Aug. 24, 2010
Huntington Council Talks Revenue, Flooding, Liability Insurance, Salt for the Winter
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – “Is that an essential purchase,” Huntington City Councilman Steve Williams asked during the Finance Committee meeting that preceded the August 23 full council session. He inquired about the contact to purchase salt for clearing street of snow. He didn’t object to the purchase; Williams prepared administrative representatives to become accustomed to the inquiry before finance committee recommendations.
At the very end of the council session, Williams asked Finance Director Deron Runyon about current revenue indicators. He displayed an immediate necessity to analyze the spread sheets and analyze early trends. Runyon did not have them yet available, but will get them to Williams a.s.a.p. Williams wants to avoid waiting to start further cutting should incoming revenues appear soft.
However, the remainder of the body appeared temporarily content to take a breather after the crushing months of Home Rule decisions that resulted in the passage of the occupation tax and the sales tax.
Councilman Nate Randolph twice injected potential assignments for the perceived ‘extra’ money, catching up on the destruction of unsafe structures and starting storm sewer separations to prevent the continued heavy overflows that on August 11 paralyzed the city.
Contrary to his normal demeanor activist/co-city charter writer Tom MccCalister pleasantly told council of a low cost partial flooding solution contained in a 70s urban renewal sewer. He politely declined a reporter’s request for “how many signatures” he had on the petition to force a vote on the occupation tax.
McCalister alluded to the discussion by the Cabell County Commission to file suit in the WV Supreme Court of Appeals challenging the taxes. The commission followed the same procedure with the user fees and lost in the high court. In addition, some Charleston residents appear concerned about Huntington having a 1% earnings/occupation/income tax. They are in discussions with a constitutional attorney from WVU , according to McCalister.
Wonder if Randolph would be as anxious to fix infrastructure --- and silence critics --- if he had a gist of opposition plans for both court and voting challenges to council’s decision?
IN OTHER BUSINESS
Mayor Kim Wolfe issued two proclamations. The first honored members of the city’s professional firefighters for first place in the state in the Muscular Dystrophy “Boot” Drive. In addition, Wolfe’s second proclamation designated Tuesday, Aug. 24, as the day for celebrating the 75th year of women’s sufferage.
FIRST READINGS
The Finance Committee unanimously recommended that the rock sale, demolition , asbestos abatement and city liability insurance be forwarded to the full council.
Currently, the city has about 600 tons of rock salt, which cleans the streets and sidewalks of snow and ice. Darryl Miller told the Finance Committee that during last winter’s harsh conditions about 2,000 tons of salt were used. Under milder circumstances, “a couple hundred tons” might be used.
Miller told the finance committee that the ordinance requires that Compass Mineral set back 1,200 tons of salt (at $60.10 a ton) for Huntington; however, the contract does not obligate the city to purchase the full amount. The purchase would be based on weather conditions and first using the salt on hand.
Brandi Jacobs-Jones, director of administration and finance, acknowledged past problems of unsafe structures not taken down in a timely manner,” due to vendor issues. Although still subject to “what we can afford [to tear down],” both the demolition and asbestos contracts are for $2.25 per square foot. She estimates that 18-20 structures can be leveled for that price. Funding comes from Community Block Grant Development funding.
Nate Randolph strongly spoke in favor of removal of unsafe structures as a road to “capital improvements,” advocating that excess occupation tax funds should be used to catch up with abandoned property that needs to be leveled.
LIABILITY INSURANCE
Partially due to weakness in the insurance market, the City has received a bid that expands liability coverage yet save approximately $500,000 from the current policy.
Wayne Manning, Partners Insurance, made the winning bid. Liability for public officials increase from $1 million to $4 million and the new coverage includes no deductible.
During the finance meeting, though, members discussed limiting smaller claims. Manning agreed with an idea that a small-claim (without any injury) fund could be created from a tiny portion of the savings to ensure that the company does not receive excessive claims, which inevitably drive up the cost of insurance.
FISCAL AGENT
Council unanimously approved a variety of grants in which the city acts as fiscal agent and passes the funds along. Among those approved were funds for Healing Place, the Jeff George Hospitality House, YMCA Kennedy Center, YMCA Youth Center, Huntington Ronald McDonald House, After School Weed and Seed Mentoring, and the Westmorland Women’s Club.
FLOODING OVERFLOWS
Council co-chairman, Mark Bates, emphasized the severity of the flooding from Four Pole Creek overflows particularly at Military Road/Chestnut Drive and along Hal Greer near Meadows School.
Nate Randolph added that “the city needs a couple ways to get back and forth over railroad tracks” during intense flooding. He suggested use of some occupation tax money to separate storm sewers, complaining that to get home after the Wednesday, August 11 deluge, he had to travel across the river to Ohio, then take Interstate-64 to get across town.
“Having to drive through Ohio to get home was frustrating, but it’s troubling when police and fire have problems getting from one side of the city because all the viaducts are flooded. Hopefully, this has opened some eyes that we need to make [one time storm sewer] infrastructure improvements,” Randolph said. Bates told council that residents in the 1600 block of Washington Boulevard had about 30 inches of water in their basements twice in the last two weeks.
The vice chairman of council has agreed to serve as chair of the storm water committee which next meets in September.
