Dec. 30, 2010
Chairman’s Last Night Holding the Gavel in the Center Seat
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Councilman Jim Insco at the Monday, Dec. 27 council meeting, equally praised members of the administration and council for successfully working through harsh challenges during his two years as chairman.
During his farewell as chairman analysis, he stressed three particular ‘challenges’ still facing Huntington: Closing the landfill; repair of in city deteriorating infrastructure, and correction of periodic flooding issues
“With or without the occupation tax, we need to take [flooding] by the horns, set money aside and move forward.” The same applies to in city infrastructure repair.
Reflecting back Insco complimented council for their work especially in the last two years. “Compared to the last eight years, there’s no comparison,” Insco said. He quantified accomplishments by referring the November 2008 meeting before the current council took office. As he named the achievements, he also gave due credit to administration, the governor, legislature and others who bridged gaps to find doable solutions.
Among the challenges met, a solution to the underfunded police/fire pension funds, implementation of the land bank authority, fire insurance legislation as part of home rule, progress on the MS4 storm water plan, passage of the Big Sandy Superstore Bond issue, implementation of the committee referral procedure, and the occupation tax.
“Whether you voted for or against the occupation tax, it does not really matter. It took all of us to do that and we all worked together. That’s something that needed to be done many moons ago,” Insco opined.
(Editor’s Note: Mayor Wolfe is working with Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on appointments to the state Home Rule Board, which will give an up or down vote to Huntington’s occupation tax proposal.]
He praised Police Chief Skip Holbrook and incoming Fire Chief Craig Moore and encouraged them to bring soundly based budgets to the table in February 2011.
“Chief Holbrook, you’ve done an absolutely fabulous job. We’ve not always agreed, but we have always made up and seen eye to eye at the end of the day. Your job, sir, is amazing with the stress that you are under. I want to applaud you,” Insco said. “Chief Moore, welcome, I think you will lead the fire department in the right direction.
Long time councilman Jim Ritter told Insco, “You have been one of the best chairmen that I can recall.” He explained that he believed the other members of council shared his beliefs otherwise they would not have re-elected him to serve as chair of the body. “ I thought you did a very good job handling the meetings [too],” Ritter said.
At large councilman Steve Williams told Insco, “you kept your tongue when many of us would have barked a little louder.” He added, “When you look at all that we have accomplished with the administration, it takes two to tango. We [have all] worked well together.”
Vice Chairman and the anticipated new chairman, Mark Bates, complimented Insco for taking on the financial challenges that faced the city in the last year. “Probably, if we had listened to you the year before, we may not have had to be as tight this current fiscal year.”
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Chairman’s Last Night Holding the Gavel in the Center Seat
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Councilman Jim Insco at the Monday, Dec. 27 council meeting, equally praised members of the administration and council for successfully working through harsh challenges during his two years as chairman.
During his farewell as chairman analysis, he stressed three particular ‘challenges’ still facing Huntington: Closing the landfill; repair of in city deteriorating infrastructure, and correction of periodic flooding issues
“With or without the occupation tax, we need to take [flooding] by the horns, set money aside and move forward.” The same applies to in city infrastructure repair.
Reflecting back Insco complimented council for their work especially in the last two years. “Compared to the last eight years, there’s no comparison,” Insco said. He quantified accomplishments by referring the November 2008 meeting before the current council took office. As he named the achievements, he also gave due credit to administration, the governor, legislature and others who bridged gaps to find doable solutions.
Among the challenges met, a solution to the underfunded police/fire pension funds, implementation of the land bank authority, fire insurance legislation as part of home rule, progress on the MS4 storm water plan, passage of the Big Sandy Superstore Bond issue, implementation of the committee referral procedure, and the occupation tax.
“Whether you voted for or against the occupation tax, it does not really matter. It took all of us to do that and we all worked together. That’s something that needed to be done many moons ago,” Insco opined.
(Editor’s Note: Mayor Wolfe is working with Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on appointments to the state Home Rule Board, which will give an up or down vote to Huntington’s occupation tax proposal.]
He praised Police Chief Skip Holbrook and incoming Fire Chief Craig Moore and encouraged them to bring soundly based budgets to the table in February 2011.
“Chief Holbrook, you’ve done an absolutely fabulous job. We’ve not always agreed, but we have always made up and seen eye to eye at the end of the day. Your job, sir, is amazing with the stress that you are under. I want to applaud you,” Insco said. “Chief Moore, welcome, I think you will lead the fire department in the right direction.
Long time councilman Jim Ritter told Insco, “You have been one of the best chairmen that I can recall.” He explained that he believed the other members of council shared his beliefs otherwise they would not have re-elected him to serve as chair of the body. “ I thought you did a very good job handling the meetings [too],” Ritter said.
At large councilman Steve Williams told Insco, “you kept your tongue when many of us would have barked a little louder.” He added, “When you look at all that we have accomplished with the administration, it takes two to tango. We [have all] worked well together.”
Vice Chairman and the anticipated new chairman, Mark Bates, complimented Insco for taking on the financial challenges that faced the city in the last year. “Probably, if we had listened to you the year before, we may not have had to be as tight this current fiscal year.”
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