Michael Kesecker

The meeting commenced with a public hearing regarding a withdrawn request, followed by the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Key discussions included committee reports on Public Safety, which will focus on work in progress and a task force meeting concerning a regional treatment center feasibility study. The Tree Board is conducting a survey for its Urban Forest Management Plan and plans to meet with downtown merchants. The Municipal Properties committee plans to discuss the Darden house, the comp house, and the Veterans Memorial area. The Finance Committee noted a 31% increase in new businesses compared to the previous year's first quarter. The Personnel Committee reported being fully staffed following a canceled meeting. The Rules and Ordinance Committee will discuss streamlining ordinance adoption, and the Planning Commission will discuss the comprehensive plan. Staff reports covered police activity, including 511 calls for service in October and successful entry-level testing with increased applicant numbers. The department also discussed the successful deployment of two K9 units and recent drug seizures. The Operations Division report detailed delays in leaf pickup due to truck breakdowns and illness, completion of the basement room construction for the automatic transfer switch (with apologies for temporary restroom inconvenience), and work on Christmas decorations. Financial updates included receipt of a quarterly PE card rebate and contributions to fire and police pension plans, noting that the police pension received a state allocation. Discussions also addressed the status of the General Fund revenues, noting they are ahead of schedule, and the health of the Sanitation and Wastewater funds, with optimism for recovery in the Wastewater fund following a rate increase. Potential use of financial stabilization funds for a future HVAC project at City Hall was noted.

The meeting reconvened from an executive session at 8:05 PM. The main recorded action was a motion, which carried, to appoint Sean Bennett to the vacated seat on the Oakland's Waterboard. Following the motion, the Mayor offered concluding comments, wishing everyone a safe trip home.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and pledge of allegiance. During public comment, a representative from the Randolph County Development Authority addressed the Council regarding the industrial park expansion, specifically seeking City authorization to relinquish maintenance and ownership responsibility for a portion of Industrial Park Road to the state system to make it eligible for Industrial Access Road Grant funds. This discussion also covered necessary upgrades to River Bend Road and the creation of a new intersection for park access. Later, the Council accepted the minutes from the May 19, 2022 meeting and the Special Call Meeting of May 25, 2022. A presentation was given by the State Director of Solar United Neighbors regarding their solar cooperative model, focusing on consumer advocacy, community outreach, and the benefits of group solar purchasing, including potential savings and the process for vetting installers. The organization proposed a partnership with the City to promote their co-op, which currently operates in Tucker, Randolph, and Upshur counties.

The special call council meeting began with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. The primary focus of the meeting was the review and adoption of several budget resolutions for Fiscal Year 2024, covering Sanitation, Landfill, Coal Severance, and Fire Department budgets. Resolution 1621 addressed a sanitation budget revision involving internal revenue shifts and expenditure adjustments for salary/wages, professional services, bank charges, and software costs. Resolution 1622 involved transferring funds within the General Fund budget to cover fence and gate installation at the recycling area behind the street department garage. The presentation on the Fiscal Year 2024 General Fund budget included discussions on anticipated carryover amounts, the elimination of budgeted demolition department funds due to a grant award, increases in county and business occupation taxes, and the allocation for various capital projects. Key considerations in the General Fund budget included reduced indirect cost allocations, mandated pay increases, and estimated increases in insurance premiums.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Public comment included a request from Woodlands Development Lending to consider using ARPA funds for off-site improvements to the Seneca Mall parking lot related to their Tigard hotel redevelopment, as their financing prohibits using their own funds for such enhancements. Key discussions included committee reports covering personnel (no meeting), ARPA fund allocations (approving over $154,000 for entities like the YMCA, Davis Health Systems, and improvements for the Elkins Farmers Market and Old Brick Playhouse), and Parks (approving funds for bleachers at Bluegrass Park). The Planning committee announced a final draft review in mid-May and detailed numerous upcoming environmental activities including Earth Day and Arbor Day tree plantings across various parks, and a cleanup for the Dartmouth House gardens. The Public Safety committee reported progress on property demolitions and recommended a mutual aid agreement to the council. The Chief Wastewater Operator reported on successful inspections by the DEP and CSI, the commencement of SCADA money utilization for wiring, employee training achievements, a staff retirement, and the submission of information for a generator purchase to RESA 7.