Salem Discusses Future Doddridge PSD Water Purchases
SALEM CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MAY 9, 2023
The Salem City Council held a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at Salem City Hall, 229 West Main Street Salem, WV.
Mayor James Robert Samples called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. Council Member Timothy Jamison gave the blessing.
Mayor Samples called for roll call. PRESENT:
Council Members John Golden , Shawnette Stout, Timothy Jamison, Nancy Siders, Linda Stuart, Jeff Edwards and Sam Harrold
A motion was made by Council Member Nancy Siders to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes for April 25, 2023. The motion was seconded by Council Member Timothy Jamison. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote with Council Member Stout abstaining. Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Jamison – aye, Council Member Siders – aye, Council Member Stuart – aye, Mayor Samples – aye.
Doddridge County Public Service District
Doddridge County PSD Chair Jennifer Wilt addressed Council Members regarding the purchase of water from the city. Ms. Wilt requested that their attorney David Glover get in contact with City Attorney Sam Harrold to discuss whether the Doddridge County PSD will purchase water from Clarksburg and pay a transmission fee to Salem or purchase water directly from Salem. A motion was made by Council Member Timothy Jamison for City Attorney Sam Harrold to speak with Attorney David Glover to work out an agreement regarding this issue. The motion was seconded by Council Member Nancy Siders. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Members Golden , Stout, Jamison , Siders, Stuart – ayes , and Mayor Samples – aye.
Phase III – Wastewater System Project — City Manager Jeff Edwards informed Council Members that he has not be able to reach E.L. Robinson Representative Jeff Petry. Council Members requested that Mr. Edwards reach out to E.L. Robinson.
Phase IV – Water System Improvement Project — The Thrasher Group Representative Steve Haynes stated that an application for funding was submitted to the IJDC and the project is on the May 30th agenda for technical review.
Sidewalk Project — Mr. Haynes stated that he has reached out to his contact at the WV DOH, Kylena Nunnally, for an update but he hasn’t received a call back. Thrasher has not received the notice to proceed yet. The city mailed back the agreements last month and the check for the matching funds has been cashed.
Stormwater Project — City Manager Jeff Edwards stated that the committee will be meeting once the members are able to read and score the engineering proposals.
City Attorney’s Report — City Attorney Sam Harrold had nothing to report.
City Manager’s Report
1. City Manager Jeff Edwards reported that the advertisement of the vacant properties has been updated to include the minimum bids for each property and by doing so the date to accept sealed bids has been extended to May 23, 2023.
2. City Manager Jeff Edwards informed Council Members that he has been working on updating the garbage ordinance to include a dumpster rate increase and fix some wording. Once the ordinance is ready it will be placed on the agenda for the first reading.
3. City Manager Jeff Edwards informed Council Members that he received the asbestos report for 239 West Main Street. The advertisement for sealed bids regarding the asbestos removal and demolition will be out soon. Those bids will be opened on June 13, 2023. Mr. Edwards stated that this will be the last house demolished using the grant funding. Mr. Edwards and Code Enforcement Officer Vincent Smith will be applying for the funding again in the fall.
City Clerk’s Report — City Clerk Kayla Nicholas presented Council Members with the financial summary for the month of April 2023. The General Fund revenues were approximately $308,000 with expenditures approximately $143,000. The Water Fund revenue was approximately $64,000 with expenditures nearly $65,000. The Sewer Fund revenue was approximately $61,000 with expenditures approximately $46,000. The Outstanding Checks were approximately $140,000. The Liability Forecast is approximately $91,000.
Public Works Report — Public Works Director Nelson Law presented Council Members with the Public Works Report for April 2023. Mr. Law reported the water loss at 67%. The public works department completed 127 work orders and worked a combined 217 hours on water and sewer, collected garbage and recycling for 26 hours, worked on the depot for 4 hours, community service for 4 hours, maintenance on trucks, equipment, and buildings for 44 hours, flood control dams for 60 hours, hauling dirt to landfill for 50 hours, mowing grass for 48 hours, parks and rails to trails for 110 hours, and streets for 70 hours. Over 103 tons of garbage was picked up and 13 tons of sludge of processed and hauled to the landfill. The guys have been busy with Spring cleanup this week.
EMS Report — 1. EMS Administrator Tony Hayes provided Council Members with the EMS Report for the April 2023. The EMS Department took 79 calls for service. Payments received were $42,228.61 with an estimated total of $44,000 pending current and an estimated outstanding total of $72,000.
2. EMS Administrator Tony Hayes requested permission to open a Square Account for EMS Department to receive payments for T-shirt/patch sales. Mr. Hayes and stated that this would serve as a fund raiser for the EMS Department to help pay for uniform shirts. A motion was made by Council Member Timothy Jamison to open a Square Account for the EMS Department to be used to receive payments and make purchases for t-shirt and patches. The motion was seconded by Council Member Nancy Siders. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Jamison – aye, Council Member Siders – aye, Council Member Stuart – aye, Mayor Samples – aye.
Council Member Stuart — Council Member Linda Stuart requested an Executive Session to discuss her agenda item ‘Personnel Matter’.
Public Sign-in Sheet — Mr. Joseph Hof asked City Manager Jeff Edwards if there was anything that he could share regarding the Police Department and the loss of coverage. City Manager Jeff Edwards commented that he is looking to fill the Chief position and building back the department the right way. Mr. Edwards stated that he has reached out to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and they’re stretched so thin that they aren’t going to be of much help.
A Facebook viewer asked when the new playground equipment will be installed. City Manager Jeff Edwards stated that a lot of work needs to be completed before the equipment can be installed so there is no estimated date at this time. Mr. Edwards estimated that it will cost a considerable amount of money to prepare the site.
A motion was made by Council Member Nancy Siders to go into Executive Session. The motion was seconded by Council Member Timothy Jamison. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Jamison – aye, Council Member Siders – aye, Council Member Stuart – aye, Mayor Samples – aye.
Council went into Executive Session at 6:36 pm.
A motion was made by Council Member Timothy Jamison to return to Regular Session. The motion was seconded by Council Member John Golden. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Jamison – aye, Council Member Siders – aye, Council Member Stuart – aye, Mayor Samples – aye.
Council returned to Regular Session at 7:56 pm.
Mayor Samples stated that financial and personnel matters were discussed in Executive Session.
Mayor Samples adjourned the meeting at 7:56 pm.