By Hannah Heishman
Moorefield’s Town Council met Tuesday, March 4 for their regular meeting. The second meeting in February was canceled, because it was not posted on the front of the building in time.
Citizen David Conrad addressed the council about traffic issues on North Main Street at Moorefield Elementary and Moorefield High Schools.
“We got to do something about the issue down there,” Conrad said.
He said drivers were passing in the turn lane, and that if first responders need to get through that area, they wouldn’t be able to do so.
Moorefield Police Chief Stephen Riggleman said that people show up two hours early to pick up their children from school, in order to get parking closer to the Elementary School’s front doors and the exit. He said notifications have gone out through the call system and on Facebook: The Board of Education and Moorefield Police Department (MPD) are trying to keep the roads clear, and keep traffic moving.
He said the schools have already tried different bus routes and different pick-up times.
“(There’s an) overwhelming number of parents who want to pick up their kids,” he observed. “Some parents may not be aware they’re causing an issue.”
“A lot of parents drive their kids to school,” he said. “I don’t know how to fix that.”
Riggleman said drivers can’t really speed, because there’s so much traffic. His officers mostly catch people using their cell phones.
“(The traffic) seems like something we’re working on,” Mayor Carol Zuber said.
Discussing the traffic on North Main Street led to a discussion on South Main Street, particularly the crosswalk at the Pilgrim’s cook plant. Council member Luke Kesner noted that once people move into the apartments on Water Street, there will be a lot more foot traffic. Between poor lighting and citizens wearing dark clothing, pedestrians are nearly invisible.
The council also discussed truck drivers sweeping out their trailers and leaving the trash around Burger King. Conrad suggested that Pilgrims create an area for drivers to do that, particularly since the trash includes pallets and nails. He said the problem is worse in the Sheetz parking lot and on H.L. Wilson’s property, west of Sheetz.
Because Wilson’s land is private, the MPD has limited response options, but they can help at Sheetz and Burger King.
Greg Zirk spoke on behalf of Masonic Lodge 29 to request sewer access from the Town.
When the Lodge was built in 1994, it was not in Town, but has since been annexed. When the Lodge was built, a pump station was also installed. It serves the Lodge and a private residence. In fact, the electricity is from the private residence.
Public Works Director Lucas Gagnon said the Town can take over the pump station, but it must be first brought up to Town standards. “I think we could work something out,” Gagnon said.
Steve Reckart, another Lodge representative, provided a quote, but Gagnon said he thought the Town could help for a lower price.
Reckart said he was able to replace the pumps, but would like help with clogs and cleaning, and that “five years and one month ago” was the last problem.
“We’re just looking for some assistance,” Reckart said, and added that building is rarely used.
Ultimately, Gagnon agreed to look into the situation and work directly with the Lodge to figure out how to best handle the situation.
The Lodge’s current quote is for roughly $44,000.
Zuber said the resident of the private home, “would probably be willing to be annexed into Town.”
Gagnon said they’ll have to come back with a proposal.
“You’re gonna set a precedent,” he said, observing that other citizens will “request assistance” as well.
Kim Carlson approached the Council next, stating she had done a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, regarding personnel issues. Carlson did not further explain the document packets she distributed to Council members.
“It’s pretty self-explanatory,” she said. “You’ll see the dates, how things played out. I specifically asked for a letter of recommendation, they said there was not one in the file.” Carlson referred to “women’s names,” and noted they were redacted.
After the meeting when asked to provide copies of the packet to a meeting attendee, Carlson said she couldn’t, because it involved a personnel issues.
Once information requested through FOIA is received, it is considered a public document, as any information considered an exception to FOIA will be redacted.
The packet was information pertaining to MPD officer Jon Baniak, involving the circumstances under which he resigned from a previous job at Potomac State College. Baniak did resign, was not fired, and did receive a letter of recommendation to the Town of Moorefield from his chain of command at PSC and WVU.
TaYare Meade asked the Town to either turn off a security light on the Hardy County Visitor’s Bureau, also known as the Higgins House, or get a motion sensor. Meade lives nearby, and said the light, “lights up (her) house.” She also asked about street lights from Jefferson Ave. to Winchester Ave., saying there were few working lights and many pedestrians.
“You really cannot see them, walking and riding their bikes,” Meade said.
Gagnon said Potomac Edison had briefed the Town they were changing all street lights from high-pressure sodium to LEDs. They can’t find replacements for the old ones, and changing to LEDs is taking time. Gagnon expects more will be switched in 2025.
