Brandon Chadock CEO Sistersville Hospital addresses the Paden City Council on a new Health Care Center

Paden City Common Council met in regular session on Monday February 7, 2022 at 7:00 P.M. in the council chambers of the municipal building and all council members were present.

A motion was made by Jim Richmond with a second from Councilman Scott Dalrymple to approve the minutes from the January 3, regular meeting. Next up Councilman Richmond made a motion for approval of all bills to be submitted for payment. Dillaman seconded the motion. Both motions passed unanimously. An issue was addressed not on the agenda and tabled to be placed on next months agenda concerning the speed limit signs in the city. Some of the signs on the streets say 20 mph and others are 25 mph. It will be researched and discussed at the March meeting making sure the city ordinances are clear on the speed limits and signage.

Water Department Superintendent Josh Billiter reported there is approximately a three and half week delay on the water line production due to the weather we have been having. He went on to state about 100 feet of the actual water main is left to be put in and the rest is service lines, tie ends, and line work. He said due to the snow and ice not much has been going on with the project.

Mayor Kastigar spoke about a change order request involving waterline installation in an alley between Boston Street and Wetzel Street. Billiter advised council that while digging was taking place and the new water line was being installed it became apparent a storm line had to come out in the process. The storm line needs to be replaced and the total cost of the storm line is $20,265.00. He said there is still $180,000.00 in contingency monies. A motion to approve the change was approved unanimously for the storm drain to be replaced due to a massive water leak. Also addressed was well number one being due for maintenace at a projected cost of $15,000. It needs to be scheduled early because it will be close to July before they can get here and the maintenace can begin. Councilman Scott Dalrymple made the motion for the maintenance to be scheduled and Councilman Dillaman seconded the motion, hich passed unanimously.

Also not on the agenda but brought up for discussion was the city is operating with their back up spreader because the usual 40 year old spreader is down. It will cost a little over $200.00 to fix the old spreader.

The issue was tabled and quotes for a new spreader are going to be obtained so it can be looked over and options weighed on which will be the better avenue for the city to take on the matter. Once the quotes are obtained this will be added on the agenda for further discussion.

Moving on to the aproval of the 10th draw down for the water project in the amount of $260,012.85 was seconded and unanimously approved as follows: Midatlantic $142,434.00, Thrasher $20,154.61, Stone Gate Construction $96,747.71, and Emit V.O.C $676.53.Mayor Kastigar signed off on all four drawdowns.

Kastigar brought up the amount of the cities delinquent water/sewage bills.The city has close to $17,000.00 in delinquent bills this month. The utility office is going to become more assertive in combating this issue. It was discussed and coming this Summer the city will be acquiring a credit card billing machine. This will bring the office up to modern standards and allow a more convenient way for payment. If service is disconnected the account holder will be required to pay the past due amounts as well as a reconnection fee to the city before it will be turned back on. This seems to be an ongoing problem and one that is being addressed and hopefully gridlocked.

Fire Chief and Councilman Jim Richmond reported the Paden City Fire Company responded to two motor vehicle accidents, four EMS calls, one false alarm, and 3 mutual aid assists. City Recorder Sheila Henry advised council the insurance company will be cutting a check soon to cover the water damage repairs to city hall. All hallways and the three rooms out front of city hall will all be receiving new tile instead of carpet.

Mayor Kastigar read the second reading for the police ordinance update 171.12. This update will modify the current $8.00 payment to the state and allow it to be increased to $12.00. It will also modify the ordinance to include a $5.00 Paden City Law Enforcement Training Fund fee, $2.00 Municipal Court Training Fund fee, and $20.00 fee for Civil Notice Service.

Mayor Kastigar addressed the possibility of amending the $9,000.00 parks and pool budget. He would like the finance committee to look into it and see if it can be amended to a $20,000.00 minimum. That budget was cut when the coal severance tax was lost. Kastigar stated “We have one of the nicest parks in the ohio valley but it’s under funded.The pool has got to be opened this summer, and the city has some things in the works and making progress.”

