City Council - Regular Meeting

To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I call to order this regular session of the Vienna City Council. Having taken a role in having a quorum, we will proceed this evening. We did not have anyone sign up for the public forum. So, we will continue on with the record of the minutes. Uh yes.

Yeah, there was a slight change. Uh Councilwoman Rhodess requested that uh add to her comments uh about the public the planning committee meeting and then we'll add the public hearing on the amendments will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting will follow at the conclusion of the public hearing. So those change and those were circulated. Yes, sir. But council has all has that updated those updated minutes uh Just now I just told you now techally if you if you're going to amend the just as a point of procedure if you're going to amend the minutes at the meeting they have to be amended by motion and second.

So what I can do is do it now do a motion to amend the minutes. Yes to reflect the changes that you just have a motion to amend. We have a motion in a second and a third and a fourth. Any other additions or corrections to the minutes? All those in favor of passing the amendment to the minutes, please signify by raising your right hand. Motion passes unanimously. You'll just reissue. Uh yes, I would. Thank you. Thank you for the clarification. You're not that tall.

In the Philippines, we do like that skin. Excuse me. Moving on. Mr. Sass, your treasur's report. Uh, yeah. I review the reconciliation of funds dated February 4, 2026. The short budget report at a high level, compared them to the previous month. The council are in order, and city of Indiana's bills. Any questions or concerns? If not, the report of the treasur will stand as submitted.

Yeah, there's only one comment. It's still I'm assuming you're going to bring it up later, but the starting next week, we'll start the whole process and procedure for budget the budget for the 2026 2027 calendar. That is correct. Moving on, we have two items to address under unfinished business. The first is the second reading of an ordinance approving a rideway in an easement to the WVUP Foundation.

Uh this is an ordinance conveying a road a road right away and Eastman's Wardensburg Foundation West Virginia nonprofit corporation for brevity's sake. I'll point out section two. It conveys a permanent non-exclusive rightway to Eastman for the purposes of constructing a road as a setup in the deed that's attached there too. Section three. For purposes of this meeting, I just want to reiterate one, council has to make certain findings. Uh, one, the commands of the rightway easement serves a valid public purpose, namely to provide a road to service a proposed elementary school in WP, both of which provide educational services that benefit the public. Two, the city of Vienna recognizes recognizes a demonstrable need for property to serve the public. The proposed Wood County elementary school project and the renovation of WBW Parkersburg Foundation 8 property. Three, the conveyance is support giving back consideration. Four, WDFsburg Foundation, Inc. is a valid West Virginia nonprofit corporation. Five, the conveyance is in the best interest of the city of VI and the citizens of the city of VI and we'll go from there. Do

I have a motion to accept the second reading of the ordinance? Yes. Have a motion and a second. Is there any other discussion? Having discussion, I have a motion and a second. All those in favor of adopting the ordinance on its second reading as submitted, please signify by raising your right hand. Motion passes unanimously. Our second item of unfinished business is a second reading on another ordinance pertaining to the budget. Mr. Schol.

Uh I'm not going to read the entire thing, but I'll try to summarize it as best I can. This is an ordinance authorizing limited inter limited internal budget provisions within departments without prior council approval and providing for reporting requirements. U the purpose of this is to uh allow the mayor and with the with after consulting with the finance director to during a fiscal year move up no more than 20% of any single department's budget um without having to come to council to do the internal budget revisions. We don't presently have an ordinance or mechanism that allows for do to do this but that's essentially what this does.

So the way that the just to expand upon that the way the process works is that the request would come from the um department head through the finance department. Uh then once uh confirmed with the finance department would then go u to my office for the approval of that. Uh, do we have a motion to pass the ordinance on the second reading? We have a motion. Do we have a second? We have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Yes.

Oh, thank you. Let me see if I can get this one right. I'd like to make a motion um to amend the ordinance to read as follows in section 1E where it talks about capital expenditure means any project or expenditure classified as capitallay under the city budgets or accounting policies. And I'd like to end that there. Remove um including but not limited to expenditures in excess of 5,000. And talking with the finance director, she didn't think that's necessary. And then under section two add B where we actually define where these expenditures can be spent and it would be read such revisions are further limited to capital to budget categories and their respective line items for contract services and commodities

that was supposed to be added after we had our verbal discussion last night. Yeah, this is the amend this is the amendment that we talked about. I drafted it in the in the form that uh Mr. Smith has just has just read. So we have a motion second. We have a motion and a second. Any other discussion on the amendment? On the amendment.

Yeah, Ronnie, I thought that on the amendment you wanted to specify the specific at least have a reference to the number that way. Yeah, we talked about that and we added uh their respective line items because in the future the way I understand it that those line items may get changed. Yeah. Yeah. But what we said we would have both. So if you have both and something changes at least you have a reference.

