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Record of Proceedings
St. Albans City Council Meeting Summary - November 4, 2026
City Council Meetings — Wednesday, November 4, 2026
BodySt Albans, West Virginia
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateWednesday, November 4, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Transcript — Verbatim
Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural26%
Engineering And Infrastructure23%
Public Safety14%
Community Engagement11%
Youth Programs9%
Public Engagement8%
Water And Wastewater Management3%
Budget Equity Analysis3%
Technology and Innovation3%
Summary of Proceedings
St. Albans City Council Meeting Summary - November 4, 2026
The St. Albans City Council convened for a regular meeting. The city's official records date this meeting to November 4, 2026, although the invocation and announcements referenced the following day as Election Day (Tuesday, November 3, 2026). The meeting included community recognitions, a significant discussion on restructuring the municipal stormwater department, financial approvals for infrastructure projects, and the formation of a new public safety committee.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the meeting minutes from October 19, 2026.
- Approved the Combined Water Works and Sewer System Revenue Bond resolution (Series 2026A).
- Approved the sweep resolution for automatic bond payments.
- Approved amendments to the Fire Civil Service Commission rules regarding promotional examinations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- SBA Disaster Loans: Patricia Hartman from the Small Business Administration announced low-interest disaster loans for homes, businesses, renters, and nonprofits affected by storms on August 14-18 and June 22-23. Homeowner rates start at 3% over 30 years, with the first year interest-free.
- Art Walk: A representative from the Artie Grove Board announced the next Art Walk on Main Street for Tuesday, November 17, reporting strong community attendance.
Discussion Items
- Honors and Recognitions: Councilman Winnington recognized citizens Robert Walker, Noah Walker, and Doug Hendrix (employees of Blue Window Marine) and Nitro Police Officers Justin Rains and Clark Green for rescuing a woman who jumped from the Nitro Bridge on October 15. The woman sustained severe spinal fractures and likely would have drowned without their immediate action. The council also celebrated an 11-year-old softball team for winning the Southeast Region Championship; Coach Dale Glancy thanked the community for roughly $15,000 in fundraising support.
- Stormwater Department Restructuring: Councilman Needs proposed moving the MS4 (Stormwater) department under Public Works. Gerardo, the Stormwater Director, strongly opposed the move, arguing that MS4 funds (approx. $450,000 annual revenue, with $250,000 spent on payroll) are legally restricted to stormwater purposes by city ordinance. He stated that moving the billing structure away from MUC water bills would reduce the city's ability to enforce payment collection. He also noted that the current three-person team handles all physical infrastructure labor without help from Public Works. The council voted to refer the proposal to the MS4/MUC Board and the Finance Committee for formal study and discussion. The motion carried.
- Public Safety Committee Ordinance: After an executive session with the St. Albans Fire Department leadership, a motion was made to create a joint police and fire public safety committee. The proposal was formally referred to the Ordinance Committee. The proposed committee structure includes representation from the police chief, fire chief, union representatives, the city treasurer, and two council members.
- Annexation Update (Sun Valley): An update reported 60 registered voters in support of annexation and 21 opposed. Among freeholders, 60 supported and 24 opposed. The committee plans to continue door-to-door canvassing to meet the legal threshold across the roughly 218 properties.
- Accessory Structures Ordinance (First Reading): An ordinance amending Article 1333.03 regarding accessory structures, fences, and pools in residential districts passed its first reading, with a councilor noting more public support than opposition.
Key Outcomes
- Approved: Payoff of the boom lift (serial Z 8014-4723), costing under $28,000 from the parts department account, saving an estimated $10,000 in future fiscal obligations.
- Approved: Payment of all current city invoices.
- Approved: Closing of the ACFS account; the remaining $164.47 balance was transferred to Fairs and Festivals.
- Approved: Fiber Broadband Phase 2 bid awarded to Secure Your Clinical Services LLC for $147,000, funded by remaining ARPA dollars that must be expended by December 31, 2026.
- Approved: Reappointment of Bailey Kirk to the Zoning Board of Appeals (term expiring 2029).
- Referred: Stormwater department restructuring proposal to the MS4/MUC Board and Finance Committee.
- Referred: Public Safety Committee ordinance creation to the Ordinance Committee.
- Held: Executive session with the St. Albans Fire Department leadership; no formal actions were taken during the session.
Meeting Transcript
Alright, if we can all stand, please. Councilman Close, would you like to lead us in the invocation, please? Yes, sir. We thank you that we're able to gather here tonight for it. Or tomorrow as election day board. I pray that many of the residents do turn out board. I pray that everyone thinks about it and makes the wise decision board. Who's watch over tonight, board? That's supposed to make wise decisions. I pray for the safety of everyone here, our children, and our first responders. Well, this is a big crowd, I'm telling you. Dale, would you like to lead us in the pledge, please? Yes, sir. Thank you. And to the republic or nation. We're called the meeting in St. Alpha City Council. Now, guys, we'll go a little bit out of order on the praise and recognition. First person I'm gonna bring up is from the small federal uh small business uh uh administration, Patricia Hartman. I appreciate you uh bringing to speak for us. If you would like to turn and talk to them, you're more than welcome. Okay, I'll talk to all of y'all at the same time. I'll chat. Hi, I'm with the small business administration. We are here because of the presidential disaster declaration, and we also have an agency disaster declaration from the storms that came through August 14th through 18th and June 22nd and 23rd. What does that mean? That means if you sustain physical damage to your home, your business, uh if you're a renter or a nonprofit, we have an assistance program available. It is in the form of low interest loans that can be drawn uh paid off up to 30 years, and the first year is interest free. So if you covered any kind of damage from any of those storms, whether it's flooding or you lost uh siding, um your insurance doesn't cover any of it, we'll only come a part of it. Um, you can come to the Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Recovery and take part in this uh take advantage of this program. We work alongside FEMA. Um FEMA has a grant program. Our is a little bit different, we're low interest loans, but again, it's been low than interest rate starts at 3% for homeowners, and you can pay it off up to 30 years, so that's not a huge burden. If anybody has any questions, I left some flyers on the table over here in a fact sheet. You can also go to SBA.gov forward slash disaster. Um, and I'm happy to take any questions if you have any. Tracy, one thing I do want to say is that uh on my Facebook page and on our city website are the forms, give you the information on who to contact and everything else. Thank you, Madam Sorry.
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