Bath Council asked to abandon parts of streets

Mayor Susan Webster began the Tuesday, April 6 Town of Bath Council meeting with a moment of silence for the miners and their families suffering through the mine accident tragedy in the southern part of the state near Whitesville.

Union Street ordinance
Council passed the first reading of an ordinance to abandon the east end of Union Street. A second reading, public hearing and vote on approving the ordinance will be held at the next council meeting on April 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Andrew Goslin owns the two adjacent properties, the old mill and old factory buildings, and had asked council to abandon the half block between the buildings at the end of the street.

Goslin said with the renovations to the Old Mill he hopes to bring more people into town. The end of Union Street could be used for additional parking on weekends.

Ewing Street petition
Attorney Charles Trump appeared before council to present a petition on behalf of property owners Corey Lett Belton and Cathy and Doug Waugh to abandon an unimproved portion of Ewing Street that runs between their properties.

Because it takes an ordinance to abandon town property, Webster referred the issue to the Ordinance Committee chaired by Councilman Jim Slough.
Streetscape update Larry Lower, who co-chairs the town’s Streetscape Committee, gave the council an update on the project. Lower said the committee has received from the state a notice to proceed on the next phase.

This phase will complete the west side of the block on Wilkes Street between Congress and Independence streets and begin design work on Mercer Street between Union and Fairfax streets with construction not starting until late this year or next spring.

Budget submitted
The Town of Bath submitted and the state has approved a budget of $681,458 for fiscal year 2010-2011 beginning July 1. This year’s budget increased $41,767 over the previous year’s budget of $639,691.

The largest increase is in the category of public safety due to the hiring of a third full time police officer and moving the parking enforcement officer from part time to full time status.

Parks & Rec. appointee
Council appointed Pat McCoy to replace Mayor Webster on the county’s Parks and Recreation Board. Webster had to resign from the board recently due to her workload as mayor.

McCoy said he has three kids
ages 6-15 and is involved in the Biddy-Buddy Basketball program and with the ongoing work at the skate park.

McCoy said he already helps
out with Parks and Recreation whenever he can. Although he lives outside of town, McCoy said he will represent the town’s interests on the board.

Train Depot
Webster met with Susan Pierce, Director of the State Historic Preservation Office, in Charleston Thursday, April 1 to try and get another grant for the rehabilitation of the Train Depot.

Councilman Ryan Rebant was able to get the building listed on the endangered historic buildings list and Pierce suggested the town should request an increase in the amount of the existing grant to cover costs.

Yard waste pickup
Council scheduled yard waste pickup dates in town on Wednesday, April 14 and 28 - yard waste only.

Yard sale planned
Nancy Sostaric of the Country Inn is spearheading a town-wide yard sale to take place Saturday, April 24. This is also the weekend that Uniquely West Virginia is in town.