My suggestion is to just do it by category which is why the categories are in there contract services and commodities because what I don't want is somebody that wants to play with the budget come in and say okay well we're going to move our line items. you have line items 1 through 10 in the budget, but we're just going to change what line items 1 through 10 stand for. So this way you have distinct categories. So if you change the line items and then you don't have to go back and argue, I understand what you're meaning with putting the numbers for the line items in the budget. And if if I knew or if I were well the council could always amend it at some point in the future, but this way it just prevents somebody from playing with the budget and changing numbers and what have you or changing numbers and causing the whole thing to become invalid. So I'm just going my recommendation was just to go with capital. You're just limited to commodities and contract services and you can move those wherever you want, but it's we know what a commodity is and we know what contract services are. And that's one thing that Amy uh conferred that although line items may change, categories do not. Category is a category. Uh it won't change. So that's what her recommendation was. So we have a motion to make the amendment to include those items in which reporter Smith added. Any other discussion? All those in favor of accepting the admin and uh I get it right. The amendment. Um, I need some more chocolate. The amendment as read. Please signify by raising your right hand. I got a whole pot right here.

The amendment passes. I kind of felt like that pardon finding Nemo what he was trying to say in anonymity. It just couldn't get enough. Um, so we've had the amendment. And now back to the um ordinance as amended.

The ordinance as amended. Is there any other discussion? Having no other discussion, all those in favor of passing the ordinance as amended, please signify by raising your right hand. Motion passes unanimously. And now for our viewing pleasure today in educational purposes, we have a wonderful presentation by Dr. Tori Jackson and Lindseay Pearl from the Economic Development Authority. We're going to sing for you tonight.

I heard I thought you guys were practicing. Nobody wants to hear that. All right.

So, thank you for the opportunity to be before you today and for the vote that you just took on the easement of the roadway. We believe that project is going to go out to bid in March and then we'll be able to start with the the next phase which is the construction of that road. We wanted to give you a little bit of an update because it's been just a tad bit of time since we've been here and I know that you all haven't had a chance to visit the campus lately. So, we wanted to show you a few pictures of um where we're at now, but we always like to start and remind you where we started because it's really good sometimes to see the growth and where we came from. So, we talk about where we started. And we know that the only way we got to where we are now is because of the trust that the community and others have had in us as well as the the trust that we've had between each other and between the partners that have helped us in this project and those very important relationships. and the city of Vienna is one of those very important relationships that's allowed us to um purchase a field campus and do massive renovations in just an attempt to provide economic growth for the community. And you butt in whenever. Well, I always butt in because if you don't know what this piece of paper is, um, when we were meeting with the late Sam Ross about the initial donation that came into the WVP Foundation, this was what Tori drew up at her dining room table about her plans for the campus and she wooed him and that's how this whole thing got started. So, it's framed in her office, but we also frame it in this PowerPoint so people can see that it truly was just her ideas on a piece of paper. So, it's become much more than that luckily. And again, we want to go back to the scope of this project and what it means for our community because these are the problems that it helps have a small piece in in solving. And so you could talk about housing.

So obviously we have a housing shortage here in Wood County. We're not it's not unique to us. It's across the nation really. Um but we're going to get to a slide here in a little bit. Um the ancillary land around the school is going to be developed for housing. Um the way that we have the layout right now, there could be 75 single family homes. And I've told you that before. Um currently where that stands, and I don't think this is in there later, but we're doing a preliminary engineering report um that's due back any day on the water and sewer portion. Um that is to be able to turn and apply to the West Virginia Water Development Authority for funding. And then Parkersburg Utility Board will serve that water and sewer need because if you'll recall it was going to be 121 $12 million for Vienna to do it and it's $1.2 million for Parkerburg utility board to do it because of where their access is by Encompass Health. So Craig and Mayor Emerich were kind enough to allow us to do that and so it was the easiest and quickest way for us to be able to provide water and sewer to move this project along.

We appreciate that.

Yes. So, we also talk about child care and we'll show you a few photos later on. The child care facility was able to open on December 8th and it has been in operation and it's doing quite well. Yes, we had a bump in the road along the way. So we can admit that there the irony of the project is that we had to put in a sprinkler system to be able to offer child care and then a hatch was left open to a roof that caused for very cold air to hit a pipe which caused it to burst and then the one thing that flooded happened to be two rooms of childcare. So, we already have had to um begin reconstruction of those two rooms and one is back in operation and the second one is getting closed. So, they've responded well and we are continuing to proceed. But it's just the irony of construction. We also have been able to continue with our efforts to improve transportation. Again, the city of Vienna has transportation, public transportation, and that will now be able to come to our campus as a result of this project. We, I don't believe, have that bus route up there yet, but we're in the works with the transit authority to get it back up there. And then we are getting ready to hire our first bus driver who will then allow us to take the students who can get to the Vienna campus out to the 47 campus if there are any transportation barriers that continue to exist for them. So it's a new opportunity for us to help with transportation. Again, there's no public transportation that comes to the 47 campus because it's outside of city limits. This provides that opportunity for us. technology advancements. We

Go ahead. I feel like you're ready.

Y know. Okay. So, we are we're able I'll tell you a couple of new developments that have come as part of this project that we're very excited about. We do have a partnership now with Amazon Web Services for a two-year cloud computing degree, which begins to be offered to the public in the fall of 26. So, that's this year. And so, we're being able to expand our curriculum already. And we have moved our engineering technology program also over to the Vienna campus. That's a true two plus two program that we have with WVU in Morgantown. So a student can come and get the first two years with us in a program that's eligible for West Virginia Invest, which means it can be tuition free and then they can move on and continue that program in Morgantown for the final two years. So that's also a new development in addition to the other programs that you already knew were being offered at that facility. So we're very excited for that advancement.

