SISTERSVILLE – Sistersville City Council updated its street fee ordinance, requiring property owners to pay a new flat rate of $10 per lot per month.

During their Aug. 12 meeting, council members unanimously approved the ordinance aimed at making the fee a more fair one for all property owners in the city. Previously the fee was based on one’s total front frontage; now everyone will pay $10 per lot instead.

Following the meeting, Recorder Meghan Keller said the ordinance came about after the city had received complaints about the previous rates not being fair. She noted the money collected from the fees are used to make repairs to the roads and keep them clean.

Also during the meeting, council heard from Sistersville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Andy Weekley, who talked about the fire department taking over paying its own bills. Funding for the department, about $75,000, is raised via a tax levy and a fire service fee. The discussion turned into a short shouting match between Mayor Bill Rice and the fire department’s president, Mike Coonz, after Rice claimed the president and others were making accusations out in the public about the city being broke and wanting the fire department’s money.

“I have a real problem with that, and I would not direct this council to … give you your money from your fire fees and levy to let you guys use it however you want,” Rice said. “I would not do that, no way.”

There was also a disagreement about who owns the fire department’s assets including its building. Rice said if the fire department decided to move its operations they would not be permitted to take its equipment with them; the equipment must stay at the Sistersville station.

“You guys want to quit, you quit, but that equipment stays in Sistersville,” Rice said.

No formal action was taken regarding depositing the fire department’s money into a separate account for them.

In other matters, council received an update from Jessie Parker of New River Engineers regarding a project related to potential upgrades to the city’s sewage system. Council must decide whether it wants to move forward with upgrades to the sewage treatment plant, estimated to cost $6.4 million, the installation of new sewer lines in the Virginia Terrace area, estimated to cost $3.63 million, or both.

Going forward with the projects would mean the base rate for residents would increase from $43.42 per month to about $50. Rice noted the city should not put off doing upgrades to the sewage plant much longer because they are much needed.

Parker said he would be back at next month’s council meeting to hear the council’s final decision.

Meanwhile, council also discussed needed upgrades to the Sistersville Public Library. Rice said a new HVAC system is estimated to cost $100,000. He noted one wall of the building also is being pushed in by an overgrown tree. The city plans to approach the tree owner about allowing them to remove it.

In other business, council plans to try and sell one of its old garbage trucks, but the vehicle is in need of a new transmission. Rice estimated the transmission would cost $6,000, but having it installed might make the vehicle sell quicker.

Also, after some discussion regarding high grass and weeds across the city, Sistersville Police Chief Rob Haught said he would look into the properties in question to see if the city’s public nuisance ordinance would apply to them.

Council also approved a plan to move two old oil derricks downtown to a site to be determined. One council member said the derricks were obstructing the sidewalks and making it difficult for pedestrians, especially children, to cross the street safely. Rice said two concrete pads likely would have to be installed at the new site on which to place the derricks. He said such a plan was talked about a few years ago. Two trash bins/flower containers obstructing the sidewalks may also be moved.