OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

St. Albans City Council Meeting - May 18, 2026: Water/Sewer Projects and Bonding

City Council Meetings — Monday, May 18, 2026
BodySt Albans, West Virginia
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateMonday, May 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 11:25

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Or ask you to bless the city.

0:05

Or to help those conferences on the floor.

0:10

Just uh during this meeting is right for it.

0:20

I will ask Mr.

0:22

Griffiths to lead us in the plan of the lead here.

0:34

One individual delivery.

0:40

Okay.

0:45

All right.

0:46

Well, second time we'll call this meeting or thank everybody for coming.

0:52

Start with praise and recognition.

0:54

Does anyone have any phrase and recognition they would like to talk about?

1:03

I just want to thank the parks employees.

1:06

Anyone that was involved at Ray and set this meeting up so that the public would be able to attend where we're having issues out of counting.

1:13

Yes.

1:14

Thank you very much.

1:16

Any other phrase and recognition?

1:19

I'd like to thank the people that were uh their assistant people to vote.

1:25

And uh it's not a thank this job, and it's a long day.

1:38

He had multiple days of that uh during early voting, so we appreciate it.

1:42

I'd like to uh people city hall, we had only voting as you know the city hall for 10 days.

1:48

It went very smoothly.

1:50

We could have done with the help with the janitor staff over there.

1:54

Yes.

1:55

I was there the first day, went very smoothly during my balloting process.

1:59

Any other phrasing recognition?

2:03

All right, not we'll go to approval minutes to city council May 4th, 2026.

2:09

Is there a discussion?

2:10

Not all those in favor signify by saying aye.

2:13

Aye, those opposed, motion carries.

2:16

We have no old business, no new uh business, no suggested ordinance issues ordinance first reading, and ordinance approving the three sewer system improvement projects and setting forth the rate fees and charges for the service customers of the sewer system of the city of St.

2:33

Albans.

2:34

There will be a public hearing and second reading on June 1st if advanced.

2:40

So moved.

2:42

Second.

2:42

Is there a discussion?

2:44

Not all those in favor signify saying aye.

2:51

All right.

2:52

Second ordinance on first reading.

2:54

An order's approved through water system improvement project for sending forth the rate, fees and charges for service to customers of the water system of the city of St.

3:03

Albans.

3:03

Again, there will be a public hearing.

3:05

Second reading will be uh if adopted will be on June the first.

3:08

So moved.

3:09

Second.

3:10

Is there discussion?

3:12

If not, all those in favor signify to say aye.

3:15

All right.

3:15

Those opposed, motion carries.

3:17

Jared, is that six different projects will what is it?

3:20

That's six different projects.

3:22

I will defer that.

3:23

Uh Michael Griffiths, Jim Kelcher here, and Greg.

3:26

Uh, if there are questions, I will defer that to uh the experts.

3:30

Thank you.

3:30

Uh my name is Jim Kelch, I'm an attorney of the Bulls Rice.

3:33

Um there are three different water projects and three different sewer projects.

3:38

Greg Belcher is here and he can talk to you about the details of those.

3:42

But uh one thing I wanted to point out, the the public comment hearing on the first is at 6 p.m.

3:48

a half hour before your regular meeting, so please be here to hear the public comments.

3:53

Um we're all uh happy to answer any questions you may have about the ordinances.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████69%
Water And Wastewater Management████████████19%
Fiscal Sustainability████████12%
Summary of Proceedings

St. Albans City Council Meeting - May 18, 2026

The St. Albans City Council held a regular meeting on May 18, 2026, at the McKinley Recreation Center. Key agenda items included approval of minutes, first readings of ordinances for water and sewer system improvement projects with rate adjustments, a bonding ordinance for water meter replacement, approval of invoices, and various committee reports and announcements.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the public forum.

Discussion Items

  • Praise and Recognition: Council members thanked parks employees, election workers, and city hall staff for smooth early voting operations.
  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the May 4, 2026, city council meeting were approved unanimously.
  • First Reading: Sewer System Improvement Projects: An ordinance approving three sewer system improvement projects and setting rate fees and charges for sewer customers was introduced. A public hearing and second reading are scheduled for June 1, 2026. The motion passed unanimously.
  • First Reading: Water System Improvement Projects: An ordinance approving three water system improvement projects and setting rate fees and charges for water customers was introduced. A public hearing and second reading are scheduled for June 1, 2026. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Discussion on Projects: Jim Kelch (attorney), Greg Belcher, and Michael Griffiths provided details on the water and sewer projects, rates, and process. Councilman Close asked about public notification; direct mail and a legal ad will be sent to customers. Councilman Cutz asked about progress updates; monthly updates will be provided to the council. It was noted that the rate increases are staggered so water and sewer increases do not occur simultaneously.
  • Third Reading Resolution: Bonding for Water Meter Replacement: An ordinance to authorize financing for water meter replacement was considered. John Stunt clarified that this is not a two-reading ordinance; the motion was to send it to third reading, which will be voted on at the June 1, 2026, meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Finance Committee Report: Councilman Cutz moved to approve payment of current invoices totaling $55,479.11. He noted the amount was higher than usual because some invoices were not included on the previous agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Letters and Reports: Councilman Knight reported no updates from the parking committee; no other council members had reports.
  • Announcements: Upcoming meetings include an MS4 MBC board meeting (May 19), finance committee (May 26), public hearings on MUC ordinances (June 1 at 6 p.m.), public works (June 3), and park committee (June 4). The Memorial Day holiday (May 25) will close city offices. Councilman Catlett is recovering well after a procedure. An ordinance committee meeting will be scheduled soon.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes of May 4, 2026, approved unanimously.
  • First readings of sewer and water improvement ordinances passed; public hearings and second readings set for June 1, 2026.
  • Bonding ordinance for water meter replacement advanced to third reading on June 1, 2026.
  • Invoices totaling $55,479.11 approved.
  • No public comments were made.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Or ask you to bless the city. Or to help those conferences on the floor. Just uh during this meeting is right for it. I will ask Mr. Griffiths to lead us in the plan of the lead here. One individual delivery. Okay. All right. Well, second time we'll call this meeting or thank everybody for coming. Start with praise and recognition. Does anyone have any phrase and recognition they would like to talk about? I just want to thank the parks employees. Anyone that was involved at Ray and set this meeting up so that the public would be able to attend where we're having issues out of counting. Yes. Thank you very much. Any other phrase and recognition? I'd like to thank the people that were uh their assistant people to vote. And uh it's not a thank this job, and it's a long day. He had multiple days of that uh during early voting, so we appreciate it. I'd like to uh people city hall, we had only voting as you know the city hall for 10 days. It went very smoothly. We could have done with the help with the janitor staff over there. Yes. I was there the first day, went very smoothly during my balloting process. Any other phrasing recognition? All right, not we'll go to approval minutes to city council May 4th, 2026. Is there a discussion? Not all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye, those opposed, motion carries. We have no old business, no new uh business, no suggested ordinance issues ordinance first reading, and ordinance approving the three sewer system improvement projects and setting forth the rate fees and charges for the service customers of the sewer system of the city of St. Albans. There will be a public hearing and second reading on June 1st if advanced. So moved. Second. Is there a discussion? Not all those in favor signify saying aye. All right. Second ordinance on first reading. An order's approved through water system improvement project for sending forth the rate, fees and charges for service to customers of the water system of the city of St. Albans. Again, there will be a public hearing. Second reading will be uh if adopted will be on June the first. So moved. Second. Is there discussion? If not, all those in favor signify to say aye. All right. Those opposed, motion carries. Jared, is that six different projects will what is it? That's six different projects.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com