[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6304631,"mediaKeyId","2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910","parentId",2458643,"title","Mayor: police pursuing car-break suspect; city recruiting for police and fire roles","audioSeconds",1044,"startMs",374000,"endMs",1418000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910&start=374&end=1418","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910/thumbnail_374000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6304631/St-Albans/Kanawha-County/West-Virginia/Mayor-police-pursuing-car-break-suspect-city-recruiting-for-police-and-fire-roles","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304631-1a766fab64fc5059dc7dab9c9f6e7303/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172789&Signature=aVH721PILCaTGDbxMURLydSLcCCYIJzxQpcnkSeV5rXISxmkEzqR~dWItpx9im23JYqBk-0kweRmH3L5HUQFIHmu3Nm2mT8CmKW15pW9Qipvxp6PLXDzow5O4uqFBp2hJTN4688Uiwc6gwj~R~OvcfVVufAdVkn46PyIqdT85sMq-zz6GwfuoHGOEwmnlKkjeyzb4xUlok2TucHs9qANGC6cDTzppZWFcRF7CMytvhpkjWaDRT~QVPsD8VhOja~Y7o7-mAEzYBbVSfrMrXdbcalPY1F9cmMLO0AouO2YE-33YA72dRziXoYd2fGHDMrBrKGEoAeilsC9zEBmJ8cRUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of St. Albans, WV","date","2025-02-28T20:00:52Z","article","Mayor Scott James discussed a recent series of vehicle break-ins and said investigators had a partial camera view of a suspect who stole a gun from a car.

“There was a guy that broke into a car, and ... he did steal a gun out of a car,” Mayor James said. He said police were checking pawn shops and camera footage and that “they will catch this individual.”

James also said both the fire and police departments are hiring. He described the application and screening process — an application, a written exam and a physical exam — and urged applicants to be truthful on applications because background checks are performed.

Why it matters: Public-safety staffing and crime investigations affect response capacity and residents’ sense of security. Hiring could expand department staffing; ongoing investigations are active law-enforcement matters.

What remains open: The mayor gave no arrest update beyond the investigation status and did not present detailed staffing numbers or hiring timelines; applicants were directed to the city website for hiring packets and application information.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Episode 001 - March 2025 - City of St. Albans Podcast - From the Desk of Mayor Scott James","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Scott James said police were investigating a car break-in in which a firearm was taken and that the city’s police and fire departments are actively recruiting; he outlined application processes and basic screening steps.","taxTitle","St. Albans, Kanawha County, West Virginia","taxId",71338,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6304635,"St. Albans plans pickleball courts, park improvements and new entry signage; city unveils summer events slate",903,986000,1889000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910&start=986&end=1889","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910/thumbnail_986000.jpg","/articles/6304635/St-Albans/Kanawha-County/West-Virginia/St-Albans-plans-pickleball-courts-park-improvements-and-new-entry-signage-city-unveils-summer-events-slate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304635-170c4a5249efffadf5dae08a171795ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172789&Signature=W8-QPk924kxTY31i9F4Um89k5vP5ARnd4IREh23hBACqI6Bhgiug7xV~aVFRlhUhd68JvCzTpaMaaZtQj6Vtk5IiyBsitcI62LtQzTr1e2mN27JIEBuU0E9C-bxO0ACkGy1g9KEc7tOsZVNfYcOp1i034-u-jfIQK0a3FjYckNuiHqq7MNocUK0ryqmQHfwycYQd8awZcDphQS4kCID64Zvxs7v21ifE9AshBSA~CBNOh8EsqYr0z7c-5oEYHi5heTsnShg~FN2Fkq0Pfxhx0Dr-DXWEdKgWxRuZ5K2xhqeN8tx6c1uEZmsGXjAxIWzLFAamM2WhpjaGbGW0csvcdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Scott James said the city will add pickleball courts and undertake other recreation and beautification projects as funding becomes available.

James said the city received local economic development funds and plans to convert two tennis courts at Ordnance Park into two pickleball courts and one tennis court, and that the high school tennis courts would be restriped to include pickleball lines when levy funds arrive. He said the result would be six pickleball courts available across city facilities.

“We don't have plans to charge for pickleball courts,” James said, adding the city views the courts as a public amenity. He said work will go out to bid once funds are in hand.

On beautification, James said public works will replace city entrance signage at the east and west ends of town with brickwork, fencing, the new city logo and recognition for civic organizations and state championship teams from St. Albans High School.

The mayor also previewed a slate of events: a St. Patrick’s pub crawl (the “crawler” event) in mid‑March, a planned movie series on Old Main timed to several summer dates in collaboration with local radio, the annual Take a Walk on the Wild Side nature program on April 12, Yacht Fest in June and the Tour de Coal (kayak event) on June 14.

