June 18, 2010
Mayor Wolfe Believes City Safer, Cleaner Despite Continuing Challenges
Working Together Still Necessary
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Despite the same old, same old re-spun complaints about the City of Huntington and public service, Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe maintains his optimism, believing that slowly the jewel will lose more and more of its tarnish.
While the spotlight has shone brightly on the deliberations and reactions to tax reform proposals, the City has experienced new development and business growth , either already or expected in the long term. For instance, he pointed to “things that can be seen now” as the Marshall Community College converting to Mount West, Direct TV moving to the former Ames building which had been vacant for more than a decade, the downtown location of the American Foundation for the Blind optics lab (on the third floor of the Chase Building), and the continued renovation of the Anderson-Newcomb/Stone & Thomas Building.
Wolfe declined to comment specifically on the planned tenant, differing to a forthcoming through other departments.
He also pointed to the upcoming renovation of the Federal Building (Corps of Engineers) structure across from City Hall. Although the reconstruction process will necessitate a temporary move of employees, the GSA has plans ‘to stay in the downtown area” during the construction period. Wolfe does not , as yet, have an indication of where in the downtown area they may temporarily relocate.
In addition, Gov. Joe Manchin visited the city Wednesday, June 16. As a demonstration of the efforts of himself and others in shepherding the two legislature passed statutes that will assist in removing or rehabilitating dilapidated homes , the Governor signed them into law in front of a gutted residence in the 3900 block of Fourth Avenue in Guyandotte.
Huntington had originally tried to enact a home rule ordinance placing a hold on a portion of insurance proceeds for debris removal and cleanup, but the ordinance was challenged in court. The legislative passed the bill during the January regular session which allows cities and counties to place a ten percent lien on the proceeds until the mess is cleaned. This prevents owners from taking all the insurance in cash and leaving the safety and eyesore for the city or county to demolish.
The second piece of state legislation signed by Manchin grants cities authority to register vacant properties and impose fees on the property owners. When Huntington considered a similar ordinance, the term “vacant property” proved a sticking point, as some owners may purposefully maintain a property in its vacant state, such as after the death of its original owner. The purpose is not to interfere with maintained structures, but to impose fees upon those which are left to deteriorate.
Mayor Wolfe expressed praise for Manchin’s trip to Huntington to applaud everyone’s efforts.
“We are always optimistic, and I think the governor sees that too. He sees the direction the city’s going in… a safer, cleaner Huntington,” Wolfe said.
One aspect of “safer,” the city received a crime statistic report that showed violent crime levels had abated to the 2004 level. That was the year before the quadruple homicides when eleven homicides rocked the city and shocked the community into knowledge of the drug problems plaguing the city.
Addressing citizen and council dissatisfaction with the paving cutbacks, Wolfe conceded that the city had run into a carryover cash flow problem. Finance Director Deron Runyon on Monday explained that the city needed $600,000 up front for paving. Last year, Wolfe said the money was temporarily borrowed from contingency, then, replaced once user fees came in. This year the drop of employees in the city has prevented the city from paving in advance of receiving the user fee funding.
As for the tax reforms, Wolfe stated that the Mayor’s office has not received any new feedback on any of the proposals. Still , he stated the “term tax,” normally generates opposition.
Expressing support for the compilation of think it over plans assembled by Insco, Wolfe explained that the administration will work with council on plans to move the city forward.
In fact, members of the administration met with the state’s Home Rule Authority on Thursday, advancing the prospect of imposing both an occupation tax and a municipal sales tax. The authority took the matter under advisement and will within a few days send the city a written option concerning necessary guidelines.
Finally, Wolfe stepped back from his earlier statement of vetoing a user fee increase, leaving the door open for a temporary increase that might bridge the gap (and prevent furloughs) between implementation of possible further reforms with a January 1, 2011 implementation date.
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Mayor Wolfe Believes City Safer, Cleaner Despite Continuing Challenges
Working Together Still Necessary
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Despite the same old, same old re-spun complaints about the City of Huntington and public service, Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe maintains his optimism, believing that slowly the jewel will lose more and more of its tarnish.
While the spotlight has shone brightly on the deliberations and reactions to tax reform proposals, the City has experienced new development and business growth , either already or expected in the long term. For instance, he pointed to “things that can be seen now” as the Marshall Community College converting to Mount West, Direct TV moving to the former Ames building which had been vacant for more than a decade, the downtown location of the American Foundation for the Blind optics lab (on the third floor of the Chase Building), and the continued renovation of the Anderson-Newcomb/Stone & Thomas Building.
Wolfe declined to comment specifically on the planned tenant, differing to a forthcoming through other departments.
He also pointed to the upcoming renovation of the Federal Building (Corps of Engineers) structure across from City Hall. Although the reconstruction process will necessitate a temporary move of employees, the GSA has plans ‘to stay in the downtown area” during the construction period. Wolfe does not , as yet, have an indication of where in the downtown area they may temporarily relocate.
In addition, Gov. Joe Manchin visited the city Wednesday, June 16. As a demonstration of the efforts of himself and others in shepherding the two legislature passed statutes that will assist in removing or rehabilitating dilapidated homes , the Governor signed them into law in front of a gutted residence in the 3900 block of Fourth Avenue in Guyandotte.
Huntington had originally tried to enact a home rule ordinance placing a hold on a portion of insurance proceeds for debris removal and cleanup, but the ordinance was challenged in court. The legislative passed the bill during the January regular session which allows cities and counties to place a ten percent lien on the proceeds until the mess is cleaned. This prevents owners from taking all the insurance in cash and leaving the safety and eyesore for the city or county to demolish.
The second piece of state legislation signed by Manchin grants cities authority to register vacant properties and impose fees on the property owners. When Huntington considered a similar ordinance, the term “vacant property” proved a sticking point, as some owners may purposefully maintain a property in its vacant state, such as after the death of its original owner. The purpose is not to interfere with maintained structures, but to impose fees upon those which are left to deteriorate.
Mayor Wolfe expressed praise for Manchin’s trip to Huntington to applaud everyone’s efforts.
“We are always optimistic, and I think the governor sees that too. He sees the direction the city’s going in… a safer, cleaner Huntington,” Wolfe said.
One aspect of “safer,” the city received a crime statistic report that showed violent crime levels had abated to the 2004 level. That was the year before the quadruple homicides when eleven homicides rocked the city and shocked the community into knowledge of the drug problems plaguing the city.
Addressing citizen and council dissatisfaction with the paving cutbacks, Wolfe conceded that the city had run into a carryover cash flow problem. Finance Director Deron Runyon on Monday explained that the city needed $600,000 up front for paving. Last year, Wolfe said the money was temporarily borrowed from contingency, then, replaced once user fees came in. This year the drop of employees in the city has prevented the city from paving in advance of receiving the user fee funding.
As for the tax reforms, Wolfe stated that the Mayor’s office has not received any new feedback on any of the proposals. Still , he stated the “term tax,” normally generates opposition.
Expressing support for the compilation of think it over plans assembled by Insco, Wolfe explained that the administration will work with council on plans to move the city forward.
In fact, members of the administration met with the state’s Home Rule Authority on Thursday, advancing the prospect of imposing both an occupation tax and a municipal sales tax. The authority took the matter under advisement and will within a few days send the city a written option concerning necessary guidelines.
Finally, Wolfe stepped back from his earlier statement of vetoing a user fee increase, leaving the door open for a temporary increase that might bridge the gap (and prevent furloughs) between implementation of possible further reforms with a January 1, 2011 implementation date.
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