Jordan's in the prayer afterwards.

I pledge a leaders.

And the Republic for which is saves.

One nation.

Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Father, we come before you on this beautiful day.

We thank you for the sunshine.

Thank you for the warmth.

And God, we come with grateful hearts.

We are grateful for your love and your grace in our lives.

And God, I thank you for the men and women that leave our city.

And I pray, God, for your hand of favor and protection to rest upon them.

I pray, God, that even tonight, as they care for the business for our city, I pray that you will give them wisdom and discernment, God.

And I just pray once again that we as a community would always take the time to turn our attention to you.

Yes.

To give you the thanks that you uh are deserving of as we recognize that all good things come from above.

And so God, we ask once again, glorify yourselves in and through us and through our community.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Thank you very much.

We will now bring this meeting to order.

I just want to say friendly reminder that when you you're speaking, it's your turn to speak.

Uh whether you're out here, and you want to come to the podium or even up here, make sure even though you think everybody can hear you when people listen to the computer, we still get a lot of complaints that they can't hear certain people talk.

So make sure you speak clearly into the microphone.

Uh first item on the agenda is a reading and approval of the minutes for the April 21st, 2026 rigor council meeting.

May I have a motion to approve the minutes as presented?

So move.

So thank you.

Second.

I think Frank's second.

Thank you.

Any questions or comments about the minutes?

Very well.

All those in favor of approval of the minutes say aye.

Aye.

That's our approved.

Thank you, council.

Next we'll move to public comments.

We've got four that want to speak today.

Uh, again, if you're listening by radio or computer and you wish to speak after our four people that are here speak, call my phone, just dial star three to raise your hand.

If you're connected by computer, click the hand icon, good timing on your participants panel, and we'll recognize you after the four first four speakers.

Uh first up, Mary West.

Come on up.

Good evening, everyone.

Good evening, evening, Mary.

I am here this evening to ask you all for help.

Now work with the state highway, coming off these city streets, work with them to make the traffic signals the way they supposed to be.

Instead of we getting, I mean, I don't know why you have the right hand turn signals that the the right hand turn laws.

When you got an arrow over there on the right, it turns green, and you can turn, but when it goes off, the people across trying to make left hand turns and things.

Well, if your error is off over there, why you got these right hand laws if they can go ahead and you still got to yield to them.

It makes no sense.

So you all work with them, and I've been talking with them, and I'm gonna carry from here to Hades if I have to.

And the thing another thing.

Teach your officers when they come down to talk to people, to talk to them if they are human.

I don't want another officer coming on the roof, hollering at me, yelling, get up on your porch and sit down and don't say nothing and don't mess with the workers.

I don't want to hear that again.

That's the second time, and threatening to arrest me.

And I dropped everything and say, do it now.

Because it doesn't make any sense.

Show people the same respect that you want.

And it's two sides to a story when it came down.

I don't know why everybody can hear what Mary West is saying, but there nobody else is saying anything.

And the girl pulled her shorts up to the crack of her behind and told me what to kiss, looking like a goose's neck.

Don't do that stuff to me.

And please help me get some peace down there on LaRue.

And get some of those traffic signals done right.

And teach your officers how to be more like officers instead of trying to make somebody do something.

I don't hear what they're telling the other people that's calling them on me because it's two sides to a story.

No, something right.

So I say, please help me.

And thank you all.

Thank you.

Did you get your speed bump?

Yes, I got that speed bump.

All right, thank you all.

Next up, uh Alicia Dowden.

Thank you.

Can you hear me?

Okay.

Good evening, everyone.

Good evening.

I am Alicia Dowden, concerned parent, aunt veteran.

April 2023.

Say his name.

My nephew, LaShawn Shelton, was murdered.

Case still not solved.

Same time frame, two other young men murdered.

Case unsolved.

Families still hurting, grieving, children leaving living in terror.

April 2026.

Men found unresponsive at Stratton Elementary School grounds.

My daughter who's nine years old said, Mom, he overdid it.

I said, What do you mean overdid it?

Do you mean overdose?

She said yes.

And I said, Do you know what overdose is?

She said, Yes, drugs.

She believes also that his lungs fell out.

She also told that they have to pick, don't pick up the glass off the ground.

Don't pick up vapes off the ground on their school grounds.

I have spoken to the Board of Education about this last week.

April 2026.

Shooting, East Park.

Broadway Street, four bullets found on the basketball court where the children are playing.

Shooting with injuries on Temple Street.

This is raising safety concerns for children and citizens.

