By Steve Pendleton
The Wardensville Town Council met in regular session on Monday evening, February 10, 2025. Present were Mayor Betsy Orndoff-Sayer; Council Members Greg Alderman, Charlotte Bowman, Serena Cline, Michael Funkhouser, Ed Klivnoski, and Jacqueline McGuiness; and Erik Atkinson, Public Works Director.
The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor’s Report
I am pleased to report that that furnaces and HVAC units for the Visitor’s Center have been replaced. The energy efficient refrigerator and new range have been ordered. Paperwork for the Energy Efficiency Grant has been submitted for reimbursement. I would like thank Bobby Westfall for his hard work on this project.
Office staff Connie Miller, and councilwoman Jackie McGinnis and I attended the annual budget training offered by the Auditor’s Office on January 28th in Martinsburg. The training was helpful. We will begin the budget process in the next few weeks. Demolition work on the old doctor’s office is in the process of wrapping up. We anticipate the shed at the park house will be removed next week. Once these sites are inspected for completions, I will submit the documents for reimbursement. Ferrari & Associates will be at town offices on February 18, 2025, to conduct our annual audit for 2034-24.I submitted a grant application to the Hardy County Community Foundation for funds to purchase equipment for an indoor pickleball court for the Community Center gym. David Brill is my point person for getting the information for the equipment needed. Town Hall has adjusted the hours it is open to the public due to being short staffed. The office is open from 1 pm to 4 pm and by appointment. The answering machine will be updated with the new hours. Connie and I are working with our ARC (Appalachian Regional Commission) project manager to update the ARC Ready grant.
Public Works Report
Erik Atkinson reported that a leak was located and repaired by the Pendleton Community Bank property. The old barn in town has been razed as part of the demolition project. Antiques stored in the building were moved to a new barn. Squatters on public property has been a problem for some time. A Hardy County deputy recently was called to investigate a report of a woman at the Community Center. The Center main rear entrance has a key pad that uses a code which is commonly known. It allows access to a couple of rooms but not the library and fitness center. The Deputy spoke with the woman but it isn’t known if a citation or just a warning was given. There also was a van staying at the town park with the owners reportedly “camping out”. Although signs have been installed forbidding camping or overnight stays, people continue to violate the policy.
Unfinished Business
Two roll calls votes were made for Resolution #2025-04 (water project) and Resolution #2025-05 (sewer project). Both involve authorization for the town to draw funding from general funds to pay for due costs on the respective projects which will be reimbursed once funding is later received from the United State Department of Agriculture. Both measures passed unanimously.
New Business
With the upcoming retirement of one office employee, and hiring of a new worker, changes will need to be made with Pendleton Community Bank and Capon Valley Bank for payroll, and other financial data. Both institutions require that Town Council minutes include authorization from members to make changes. The Council voted 6-0 to sanction the necessary revisions to the accounts.
Three generators will be arriving soon that were purchased with funds from the FEMA. The share of expense for Wardensville is $18,000. The generators will be used at the Sewer plant lift station and water plant to ensure service continues in the event of an outage. The town has purchased much needed new hard drives and monitors for the office. The cost was $1,200.
Two resolutions, #2025-06 and #2025-07 were presented by the mayor for consideration of the Council. The first proposal intends to transfer $20,000 from the town water to the municipal general account, leaving a balance of $83,000 in the latter. The second resolution shifts $15,000 from the town sewer account to the general account. Both transactions will allow the town to pay for the demolition of the old doctor’s office. As with previous resolutions, the money will be returned to both accounts once funding is received from the grant source. Council passed both measures unanimously.
Executive Session
A motion made and seconded to go into an executive session was approved. Council entered the session at 7:22.
With all business being completed following the executive session, adjournment was approved. The next Town Council meeting is scheduled for Monday March 10, 2025 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Visitors Cente