And then in regard to technology, the the goal of this campus um obviously was to bring in demand jobs to Wood County. And so yesterday evening, Tori and I had a visitor from Boston. Um so we are attracting attention outside of Wood County um to the campus, which is exciting. and we think that will continue to grow. So, um, he was super impressed. Um, he asked more questions I think than anybody has ever asked us actually. But it's really good and I I foresee us having a lot more of those in the future.

Right. And he works for a tech company who now has an interest in Vienna, West Virginia. So, what it will bring, we're not exactly sure, but we're excited for where the future could lead us. And then we of course have room for educational growth and expanding our programs. all of our short-term programs that we offer. Examples of those certified medical assistant, phbotoy, dental assistant, HVAC, programs like that where someone comes in and they get a short credential that puts them back to work. Usually happens in 3 to 6 months. Those are all now being able to be offered at the Vienna campus. That started in January. So, that's an advancement for us as well. Some of those do have clinical sites like HBAC has a different site that they go to as does automotive technician. But the base for all of those programs is now at the Vienna campus which again has transportation opportunities. So um we expect expansion in that area as well. And then economic development locations. So there will be opportunities inside of the school building and there will be opportunities eventually outside of the school building. So again when we get to the rendering later there is um a design for commercial development. We've had conversations with um two entities that have an interest in locating up there contingent on the elementary school being built, which it is slated to open in the fall of 2027. Um so we continue to have conversations with them. Both would be new businesses to the city of Vienna. They do not currently operate there. Um so we're excited to about that.

Great. So what that really means is for WBU Parkersburg, we have an opportunity for enrollment and retention and student success, but you all and Lindsay has they have an opportunity for community growth and economic development with this joint partnership. So we're very excited about it and we've been partnering for a while together. So we like to um you know remind ourselves that this is a team effort and part of the transport transformation see I can't speak either has come through and if it's happening to you I don't feel bad because you Yes.

So one of the main projects that we've been able to partner on has been the windows and doors. So, if you'll recall, um, the Wood County Development Authority was awarded $1,250,000 um, in a 2024 earmark from Congressman Capido or Congressman Cap. See, I can't talk either. Senator Capo, Senator Mansion. It's something in the room.

I don't know what it is. Um, so we were able to put in 468 windows and 32 doors with that money. So, they're all installed and that um grant will be closed out anytime that we get the closeout paperwork from HUD. And US Senator Shelley Marcapto had the opportunity to tour the facility I think two or three weeks ago and had a um a chance to see that work and was very pleased with what we have been able to do. Of course, you've been able to see the construction happening over time, and this shows you the model of the entrance, and even more work has been done on the entrance since I last took this picture. The lighting will soon be installed. It's very uh beautiful when you approach the campus. So, we're excited about that. We also remind you of the classroom transport transformation and where we began with this project and then the process of transforming it and now where the classrooms are at today and they are state-of-the-art beautiful classrooms with wonderful technology for our students and we're very excited about that piece. And the picture you saw earlier was Tori and her assistant L'Oreal and I picking out the fabric for these chairs. So

we did we did So, we're excited to see them actually installed,

very involved. So, our short-term programs are at the workforce entrance. That section has not been paved yet. The weather did get the best of us and so we expect that part of the project to pick back up in March. We do have the entrance and I want you to know this is a real photo of the space and that is what our receptionist desks looks like when someone walks into that section of the campus. It's absolutely beautiful. So, it almost looks like a rendering. So, I like to remind you that's a row picture. This shows you part of the lobby if you haven't been up there for a while. And we do actually have in addition to it now, we have lights in the back of that space as well. And then these are actual ren pictures from the podcast studio that exists inside the facility as well. And then you can see conference rooms inside the space. also real pictures of the space, not a rendering anymore. And then very beautifully pictures of the child care facility. And so we only have a couple of it that we put in there. We make sure we don't have any pictures with children in them, but we had the opportunity even yesterday to have the deputy secretary of commerce for the state of West Virginia tore the facility with us and see that in action. So, it's getting a lot of attention across the state for the

I I think it's important, Tori, and correct me if I get the numbers wrong, there's 130 spots at the daycare. Um, prior to this, they were in a church and they had 60 spots. So, they over doubled it and they're at 100 enrolled right now. So, they're already at the, you know, close point to being full. So, that's pretty exciting for a facility that just opened a couple months ago,

