A resolution was adopted Monday evening by the Paden City Council granting permission to pursue a Transportation Enhancement Grant through the State of West Virginia.

These federally funded grants cover a variety of worthwhile projects that will enhance the welcome mat laid down for visitors and improve the quality of life for residents of Paden City.

Funded by the Federal Highway Administration, Transportation Enhancement Grants are administered by the West Virginia Department of Transportation. The grant program provides 80 percent of the eligible project cost, with the balance provided by the project sponsor.

Project sponsors must be governmental bodies, and all projects must have a relationship to surface transportation and fit into any of 12 categories defined by the state DOT. The categories range from pedestrian and bicycle pathways, to acquisition of scenic or historic sites, to refurbishment of historic railroad facilities and archaeological planning and research. The minimum total project cost is $30,000.

Since this program began in 1991, dozens of projects and millions of dollars of renovation and construction have beautified the state, interpreted its fascinating transportation heritage and made it easier and more pleasurable to walk or ride through the towns and communities.

Some communities have used the monies to complete murals, restore visitor’s centers, replaced damaged highway markers, install signage, complete landscaping projects, and much more.

Tim Meeks, grant coordinator for Mid Ohio Valley Regional Council, will work closely with the council and the mayor to prepare for the grant application.

Mayor Bill Fox said, “If there is money out there, I think we should go after it.”

Council also addressed the ongoing traffic and parking issues near the schools. According to Councilman Clyde Hochstrasser, parents are blocking the flow of bus traffic near Paden City Elementary School in spite of signs declaring “no parking zones”, making it nearly impossible for buses to get onto the premises after school.

Hochstrasser commented, “I hate to see us have to ticket people.”

“But that may be the only answer to the problem. Posting another sign will not work,” Fox replied.

In the meantime, parents are urged to obey the signs posted near the schools to avoid being issued a citation.

With winter in full swing, some residents of Paden City are concerned with snow removal on the upper streets and hills. One resident reported to Hochstrasser that she had to park at the bottom of the hill and walk to her home due to the condition of the streets.

According to Maintenance Director Clifford Duke, the city crew is laying cinders four times per day when the weather is bad and they are facing a shortage of product. As for plowing, Duke follows a schedule, giving priority to streets with more traffic.

To combat the complaints and concerns, Duke agreed to lower the city’s plow to one inch to eliminate more snow at a time.

Councilman Richard Wright brought the issue of animal control back to the table on Monday. “I’ve done some research on the ordinances we already have and we have some pretty good ordinances,” Wright said. “I also looked at the fines.”

Both Wright and Fox agreed that fines were a way to get people’s attention.

During last month’s meeting, Wright suggested raising fines for people who do not follow the city’s ordinances regarding animals.

Councilman Glen Casteel interjected, “I agree that we need to raise the fines, but we also need to put our police reports in the newspaper. When we fine someone, other people could read it in the newspaper and that might help deter some of this.”

The discussion will continue until a solution is found to the animal control issue.