If we do not get control of this situation, there will be a repeat of April 2023.

Children's childhoods will be stripped away.

Retaliation by families who are hurting from their loss.

So there will be innocence killed.

One attempts equals increased activity.

Drug use has increased.

Alcohol use at the parks have increased as well.

Solution.

It can be done.

They sit on South Ed Street.

They go on G Street and give tickets to people who are visiting family members.

So do you care about these children?

Or do you care about yourself?

Do you care about this community?

I just want my child and other children to be able to walk in peace.

Play at these parks in peace.

She was screaming at her house thinking it was my child or my nephew who were shot at.

Thank you.

James Watt Watkins.

I'm here tonight on the behalf of the Board of Public Works.

And I want to know when y'all are going to consider giving us the two dollar on the air race that was promised that you would look at for us.

The cost of everything is skyrocketed.

Y'all know that.

I mean, gas is 450 a gallon now.

And I also want to know when they're going to consider hiring another supervisor at the garage.

And I'd like to know when they're going to post the job.

And if not, I'd like to have the reason why.

Thank you.

Sure.

We'll look into it.

Absolutely.

Elizabeth Rowe.

My name is Elizabeth Rowe, and this is my second time speaking on getting a speed bump installed between 212 and 214 Church Street.

I just drove up and down my street again looking for speed limit signage.

I only saw one sign coming down the hill, which shows 25 miles an hour.

There's no signage at all coming up the hill.

The U.S.

Department of Transportation says that simply lowering the speed limit on a particular stretch of roadway does not always lower the actual speed at which most people drive on that roadway.

At impact speeds near or below 10 miles an hour, most pedestrian injuries tend to be minor to moderate.

Fatality risk at this speed is extremely low in healthy adults, though elderly pedestrians and young children remain vulnerable due to frailty and stature.

At impact speeds of 30 miles an hour, we see frequent life-threatening trauma and the risk of fatalities rises sharply.

Someone mentioned to me today that cops writing tickets on my street could take care of the problem.

In my opinion, going the route of posting cops to writing speed speeding tickets is a waste of time and money, and it's not very efficient.

Drivers will slow down only when they see the cop and speed up after they've left that cop's vicinity, and on the days that they see no cops at all.

So that's not a very long-term solution.

Otherwise, we'd never see anyone speeding anywhere in any state.

I'm asking again to please put a speed bump or a hump between 212 and 214 Church Street.

Thanks.

I'm sorry.

Mr.

Rowland.

We could take care of the speed limit sign pretty fast, couldn't we?

Thank you.

And we have no one okay.

All right, next we'll move on to brief comments from city manager and council members.

Janine, I'll start with you.

All right, thank you, Maya.

Um join Ward 5 for our community spring cleanup.

We invite residents and volunteers to come together on Saturday, May 16th at 9 o'clock a.m.

to help beautify and care for our neighborhood.

We will meet at the A to Z discount plus um store on South Fed Street.

Let's work together to make a positive impact in our community.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring gloves and help spread the word.

And our special thanks to councilwoman at large Sherry Hunter and make it shine for their support in making this event possible.

Again, that's Saturday, May 16th at 9 o'clock.

But we will meet around 8 um 30.

And thanks to Susan, who always just keeps us all um straight.

I just want to tell you thank you.

And also um to the um department heads, thank you all for everything that you do.

That's all I have.

Just one thing real quick.

I had a complaint over in Woodcrest, but I'm sure I'm not sure which ward it's in, because there's some confusion out there.

Okay.

That's all I got.

All right, thank you, Kip.

So good evening, everybody.

I'd just like to thank everyone for again, just give me the opportunity to serve you, and also like to thank all the department heads, everyone that's associated with the city of equity uh close to know we are trying to do the best that we can, and sometimes just like anything else.

Uh Mrs.

Down, I know your frustration because I I know you very well, and I get what you soon just oh if okay.

Uh but as as Miss West always said, if we work together, we can solve any problem they want to.

And I'd just like to thank the department heads and everyone else.

Just give me the opportunity to be here.

Thank you, Frank.

Thanks.

Uh I don't have anything tonight.

Um I agree with everything that's been said, and the citizens need to know that sometimes we don't know.

I hang out sometimes at departments and talk to our employees and things, but if you see something, say something, contact your board member so that we can take care of it.

And two things.

Um last week I was able to attend the women's auxiliary of the American Legion, and I had never, I'm ashamed to say, had never been to the war museum, and also the first resort the first responders museum.

And that's impressive.

If you haven't been, go.