right? We have a lot of lighting features and maybe somebody who helped design this likes lighting. I'm not exactly sure. This is a rendering of the residence hall that the college foundation has and we actually moved the first students into that hall in January. We are deciding to do it a little bit slower than we had originally anticipated. There are 130 spaces. We will open 55 the ground floor completely for August and then we will wait until next year to open the rest of them and that's only to be able to make sure that we have more funding in place for the completion of that project. That's a little bit separate than the rest of the building. But again, students have been able to move into these rooms and that's that's a new venture and something that we never knew a few years ago that we would be able to get to. So, this shows you a view of one of the parking lots that is completed. This is part of the construction on the new road that we were working on that was just around the facility because it all had to be redone as well. And then it will lead into the road that you just approved an easement for. So, we've had a lot of relationships that have been very important and we're very thankful for those relationships. And um this shows you it's a little bit outdated in the sense of the property view because that back part is all now paved, but it just shows you a little bit of the scope and size. And this is only a portion of the project. It doesn't show the south campus and what we're planning to do. But you can see the beginning of two roads. The new road will actually come down through this press box and down this way to 12th Street. And then this is a space that's carved out for housing. And this is the beginning of one of the other roads that has been carved out for housing. So, was there a little bit of timbering that occurred? Yes. Was it very selective? Yes. And not selective on the part that

it allowed us to get the biggest tree. It was what can allow us to use the property the best and most efficiently. So, we still kept um a lot of and still leave what we could. Yes. We've left everything that we possibly can. And there you go.

Okay. So, this is the concept that I talked about earlier. So, um, right here, which I can barely see it from right here, but number one is the school building itself. Number two is the residence halls. Five is what will be Vienna Elementary School. And then you see the different Tory and I call them fingers, but they're called a sacks of roads that go around. Number four and number three are where we anticipate future commercial space being able to go. So, if you go up the campus right now and you look to the left when you start to turn, that's where that would go. And then number eight, we're not sure if this will be a possibility or not due to terrain TBD, but that shows multifamily housing on number eight. So again, um everything on here is what's planned. This would this is open. These are open. This will be open in fall of 27. Roadway will be put out to bid in March. Water and sewer pers is in the works. And then as soon as funding is allocated for that, um, Parkerburg Utility Board's ready to roll. And my understanding of it is they're going to try to do some of that in conjunction with the road so they don't have to dig up and then lay water and sewer piping after the fact. And if you see right there at the very end of that road is actually where it will they already have water to that spot. So it was a it was a really easy tiein for them at that point in time. And I think if you look No, you can't see it on that one. Never mind. Different picture. You can see that we're almost there already with what we have cleared. So again, we got here because of the trust that the community has been able to have in us and the great relationships that we have with partners like the city of Vienna. We're very thankful for your just your ability to support this project because we're doing something that will never be done again. 250 acres inside of city limits that have the opportunity to be developed. We know the privilege that that is and we are doing our very best to make sure that it's managed in a way

that really solves systemic problems in this area and allows your community to grow. And I think the the last thing we'll add before we turn it over to anybody for questions is Tori mentioned yesterday that we took Christine Davies who's the deputy secretary of commerce through. We've taken Secretary of Commerce Matt Harage through. Senator Capido has been through. Um, and the feedback that we keep getting from them is how can we replicate this in other parts of the state. So, they're very interested in how we've been able to partner with people to make some of this come to fruition. Um, so I think it's something to be proud of. Any questions for us? Yes, sir.

I got a couple. First one, you got two words at the beginning. Trust. I only have three. Yes, I'm missing one. What is it? Vision. Yes, there's definitely that would have got to where you got in your piece of paper that thought you were going to say money. The other was you talk about the child care. What's the age bracket in there? Zero to five. It's six weeks to five and they're hoping to expand it even more as time goes on. They have hopes to be able to help school age children as they grow and expand. Okay. And my last question is, do you have land covenants for the housing development you're going to have? We will.

Okay. Can you share that with us? We will when we have them drafted. Want to make sure they're pretty high on understood. But yes, yes, ma'am. What do you project to be the average size of homes or the range size of homes and the cost of those when they go on the market?

To be determined. And part of that has been we're waiting for the PERS to come back to make sure that our estimate on water and sewer is correct. Um obviously when you make that investment it's going to factor into the price of the lots and things of that nature. So my my personal vision for it and always has been I would like to see various price points across the different culde-sacs not just you know 500 $600,000 houses and that's why we also have the multif family on there. We have needs across every price point. The problem is when you get into, and I've said this before, um I hear a lot about affordable housing and I I understand, I feel it, I agree with it, it is very hard to make money on affordable housing if it is not subsidized by the government. And unfortunately and fortunately, Vienna does not qualify um for any subsidies from the federal government like low-income housing tax credits. So, they probably will be $200,000 or above homes. Just taking a guess.

How do you see this happening? Is it likely that it's going to be one party, one developer that's selling all the lots?

That's our our hope. Um, and honestly, that's how I foresee it happening because most people won't come in and they can't make money building one house unless it's a monstrosity. Um, so the they have to come in and build out all 75 lots to make it worth their while. So, um, from talks with my executive committee and board and talks with with the engineers and architects, we think it would probably have to go to one party. I also absolutely do not want to parcel them out one by one. I think it would be an absolute nightmare. Um, and you don't have to answer this publicly because I want to just say we have a we have an absent and it's okay if you don't have my we have we've talked in the past there's an absence of housing in the above $200,000 and below let's say $350,000 in this area. Correct.

