St. Albans City Council Meeting – May 5, 2026

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was called to order on Monday, May 4, 2026, while the provided timestamp is 2026-05-05 01:11:24+00:00. The date used in the title is per the instruction.

The meeting opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by several recognitions, proclamations, and reports. Council approved minutes, adopted two ordinances, approved routine payments and donations, discussed the future use of the former St. Albans Junior High School property, and heard a public comment from a departing police officer warning of a staffing crisis.

Praise & Recognition

• Mayor James recognized police Chief Philip Beck and the parks department employees who voluntarily helped shut down McCorkle Avenue during a chemical leak the prior week, emphasizing community teamwork.
• Monica Mason (Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority) thanked the council for adopting a resolution supporting the public safety levy and noted that a new ambulance station in St. Albans is expected to break ground in the coming months.
• Ann Sharnock (Senator, District 17) introduced herself as the appointed replacement for Senator Nelson and offered to assist the city at the state level.
• Michael Jerusch (candidate for Senate, District 17), owner of Olive Tree Cafe & Catering in South Charleston, expressed fondness for St. Albans and advocated for job creation and infrastructure improvements to retain young people in West Virginia.
• Andy Chamber (Delegate, District 59, running for re-election) spoke about his experience in local government and his philosophy that government closest to the people governs best.
• Mayor James read a proclamation declaring May 4, 2026, as Debbie Keener Day in St. Albans, honoring her decades of service to the parks department, including securing a $200,000 grant for the city park nature trail and organizing the Walk on the Wild Side event for 12 years. Council also recognized volunteer Billy for her contributions.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the public hearing (April 20, 2026), City Council meeting (April 20, 2026), and a special meeting regarding the levy (April 21, 2026) were approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Former SAJHS Property Usage Study – Mayor James reported that a grant-funded study concluded the highest and best use for the 42,053 sq. ft. property (zoned R-1 single-family residential) is development of five single-family lots. Councilman Page noted that a local developer is interested in building a physical therapy clinic, gym, and high-end luxury apartments, similar to a project in Winfield. Several council members expressed a preference for a revenue-generating use over a park, citing the city’s need for economic growth and the substantial storm drain infrastructure beneath the property, which would require relocation. Councilman Page offered to share the study with the developer to gauge interest. Discussion also touched on the need to form a Land Reuse Agency for future property dispositions; council encouraged broader outreach to find qualified members.
• Suggested Ordinance – Senior Fee Reduction – The council referred to the ordinance committee a request to amend Article 954.02 to increase the annual income limit for seniors (65+) seeking reduced city fees, matching the 2026 federal poverty guidelines ($15,960 for individuals, $21,640 for couples). The motion carried.
• Ordinance First & Second Reading – The council waived first reading and proceeded to second reading of an ordinance to add Article 1783 (Group Residential Homes), requested by Fowler Marshall. The ordinance was adopted unanimously.
• Finance Committee Report – Councilman Rose presented:
  • Approval of current invoices totaling $22,909.04 (motion carried).
  • A motion to hire a labor employment attorney (Steph Tony Johnson) to draft a compensatory time policy at a cost not to exceed $15,000. After discussion, Mayor James noted that the city’s existing attorney (Tim LaFon) has already drafted similar policies for other municipalities under the retainer fee, making the $15,000 expense unnecessary. The motion was withdrawn and the item was tabled. Council will review a sample policy from Winfield before proceeding.
  • A $2,000 donation to DFW for the “Moving Moment” (approved).
  • A $4,500 donation from opioid settlement funds to Hezekiah House (approved).
  • Approval of the FY2027 water, sewer, and stormwater budgets (approved).
• Campaign Signs on City Property – Councilman Knight clarified that per the Secretary of State’s office, city council cannot enforce removal of campaign signs from state property (e.g., along I-64), but the city can and does remove signs from utility poles or other city-owned property. Signs collected are held at public works for retrieval before disposal.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jacob Garrison (2208 Curtis Avenue, departing police officer) expressed gratitude for his time with the St. Albans Police Department but stated he is leaving for the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office due to higher pay. He reported that he is the third officer to depart in three months and that several others are also seeking to leave. He warned that without a pay raise, the city will face severe shortages, increased response times, loss of school resource officers, and diminished drug enforcement capabilities. He urged the council to address the issue urgently.

Key Outcomes

• Proclamation for Debbie Keener Day issued.
• Minutes from three prior meetings approved.
• Ordinance regarding group residential homes (Article 1783) adopted.
• Ordinance committee directed to draft a senior fee reduction based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines.
• Current invoices ($22,909.04) and FY2027 utility budgets approved.
• Donations to DFW ($2,000) and Hezekiah House ($4,500) approved.
• Motion to hire outside attorney for comp time policy withdrawn; item tabled pending review of existing retainer resources.
• Discussion on former SAJHS property continued; councilman Page authorized to share the usage study with a developer. No final decision made.
• Citywide cleanup extended through May 8.
• Next two council meetings relocated to McKinley due to elevator issues at City Hall.