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Huntington Council Talks Revenue, Flooding, Liability Insurance, Salt for the Winter
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – “Is that an essential purchase,” Huntington City Councilman Steve Williams asked during the Finance Committee meeting that preceded the August 23 full council session. He inquired about the contact to purchase salt for clearing street of snow. He didn’t object to the purchase; Williams prepared administrative representatives to become accustomed to the inquiry before finance committee recommendations.
At the very end of the council session, Williams asked Finance Director Deron Runyon about current revenue indicators. He displayed an immediate necessity to analyze the spread sheets and analyze early trends. Runyon did not have them yet available, but will get them to Williams a.s.a.p. Williams wants to avoid waiting to start further cutting should incoming revenues appear soft.
However, the remainder of the body appeared temporarily content to take a breather after the crushing months of Home Rule decisions that resulted in the passage of the occupation tax and the sales tax.
Councilman Nate Randolph twice injected potential assignments for the perceived ‘extra’ money, catching up on the destruction of unsafe structures and starting storm sewer separations to prevent the continued heavy overflows that on August 11 paralyzed the city.
Contrary to his normal demeanor activist/co-city charter writer Tom MccCalister pleasantly told council of a low cost partial flooding solution contained in a 70s urban renewal sewer. He politely declined a reporter’s request for “how many signatures” he had on the petition to force a vote on the occupation tax.
McCalister alluded to the discussion by the Cabell County Commission to file suit in the WV Supreme Court of Appeals challenging the taxes. The commission followed the same procedure with the user fees and lost in the high court. In addition, some Charleston residents appear concerned about Huntington having a 1% earnings/occupation/income tax. They are in discussions with a constitutional attorney from WVU , according to McCalister.
Wonder if Randolph would be as anxious to fix infrastructure --- and silence critics --- if he had a gist of opposition plans for both court and voting challenges to council’s decision?
IN OTHER BUSINESS
Mayor Kim Wolfe issued two proclamations. The first honored members of the city’s professional firefighters for first place in the state in the Muscular Dystrophy “Boot” Drive. In addition, Wolfe’s second proclamation designated Tuesday, Aug. 24, as the day for celebrating the 75th year of women’s sufferage.
FIRST READINGS
The Finance Committee unanimously recommended that the rock sale, demolition , asbestos abatement and city liability insurance be forwarded to the full council.
Currently, the city has about 600 tons of rock salt, which cleans the streets and sidewalks of snow and ice. Darryl Miller told the Finance Committee that during last winter’s harsh conditions about 2,000 tons of salt were used. Under milder circumstances, “a couple hundred tons” might be used.
Miller told the finance committee that the ordinance requires that Compass Mineral set back 1,200 tons of salt (at $60.10 a ton) for Huntington; however, the contract does not obligate the city to purchase the full amount. The purchase would be based on weather conditions and first using the salt on hand.
Brandi Jacobs-Jones, director of administration and finance, acknowledged past problems of unsafe structures not taken down in a timely manner,” due to vendor issues. Although still subject to “what we can afford [to tear down],” both the demolition and asbestos contracts are for $2.25 per square foot. She estimates that 18-20 structures can be leveled for that price. Funding comes from Community Block Grant Development funding.
Nate Randolph strongly spoke in favor of removal of unsafe structures as a road to “capital improvements,” advocating that excess occupation tax funds should be used to catch up with abandoned property that needs to be leveled.
LIABILITY INSURANCE
Partially due to weakness in the insurance market, the City has received a bid that expands liability coverage yet save approximately $500,000 from the current policy.
Wayne Manning, Partners Insurance, made the winning bid. Liability for public officials increase from $1 million to $4 million and the new coverage includes no deductible.
During the finance meeting, though, members discussed limiting smaller claims. Manning agreed with an idea that a small-claim (without any injury) fund could be created from a tiny portion of the savings to ensure that the company does not receive excessive claims, which inevitably drive up the cost of insurance.
FISCAL AGENT
Council unanimously approved a variety of grants in which the city acts as fiscal agent and passes the funds along. Among those approved were funds for Healing Place, the Jeff George Hospitality House, YMCA Kennedy Center, YMCA Youth Center, Huntington Ronald McDonald House, After School Weed and Seed Mentoring, and the Westmorland Women’s Club.
FLOODING OVERFLOWS
Council co-chairman, Mark Bates, emphasized the severity of the flooding from Four Pole Creek overflows particularly at Military Road/Chestnut Drive and along Hal Greer near Meadows School.
Nate Randolph added that “the city needs a couple ways to get back and forth over railroad tracks” during intense flooding. He suggested use of some occupation tax money to separate storm sewers, complaining that to get home after the Wednesday, August 11 deluge, he had to travel across the river to Ohio, then take Interstate-64 to get across town.
“Having to drive through Ohio to get home was frustrating, but it’s troubling when police and fire have problems getting from one side of the city because all the viaducts are flooded. Hopefully, this has opened some eyes that we need to make [one time storm sewer] infrastructure improvements,” Randolph said. Bates told council that residents in the 1600 block of Washington Boulevard had about 30 inches of water in their basements twice in the last two weeks.
The vice chairman of council has agreed to serve as chair of the storm water committee which next meets in September.
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