Correct. We can't hit that sweet spot for the the middle class. And only if you can answer this is do you have a I know you've proposed an idea of the will be about $200,000. Is there a ceiling on the end of that? Because I can say $200,000 and then put 75 $500,000 houses in it or you know $500,000 houses and it doesn't really address what issue,

right? And until we identify a builder, I can't definitively answer that. The again, the goal for me with our housing assessment that was done a couple of years ago and the need that it showed is I see that there's a need across every price point. I know what the bare minimum that people can build and make money off of is. So again, it's going to depend on what all goes into the land, what you can sell that for, and what they come in and build. But again, the goal would be a little bit of everything up there if possible. Yes.

For those that go to the beach, there's a lot of housing development down through there. Usually it's one contractor and they usually give you three or four housing designs to pick from with different price points and then they go at it and within one year you can put a 75, you know, lot housing development up and ready to run. It's amazing. And that and frankly that's how I anticipate it going would would be that option. Someone comes in has several options you can pick from whether it's ranch twotory and then people can you know add on or enhance them as they see fit. Yes.

Thanks to be fair. Uh I just wanted to know what your uh the current enrollment was and then um I know we talked before about your kind of future goals for enrollment and then uh what do you think the peak enrollment is for the the school? So we have 160 students that are in the programs, the academic programs that we currently have there. And we believe that within two to three years at MAX, we can grow that to 300 students because of the ability to have more classrooms that are dedicated to these programs. And then on the workforce side, what we do with the short-term programs and then our trainings that we provide for industry and businesses in the area on site, well, we had 450 students in 2024. I'm not telling you the 2025 numbers for two reasons. One, I don't know them, and two, we had about six months of living in flux because the project wasn't done at the time we expected it to be. So, it's my goal that we get that to 700 within the next couple of years. Now, mind you that you also will have an elementary school with 500 students on that hill in addition to a child care facility that has 130. So, the numbers of students on the hill will be significant.

And and just one other question too. Thank you. Um is there consideration being made um for for possible future expansion. Say, you know, this this college is it sounds like it's going to be a great success. And then uh is there still going to be land left to be able to put you maybe a future building if we needed to expand more?

Yes, there will still be space for us to put other buildings if we needed to. We also are doing a couple of things that we didn't address yet. There's a few, well, there's about 30 acres of the land that's steep and we will be able to use that for trails and other amenities that will also be of benefit to the city. Um, hiking and biking trails and that will be another addition. Um, that mountaineer mile, you'll be able to get it in in this space as well. Part of the next phase is also going to be allowing us to bring in an esports facility, a cyber range facility which we're actually working in conjunction with IBM for that the actual IBM and we are also looking at incubation spaces for some businesses and we're also looking at colllocation spaces which allows Wood County to be maybe a possible candidate for other programs. like the ascend program and stuff because we currently are not. So that's in one of the next phases that we hope to do soon. Right now the foundation is working on a funding package to complete the project. We have invested 24 million to date and we need much more.

Thank you. Anyone else? Yes. It's kind of hard to speak and write at the same time. This is for Dr. Jackson. I know there's two uh residency dorms in that area and you're saying you want to have 50 rooms. What's the total capacity? Total is 130. It's 130 as well. You'll eventually get there. We have 55 on the bottom floor and 75 on the top floor. And then Rod, to clarify, it's one residential housing. So, Ohio Valley University had two I don't want to call them dorms, they had apartments on the south campus,

the south campus that is has been sold and they're actually have been they've been renovated and turned back into apartments. There's 16 apartments. Okay. So, I can't read your um So, this is the lobby and this is one side and that's the other side. So, it used to be boys and girls. Male and female. Yeah. Male and female. I just thought those are two different. They're connected. Oh, they are. Okay. So, there's a total of 75 on the second floor and there's 55 on the first floor.

We already have the 55 on the bottom floor ready for habitation. We do not have all of the furniture purchased for the second floor yet. something that I'm sure everybody else has on their mind and that is we appreciate so much that we are blessed to have Jackson and Pearl because without either one of you this wouldn't have happened and without your vision and your hard work this no place else in the country has been this lucky. So thank you for what you've done. Thank you. That's very nice. Thank you.

Why did you have a follow? This is for Lindsay and I hope I'm not excuse me hope I'm not out of line of saying this but tell me about the the trough street connection just your vision of what uh where it's actually going to connect and there will be sidewalks from the school all the way down etc. So where it will connect is 12th Street which obviously is the road between Sam's Club and Lowe's. It will go past Sam's Club. It will veer left through what is currently Maplewood School. Um I think I've told you all before, but the pickle, well, it's a tennis court. Tennis and basketball court.

It's a tennis and basketball court right now. It was paid for with land and water conservation funds. And so when you use those, they have to remain that in perpetuity. So Dr. Jackson will be moving those to the top of the hill. Um which is good because right now I'm pretty sure they're unusable. And instead of a tennis court, it will be a pickle ball court and a basketball court on top of the hill. So if you drive up and you see Maplewood School and where the courts are, the road will wrap right up there and then we'll connect. Where do you want to go back? You want to go back to that picture and show them again? Yeah, it's going to go through this space and then up to this connection point and then up over the hill. So you'll see obviously that's Lowe's. I'm not that tall. You're down there.