Kastigar went on saying the city needs a long term plan but most importantly right now short term, adding something has to be done possibly by next month. Josh Billiter stated “its only two months away.”

Paden City Development Authority President Cork Bowen inquired about the use of council chambers inside city hall for four community wide meetings. The authority has gotten involved with a community involvement plan and their working with the EPA right now tying to get things approved. Council approved the use of chambers for the development authorities upcoming meetings.

Next on the agenda was unfinished business. Following up on the AT&T tower Carolyn Flannery the city’s attorney has been working on a proposal for more funding and less liability to the city. Other unfinished buisness was the tree trimming issue in the 6th avenue area. Ace Carse with Carse Tree Trimming took the floor and explained the issues behind why the tree removal hasn’t been completed. Carse apologized to council as he believed there was a misunderstanding on the bid submitted. He stated due to the tree location and space allotment for equipment he can not safely remove the tree with out a spider agricultural lift that will fold in its side allowing him to gain access into the space provided and lifts up to 96 feet. However, Carse would need to rent this equipment out of New Jersey at a cost of $3,000.00 and would need the bid adjusted to show for this expenditure. He would in turn pay out of his pocket for the fuel, and travel expenses to New Jersey to pick up and return the lift. Once they get the and complete the job $4,700.00 would be left owed to Carse Tree Trimming. Resident Sam Smith was in attendance and made a proposal that he himself would pay $1,500.00 to Carse if the city paid the remaining $1,500.00 to rent the lift for the tree removal to get finished. The motion was made by Councilman Richmond and approved by council unanimously to pay the $1,500 fee so the tree removal can be completed.

Following up on demolition of old dilapidated buildings it was brougt up that WVU has a Bad Building Program as well as the CDBG Program that allows for grants to be obtained with no requirement of matching funds. The grants can be for the demo of buildings, recreation, and broadband in amounts up to $200,000.00. It was mentioned that it’s to late for this year, but it should be looked into soon for next year 2023, this gives the city an entire year to prepare.

A motion was made by Councilman Jim Richmond for the city to renew the Pestec contract. Recorder Shiela Henry advised there wasn’t any increase in the contract. Councilman Bill Bell seconded the motion and the Pestec contract was approved.

Council focused on a complaint at 136 N. 4th Ave and decided to table the issue until the location can be looked at after the snow melts. They then went on to discuss a request from Susan Wade, of the Labor Day celebration committee. Wade had requested council give the Labor Day Committee $7,000 for this year which would include $3,500 they didn’t receive in 2020.

“I think that would be up to the finance committee to see if there is $7,000.00 available when the budget comes out.” stated Councilman Dalrymple. After a lot of discussion on the matter it was decided that when the upcoming budgets are being prepared the finance committee will need to see if the monies available.

A representaive with Liberty National Global Life Insurance gave a brief presentation and requested a time to speak with all city employees about the insurances the company offers. After his presentation Councilman Jim Richmond made a motion to allow a date to be scheduled for the representatives to speak to the city employees and Councilman Scott Dalrymple second the motion and a date will be decided and scheduled.

The topic taking on the most attention of the night was when Brandon Chadock CEO of Sistersville General Hospital took the floor to discuss with council a proposal to receive a committment from the city for a new Health Care Facility to be built in Paden City. Mayor Kastigar spoke and advised the city had submitted the letter of support for the center. Chaddock stated the people in Charleston are willing to assist with this project. However, the state wants to see the municipalities provide some support in the matter. He stated “skin in the game” was used rather frequently when they presented this to the state. Paden City agreed to the be in further support of the clinic by placing their “skin in the game” at10 percent of the Arbor funds to help make it happen. It was reassured by Chadock the cities committment of 10 percent would be returned if something were to happen and the clinic couldn’t be established. He stated everything would be reduced to writing.