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CHESTER -- Mayor Ken Morris announced, during Monday's city council meeting, the city has been approved to become part of West Virginia's Home Rule program.
Home rule allows selected cities to implement changes in all matters of local governance without regard for state laws or rules as long as the changes do not violate the U.S. or state constitutions, federal law or certain portions of the West Virginia code. Other cities have used home rule to enact a sales tax of 1 percent.
Chester's new 1 percent sales tax, part of its home rule application, will go into effect July 1, 2021. Morris said a group went to the home rule board on Jan. 15, and the board approved the city's application unanimously.
"It's a turning point for Chester. It is and it's going to be," said Morris. "We might not see anything in the next year. We're looking at a year and a half before we get it, but when it starts rolling in it's going to be big for us. It's going to be a steady income."
Morris added two board members complimented the application for being well put together. Morris thanked everyone involved for their hard work on the home rule application.
Tara Ayers, city clerk, explained the state needs 180 days before July 1 to start collecting the tax. She reported Chester missed the 2020 cutoff by 15 days. Ayers added the city still has work to complete before the tax can take effect, but with the application approved they will receive the money. She reported the city needs to pass an ordinance adjusting business and occupation tax rates, and a second declaring a 1 percent home rule tax will go into effect July 1, 2021.
"I'd like to thank the bunch of you who went down to Charleston for the home rule application. You guys are making history and saving the city of Chester. I appreciate that," said Mike Dotson, municipal building manager.
In other action, council:
¯ Approved general fund bills of $91,228 and receipts of $116,129.
¯ Approved building fund bills of $5,663 and receipts of $2,187.
¯ Approved a bid of $15,200 from Tennis Roofing and Asphalt Inc. to repair the city building roof over room 312 after a leak. The city has used Tennis Roofing and Asphalt Inc. previously and Dotson reported they did quality work. They received two bids for the project.
¯ Approved a bid of $1,545 from English's Cleaning Service to clean room 312 after damage caused by a leak in the roof.
¯ Approved to open a Dropbox account. Councilmember Ed Wedgewood explained the city has outdated computers and Dropbox is a good option to back up the city's documents. They voted for the $12.50 a month plan.
¯ Discussed issues with speed limit signs. Police Chief Todd Murray announced there are streets with both 15 and 25 mile per hour signs. Council will table the matter and discuss updating the city's speed limit ordinances with Solicitor Michael Adams, who was not at the meeting.
¯ Approved the purchase of cold patch, leaving the amount to the discretion of Steve Shuman, council member and street department supervisor.
¯ Approved to renew the city's accounting software contract with AccuFund for $1,572. Council asked to review additional information before renewing the contract next year. They also hope to get involved with an accounting program the state is starting, but the pilot program had a limited amount of slots and they are waiting for additional information.
¯ Tom Paisley, councilmember, announced people who own property in Chester, but do not live in those houses should provide the city clerk's office with contact information so the homeowner can receive important communications like municipal fee letters. Paisley brought this matter up after having a property owner complain to him about not knowing he had to pay municipal fees because he did not live in Chester
¯ Reviewed information from insurance provider Combined Worksite Solutions, but determined the city employees already have two additional insurance plans available and do not need a third.
¯ Dotson reported the city building just completed its best year and January 2020 was the best month for the building. He said there were only two days the building was not rented by a community organization. Dotson said they raised approximately $60,000 last year and that money is going towards city expenses and building upkeep.
¯ Shuman and Murray submitted written reports for review.
¯ Went into executive session to discuss personnel matters. No decisions were made.
The next meeting will be at 5 p.m. on March 2.
(Riedel can be contacted at jriedel@reviewonline.com)