Yeah. So they're right there. So it'll go down that hill that point to Maplewood's full. Yeah, it's going to come through. This building will be demolished. It's going to come through here and hit these courts and then connect up here and then come up over the hill. And this space that's already made, but this bottom part isn't done yet. So that includes sidewalks. The plan is to have sidewalks. We're hoping to have a bike trail as well as long as we can get all of the the funding secured for it. Okay. So you say the plan is to put the sidewalks. Will they be built at the same time the road and the sidewalks or is the sidewalks come in later?

I don't have a Ryan Taylor question. I think it's the same time. Yeah, I believe they're supposed to be at the same time, but I don't want to speak incorrectly, but that's my understanding. Yeah, I hope so. I for kids or people riding bikes on the street, right? We already we actually already have students who ride bikes to the campus um on the other road that is not as wide as what this new road will be and we do not yet have a sidewalk on that road and so we already know the issue that that creates and we are going to try to avoid that. But thank you for mentioning that and the bus route obviously will be probably using that.

Yes, they will. Thank you. Any other questions? No questions. You have no questions. Thank you, Mr. Opposing Council. Rest. Okay. I'm going to Jack, were you saying something? No, I just thought you were. You're not used to hearing that. You know, budget season is coming up

next week. Let me just finish by saying again, I've been that was one of the first things that we as council did even before we took office was make the visit to come see this location and it was cold and

it was raining. raining that day and the building that we see today a year later is unrecognizable compared to what was there in the leadership that both of you have brought the vision and the drive with Dr. Jackson is unmatched. Um, I truly believe you can accomplish anything you want to accomplish. Uh, and I would not want to stand in the way of any of that at any given time. I would not want to be on the receiving end of that. But yeah, right. And I was getting ready to say we were having our little English issue that you were far smarter than me and still have and I wasn't going to take anything from the peanut gall, which I knew that it was going to come up. Um, but I I don't think this area will ever truly be able to fully appreciate all of the work and effort that that both of you along with countless others have done because they have not seen and again I use the term generational change. Um and it's going to be remarkable and I truly believe we are going to see uh growth in the tech industry in Vienna, West Virginia because people are going to and businesses are going to want to come here because they have a ready pool of accessible applicants uh to be able to put in the workforce. So I am truly grateful for all of it and just look forward to great things to come.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much for taking time to be with us today. Thank you all.

On a side note, we're also doing a little partnership with the school. We have the Vienna Public Library has a mobile uh library, satellite library location that's currently at the mall and Dr. Jackson has graciously allowed us to now relocate that and we're going to put that in the dorm area if I understand. So students will have access to Vienna Public Library resources right on site. So I would I didn't want to forget to mention that. Thank you. Moving on to our next general um agenda item is a general fund budget revision number one. This is a resolution requesting the fresh to prepare task orders for one restoring to the

Nope. You skipped one. Did I skip one? Yep. Where am I at? Police department number two. I got ahead of myself. One number acure number one. Hold on.

Fund internal budget. Okay. Yeah, go ahead. Uh on the internal budget revision, there's $90,000 opioid money to offset. So this impacts the police department. We're moving $90,000 from account number 455-59, which is capital outlay equipment into account number 455-07, which is pension. Discussion. Do I have a motion to accept the general fund internal budget revision as submitted?

Motion. Do I have a second? And we have a second. Open for discussion. I think I got a pretty good grasp on what this is, but would you care just to

So every year we have to we have to do a transfer to the police pension model uh and square it up basically. Um this happens every year and this is simply what it's addressing what we need to do to be able to bring that to where it needs to be. This is a yearly action. It's nothing out of um out of sort in the way of it's nothing new and it just brings us to where we need to be to be good on our police venture fun typically this far off the mark. This is common.

Well, I will I say that yes, but we've also had um multiple retirements this year uh which has increased those contions because now there's going to start to be paid outs from those. Um, and I believe Henry, do you know is it three retirements out of the police department? Two. Oh, and we have a third coming. Okay. I didn't know about the third.

We have a third coming on the the 24th of this month, but um that's what has potentially increased it slightly, but it it's something that just happens with the flow of The number is not unforeseen. We've done these officers retire. The number is not out of the ordinary for the number of officers that are retired. That's it's not anything the city's done or the market anything like that. It's just it's just that time.

Any other discussions? Have a motion and a second. All those in favor of accepting general fund internal budget revision number one signify by raising your right hand. Motion passes unanimously. Uh the next item we have on the agenda u agenda item number three is requesting the thrasher group uh who we at last council meeting approved to be our uh engineer firm on these projects uh to prepare two task orders uh one for restrooms and the other for a stage. Uh, do I have a motion to accept the resolution as submitted? I have a motion. Do I have a second?

Second. I have a motion in the second. Open for discussion. And just what these task orders are one restroom facility, one between the parking area and the stage is what we're looking at and the stage itself. Um, and you know, I assume I mean you'll be doing the engineering but what do you need from us? Is there anything that you need from us prior to us going forward on this?

