“We’ve been out of compliance since forever,” City Clerk Rick Freeman told the Moorefield Town Council at their meeting on October 15.
“Our building inspector must be a licensed inspector,” Freeman said, adding that the position requires passing 11 different [private]tests.
The Town’s current inspector is not licensed, and according to Freeman, doesn’t want to take the tests. This leaves Moorefield with two options.
The Town can request a waiver through the state, allowing two years to hire a qualified inspector. Or, the Town can continue without a certified inspector, and building permits would become improvement permits.
The Town also needs a zoning officer, whose job would be to know the new zoning ordinance, keep track of which buildings are grandfathered into the former ordinance and ensure compliance with new ordinances when ownership changes, and attend zoning and planning commission meetings.
“We either need to change what we’re doing,” Freeman said, “Or find someone and start the process. We’ve got to have someone to enforce our ordinances.”
The Council discussed whether or not Moorefield would have enough zoning and inspector work for one person, whether or not Hardy County and Wardensville might have an interest, and whether or not the inspector and zoning enforcer should be the same person.
The Council did not make a decision.
“This is not going to be the simplest thing,” said council member Scott Fawley.
Vacuum Truck vs. Dump Truck
Public Works Director Lucas Gagnon reported the Town needs a vacuum truck and a dump truck.
Previously, the Council approved applying for a grant to get the dump truck. Recent experiences with the existing vacuum truck, however, make it a higher priority for replacement.
Gagnon said getting used, rather than new, was fine: “We don’t need top-of-the-line.”
He also said the vacuum truck would be used mostly by sewer crews to clean clogs, but also by water crews for excavations and by street crews for storm drains.
A used vacuum truck will cost $80,000-$90,000. A new one would be $200,000, or $150,000 with a grant. USDA grants may only be used on new equipment. The sewer department has sufficient funds in the budget.
Mayor Gary Stalnaker said, and council member Roger Pratt and Gagnon agreed, that it would be easier to find a used dump truck. The last used dump truck the Town purchased was $18,000.
“We need both,” Gagnon said. “If (we get) new, I think we’d get better value with a new Vactor truck.
“We’ll apply for the grant, and see what happens.”
Other Business
The Council approved the second USDA loan draw for the water plant; these draws will occur monthly now that construction has started.
Johnny Thompson described an issue with a manhole cover on South Elm Street near his residence: Roaches, or similar insects, were escaping through small spaces in the cover. Public Works crews filled the spaces with steel wool, and will replace the cover with one that has no spaces.
The Council unanimously approved a request from Olivet Cemetery that the Town be the physical sponsor for a grant they’ve received.
Freeman said he had another resource he wanted to talk to before presenting courses of action on feral cats.
Council member Carol Zuber asked about the Town Hall’s awning and planned renovations to the back of the building. Freeman said he’s waiting for prices.
The next meeting is November 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall, and the public is invited. The agenda is posted in advance, on the Town Hall’s front windows.[/private]
