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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

St. Albans City Council Meeting – November 18, 2025: Ward One Vacancy Filled, McKinley Lease Postponed

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, November 18, 2025

BodySt Albans, West Virginia

SessionCity Council Meetings

DateTuesday, November 18, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 43:43

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:01

Would you like to give the indication on the pleasure?

0:05

How many followers that we're able to gather here, Lord?

0:09

Lord, you know what is going on tonight, Lord, and I pray that you bless both gentlemen that are running for uh seat one board.

0:18

Uh Lord, that they're both qualified, and I pray that you uh lead us to uh to pick the right person for protect our children on board and board the way that is going on right now or pray you protect the fire, but in your name we pray.

0:33

Amen.

0:35

All right, uh Kevin, lead us in the pledge, please.

0:39

I'll plug the police of America and do the republic for which it stands one nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:54

All right, we'll call this meeting to order of St.

0:57

Albans City Council for Monday November November 17th.

1:02

I want to let everybody know that Councilman Roe is on the phone.

1:06

All right.

1:07

And Councilman Catlin as well.

1:10

And Councilman Catlett's on the phone.

1:12

All right.

1:20

You're not gonna have to vote.

1:22

I'm not gonna have to vote anyway.

1:26

All right.

1:28

Um praise and recognition.

1:32

Yes, sir.

1:33

Uh Jerry Molaghan for the VFW put on the Veterans Day Parade this this weekend.

1:40

Um he was last minute put together, but you know, to he picked it up and went with it.

1:45

So give a shout out to him for doing a good job and representing troops.

1:50

That's best as he knew how that's what chewing.

1:52

Yep, June.

1:55

He did a good job at it for just stepping in two weeks, three weeks, very short notice.

2:00

Yeah, yeah.

2:02

Sorry, I got one there.

2:03

Yes, sir.

2:03

Uh I went to Alban Elementary along with several other veterans, and they put on uh quite a nice uh appreciation for the veterans there.

2:11

Very good.

2:12

Very happy way to go, Alban.

2:14

I'll do a short one.

2:15

I was my understanding uh St.

2:18

Albans High School finished the I don't know what the new standardized test is, uh, but what used to be the West has back in the day, believe that St.

2:26

Albans High School finished second in the state uh this year, sir or last year going into this year, so give the shout out to all the teachers and administrators at St.

2:37

Alban's High School.

2:37

Well, it was taken last year.

2:39

Correct, it was taken last year.

2:40

Yeah, yeah.

2:41

All right, very good.

2:42

That's excellent.

2:44

Well you need, but you know, yes, sir.

2:48

I just want to praise and recognize my guys.

2:50

Festival Lights is coming up, 37th year, and guys, I'm gonna tell you what it's fantastic up there.

2:56

You guys are gonna be super proud of what these guys did for you guys, and uh make sure you stop by still inside that, sir.

3:06

Anybody else?

3:10

All right.

3:11

Um approval minutes from City Council November 3rd, 2025.

3:16

So discussion or changes?

3:23

All in favor say aye.

3:25

Opposed, nay.

3:26

Motion carries.

3:28

Oh midness.

3:30

City council to hear from the nominees to vote to feel vegancy in ward one.

3:36

Um first.

3:48

No, you're you're I don't know first clock on you.

3:51

That's that's public four.

3:53

Okay, I need to talk about five minutes.

3:54

But anyway, my name's Earl Whittington.

3:57

Um I come to you today to uh ask to be appointed as uh council member here.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Personnel Matters████████████████████████████████32%

Procedural████████████████████20%

Youth Programs████████████████████20%

Pending Litigation█████████████13%

Economic Development███████7%

Public Engagement███3%

Parks and Recreation███3%

Community Engagement██2%

Summary of Proceedings

St. Albans City Council Meeting – November 18, 2025

The St. Albans City Council met on Monday, November 17, 2025 (with the meeting continuing past midnight, recorded as November 18, 2025) to fill a vacancy in Ward One, consider a lease agreement for the former McKinley Middle School property, and conduct routine business. The meeting opened with a prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and praise for local veterans and students.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes – The minutes from the November 3, 2025 City Council meeting were approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