I walked into the lobby, and it looked like the living room of my childhood because they have all these artifacts in there that people locally have donated.

And what they've been able to do there with just volunteers and donations is amazing.

We're always saying that there's nothing to do here.

Sometimes you just have to look around.

But I also enjoyed meeting the ladies from the American Legion.

I schooled myself a little bit.

I did not know that the American Legion was formed through a literal act of Congress, and it is still the largest organization to care for veterans.

So that was very impressive.

Another thing, I are you okay, Pastor?

Sorry.

No, I'm good.

Thank you.

It's the idea of putting up all those signs, isn't it?

The other thing that I was able to attend last week was a presentation by Arts and Sciences at WVU Tech in the building on Neville.

And you know, I consider myself a pretty good baker, but what that culinary school produces makes me want to hang my head.

We saw dance, we heard poetry readings, uh artwork by students.

It was pretty amazing.

So if you get the chance to attend anything done by the college, please do so.

We are a college town.

We need to act like a college town.

Let's all support each other as Mary West says, let's work together, we'll get more done that way.

Thank you.

Thank you, Natalie.

Uh, even the ones that spoke up today, I I like they all said, we listen to you, we want to try to make everything a community.

Obviously, people don't come up here, not everybody that complains comes up here.

It's good for you.

I think it makes a lot of big difference.

I'm sure their phone rings just as much as mine and taxes about complaints.

But it's nice to hear you all give solutions so many times.

I'm like, listen, you can complain about it.

What's your solution?

I mean, because that's the hard part.

So I I really appreciate it.

It stood out to me.

So I appreciate both of you all.

You and at the last one too.

Um last month, I'll change pace a little bit.

Last month was the Fair Housing Um Fair Housing Month.

So I was going to read the proclamation, so I'm gonna read through most of this real quick because I think it's important.

Whereas the Fair Housing Act enacted on April 11th, 1968, enshrined in a federal law, the goal of eliminate racial segregation and ending housing discrimination in the United States, and whereas the Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, family status, national origin or national religion disability, and common recipients of federal funding to affirmative further fair housing in our communities, and whereas the city of Beckley is committed to the mission and intent of Congress to provide fair and equal housing and opportunities for all.

Now, therefore, I Ryan El Mayor and City Council of Beckley, Raleigh County, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2026 as fair housing month.

That was tough to get there.

Battle in the cold, so that's a lot of talking when I'm not used to talking.

Go ahead, Sherry.

Okay.

Um a couple council meetings ago, I suggested that we place um signs that flash green when you are traveling the speed limit on the that road, and it turns red when it's when you're going too fast, and they are solar paneled powered, and um I also suggested that we should have a marketing campaign.

The City Beckley is serious about speeders.

I know that chief can't have officers everywhere.

Not I mean it's on the onus of the person that they see that, so perhaps we can make an investment in those in those signs.

Um last Friday, Raleigh County Make It Shine, had a litter sweep at Glen Morgan.

Beckley is the county seat.

We want to have a good image going into the city and coming out of the city, and in a short amount of time from the interstate peers at Glen Morgan to the cement bridge, make it shine, picked up 400 pounds of litter, 400 pounds.

So thank you, Michael Bowlin.

Every time there's a litter sweep in Beckley proper that your crew goes and gets it, we thank you.

And last but not least, this coming Thursday at 8 o'clock in the morning, we will celebrate the National Day of Prayer at Word Park.

We've been doing this locally in Beckley since 2011.

The chief knows we used to do it 24 hours.

We did it from 2011 to 2019, 24 hours a day.

And we just invite everybody, bring your lawn chairs.

Captain Liz will be there.

The Salvation Army will be there at noon.

I will tell you, it is really refreshing.

You know, we all have all different denominations.

It's one book.

And to know that our city is doing that in Beckley, West Virginia.

I think that just speaks for our pastors and our constituents that want to come up and read 10 minutes of your favorite scripture.

Janine, thank you.

May 16th is going to be a good day in Ward 5.

Okay.

Thank you, Mayor.

Very good.

Cody.

It was a bill that was passed of a young lady that was tragically killed.

But they will have the official signing here Friday morning at 9.30 for anyone that's able and wants to attend.

That's all I have.

Very good.

Mr.

Gerald.

Cody just took my fire.

I was going to welcome we need to welcome uh Governor Morrissey here at 9 30 Friday morning.

The parking they will be utilizing our parking lot behind here.

We have gotten Mr.

Figill's parking lot for our staff.

And they will be utilizing my parking lot also.

