Charleston City Council Meeting - July 6, 2026: Sewer Bonds & Cement Contract
Charleston City Council Regular Meeting - July 6, 2026
The Charleston City Council met on July 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting, presided over by Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin, included unanimous approval of a cement supply contract, a new $18.4 million sewer bond issuance, and restructuring of six existing sanitary board bonds to free up approximately $6.7 million for the Magazine Branch sewer project. Two new legislative items were introduced and referred to committees. Council members also delivered remarks on recent community events and initiatives.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Paul Monroe spoke about the Kanawha County Commission.
- Andy Richardson and Emma Carpenter spoke about a children's book.
- Three vehicle damage claims (Joseph Ray Burford, Jessica Robinson, Willie Kyle Stollings) were presented but no action noted.
Discussion Items
- Resolution No. 26-076 – Authorized a one-year open-ended contract with Smith Concrete for cement at rates ranging from $189.90 to $204.90 per ton (Class A, B, C, D, Flowable Fill). Councilmember Jenkins moved approval; Councilmember Ceperley seconded.
- Resolution No. 26-077 – Approved a second supplemental resolution for the Charleston Sanitary Board (Series 2026 A) to issue up to $18,425,960 in Sewerage System Revenue Bonds for the Magazine Branch Sewer Improvement Project. Interest rate: 2.75%, final maturity June 1, 2046. Jenkins noted the delay in bids necessitated the redesignation.
- Resolutions No. 26-078 through 26-082 – Approved second supplemental resolutions to restructure existing Sanitary Board bonds (Series 2020 A, 2013 A, 2011 A, 2005 A, 2008 A). Jenkins explained these replace cash reserve accounts with insurance policies from Build America Mutual, freeing about $6.7 million for the Magazine Branch project. No sewer rate increases or City funds will be used. Jenkins moved approval; Ceperley seconded. Councilmember Snodgrass requested electronic voting for improved record-keeping; the request was honored for resolutions 26-081 and 26-082.
- New Bill: Resolution No. 26-083 – Introduced by Councilmembers Solomon, Kerns, Snodgrass, and Burka to enact Rule 26 of the Rules of Council, establishing calendar-year council sessions and limiting carryover of legislation. Referred to Ordinance and Rules Committee.
- New Bill: Bill No. 8084 – Introduced by Councilmember Burton to establish a Restricted Use Area on the West Side prohibiting groundwater extraction except for monitoring/remediation. Referred to Environment and Recycling Committee.
Key Outcomes
- All seven resolutions (26-076 through 26-082) were adopted unanimously (25-0).
- Two new legislative items (Resolution 26-083 and Bill 8084) were introduced and referred to the respective committees.
- Councilmember Ceperley moved to adjourn; meeting ended at 7:40 PM. The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 7:00 PM.
Remarks by Members
- Mayor Goodwin provided updates on the Public Safety building demolition and thanked staff for the successful Regatta event.
- Councilmember Pharr acknowledged Jessica Martin for her live-streaming efforts that generated millions of views for city events.
- Councilmember Taylor noted his children returned from Arlington, VA and NYC to celebrate the Regatta in Charleston.
- Councilmember Faegre thanked all involved in the Regatta.
- Councilmember Pepper highlighted the Appalachian Spring Project and encouraged tree planting on public grounds.
- Councilmember Steelhammer introduced her 16-day-old daughter Jaya.
- Councilmember Jones thanked the City for the Regatta and complimented the Sanitary Board's sewer work in his ward.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you so much. Floor is open for discussion on this resolution. Of course, the question is the adoption. All in favor will vote aye. All opposed will vote nay. I declare resolution 26-077 adopted. The clerk will now please read the committee report and resolution 26-078. Resolution number 26-078 approving second supplemental resolution series 2020 A. Charleston Sanitary Board as it relates to bonding conditions and reports to council with recommendation. There's five of them here, 78 through 82. What this is doing is that there's various older bonds that the Charleston Sanitary Report has from prior projects and different things. Up approximately $6.7 million in cash to be used as part of the magazine branch sewer project, which in total is approximately $26.00. So the next few resolutions are the restructuring of these bonds to remove that cash collateral to be used for the magazine project while instead putting in collateral of an insurance policies. Please note that no there are no rate heights as part of these bonds, including the new bonds as well as the restructuring of these old bonds, and there's no city uh funds going to pay for these bonds. They are all paid through the customers of the Charleston Sarante Board through their normal fees and and things of the like. Second. Thank you so much. Floor is open for discussion on this resolution. Yes. Uh Councilwoman Snargrass. Um, yes, I would like um I I thought one of the reasons that we got our new voting um electronic system. I would really like for most of these votes to be done electronically instead of just a voice vote. It's a great way to tabulate our vote record. Um, and really it takes just as much time to do that as to a voice vote. So I I thought that was the purpose of getting these instead of an attendance record. So um I would like obviously I want to voice, I mean, um a vote, but I think especially when we're spending money on certain things, not necessarily this, but I just think that we should do that for a better um record keeping, and it's just a tap of a finger. I mean, I thought that's why we spent the money to do that. So thank you. Thank you so much. Floor is still open for discussion on this resolution. Of course, the question is the adoption. The clerk will please prepare the machine. Has every member voted? Has every member voted? The clerk will please count the votes and note there are 25 yes. I declare resolution 26-078 adopted. The clerk will now please read the committee report and resolution 26-079. Resolution number 26-079 approving second supplemental resolution series 2017 A. Charleston Sanitary Board as it relates to bonding conditions and reports the same to council with recommendations. The committee report be adopted. Councilmember Jenkins. Uh Madam Mayor, as I explained before, this is the restructuring of the particular series of bonds. Second, thank you so much. Floor is open for discussion on this resolution. Floor is open for discussion on this resolution. Of course, the question is the adoption. All in favor, vote aye. All opposed, nay. I declare resolution 26-079 adopted. The clerk will please read the committee report and resolution 26-080.
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