Meade then changed the subject, offering some advice to the Council:”I don’t know what your platform was to get the seat that you have. I think we need to remind ourselves that as community members, we look for honesty and integrity in our leaders. I hate to fire shots, but I think some folks around that table, forget that.”
Meade then called out council member Mary Jo Tobin, regarding her residence.
“Honesty is important to our community members,” Meade said.
Meade is running for Town Council, and hopes to win a seat in the May election. Tobin recently married, but has opted to continue spending most of her time in Moorefield because of her job at Pilgrim’s fresh plant, and her position on the Council. Tobin has explicitly stated that she is spending most nights here and staying on Council, to not abandon her seat during the greatest upheaval since joining the Council, and so an appointee replacing her wouldn’t be forced into the middle of current personnel issues involving the MPD.
Tobin acknowledges spending some nights each week in her husband’s home, but reiterates she spends most nights in her own home in Moorefield. As well, her bills, vehicle registration, and driver’s license are all still connected to her Moorefield home.
Meade closed out her time talking to the Council by giving Riggleman credit for contacting her about, and helping with, a homeless situation. Zuber also assisted.
“Thank you, for the group of you who helped with that matter.”
Amy Greenwalt briefed building and improvement permits, and code enforcement. Only three permits were approved in February. Greenwalt took the opportunity, though, to recognize the Town has 501 active business licenses this year, over 413 last year.
She said rental property inspections are going well, and that she plans to cut it off at the end of March.
“I feel fairly confident that we’re about to the third I said we’d do,” she said. Greenwalt and code enforcer Aaron Crites inspected 20 properties in February. They plan to inspect a third of the rentals every year, so that all are done every three years.
Spring Cleaning is April 14-18. There will be information in the newspaper, and at the Town office.
When MPD Chief Riggleman stepped up, Zuber asked him about rumors of an officer leaving. Riggleman confirmed officer Eli Nazelrodt had given his two weeks’ notice, with his last day in mid-March. Nazelrodt has accepted a job with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office for better pay and a shorter commute to and from work.
Zuber asked if officers had to sign paperwork stating they had to pay the Town back for training if they left less than two years after being hired. Riggleman said the paperwork existed and was maintained with officers’ files in the Town office, but those documents were among others that couldn’t be located following personnel changes in the Town office.
Riggleman said he has created what he called a “pre-load,” consisting of all the paperwork officers should have before starting.
In February, Riggleman said the MPD had 129 calls for service, with 20 misdemeanor arrests, 17 traffic citations, and 34 traffic warnings.
Early in February, two officers completed Field Training Officer certifications. In mid-February, two officers hired Feb. 4 began work. On Feb. 19, the MPD received $1,188 reimbursement for PoliceOne training from the West Virginia Homeland Security Grant. At the end of February, both new officers qualified on their assigned weapons.
Riggleman touched again, briefly, on the traffic at MES and MHS, and said the only effective solution to keep traffic moving is to have an officer dedicated to sitting in the school zone and ensuring traffic moves freely.
Gagnon briefed his Public Works update. He said the Spring flags should be up on Main Street “within a week or so.”
He plans to hire a public works employee, and is putting the ice skating shelter out for bid.
“We’ll see what that’s gonna cost,” Gagnon said. “I’m afraid we’re gonna be shocked.”
Zuber said the Town has received several calls from citizens interested in veterans’ flags for the Town Park. She said Park manager Juwana Bridger-Titus has three designs she’s considering. Zuber said it’s not quite ready for people to sign up, or for money.
“We want to honor our veterans,” she said.
City Clerk Rick Freeman presented a proclamation that March is Music in Our Schools. “All children should have access to music,” reads the proclamation. The Town tabled donating money, until there’s more information about where it will go and how it will be used.
Zuber noted that the Town donated money to help repair and rebuild a running track at Moorefield Middle School. When the State provided the full amount, she said, the Athletic Boosters allegedly kept the other donated funds for use on other projects.
The Council unanimously approved General Fund budget adjustment #2, which Freeman requested. The total amount was for $19,500, and Freeman said he was, “just rearranging some things,” including “some interdepartment budget adjustments” and “cleaning up line items.”
Freeman then sought guidance from the Council so he can generate some budget proposals. He said he’s already receiving letters from agencies requesting funds. He asked that the Council be prepared to meet on March 18 and 25 to finish the budget.
The Council voted to pay their invoices.
They went into executive session for personnel issues at 8:04 p.m., and returned to open meeting at 9:51, with no action taken pending legal guidance. The meeting adjourned.
The next meeting is Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