But uh any ovaries or anything like that will go into the parking lot.

We work with West Virginia Tech behind the uh the West Virginia Tech police station.

So any ovaries could could be there.

So uh he is signing into effect Bailey's law.

Uh another thing, uh I welcome everybody to that.

Uh we received a spade neutering program grant, an amount of 17,500 for the city of Beckley.

So uh Angela King is going to be uh administering that program.

Uh she has met with the county.

The county has gotten that grant several years in a row, so she has met with uh Jay Questenberry and their staff to to uh get some recommendations and so forth.

So we'll probably be uh implementing that possibly by the end of next week.

Uh I received a grant from the NRG RDA to do a survey and topo map on Maxville Hill Community Center for a future dog park.

Uh it's up to you all to uh if you want to proceed with the design phase.

Uh we'll have to pay for that design phase unless I can talk our architect into giving us a uh a uh what you call it, the old one for each discount.

Yes.

No, what is it with a lawyer don't charge you for money as long as I'm a program.

Pro bono, there you go.

So uh and I also received another petition for uh speed bumps, and that's on Hall Street from Mr.

Uh Tom mostly.

So I just wanted to let you know I received that.

Also, I've been working with the chief since the last council member, I mean last council meeting, and uh I do have a quote for some signs.

Uh I also ask him a question about uh when I went through toll gates, uh often get a picture of my car with my license plate.

Well, I ask him about signs for that, totally illegal to give speeding tickets or uh for that kind of sign.

So uh that's out of my hands.

So uh we'll look at uh uh those petitions.

We'll also look at purchasing some of the signs.

Okay, and that's all I got to say.

All right, very cute.

And thank my staff.

I'm sorry.

I usually thank my staff first, but appreciate you all.

Um Trish, Beckley City Event Coordinator.

I know we're getting into our busy season.

Anything you want to talk about on the upcoming calendar of events.

Okay, I'd like to just let everybody know that the weekend coming up is gonna start the Rhododendron Festival.

Um that's May the 9th through the 17th, and it's gonna start with the Coffee Tea and Sweet Treats Street Fair that'll be uptown on Main Street from 11 to 2 this Saturday.

So I'd like to see all of your shining faces there.

It would be great.

Um, there's lots of other events too.

Um there'll be a painting with Sarah at the Raleigh County um library.

There's a waterfall walk, there's a rhododendron walk.

Um we have these up here if you want one that talks about it.

Next weekend will be a car show.

And they'll also be if you look at Beckley.

But also there's going to be a photo contest.

And you can go to look up Beckley events on our Facebook page.

If you have pictures of rhododendrons, um put them on there and you might win, and then you'll be in the brochure next year.

Thank you.

Thank you, Tresh.

All right.

Next we'll move on to old business.

And the first item is uh consideration and approval of distribution of the opioid funds.

At this point, I'll turn it over to Mr.

Gerald for more information on that.

First, this has been a long process, but first I want to thank the council for their time and effort and coordinating with myself and their concerns after reading the grant applications.

Of course, when you are dealing with this type of funding and the opportunity to make changes within our city with these funds, there is much thought and reasoning that goes into such decisions, so I must apologize for the delay in the defer disbursement.

Hopefully, with the experience myself and staff and learn from this year.

Uh one experience any future disbursements of council can be expedited.

On April or May 2025, myself and permission of counsel established a three-member advisory panel to assist with the disbursement of opium settlement funds.

I would like to take a moment to recognize and sit a little sincerely thank Kelly Alkins.

If you want to stand up, Kelly, thank you.

You don't need to stand up then.

Executive director of Raleigh County United for prevention and Jay Phillips, executive director of seedsower.

Their commitment, diligence, and patience in working with me and city staff throughout this process has been a valuable.

They devoted significant time to carefully reviewing applications and developing thoughtful recommendations, which are included in your materials for consideration.

As I shared at the outset of this process, I did not have prior experience relating to opioid use.

However, through reviewing grant applications, submissions, and reading over and over, I have gained a much deeper understanding.

I'll turn it back over to you, Mayor.

And again, I'd like to thank the committee too as well.

I know it's a lot of hard work and a lot of applications to go through.

A lot of time I'm sure you all spent, and I'd like to thank Mr.

Gerald for spending the time to do it.

I know it's been a lot longer, and probably some people wish we would have gave out the money sooner, but I think everybody did their due diligence.

And so I will just read through the summary real quick.

First is a Southern West Virginia Fellowship home, and the amount recommended was $2,500.

