305 East Street

The Sistersville City Council held their regular monthly meeting at the Sistersville Fire Hall on February 14, 2022 at 7:00 P.M.

All members were present. Council unanimously approved the January 10, 2022 meeting minutes, and approved payment for the bills to be paid.

The Parks & Pool committee stated they have placed an ad in the newspaper notifying citizens they are accepting applications for a pool manager and assistant manager. Discussion was held on dilapidated buildings and is was announced that$30 million could become available if a bill in congress passes. The money would be divided within five regions of the state and each region would have the opportunity to bid on the monies available.

The water and sewer drawdowns were approved by council. The sewer drawdown in the amount of $30,393.97.

Mayor Bill Rice approached council with discussion on opening Russell Avenue. Rice said he needed councils’ approval for the completion of a formal certified letter to be mailed to the residents advising them of the city’s intentions of opening the road. Certain residents have placed a gate that is blocking Russell Avenue access. The city understands the resident’s concerns for their child. However, the gate needs to be moved so access to the avenue can be obtained. The city believes there is a solution that can be made on the matter. A motion was made and approved by council for a certified letter to be mailed giving a 60-day window to remove the gate and open the avenue.

On a separate matter the city is waiting on a court date to address an issue at 305 N. Wells Street.

The issue is a dilapidated residence that a tree has fallen on. The city has attempted to contact the owners over the issue and have received no return communication on the matter. The city is also going to be mailing a letter to a residence on McCoy Heights. The residents will be instructed clean up needs to be completed on property they occupy that is actually city property.

The Virginia Terrace sewer project is ongoing. However, the $1.2 million project will require obtaining grants or an amendment to the city’s current sewer project.

The Sistersville Police Department is accepting applications for a police officer and an ad has been placed in the newspaper . Chief Haught and council members expressed their gratitude to officer Neil Munoz and officer Brain Owens for filling in shifts for the police department. Council went on to state their appreciation of all the officers who have filled in the open shifts at the department.

Mayor Rice said after five tries the new roof on the city building’s roof is now fixed and is not leaking. They received a refund check from Shield Roofing to replace the carpet upstairs in the building. Charm contractors will begin working on the fascia and soffit as soon as the weather breaks.

A motion was made and approved for the appointment of Vincent Mastroianni to the Sistersville Planning Commission and Sistersville Urban Renewal Authority. This is a two-year term running February 1, 2022 through February 1, 2024. He will be replacing Carmen Silliman. On another motion, it was approved for the Member Renewal of Connie Boyd, for a three-year term February 8, 2022 through February 8, 2025.

Meagan——– City Recorder took the floor for approval of changing the name of the P-Card account and moving those funds to the general fund. A motion was made and carried for all the account adjustments.

Next up was the status on Wood, East, and Diamond Streets and when paving will begin. Mayor Rice said the job has been placed for bid and they are waiting on the weather to break.

Implementing a street fee for residents, Timber Ridge, McCormick Green, and Genesis was addressed and Mayor Rice advised he has been in contact with the administrator of Genesis and she understands the problem. She is going to try and receive help from the state on the issue. Lydia Hickman the Manager of Timber Ridge and McCormick Green was contacted about the issue as well. However, this issue was tabled until the next monthly council meeting.

Next on Agenda was the city’s surplus vehicles. They have placed a garbage truck out in the newspaper for bid.

Council approved the SHS- Sistersville High School Alumni Celebration. City Recorder——–stated the city has received $18,168.00 from Marietta Memorial Hospital for rent on the EMT building. It was further discussed that the city of Sistersville will be receiving $50,000.00 from the Tyler County Commission. Expenditure of these funds need to be addressed and approved. A suggestion was made for all department heads to compile a list of items in need. Once the lists are complete, they need to be delivered to the finance committee for approvals. This is a good way to get a lot of smaller needs completed.

Mayor Rice addressed the city supporting the Marietta Memorial expansion. Marietta Memorial is committed to the Sistersville area, and bringing expert care and facilities that meet the needs of those in the community. They are proposing a replacement hospital for Sistersville General. This will update the facility and allow for new technology and care to be offered in the area. However, the state wants to see the municipalities provide some support in the matter, and as they phrased it “put some skin in the game.” If the necessary funding is received, they intend to modernize the clinics in the area as well as looking at building an additional clinic in Paden City. A motion was made for 10% of the cities ARP funds to be appointed in support of the expansion. The motion was passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned.