South Charleston approves fireworks curfews, penalties

South Charleston City Council passed a new fireworks ordinance into law on Thursday night by a unanimous voice vote. 

The ordinance allows citizens to set off fireworks on four holidays: Memorial Day, Labor Day, July Fourth and New Years Eve. 

“We ended up coming up with what I think is a really good piece of legislation.” Mayor Frank Mullens said. “It came from a lot of different angles and it was good to get input from not only my staff, but my council members and citizens who were putting up with it every day.”

The curfew for the release of fireworks on these holidays is set at 10 p.m., and 12:30 a.m. on New Years. 

“It will be tough [to enforce],” Mullens said. “We know that by the time we get up there after somebody sets a firework off, they’re probably going to be gone, we understand that, but hopefully it is a deterrent.” 

Mullens said the penalties for breaking the new fireworks ordinance will be a $500 fine and 30 days in jail. 

The citizens of South Charleston overall are relieved, the mayor said. 

“I have had no negative comments at all,” Mullens said. “As a matter of fact, I think the majority of our people are thrilled that we addressed it.”

In other action, council approved the reappointment of Tim Wells and Joyce Dery to the Municipal Planning Committee by unanimous voice vote. 

Council also approved a motion presented by Councilman Jamie Sibold of Ward 7 for the purchase of two trucks for the Public Works Department in the amount of $4,780. 

The motion was passed by a unanimous roll call vote. 

Councilman Mark Wolford of Ward 2 and City Clerk Margie Spence were absent from Thursday’s meeting. 

Council’s next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 on the second floor of City Hall, D Street.

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St. Albans directs flood damage reports to FEMA

St. Albans City Council opened session with a public hearing regarding a code ordinance regarding floodplains and protocol for reporting flood damages. 

The city requested that all damage reports be made to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and not the city itself. Council also made a resolution authorizing participation in the hazard mitigation grant program, which was passed by unanimous voice vote. 

Council also approved second readings of four ordinances all by unanimous voice vote and read by Charles Riffee, city attorney. 

A second reading of the ordinance to vacate and abandon a portion of a 20-foot right of way between Second and Third Streets to make way for the CVS project was passed by unanimous voice vote. 

Councilman-at-large Jerry Cogar asked that questionnaires regarding street lights be returned and asked his fellow council members to report any non-burning lights in their wards. 

Ward 3 Councilman Jason Philabaun presented the Finance committee report and council approved payment of current invoices in the amount of $20,891.81 and purchase of a zero-turn mower for the Parks department from Pile Hardware in the amount of $4,249.

“This thing is phenomenal,” Kevin Pennington, Parks and Recreation Superintendent, said in regard to the new lawnmower. “It will cut our grass cutting time in half and we are really looking forward to it.”

Ward 4 Councilwoman Cheryl Thomas announced St. Albans Night Out Against Crime from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on August 2, in Mayberry’s parking lot. The event is free to the public. Thomas also mentioned that there will be about 50 different exhibitors including Batman from Heroes for Hire. 

Kevin Pennington, superintendent of Parks and Recreation, made multiple reports of events from his department including a Family Pool Party on July 29 with Marco’s pizza provided at the city pool and movie night at dusk July 30 at Roadside Park where the movie “Zootopia” will be shown. Other events include Super Hero day at the City Park on August 13. The time will be announced at a later council meeting. 

Pennington commented on the damage the city’s dock sustained during the recent flooding. 

“We are trying to get some funding to repair that,” Pennington said. “We are going to fix it the best we can right now, to try to get us through this summer and should be completed by next week so our boaters will be able to use the ramp.”

Council then opened the floor to a public forum. 

A group of residents from Edgehill Drive in Ward 2 attended the meeting and addressed council regarding a condemned house in their neighborhood that allegedly had been raided for methamphetamine production and has attracted vermin. 

They requested assistance from the council to have the house demolished or remediated. The group addressed council one by one, each pleading or demanding help from council. 

Riffee told the group that there were some hold-ups in the Building Department about the city’s interest for remediation because of funding or demolition because of toxins that may be present in the structure. 

The group asserted that it would continue to attend city council meetings requesting assistance in this matter until it was resolved. 

All members of council attended Monday’s meeting. 

Council’s next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 on the second floor of the Municipal Building at 51 Sixth Avenue.

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South Charleston sends brunch bill proposal to home rule board

South Charleston City Council passed the so-called “Brunch Bill” at Thursday’s meeting with a voice vote of 7-2. 

After opening the floor to a public hearing, which no audience member participated in, the council voted to allow the city to submit the proposed amendment to the state Municipal Home Rule Board. 

If the home rule board approves, the bill will allow licensed establishments in South Charleston to sell alcoholic beverages starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Current state law prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages before 1 p.m. on Sundays.

Ward 8 Councilman Don Ryan and Ward 4 Councilman J.W. Williamson voted no on the bill. 

After the meeting, Ryan said he did so because he felt it best represented his own feelings on the matter, as well as the feelings of his ward.

“I do not think it is a really big deal,” Mayor Frank Mullens said. “One thing it does do is not put our restaurants at a competitive disadvantage.”

In other action Thursday, Council voted to close the 4th Street block in front of the South Charleston Fire Department for the ribbon cutting for its new station. 

“When we tore the old station down, inside the cornerstone was a time capsule, so we are going to open it,” Fire Chief John Taylor said. “People can also come in and tour the station and see what it is like.”

The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. July 16. The time capsule opening will be at 10:30 a.m. and the ribbon cutting will be at 11 a.m. 

Mullens said the streets will be closed for about an hour. 

Mullens said he would be remiss to not mention the recent flooding in the state and how well the city did in comparison to previous instances of heavy rain.

“We had only a couple of minor incidents and that is a testament that for the last decade, we have really emphasized on our storm water management system,” Mullens said. “These guys have put together great preventative measures. You see rain in the forecast - you see our guys out throughout the city cleaning out drains.”

Mayor Frank Mullens added that he was proud of the city employees who had helped in severely effected areas, such as Clendenin.

“What you have done is greatly appreciated and to be commended,” Mullens said. 

Council also discussed the issue of fireworks complaints during the Fourth of July holiday. 

Mullens said that he had already met with staff and would be brining legislation to the City Council for approval by the next meeting, on July 21. 

In other action, City Clerk Margie Spence explained a proposed change to the city Charter to bring to date article 14 nominations and elections for the city of South Charleston to be in compliance with West Virginia state Code regulations. 

The second reading of the Charter was opened to public hearing because it was a Charter change. No audience member participated. 

The ordinance to amend the city Charter was passed by unanimous voice vote. 

Ward 7 Councilman Jamie Sibold discussed the Finance Committee’s choosing of Johnson Controls’ bid to the city of South Charleston, following a vote at the June 23 meeting.

“Johnson Controls, who does most of our work now and knows our systems, was the lowest bidder that met the RFP and we awarded the contract to them,” Sibold said. 

South Charleston Chief of Police Brad Rinehart made a statement that the police department is at full staff with 41 officers. 

All council members attended Thursday’s meeting. Council’s next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. July 21 on the second floor of City Hall, D Street.

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