Just for kids, the recommended amount was $50,000.

Heart of God Ministeries.

Recommended amount was $23,000.

West Virginia Tech, the recommended amount was $50,000.

Beckley Artistic Endeavors and West Virginia Collective is recommended $15,000.

YMCA of Southern West Virginia, 42,000.

Salvation Army 50,000.

I have a motion to approve the consideration and approval of distribution of opium funds as presented.

Mayor, what do what if we have specific questions about each one?

You got to get it on the floor first.

That's we moved and see.

Oh, we can't do it by light on line item.

What you can first be on the floor.

I'll make a motion.

May have a second.

Second.

Okay.

Who would like to start?

Cody, you want to jump again, go right ahead.

Uh yeah, I just would like to.

I mean, if it's possible, I'll like to go line by lawn because I have some questions about these after uh reviewing their applications and then also you know what what the committee recommended, maybe get their uh idea of you know why they came to this amount on certain organizations and then some organizations maybe not receiving at all.

Um I just have a few questions to them.

So you want to just go line by line?

We can do I would like to if everybody else done to do that.

So first one is the Southern West Virginia Fellowship home.

Does anyone have any questions or comments about that one?

All right, next up is uh one personal to meet just for kids.

Anyone have any questions about that?

Uh the next one is Heart of God Ministries.

The next one uh for 50,000 was West Virginia Tech.

Yeah, I had a couple concerns about that one myself.

Um, the request was like for what they're what they're needing for this project, which is a startup program, which I'm kind of got the concerns about because we had put in the applications that any 501c would have to be in establishment in good standing for two years.

So therefore, I I don't personally know how we could uh support startup programs when we're not supporting startup 501c.

So that was a little bit of a concern for me.

When we specifically said that it's not we want something that can already be in the that's been proven and done for two years.

That's my one concern, and then also if you know council is wanting to do this, um, you know, they requested 544,000 dollars more than what was approved.

So I would hate to just give $50,000 to a startup program when they still have to raise five almost $550,000 more dollars to get this program underway.

So, you know, if council decides that we want to do it, maybe put the on there that we'll give you $50,000, but you need to raise some other the other money before is kind of my suggestion on the how does anybody else feel about that?

I have a comment, Mayor.

Sure.

Um I think that we need to look at already programs that are already boots on the ground implemented, already already established.

Um I think that's wide open to develop a comprehensive workforce development initiative.

I appreciate that, but yes, for for it to be 594,000 and we would give them 50, but it's not even created yet.

I would like to see us fund places that already are doing the work.

It's already they're helping people in recovery.

And they do have on their core strategies.

I understand recovery, and maybe the committee can address that.

Well, that's what I was gonna ask if if one of you all would like to discuss why you recommended that amount.

Uh you did see if you don't mind.

Jay, I hate to ask you.

Yeah.

Could we just use the given mic?

In case y'all want to answer questions later on.

So for for WV Tech specifically.

I'm sorry.

Sherry?

Can't hear it.

Who's on amplified?

Can you hear me?

Closer.

How about there you go?

Closer.

Yep.

There it is.

There we go.

So for WV Tech specifically, it was we understand the guidelines they want to start, don't want to start new programs.

This one gets into kind of a gray area of what what's defined as a new program because I think they're trying to establish a minor.

We had taken it as kind of a given that they would secure other funding to kind of shore that up.

But again, this is just our recommendation.

It's you know however the council wishes to proceed, we'd we can see it both ways.

Sure.

That was just my main concern, just because I feel like you know, we've knocked other people out for saying they need to be established, but this is considered.

I mean, I think in there they say it's a startup program.

Well, I think there were two guidelines.

There was one that uh an entity had to be in existence for a specific specified amount of time, and then the other guideline was to not launch any new initiatives.

Um where this would be a minor within an existing school that kind of fell into a gray area.

So we left it up to council to make the decision.

Understood.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jay.

Like we come on it.

I mean, Sam to me we if we do this, it's gonna be a double standard, because I'm quite sure some of the people out there that we took and did away with because they wasn't established.

And then we're going to let this happen.

I don't think it's the right thing to do.

Anyone else council have any points on this?

No.

So I would uh I would uh for just those reasonings.

I would like to make a motion that we remove them from this list.

Can we get a second?

Second.

All right, we'll take a vote.

So all those in favor of removing West Virginia Tech say aye.

Anyone opposed, say nay?

Okay.

So we'll change that one.

So now West Virginia Tech would they would not get that.

Uh we'll move on to the next one, which is um the Beckley Artistic Endeavors, West Virginia Collective for 15,000.

