St. Albans City Council Meeting - July 7, 2026

The St. Albans City Council met on July 7, 2026, at the McKinley Rec Center. The meeting included recognition of the state champion girls lacrosse team, a public forum, and votes on several items including a request for opioid funding and a blessing box installation.

Recognition and Praise

• The council recognized the St. Albans High School Girls Lacrosse State Championship team, highlighting their 6-5 overall record and conference 3-2 record. Team members and coaching staff were introduced, including head coach David Randolph (2024 D1 Coach of the Year) and assistant coach Savannah Dolly (2026 D2 Assistant Coach of the Year).
• Councilman Knight gave a shout-out to the new school board members (Lisa Odie, Becky Jordan, Mike St. Albans) and the VFW for their work on the wall. The mayor also noted a 15-year-old volunteer who helped coordinate ROTC assistance at the park.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from the June 15, 2026, City Council meeting.
• Approved the 2027 coal severance budget revision number one.
• Approved the finance committee report recommending payment of current invoices totaling $51,267.
• Approved the appointment of Brent Appley as the administrative member on the planning and zoning commission (replacing Kevin Pennington, term to expire June 30, 2028).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Charles Williams, a resident, addressed the council regarding annexation. He expressed frustration with the lack of progress and requested information from the city on what it offers. He also expressed disappointment about the council's vote against the opioid funding for the lock zone box at Gateway Church, arguing that the church's recovery program is successful and that the box would help prevent worse outcomes.

Discussion Items

• Request from Project May Day for Opioid Funding ($2,700) to Supply Lock Zone Boxes at Gateway Church: This item was tabled from the June 15, 2026, meeting. Councilman Knight moved to bring it off the table for discussion. Council members debated the merits. Councilman Rutherford argued against using opioid funds for the box, stating it enables drug use, does not include human interaction, and that the city faces a spending freeze while taxpaying citizens are not prioritized. Councilman Whittington supported the request, noting the funds are restricted to opioid-related uses and the box provides a lifeline for families, not just users. The mayor clarified that the funds cannot be used for naloxone purchase but for supplies like CPR masks, hand sanitizer, and fentanyl test strips. A representative from Project May Day confirmed the box is monitored by the church and refilled about twice a month with free naloxone. After extensive discussion, a motion to call the question passed, and a roll call vote was requested. The motion to fund $2,700 failed (roll call: Campbell No, Farrell No, Eve Yes?, Catlet Yes, Knight No, Whittington Yes, Record No, Page No).
• Request from Tim Sayer (Canal IT Security) to Install a Blessing Box on City Property Near the Hansford Center: The box would be donated and installed at no cost to the city; only maintenance (weed eating) would be required. The council approved the request unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Opioid funding request for lock zone box supplies at Gateway Church: Failed (roll call vote, majority no).
• Blessing box installation near Hansford Center: Approved (unanimous).
• All consent calendar items, budget revision, invoice approval, and commission appointment: Approved (all by voice vote, no opposition).
• The council acknowledged the city's spending freeze and noted that non-essential spending is restricted. The finance committee will meet July 13, 2026, and the next city council meeting is July 20, 2026, at the McKinley Rec Center.