Praise and Recognition – Council members recognized Jerry Molaghan for organizing the Veterans Day Parade on short notice, St. Albans Elementary School for a veteran appreciation event, and St. Albans High School for finishing second in the state on standardized testing.
Ward One Vacancy Appointment – Two candidates, Earl Whittington and Rob Keeper, presented their qualifications. Whittington, a retired police chief and former magistrate, emphasized problem-solving and law enforcement experience. Keeper, a real estate broker and former 24-year councilman, highlighted his history of bringing businesses to St. Albans. After a roll-call vote, Earl Whittington was appointed by a 6-5 margin. He was immediately sworn in.
Lease Agreement – McKinley Middle School Property – The council discussed a proposed lease with the Kanawha County Board of Education for the former McKinley Middle School gym, bathrooms, and locker rooms at $1 per year. The city would maintain the grass while the county covers utilities. Concerns were raised about insurance, indemnification, and subleasing for events. City Attorney Mike Del Jude recommended postponing to allow due diligence on insurance coverage. The council voted unanimously to table the item to the December 1, 2025 meeting.
Finance Committee Report – Approval of a financial report totaling $35,257. The motion carried without opposition.
Letters and Reports – Councilman Knight requested council members attend the Festival of Lights opening night and volunteer. The Community and Business Development (CBD) Committee reported it is reactivating its efforts, funded by Airbnb revenues.

Key Outcomes

Earl Whittington appointed as Ward One Councilman and sworn in.
Lease Agreement with Kanawha County Board of Education postponed to December 1, 2025, pending insurance review.
Minutes from November 3, 2025 approved.
Finance Report of $35,257 approved.
Announcements – Upcoming meetings: MS4/MUC Board November 18; Finance Committee November 24; City Council December 1; Thanksgiving closures November 27-28; Alumni basketball games November 21; Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours December 9.

Meeting Transcript

Would you like to give the indication on the pleasure? How many followers that we're able to gather here, Lord? Lord, you know what is going on tonight, Lord, and I pray that you bless both gentlemen that are running for uh seat one board. Uh Lord, that they're both qualified, and I pray that you uh lead us to uh to pick the right person for protect our children on board and board the way that is going on right now or pray you protect the fire, but in your name we pray. Amen. All right, uh Kevin, lead us in the pledge, please. I'll plug the police of America and do the republic for which it stands one nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right, we'll call this meeting to order of St. Albans City Council for Monday November November 17th. I want to let everybody know that Councilman Roe is on the phone. All right. And Councilman Catlin as well. And Councilman Catlett's on the phone. All right. You're not gonna have to vote. I'm not gonna have to vote anyway. All right. Um praise and recognition. Yes, sir. Uh Jerry Molaghan for the VFW put on the Veterans Day Parade this this weekend. Um he was last minute put together, but you know, to he picked it up and went with it. So give a shout out to him for doing a good job and representing troops. That's best as he knew how that's what chewing. Yep, June. He did a good job at it for just stepping in two weeks, three weeks, very short notice. Yeah, yeah. Sorry, I got one there. Yes, sir. Uh I went to Alban Elementary along with several other veterans, and they put on uh quite a nice uh appreciation for the veterans there. Very good. Very happy way to go, Alban. I'll do a short one. I was my understanding uh St. Albans High School finished the I don't know what the new standardized test is, uh, but what used to be the West has back in the day, believe that St. Albans High School finished second in the state uh this year, sir or last year going into this year, so give the shout out to all the teachers and administrators at St. Alban's High School. Well, it was taken last year. Correct, it was taken last year. Yeah, yeah. All right, very good. That's excellent. Well you need, but you know, yes, sir. I just want to praise and recognize my guys. Festival Lights is coming up, 37th year, and guys, I'm gonna tell you what it's fantastic up there. You guys are gonna be super proud of what these guys did for you guys, and uh make sure you stop by still inside that, sir. Anybody else? All right. Um approval minutes from City Council November 3rd, 2025. So discussion or changes? All in favor say aye.

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