Anybody have an issue with that or question?

All right, very good.

How about the YMCF Southern West Virginia?

I would have liked to have seen a more um detailed list of exactly what we know that they do great work at the YMCA, but continued development of essential programs.

I think that's really very vague.

I I agree with you 100%.

I I thought the same thing.

I I want something that that council can look once they get once these organizations get the money.

We want to be able to check this six months later and see specifically what that money went for, and did the city get their bank for the bug.

They have to come back to us.

They have to report.

It's a year, correct?

Six months or a year.

Yeah, they have to so we'll see what they spend it on.

Right, but like like she said, that's a pretty vague, and I'd like to see more.

I'm just like you, a hundred percent.

I'd like to see more detail from the YMCA.

What programs they would go to and how they would go use that money.

Can you answer that, Kelly?

Sure.

So they outlined in their grant application to do they're doing their swimming lessons, and then they're continue.

Oh, you can't hear my big mouth.

And then to continue development of their the programs, like they have the flag football that they just started, so the development of that and their soccer programs.

So it's just to continue to increase bringing more uh kids into involvement there.

So let me offer it out a different discount rate.

If this money doesn't get approved to the YMC, will they cancel those programs?

I guess that's what I'm getting at.

How do you know what it's going to go to exactly?

How do you track it six months from now, eight months from now?

Some of it was in their initial questions.

I think when we find when we see during the reporting the number uh that were impacted.

Um that's that's where we'll notice the increase uh of the of those numbers.

I would hope.

So they provided us numbers in that grant application of what they hope to serve.

Yeah, and swim lessons in previous years had was like 1200 kids.

That was is a pretty substantial amount of kids that they were serving.

That was in the initial grant application that we were given.

Correct.

Correct.

Yes.

And I do remember swimming.

I mean, that's been a while since we received those applications, but I do remember, and I can say from my own viewpoint as a teacher who used to walk kids to the Y for swimming lessons.

Some of the kids that we served there would have not been able to do that had it not been for money from the very good.

Hopefully it's like lowers uh entry fees or whatever you want to call it.

Hopefully it gives them like you know, kids that couldn't afford it, that and then maybe hoping Linton seasons because kids are staying more involved.

That's okay.

So that's the that that's the purpose is for them to be able to have those free.

And then they get the kids will have those skills to be able to go to like Lake Stevens and to other places and be able to use it.

So it's like a trickle down.

Thank you, Kiddle.

I have a question may or so.

How did they explain about how this will uh be beneficial for treatment and recovery?

So it's a skill building, it's so prevention efforts.

It's so there's seven strategies when it comes to prevention.

One of them is skill building.

And so swim lessons and um sports, you learn discipline, you learn work ethic, you learn all kinds of things.

So those are skills that are uh part of a prevention pillar.

Also, I've just I mean I'm all about getting the kids activities, sports to do something.

The more they're doing a sports activity, the less chance they're gonna be in trouble.

I mean, or on their home on their phones or on video games or whatever, you know.

They're so they provided some data with their application, correct?

And as I understand council was provided with follow up the update.

We weren't privy to that on this, so that that's that clears that up.

Thank you, Sherry.

Anyone else have any?

Okay, so with that we'll move on to the next one.

Um active Southern West Virginia.

Nothing there.

Salvation Army.

All right, very good.

The summit collective.

All right, next is the Beckley Art Group.

37,500.

Uh what about I think you skipped the storehouse.

I just have some questions of maybe why they didn't they didn't receive uh any funding.

Uh, because I I've asked a few different people about that organization, and I can't get any really like true answers about it.

So I was just wanted to know what maybe the committee's seen about that.

Our original reasoning on this one with this would fall into the realm of a brand new program.

Uh the storehouse is an existing organization.

What they were trying to develop is a workforce development program, I believe, with BPM group.

Okay.

Uh and it may be a great idea, but what we thought this fell into.

We thought this fell into the the realm of uh a new program.

Okay.

Thank you.

That's that's all I wanted to know.

I just wanted to know uh what what your all's thoughts were on that.

Thank you.

Anybody else have any questions about that one?

I'm good with that.

Okay.

Uh to clarify that means that one will not be included right yeah correct uh next is resurrection recovery center by redemption services that was saying recommended zero anybody have any questions or comments about that?

Yeah I just would also like to know maybe the committee's thoughts on that one.

Which one?

Uh the resurrection recovery center by redemption services.

How long has that been in existence?

Somebody met three years.

