OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

St. Albans City Council Meeting and Public Hearing - April 21, 2026

City Council Meetings — Tuesday, April 21, 2026
BodySt Albans, West Virginia
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateTuesday, April 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 30:45

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Public hearing to order ordinance regarding St.

0:04

Alban Fire Department deferred retirement option plan the drop program.

0:10

Do we have anyone here to speak for or against well with no public here to speak for or against?

0:29

I will entertain the motion for adjourned.

0:33

Second.

0:33

All in favor say aye.

0:35

Aye.

0:36

Opposed nay.

0:37

Motion carries.

0:39

Meeting adjourned.

0:42

15 minutes and we'll start counsel.

0:45

Stand please.

0:47

We'll have Councilman Close from the leaders in the invocation, please.

0:58

Lord helped us to make wise decisions, Lord, and help us financially work or protect our first responders, Lord, and protect our children for it.

1:08

Thank you and everything you do.

1:11

Amen.

1:12

Amen.

1:13

All right, uh Rex, lead us in the place, please.

1:26

Under God.

1:31

I called me to order.

1:37

Praise in recognition.

1:40

Michael Jerouge, who's running for State Senate, cannot make it tonight.

1:46

But Delbert Rousse, who is a present uh magistrate that's running for re-election, uh, is here to say a few words.

1:56

So now you stick step up to the podium and say what you need to say, and you know, Senate Council members, uh it's a pleasure to be here.

2:08

Um really appreciate the fact that you know you're giving me the time to speak.

2:13

Um I move politics, so it's it's kind of weird.

2:19

I'll give you background on the briefly.

2:22

Uh come from a long line of uh law enforcement and firefighters.

2:28

Going back to my grandfather, my grandfather was Charleston officer, shot and killed in 1981 in Charleston.

2:34

My dad was on a police department for a while, and uh got smart and went to the rest of the fire department.

2:42

So as a young man, I always wanted to either be a firefighter or law enforcement.

2:47

Firefighters always get to sleep at night while we drive around and just kind of look.

2:52

Councilman Hoodington knows that too.

2:55

Um so I was uh an old county deputy for about 26 years.

3:00

Did he say we have to sleep at night?

3:04

I was gonna carry deputy for about 26 years, and uh I started before we did any rotations, I spent my first seven years on night ship.

3:14

And uh I worked every area in the county.

3:16

I first started in Quincy, went to Sissamille slash elk, we did SILF back then, there was only five deputies per area.

3:24

And uh that was always interesting.

3:27

Then I came to Royal Slangs and finally at St.

3:30

Albans and Mike or Johnny, I can't remember what should the time uh called me and they said, hey, we uh got a position in judicial.

3:40

I'm like, what do you do?

3:41

And they said you work Monday through Friday for and bring prisoners in and out of the courtroom.

3:46

You got well experience.

3:48

I was like, okay, that sounds good after seven years on the night shift.

3:52

That was that was a treat.

3:54

So while I was in there I learned a lot about how the legal system I got.

3:57

Uh watching attorney was like this goes up here and uh prosecutors and ask them like it became really interesting.

4:05

So I uh I thought man, that'd be neat, but you know, who's got time to go to law school?

4:13

So I spent a few years with Judge Duke, learned a lot from the man, and it's amazing how much you can learn just by listening.

4:22

And I learned that you can be just fair and preside over people and give them the punishments that they need.

4:31

Uh with that being said, years rolled by and I uh came up through the ranks and I was getting ready to be promoted to lieutenant, and I was offered to come out of the building and take over a ship.

4:44

And I spent almost the last five years of my career as a shipman.

4:50

Um chief and I worked together.

4:54

Uh you probably didn't see me much.

4:56

I was usually just blowing through the city in a in a black tahoe trying to get somewhere from one end of the county to the next.

5:03

So afterwards, uh you know, as you get older, things get tough.

5:08

Well, I'm gonna retire.

5:11

So I was retired for all about three months, and I got it all asking if I like to be new magistrate.

5:19

And I accepted that position.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Public Safety████████████████████████24%
Parks and Recreation█████████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████10%
Technology and Innovation██████6%
Community Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

St. Albans City Council Meeting and Public Hearing - April 21, 2026

The meeting opened with a public hearing on the St. Albans Fire Department Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) ordinance, which no public spoke on. The regular council session followed, including praise for a magistrate candidate, approval of minutes, a broadband project change order, adoption of a safety levy resolution and mutual aid agreement, multiple ordinance readings and adoptions, finance committee payments, and announcements about upcoming city events.

Public Hearing

  • A public hearing was held for the ordinance regarding the St. Albans Fire Department Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). No members of the public spoke for or against, and the hearing was closed.

Praise and Recognition

  • Councilmember recognized Hayes Middle School students for organizing a community cleanup on April 22, 2026. A total of 171 students volunteered to clean up at City Park, Billy Dunn, Kirkfield, Roadside Park, and other locations. Donations were provided by Walt Hall (litter grabbers), 2517, St. Albans Parks and Rec (bags and gloves), Hudson's Pizza (discounted pizza), and St. Albans Fairs and Festivals (pizza purchase).
  • Delbert Rousse, a magistrate running for re-election, spoke about his background as a Kanawha County deputy sheriff and fire service family, his current role as magistrate, and his efforts to handle a backlog of 500 cases in three months and streamline court proceedings.

Consent Calendar

  • Motion to approve the minutes from the City Council meeting on April 6, 2026. Approved unanimously.

Old Business

  • Broadband Project Change Order No. 1: Roger Kennedy of Chapman Technical Group presented a change order that eliminates a two-mile section of the original alignment near Top Coal Mountain and ends at 817 (Putnam County line). This reduces the contract amount. Funds will be redirected to explore alternative routes, possibly into Lincoln County to pursue BEAD funding or crossing the Kanawha near the future Home Bridge replacement. The trunk line from Spring Hill to 817 is complete with punch list items. Motion to approve carried unanimously.