Um we'll need to we'll need to clarify the scope on the task order to make sure we understand exactly what it is we're trying to do. Um designing the restroom, designing the stage, that's you know that's pretty straightforward. Um, one of the questions that we're going to have is um, like physical survey uh, site survey of this of the site itself. You know, one of the things we'd like to propose is sending our surveyors out and just having them do the full survey of the entire 17 acres. Um, and the same thing with an environmental review. Um, and that's that way that work is done up front and we have it, you know, available for us. So for these pro these task orders and any future task orders you want to proceed with it's we won't have to remobilize crews to do that to do that work.

Um beyond that um there will just be some I think some minor clarifications. You know we'll we'll work with you drafting the task order here over the next couple weeks because we'd like to have them at the next city council meeting. Um just want to refine some things like how many meetings we need to be here like um discussions you know design revisions those kind of things because um we we'll do our initial field work uh we'll do like the conceptual design um get some you know some renderings together so you can sort of see what we're envisioning for those structures to look like and and like the floor plan maybe and the layout of them um get those in front of council get approval or get your comments on them so that we can refine them and then we can move forward with construction documents. Um, we anticipated, I mean, everybody seems to be motivated to keep this pretty streamlined and not to really bog it down. And so, that's pretty much what we're going to be operating with as we draft up these task orders.

So, as I understand it, the procedure will be if the task orders are or the request for task orders is approved tonight, you'll generate a document that says this is what it costs. This is what the expected time is. Yes. This based on square footage of the two facilities that are being built is a rough approximation of what the cost is going to be. Then you'll based on those task orders draft proposals for each of them. You'll bring those back to council along with renderings and so forth. And at that point, council can approve the task or words and make amendments to the renderings. How do you want to do that? No, the task order itself will cover they'll they'll outline the full scope of what our of what our services will be, right?

Um and so that'll and and the fee the scope and the fee will be outlined in those task words that will bring to the next council meeting. Um, and that will include doing the draft design, you know, getting the concepts together, getting those here to council or um, whatever small group, however it is you want us to present those to get feedback so that you know, we're moving in and we're in the direction council wants us to um, and but it'll just outline that process as well as time frames like so the next meeting would just be for the task or the rough cost, the rough time frame and so forth. Yes. So council doesn't should not how you would do it in two weeks. Uh renderings and an outline and all that stuff for the actual projects themselves.

Correct. A scope and fe just the agreement and just the basic idea. Yes, sir. Okay. Um just real quick on this um resolution, it says design and construction. Thrasher isn't being isn't contracted to do the construction, right?

Yeah. As I understand, how this all works is Thresher Group will will give us a a cost um cost for their services and a potential cost for the project. And then once the project the the details of the project are approved, Thresher will then generate bidding docu bid documents, contracts and so forth, which Thrasher will then solicit bids for. And then the projects themselves will be bid on by whatever contractors are going to do that. And then we come back and approve all of that separately.

Correct. Our our services will cover the engineering services through construction. So it'll preparation of the concept plans, the construction documents, getting approval from council, getting permits um that are needed, you know, NPDS, storm water permits, environmental permits, preparing the con the the bid documents, the bid package, um publishing that, soliciting bids, reviewing those bids and making a recommendation on, you know, the lowest qualified bidder and then once it goes once it's awarded, then overseeing construction as well as far, you know, construction coordination, um which will be, you bi-weekly meetings and um temporary, you know, general inspections and those kind of things. So, like those task orders will cover all of those services through the process.

Yeah. Uh thanks for coming out tonight or coming up tonight. Appreciate you being here. Um one thing I've really enjoyed about kind of watching and following along with some of the Wood County schools and their construction, um is Uh the engineering firm has been scoping out ways uh when one area of the phase of the construction went above the kind of budget that they were working with, they were able to look at other areas and say, "Hey, we can we can probably cut something here." And it was all kind of happening live during construction. Is that something will be able to do as as that construction's happening?

Yeah. Yes. there's always that type of I mean change orders are are common change order requests are very common through the construction process. Um but getting those requests and processing those and either determining that they're out of they're out of line or finding ways that you know if we can make changes to to reduce what those requests are like you're saying make changes elsewhere to save money elsewhere that's that's constantly um it's a dance that that happens. It's very very common and and um I end up doing that on a lot of my projects. We don't like our projects to go over budget. Um, you know, we have funds are are limited and you know that's that's how we how we do it.

And and I'll just say this to that was the only question I had, but uh this is this is exciting. I think I think everybody agrees this is this is very exciting. We're getting we're getting to the point where something's about to start happening. This is cool. Absolutely. This has been a long time coming and um I can't imagine that it would be any more exciting to anybody more so than Mr. Leech who is sitting here who was part of the um original administration that had the vision to purchase this property um and to um see a vision to to grab hold of it. Now Jim, I don't know how many years has it been now?

It's my third term. our national amendment bill was bought and I I came on board 2016. We already had it and it was the beginning phase of what we're going to do with it and we Yeah. So, it's been a long time coming while there I because I said let's clean up anvil, you know, and think I'll do that in one term. We'll be out of here.

Uh but sometimes things just take a little bit of time. This is a very exciting time for for Vienna because we we are going to start to see things come to fruition that has been discussed for well over a decade. And this in combination with the the the college and the mall and the there's just so many wonderful things that are going on. It it's a little overwhelming to for the energy that you see coming from from all of it but very excited on that. Is there any other discussion? If not allow to the draw

slope to the draw.