So we had we had the same recommendation for us for storehouse.

So they would they they recemption exists but the program they're trying to develop doesn't exist within that organization.

And then um similar to your concerns with uh tech they originally asked for almost a million dollars and then to reduce that to 5000 that's a lot there's a lot to impact there.

Gotcha same thing with WW Tech it's not developed yet.

All right lastly is workforce development yeah the workforce from what I remember in that one that that's considered like it's kind of in that gray area tech it's an established program but it's also a new uh program correct am I correct on that and the workforce it's a new curriculum but they have the actual workforce development within like it's a program they do they're just gonna do it a different way.

Okay.

It's a new program it's a new program so this is an existing youth workforce development program within region one that Ross uh incorporates they're just adding curriculum to what's already in existence.

Okay.

Oh just so adding a new curriculum say again you said they're just adding a new curriculum if my memory serves correctly I haven't looked at these applications in a bit but yes it's a new curriculum to an existing program.

Yeah that but it's for youth correct yes like a youth curriculum yes and where will that be where would that be given the prevention is it going to be in the school system?

So uh Ross typically deals with um at-risk youth and troubled youth and people within the school system and those aging out of the school system so I think it runs the whole gamut.

I I can't speak as to whether this is something that is exclusively put into schools or out of schools because it's I just don't remember um but I could connect you with them.

Do social workers connect the people with them I'm that I that's what I'm not understanding how they how the client gets to where they're going to have the so Ross operates within the Region 1 Workforce development board and has been for a long time.

They I don't remember exactly how many kids they serve but it's it's quite a few in in several counties.

And again I don't remember exactly how they're connected to the kids but it's they've been in existence for a long time.

That just seems like a great area to match I'd have to pull the application to remember it's been a minute.

There have been similar programs before I know that um later high school youth students um used to clean up parks and things like that.

I don't know if that's still a similar program but I do remember that there were programs like that for youth during the summers.

And if we're giving 5000 but they initially asked for 6000 it are we just funding something that's not going to be useful so I'm trying to so there are a lot of organizations that are trying to shore up a lot of funding reductions across the board from federal money that's being reduced you may have remembered a few months ago where a lot of grants were pulled and then they were reawarded again and uh particularly in the workforce space funding is getting reduced and so they're they're really just reaching out and I think one of the things the council can consider the next time we're gonna to to fund this funding is is to put a cap on it so that they could more clearly define the parameters within the funding limits that they're given because there weren't initial any funding limits placed on this application process so people are going to shoot for the moon.

So I think that's one way that to to clarify that next time if there's a funding cap people will be able to clearly define what they're gonna do within that money.

Anyone else have any questions?

I I I take it their their mentoring program for the youth is pretty similar to what they do for the young adults that they help like locate jobs and because I've actually seen that in place skill building and yeah and and I you know I've never seen it like as far as the youth go but for the adults um I I was familiar with a business it wasn't mine but it's what I was familiar with.

I I'm guessing is it the close to the same thing for the youth?

I mean, other than they're not being a good idea.

Skill building and and learning how your career skills, some employment is involved, and you know, summer internships and things like that, but I really don't want to speak too much.

I don't remember enough to to speak expertly on it.

Did they say where they would get other funding?

They were gonna be $550,000 short of what they really wanted to get.

Did they answer that?

Not that I remember.

Uh but it also wasn't a question that was asked.

Yeah, yeah, because there was no cap on what they could request.

So they were just hoping, you know, you know, if they told us they were getting funding from somewhere else then if you all are having a short maybe.

Anybody else have any questions?

If if we say yes say no to one skill building, you have to say no to another skill building.

I mean, that's you said it was going to be a skill building program.

Am I correct?

Or that it would just add another curriculum that they otherwise wouldn't have.

I I guess I see where Frank's at.

You know, how do you know?

Yeah.

Well, we I think we did not West Virginia Tech because it was kind of because it's no program.

It was one of them over here, it was skilled building that we turned down.

But there was discussion about the why, but that wasn't new thing.

No, we asked questions about it.

Right, they were already doing this.

All right.

Anybody skilled building was she was when she was talking about the YMCA, but we we approved that one.

Okay.

I just think anything that encourages participation in the workforce we need to consider we have a really low rate of participation.

So if this can encourage someone to have work skills, let's go.

Getting the youth into work in general.

I'm good with and okay.

We said all time how our kids, Kelly Geno and I've talked about this.

Man, there's so many kids that need mentored that uh they're right.

