Councilman's efforts to help have gotten expensive
For HNN by Art Harvath.

What started out as a way to help a city strapped with financial problems has blossomed into a major logistic and financial undertaking for one Huntington citizen.

“When I first got into this I really underestimated the extent of the problem,” said Huntington City Councilman Charlie Thompson, owner of Thompson’s Auto Service at 1941 7th Avenue in Huntington. “I made the suggestion that I would help as I could and it really exploded,” added Thompson.

Since May of 2001, Thompson says he has spent $79,157.60 of his own money on trash, rubbish and brush removal from the streets, alleys and lots of Huntington. This amount does not include the cost of about 60 loads for which Thompson lacks complete documentation.

When Thompson first conceived of the idea, he asked Huntington Department of Administration and Finance Director Jack Thornburgh whether the city had a truck that could be used in the effort. Thornburgh confirmed that he offered a truck to Thompson, but added that the truck needed so many repairs that it wasn’t worth the time and money to make it street worthy.

After towing the truck to his garage, Thompson found that the truck needed a battery, which he said cost $400.00. A battery was found at the city garage and taken to Thompson’s. However, Thornburgh said the battery was needed for another city vehicle and so had the battery returned to the city garage. Thompson then had the truck towed back to city property.

After taking out a $12,000 loan Thompson bought a used dump truck for $3,500 from Turley’s Trucks and Cars on Rt. 10. He put four men to work full time going throughout the city cleaning up unsightly and dangerous dump sites.

Thompson approached Cabell County Sheriff Kim Wolfe about using jail inmates in helping with the project. Wolfe said he told Thompson that he would have to get Mayor Dave Fellinton’s permission. which Felinton declined.

“He was just starting his tenure as mayor, and he didn’t want to cause any conflict with the union,” Wolfe said. “And that’s understandable,” he added.

Thornburgh also cited insurance liability as another reason for not using the inmates.

“When this first got started, I’d get 400 to 500 calls a week for trash pickups,” said Thompson. At one time it got so busy that Thompson rented another truck and also hired tempory workers from Labor Ready to help with the pickups. “We’re down to one truck and four people now, but it’s still a full time job,” said Thompson. He presently receives about 100 calls a week requesting help.

Anyone with questions about the project is welcome to stop by Thompson’s garage or call him at 523.8164.

“A big part of the (trash) problem is a lack of citation officers and lack of follow up when a citation is issued,” said Thompson. “And until we get an enforceable system, nothing will change.”