St. Albans City Council opened session with a public hearing regarding a code ordinance regarding floodplains and protocol for reporting flood damages.
The city requested that all damage reports be made to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and not the city itself. Council also made a resolution authorizing participation in the hazard mitigation grant program, which was passed by unanimous voice vote.
Council also approved second readings of four ordinances all by unanimous voice vote and read by Charles Riffee, city attorney.
A second reading of the ordinance to vacate and abandon a portion of a 20-foot right of way between Second and Third Streets to make way for the CVS project was passed by unanimous voice vote.
Councilman-at-large Jerry Cogar asked that questionnaires regarding street lights be returned and asked his fellow council members to report any non-burning lights in their wards.
Ward 3 Councilman Jason Philabaun presented the Finance committee report and council approved payment of current invoices in the amount of $20,891.81 and purchase of a zero-turn mower for the Parks department from Pile Hardware in the amount of $4,249.
"This thing is phenomenal," Kevin Pennington, Parks and Recreation Superintendent, said in regard to the new lawnmower. "It will cut our grass cutting time in half and we are really looking forward to it."
Ward 4 Councilwoman Cheryl Thomas announced St. Albans Night Out Against Crime from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on August 2, in Mayberry's parking lot. The event is free to the public. Thomas also mentioned that there will be about 50 different exhibitors including Batman from Heroes for Hire.
Kevin Pennington, superintendent of Parks and Recreation, made multiple reports of events from his department including a Family Pool Party on July 29 with Marco's pizza provided at the city pool and movie night at dusk July 30 at Roadside Park where the movie "Zootopia" will be shown. Other events include Super Hero day at the City Park on August 13. The time will be announced at a later council meeting.
Pennington commented on the damage the city's dock sustained during the recent flooding.
"We are trying to get some funding to repair that," Pennington said. "We are going to fix it the best we can right now, to try to get us through this summer and should be completed by next week so our boaters will be able to use the ramp."
Council then opened the floor to a public forum.
A group of residents from Edgehill Drive in Ward 2 attended the meeting and addressed council regarding a condemned house in their neighborhood that allegedly had been raided for methamphetamine production and has attracted vermin.
They requested assistance from the council to have the house demolished or remediated. The group addressed council one by one, each pleading or demanding help from council.
Riffee told the group that there were some hold-ups in the Building Department about the city's interest for remediation because of funding or demolition because of toxins that may be present in the structure.
The group asserted that it would continue to attend city council meetings requesting assistance in this matter until it was resolved.
All members of council attended Monday's meeting.
Council's next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 on the second floor of the Municipal Building at 51 Sixth Avenue.