I mean, if this helps out gets them ready to go get jobs or want or get interested in the higher education or whatever, it's all good.

Anybody else have any questions?

I just want to say I really appreciate y'all three for doing this.

Y'all took a lot of time and effort and thank you, committed.

And then and then coming today and answer our questions.

I really appreciate it.

Because you know, we haven't got to sit down and talk about it with you all.

So I really appreciate y'all's time and effort for this.

Anyone else have anything?

Oh, yes, let me say this.

You know, doing a sober program when I got up when I was growing up, you know, they did have those subject programs, and I'm all for that, so don't give me wrong.

So don't think that I'm not for the future because to you it was our future.

In any kind of way we can help them, we need to help them.

But I just want to make sure I get some clarity that we weren't saying yes to one and no to the other one.

That's all.

You're right.

Okay.

Anybody else?

All right, very well.

That was that was good.

All those in favor of approval, the recommendations.

May I ask you a question?

Just make one more comment.

Um of course I won't speak for the Kellys.

Um, but uh would be happy to involve in the planning process next go around.

Uh I think we could answer a lot of these questions on the front end a lot more clearly.

Let me ask you this.

Will you also help like who who tracks like where this money goes and how it was spent?

And then we get you do.

Not me.

Congratulations.

No, he goes, You can point me.

So uh, we should go point it.

Mr.

Jim.

Yeah, Mr.

House of the City.

But we can come back at you if it's all right.

With that, um I'll just ask for all those in favor of approval of the committee's recommendation say aye.

If there's anyone opposed, say nay.

Very good.

Thank you, council.

Thank you, committee.

Thank you all for being here.

Uh next up is new business approval.

Can I make a statement here?

I want to thank everybody again.

Uh I would suggest that uh at the next council meeting to have the checks printed and invite these organizations here so we can put it present them with the checks if that's okay with you all.

I like that.

I can see she got smiled by volume.

They're glowing.

Yeah.

Evan, can we make one of those really big checks and then you can have a photo off with Captain Liz?

And for my friends out there, please don't text me and tell me I need to work on my face while I sit up here.

Whatever I think.

All right, I'm gonna move on to new business.

Approval of bid agreement with Motorola Solutions to purchase five handheld radios for the Beckley Fire Department and amount of $38,265 and 80 cents from West Virginia state contract.

I'll turn it over to Mr.

Gerald.

Uh that's that's the uh state contract for uh motor roller radios for the fire department.

Those are in the capital improvements uh budget.

So uh I'm recommending you accept the bid.

Okay.

With that, may I have a motion to approve the purchase of five handheld held radios for the Beckley Fire Department, amount of $38,265 and eighty cents.

May I have a second?

Second.

Anyone from council have any questions or comments about this?

Very well.

All those in favor of approval say aye.

Aye.

There's anyone opposed, say nay.

You got aye.

Thank you, council.

All right.

Next up is a reappointment of Dr.

Chrissy Dumas to the Beckley Human Rights Commission.

May I have a motion to reappoint Dr.

Dumas to the Beckley Human Rights Commission?

So thank you.

Any questions or comments?

I'll guess Christie's here.

No.

All those in favor of approval say aye.

Aye.

If there's anyone opposed, say nay.

Okay.

So move, carry it.

Thank you, Council.

Uh reappointment of Tina Pennell to the Beckley Human Rights Commission.

Uh may I have a motion to appoint Tina Pennell to the same position, Human Rights Commission?

So moved.

May have a second.

Second.

Any questions?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

There's anyone opposed, say nay.

Thank you, Council.

Next up is reappointment of Kevin Price to the emergency operating center board.

May I have a motion to reappoint Kevin Price?

So moved.

Second.

Thank you.

Any questions about this or comments?

All those in favor of approval say aye.

Aye.

There's anyone opposed, say nay.

Thank you, Council.

Next is the reappointment of Troy Miller to the planning commission.

May I have a motion to reappoint Troy Miller to the planning commission?

So moved.

Second.

Second.

Any questions about this one?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

If anyone's opposed, say nay.

So moved.

Thank you, Council.

And last is the appointment of James Sears to the Beckley Housing Authority.

May I have a motion to appoint James Sears to the Beckley Housing Authority?

So move.

Second.

Any questions?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

There's anyone opposed, say nay.

Thank you, Council.

No executive session.

Ha ha.

Awesome.

May I have a motion to adjourn?

Oh, before I forget though, make sure you vote next Tuesday, election day.

Thank you, Susan.

Putting that on there.

Second.

It barely got in there.

I think I'll be able to do that.