The Sistersville City Council approved the execution of documents which would give Mayor Dave Fox the ability to accept funds from the Governor’s Community Participation Grant for the Sistersville Ferry.

The funds would allow for necessary repairs to the boat’s transmission.

Water Board Chairman Allan Maxwell reported on the status of the water projects.

“The Virginia Terrrace/Klondike Avenue water project is now complete,” he said. According to Maxwell, 9,150 feet of pipe was installed as well as several new valves and hydrants.

“The residents are reporting good flow,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell also reported on the construction of the new water tank at the north end of town. According to the contractor, Welding Inc., work on the 499,000 gallon structure should be complete by mid-October.

In addition to construction of the new tank, several valves will need to be replaced before the new system is switched over and the line running to Genesis Healthcare’s Sistersville Center will need to be relocated. Residents in the north end of town could experience an outage during the relocation as water will be turned off briefly. Maxwell plans for work to be completed on a midnight shift in the near future and says residents affected by the outage will be notified in advance.

Grant Coordinator Tim Meeks sought the council’s approval for the drawdown of funds to pay invoices incurred for the water projects. The total of the drawdown is $426,017.71.

With this drawdown, the city has paid out approximately $1.1 million in grant funds.

The Planning Commission is planning a dedication ceremony on Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of Bell Chevrolet’s lot. The commission invites the public, as well as all area veterans, to attend the dedication.

The VFW and American Legion will do the honors and hold a short service. Danny Henthorn will sing the National Anthem.

Sistersville Police Chief David Howell announced his intent to promote officers D.A. Northcraft and M.A. Corley to the rank of Corporal. Both officers have been with the Sistersville Police Department for two years.

The council voted unanimously to approve the promotions.

To conclude the meeting, Mayor Fox read a proclamation making Monday, Sept. 27 “Helen Springer Haught Day” in honor of Haught’s 100th birthday.

Mrs. Haught, the daughter of the late Alonzo George and Joberta Henderson Springer, was born in Sistersville, WV on September 27, 1910. She is wife of the late Glen Ellsworth Haught and sister to nine siblings, is the mother of one daughter, Joberta H. White, and one son, Jack E. Haught; grandmother of four, great-grandmother to twelve and great-great grandmother to two.

Ms. Haught, a proud 1929 graduate of Sistersville High School, set three basketball records at SHS in 1929 (38 points in a game, finished year with 238 total points, and averaged 17 points per game) – records which stood for more than 50 years. She went on to manage the Sistersville Pool in the 1960s where she taught local children how to swim and lifeguard. She is the oldest living member of the Sistersville First Baptist Church as well as the oldest living life-long resident of the City of Sistersville.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Sistersville City Building located at 200 Diamond Street. All meetings are open to the public.