No. Uh capital projects I've worked on them many times all over the place and got a really scope to find because changes happen and change and changes are not cheap. I just look at Parkersburg High School's football stadium. They still have a set of bleachers that have been put in place because they were careless in how they managed their changes. So, it's going to be important to define a scope up front, make sure everything's done the right way because if not, that leaves the expenses that don't need to be paid for. Absolutely. Any other discussion? If there's no other discussion, have a motion and a second. All those in favor of accepting the resolution as submitted signify by raising your right hand.

Motion passes unanimously plus one. Raises hand twice.

I didn't see it. So sorry. Thank you. That this is a huge step for the city of Indiana. Uh item number four uh is another resolution dealing with our insurance.

This is a resolution adopting actuarial services agreement with Acro Mid-Atlantic Partners Insurance Services LLC for OPED actuarial services be resolved by the common council of the city of Vienna West Virginia. The mayor and finance director are hereby authorized and directed to execute on behalf of the city of Indiana. An engagement letter and standard terms terms of engagement with Anchor Mid-Atlantic Partners Insurance Services LLC dated January 30th, 2026 for the provision of actuarial services related to the city of Vienna's postmployment benefits plan as set on the attached engagement letter. This group provides for valuation and related services necessary to comply with government account standards board statements including projection sensitivity analysis and routine audit support at an annual fee of $5,000 plus any approved additional services as provided therein. The mayor Andor is designated authorized to take all actions necessary and incidentally carrying out the intent of this resolution and the terms in the agreement speech. Uh, having heard the resolution, do I have a motion to accept a motion and a second?

Second. I'm looking for the second. Then you then be the second. I'll be the second. I have a motion in a second. as we go into discussion. This is being done because to my understanding the company that we dealt with before was purchased and we're just now because of the purchase of the company, we have to re-engage with the new owner. Henry, is this new owner the same the rights of the former high school? Not too sure. Is this the same? Are you a Browns fan? No, I'm a Steelers fan.

So, you have a conflict. You're refusing. No, no, no. I'm just wondering if it's cuz it's not a popular name. I I know it's a financial services company. I don't It's the same affiliation. I was just curious. Sir, I do not know. That is beyond my scope of knowledge on their company. Sounds right. Yeah, sounds good. We do not endorse this deal. My condolences for Is there any other discussion? Having all those in favor of accepting the resolution as submitted, please signify by raising your right hand. Oh, we're going to sing the clean version of that one. Motion passes unanimously.

That concludes our uh agenda items. Now, moving into reports, stating boards, and committees. Does anyone have reports to give? Uh so uh baseball, softball, and t-ball signups are live and will be until March 20th with games set to begin in April. Uh soccer signups for spring are going to begin in March and we'll go through the middle of April. Those games are set to begin um games are set to begin on uh May the 9th. Um I wanted to give out some numbers too for the basketball the winter winter session. We had 279 players participating in the basketball this season. Uh youth hockey, we've got 101 players participating in the adult hockey league. Uh has been uh actually pretty heavily attended. We've got about 60 players playing in the adult hockey league for Rex. So that was all for VR.

Oh, and I'll save that for council comments. Thank you. Any other board reports?

Just mentioned we had the public meeting for the wastewater system improvements and that scheduled moving forward. Um well with our fiveear plan. So one step closer. Um in the way of uh city business, we uh did go through the uh selection process for a additional patrolman. We have um vacancies on the force and out of that process uh it has rendered one um applicant that has made it through everything and uh his packet was accepted today at the academy. So we will very shortly have a new officer on the Vienna Police Department which is good and very a very high quality individual. Very excited um about having him here. Are there any other

reports, council comments? Just one. Just one. Just one. So, uh I am uh proud to say that I coach the uh on, you know, one of the other things that I do is I coach the uh North Christian, uh boys basketball team. And my wife just texted me they just got their first win of the season tonight. 18 to 16. So go Stars. Go Stars. That didn't collate with you being here rather than

Was it your wife? Oh, I'm just an assistant. I'm an assistant to the assistant. The assistant to the assistant. Any other council comments? M. Rhodess. I passed this out to everyone. This is for the establishment of the park area across the street in the vacant lot. Um, this will be on the agenda of the next regular council meeting. This will be on the agenda of the next regular council meeting. I tried to talk to everyone. I didn't have time to really talk to everyone. If you have any questions, give me a call and I'll answer whatever I can. Thank you.

Anyone else? Next Thursday there's a special council meeting and we'll start presentations for the budget and Chad's already want to fill everybody in those as well. Uh so internally we um I have met along with Amy our finance director. I've met with all of the department heads. Uh the budgets uh thus far have all come in um either at or below uh what they were last year and we'll we have some recommendations in the way of uh pay and salaries that will uh be brought forward and we're still waiting. We just got the initial numbers back on our insurance um which we're going to have to tweak a bit. That number is sat at 17. Amy's wanting to see that get below at or below 10. Um on that, so we'll start to work on that and get that addressed. But it's going very well and we are currently to the good in our budget uh from last year above and beyond what we did in the previous year. So, um I'm very pleased and very happy with with where we're at. Anything else? Going once, scoring twice.