved that the council in the future begin to have a mid-month council meeting. The motion was approved by the council members present.

Bids for resurfacing of the Lewis Wetzel Pool were opened. Only one bid was received. $85,155. Members of council present approved the bid.

Next was a request to approve the hiring of Drew White, Charles Schnelle, and Michael McDowell for the operator positions at the Hannibal, Hydro Electric plant effective immediately. The hiring of these three was approved by council members present.

A request to approve community service with appropriate guidelines established by the Municipal court. Motion to approve by full council.

A request to approve the Pre-judgment alternative disposition program was approved by full council.

Next, a request was approved for Chief Cecil for a take home cruiser. The request was approved by full council present.

Meeting was Adjourned

In Department reports, the following information was provided to council: Kevin Marciniak of the Hydro Electric Department reported that the plant was operating at 31 percent of capacity. The intakes of the plant are being restricted by the debris flows on the river. The plant’s crane used to remove the debris is out of service. Finding a crane that can lift and remove material is posing a problem. Kevin also reported that his crew is working on lights along Jeffers Drive and they are awaiting on a pump alignment.

Dawn Meyers: Electric Department report that all monthly safety meetings have been held. There has only been one outage and nine customers lost power. They are operating at 58percent of budget and the incoming revenues are 57 percent. Total Electric Bill for last month $223,159.10.

Tim Chichick, Building Inspector reported $1,400 in fees last month. Six inspections completed to code. He has spent time in Brooklyn making contact with home owners to establish some working relationships with residence. Repair work in the upstairs part of city hall has been completed.

Fire Department Chief Rick Meyerás reported the department took 25 calls last month. He is in the process of working to build programs to attract new people as well as retention of his current volunteers.

Jodie Nippert, Parks and Recreation Director, reported the department is looking for sixty kids for summer job and workers. She is getting estimates from Peg’s Upholstery for seating in the Lincoln Theater. Bee Electric evaluating and making repairs to outdated electrical system in theater. The ceiling in the theater is peeling paint and needs to be re-painted.

Tom Lemons, Street Department. Reported they are close to finishing the re-graveling of alley ways in the city. And the winter pot holes are being repaired. He expects one more truck load of cold patch will get streets into good shape.

Bill Midcap, Water and Sewer. At present one operator short at waste water plant. And one lift station needs to be re-set.