LEWISBURG (WVDN) – The Lewisburg City Council met on Tuesday, Jan. 17, for their regular monthly meeting. On the agenda were three resolutions pertaining to payment on current projects.
The first order of business, before Council proceeded to the resolutions, was the promotion of Lewisburg Police Department officer Steven Rodoussakis to corporal.
Regarding the resolutions: Resolution 504 was passed giving the authority to the city to pay bills pertaining to the construction of the new city public works building. The individual bill amounts were not listed; however, City Manager Misty Hill stated that the construction is going to temporarily halt due to weather-induced muddy conditions. The project will restart March 1.
Resolution 505 contained invoices for the city water system upgrade of $589,452.90 to Orders Construction Company, $330,574.15 to Pro Contracting Inc., $72,909.11 to Chapman Technical Group, $1,155.00 to Dunsmore and Shohl and a reimbursement of $1,049.13 to the city of Lewisburg for gravel from RBS. All of the invoices were paid from USDA grant monies.
Resolution 506 was passed, permitting the payment of $9,900 to Chapman Technical Group for services connected to the storm water study and paid through a CDBG-MIT grant.
Mayor Beverly White issued a proclamation announcing Mike Kidd as Volunteer of the Year. Kidd was lauded for his generous donation of time and service to the city and area programs including master of ceremonies for the Shanghai Parade and “The Voice of Greenbrier County” through his radio stations. He also serves on the boards of an extensive list of organization such as Greenbrier Valley Medical Center. Kidd was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2014.
On receiving the award, Kidd said, “I am very thankful, humbled and appreciative. Thank you.”
A second proclamation was made by White making Jan. 16-22 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week. The mayor stated that the march held in Lewisburg on Jan. 16 was on a beautiful day and, “The children and families who attended made it an exceptional day.”
Hill had on the agenda a permit fee, being charged by the county for the city water plant upgrade intake. On introduction of this topic, the Council went into executive session for 30 minutes and returned to pass a motion to table the subject.
According to Hill, the permit is for a “small structure in the floodplain which will house the pumping station” and is at the intake of the system. The Greenbrier County permit charge is $23,000. Hill stated there will be a special Council meeting to consider this issue.
In committee reports, the Planning Commission announced it has chosen Council member and Committee member John Little as president for 2023.
The Planning Commission recommended a conditional use permit be granted, and was approved by the City Council, for 150 Scott Street for a three-bedroom Airbnb. The public hearing was instantly begun, and no objections were voiced by any in attendance.
Another special use permit, one put forward by Shuck Memorial Church for a permanent outdoor stage on their property, was not recommended by the Planning Commission.
“It does not conform to area construction or use,” stated Little. He then went on to say that an alternate design could be found to be an acceptable compromise but that the permanence of the structure was the primary obstacle.
Other reports from city services were made, and Hill added that several departments were quite active due to the deep-freezing temperatures over the holiday. Many city workers were called in from their due holiday breaks to deal with water leaks and tree falls. Hill reported that, “The water plant was also strained because of residential leaks from frozen and broken lines.”
