Linda Hatfield approached the Moorefield Town Council at their meeting on Feb. 18 to request assistance with medical and travel costs accrued after she caught her foot on a raised sidewalk and fell.
The sidewalk was on North Elm Street, alongside the Higgins House and Town’s parking lot.
Hatfield said she broke three teeth and two fingers, split her lip, bruised both knees and skinned both palms. Due to pre-existing medical conditions, she ended up at WVU for medical care.
Hatfield also noted that, despite having sidewalks bordering her property, she was unaware that, as the property owner, she is responsible for maintaining them.
“I look at all these elderly people who would like to get out to walk, and can’t,” she said, referring to the condition of some sidewalks in Moorefield.
The Council, led by Carol Zuber in Mayor Gary Stalnaker’s absence, agreed to look over her paperwork and get back to her.
Public Works
Public Works Director Lucas Gagnon told the Council he’s waiting on one more bid, giving him four total, for a sewer camera, and will follow up at the next meeting.
The Council approved USDA Draw #6 for the Water Plant Project. The total amount is almost $826,000. Triton Construction will receive $796,059.06, and Gwin Dobson & Foreman will receive[private] $29,859.
Gagnon said Triton has made up some lost time.
Renovations and Job Descriptions
City Clerk Rick Freeman briefed the Council on estimates received to renovate and repair aspects of Inskeep Hall, which houses the Town offices and Moorefield Police Department.
Indoor renovations include carpeting, continuing the tile from the front office back, and cabinets, windows and window wells in the Council Chamber. The estimate is $22,484. The contractor is Tyson Michael, with TMIC, Inc. He also did the Town’s front offices.
Outdoor renovations and repairs include repointing both rear corners of the building with mortar that matches what was originally used, and priming and repainting the back of the building. Allegheny Restoration’s bid was $12,418.
Freeman said he’d budgeted $60,000 for Inskeep renovation, and this is well under that.
He said the Council Chamber windows and window wells must be done, regardless, because the wood window wells have rotted away completely in places.
Council member Terry Hardy said, “We should do better windows, for historical purposes.”
With general agreement from the Council, Freeman noted that would increase the cost for the windows; that was included in the motion.
The Council approved both bids, and Freeman said if the final window cost became “exorbitant,” he would come back to the Council.
Freeman also talked to the Council about the Building Inspection/Zoning Officer job description.
“It’s very in-depth,” he said, “But we need it to be detailed.”
Freeman asked the Council their thoughts on whether the position should be full- or part-time.
“Looked like a full-time job to me, when I read it,” Zuber said.
The concern is that, while the position would clearly be full-time for several years, once established it might not justify a full-time position.
The Council also briefly discussed pay, whether it would be a salaried or an hourly position, and to whom the person would report.
Several Council members commented that they thought the position would fall under Gagnon, who pointed out that other towns have planning and zoning staff.
At the County level, he noted, Melissa Scott is the County Planner. There is no city planner, who would be this position’s ideal supervisor.
The Council also discussed bids for the Higgins House restoration. The Town received a W.Va. Culture and History grant to restore the building.
Freeman said the Town received a single bid for the foundation, $10,327 from Allegheny Restoration. The work will be carried out largely from under the floor, and will include adding replacing stones and adding insulation and a vapor barrier.
The total amount is $16,500.
Because of the grant and because the Hardy County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau will also provide some money, the anticipated cost to the Town is $6,600. The Council approved the bid.
Other
Sarah Dunn requested the use of the Moorefield Town Park on May 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a Potomac Highland Regional Youth Center fundraiser. The theme is, “Children’s Mental Health Awareness.” The Council approved the request.
The Council also hired a Public Works employee.[/private]
The next meeting is Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall. The public is invited to attend.