The City of South Charleston swore in a new police officer and promoted fire Lt. Michael Taylor to the rank of captain at Thursday night's City Council meeting.
Taylor's promotion came after he spent some time out of the country serving in the military, said city fire Chief Virgil White.
"He was away in Germany for a year on a military base," White said. "He made it back home nice and safe and now we are going to promote him."
City police Chief Brad Rinehart swore in a new officer, Steven Ware, who has previous law enforcement experience.
"He was previously a Clay County deputy so he doesn't have to go to the [West Virginia State Police] Academy," Rinehart said. "He will start in our field training program."
Rinehart also reported that the department will have two officers taking one-year military assignments in March.
"We are still down one slot, so I need to talk to the mayor," Rinehart said. "The way that works after 30 days or so many hours that they take these jobs, they are technically off our payroll so we will fill that slot and offer another officer a slot under contract."
Ward 7 Councilman Jamie Sibold made a motion that Council accept the City's monthly financial statement as circulated. The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote.
In other action, Council passed an ordinance to allow Appalachian Power Company to install a transformer to power the monitoring wells at the closed landfill on Smith Creek, according to City Manager Rick Atkinson. The ordinance passed by unanimous voice upon second reading.
The City of South Charleston will celebrate its 100th birthday on Aug. 9 and has formed a committee to plan the celebration.
"We had a great meeting, a lot of great ideas that we talked about but we are getting together again to formulate a plan," Ward 2 Councilman Mark Wolford said.
The committee chose banners at their first meeting and plans to meet twice per month.
Ward 8 Councilman Don Ryan was absent from the meeting.
Council's next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 on the second floor of City Hall, D Street.