New Business

  • Resolution in Support of Kanawha County Safety Levy: Moved, seconded, and approved unanimously.
  • Resolution Adopting Mutual Aid Agreement with City of St. Albans Police Department and City of Nitro Police Department: Chief Bass present. Moved, seconded, and approved unanimously.

Ordinances – First Reading

  • Ordinance to add Article 1783 (Group Residential Homes): Requested by the fire marshal. Moved, seconded, and approved unanimously.

Ordinances – Second Reading

  • Ordinance amending Article 111.16 (Cost assessed for reproduction of records): Adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance amending Article 149.04 (City Parks and Recreation Superintendent, other personnel): Adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance amending Article 149.05 (Duties and powers of the City Parks and Recreation Superintendent): Adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance amending Article 149.07 (Budget and expenses): Adopted unanimously (procedural note: item was skipped but then approved).
  • Ordinance amending Article 149.06 (Construction and acquisition of recreational property): Adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance amending Article 149.09 (Created, members and compensation): Adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance regarding St. Albans Fire Department Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP): Adopted on second reading after the public hearing was held. Moved, seconded, and approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance amending Article 507.18 (Running at large, confinement, leash, impounding, defecation): Adopted unanimously.

Finance Committee Report

  • Councilman Roe presented the following payments, all approved unanimously:
    • Current invoices: $269,472.00
    • Payment to Worldwide Equipment for garbage truck repairs (line item 566-217): amount not specified.
    • Payment to MH Equipment Company: $713.91
    • Payment to All American Fire Equipment, Inc. for service on seven fire trucks (listed VINs): $11,165.23. Discussion included that the service includes full inspections and oil analysis; the department switched to synthetic oil to reduce changes to once a year.

Letters and Reports

  • Parks and Rec report: Still working.
  • Councilman Roe reminded that citywide cleanup starts next Monday (no hazardous materials or tires), and citywide yard sale is May 2, 2026.
  • Acknowledgment of donations from Greg Chandler ($2,000 worth of rock) and Sunbelt (free skid steer) for the Walk on the Wild Side trail.

Announcements

  • Lay of the Levy (levy board) meeting: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 5 p.m. in MUC conference room. Quorum needed.
  • MS4 (MUC) board meeting: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in MUC conference room.
  • Finance committee meeting: Monday, April 27, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. (location TBD due to voting machines).
  • Early voting for Kanawha County: April 29 through May 9, 2026, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at City Hall MUC conference room.
  • Next City Council meeting: Monday, May 4, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
  • Citywide yard sale: May 2, 2026.

Public Form

  • No residents addressed council.

Key Outcomes

  • All motions, resolutions, and ordinances were passed unanimously.
  • Broadband project change order approved; contract amount reduced; funds redirected to study alternative routes.
  • Mutual aid agreement with Nitro Police Department adopted.
  • Multiple ordinance amendments approved for parks and recreation personnel, duties, budget, and property; group residential homes; records fees; and the fire department DROP program.
  • Finance payments totaling at least $281,350.94 (sum of known amounts) approved including fire truck maintenance and garbage truck repairs.

Meeting Transcript

Public hearing to order ordinance regarding St. Alban Fire Department deferred retirement option plan the drop program. Do we have anyone here to speak for or against well with no public here to speak for or against? I will entertain the motion for adjourned. Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed nay. Motion carries. Meeting adjourned. 15 minutes and we'll start counsel. Stand please. We'll have Councilman Close from the leaders in the invocation, please. Lord helped us to make wise decisions, Lord, and help us financially work or protect our first responders, Lord, and protect our children for it. Thank you and everything you do. Amen. Amen. All right, uh Rex, lead us in the place, please. Under God. I called me to order. Praise in recognition. Michael Jerouge, who's running for State Senate, cannot make it tonight. But Delbert Rousse, who is a present uh magistrate that's running for re-election, uh, is here to say a few words. So now you stick step up to the podium and say what you need to say, and you know, Senate Council members, uh it's a pleasure to be here. Um really appreciate the fact that you know you're giving me the time to speak. Um I move politics, so it's it's kind of weird. I'll give you background on the briefly. Uh come from a long line of uh law enforcement and firefighters. Going back to my grandfather, my grandfather was Charleston officer, shot and killed in 1981 in Charleston. My dad was on a police department for a while, and uh got smart and went to the rest of the fire department. So as a young man, I always wanted to either be a firefighter or law enforcement. Firefighters always get to sleep at night while we drive around and just kind of look. Councilman Hoodington knows that too. Um so I was uh an old county deputy for about 26 years. Did he say we have to sleep at night? I was gonna carry deputy for about 26 years, and uh I started before we did any rotations, I spent my first seven years on night ship. And uh I worked every area in the county. I first started in Quincy, went to Sissamille slash elk, we did SILF back then, there was only five deputies per area. And uh that was always interesting. Then I came to Royal Slangs and finally at St. Albans and Mike or Johnny, I can't remember what should the time uh called me and they said, hey, we uh got a position in judicial. I'm like, what do you do? And they said you work Monday through Friday for and bring prisoners in and out of the courtroom. You got well experience. I was like, okay, that sounds good after seven years on the night shift. That was that was a treat. So while I was in there I learned a lot about how the legal system I got. Uh watching attorney was like this goes up here and uh prosecutors and ask them like it became really interesting. So I uh I thought man, that'd be neat, but you know, who's got time to go to law school? So I spent a few years with Judge Duke, learned a lot from the man, and it's amazing how much you can learn just by listening.

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