Why it matters: Recreation upgrades and events are community assets that can affect quality of life, local business traffic and tourism; signage changes will alter the city’s public image along major entry points.

What remains open: Exact funding sources and final contractor selections will be determined through bidding and committee approvals; the mayor said some dates and venue details will be posted on the city website and social media.","Mayor Scott James described planned recreation upgrades — two new pickleball courts at Ordnance Park and resurfacing at school facilities — a signage and beautification project at city entrances, and new outdoor events including 'Saturday Night on Old Main' movie nights and established festivals.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6304640,"Council to revisit former junior high property; mayor says housing and park options remain under debate",151,1572000,1723000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910&start=1572&end=1723","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910/thumbnail_1572000.jpg","/articles/6304640/St-Albans/Kanawha-County/West-Virginia/Council-to-revisit-former-junior-high-property-mayor-says-housing-and-park-options-remain-under-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304640-4b7208f2e5e4d5ee6598a10b68522fb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172789&Signature=NDfq6jiNiv8t1tpC0Udvm5iNhIy6rPUJzCHfeAVsZGq~XsNCaG5e3wEcwYd1zo9hz3xyFTVEybjL6QCs-N7pOHTEiQdoWXvSjXR5DxmsbitktOs45wwUAfPAHt2hyY~0OaOjyyM2lW8686~0aaPl3nuCFxoHQyySOIhNxl0xSInF3INZFDjwW11LebqamdCvKDjzMU9LkSAVoJKMkdwmseo7VwoVGMdDWwOWxK9CbTuaz88GUsHRkWTJqOB4IWlw3b3mnZTqY2y9-WRZBOoZf9bhwkoLJDz4Es8mkdaXu5CEehyHmfzpHEXwEPdxSbGYCi1gYeNxXBUQ7QEoVBRNmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Scott James said the city tabled a decision on the former junior high property and that the issue will return to the City Council for a vote at the March 3 meeting.

“We tabled it till then,” James said. He described two “schools of thought”: creating green space or parkland, which he estimated could cost “$350, 400,000” to grade, seed and maintain at a basic level, or pursuing housing development to add newer housing stock to a land‑constrained city.

James said he personally favors housing, citing research he said shows new housing brings population and economic growth. He also noted a series of public meetings had been held to gather input and that council representatives will vote on the property when it returns to the agenda.

Why it matters: The decision will determine public use of a centrally located parcel and could influence housing supply in St. Albans. The mayor framed the choice as balancing lower-cost park creation and longer-term economic development through new housing.

What’s next: Mayor James said the City Council will reconsider the item on March 3 and that additional details and potential investor meetings are ongoing; no final selection or contract was announced on the podcast.","Mayor Scott James said the city has received public input about the former junior high site and that council will revisit the matter at its March 3 meeting; options discussed include creating green space/park or developing new housing.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6304645,"Mayor James explains pothole repairs, paving ordinance and how residents can request streets",89,538000,627000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910&start=538&end=627","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910/thumbnail_538000.jpg","/articles/6304645/St-Albans/Kanawha-County/West-Virginia/Mayor-James-explains-pothole-repairs-paving-ordinance-and-how-residents-can-request-streets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304645-759a3a88f3711ee8878e17ce60635a5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172789&Signature=Z~He4oF6SDWPRrmbm-awLTBkzrEADmBmn1k~O8vsMKrZWpFMQ4uavVBNgOvdot5NKQ4t~W4HeQADFzNuPIYRt~OLd5HaIwr44zMAKaIhlgGwHCmA8azzL2sHEin8tqwoQ6titZlATyLd-IAMOBDcp-04SAlb5whbOLGDWU0bXQ8CG~30SpzOlLO6dGkajYCBTgZKRTqjfpXkG~VD2O1BK9U2lRI3Zma0H8dsBaqDpgjn9Odl0glNLudHc9wRwNnlzVfCn7aZcAdcHW9uWCrUj3quDBitIFkHGSiiUFkWvb3BXzkRSfekVwSgIuCKmfx1rC1B1CFXcBvgXqkrOq9Y9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Scott James told the city's podcast listeners that winter conditions force the city to use temporary patch material and that permanent paving follows seasonal limits and a formal ordinance-driven process.

“During the winter months, the asphalt plants close down. They do not produce asphalt. So we have to fill potholes with coal pads,” Mayor James said. He described those cold-weather repairs as shorter-lived fixes that the city replaces with hot-mix asphalt once the plants reopen in early to mid-March.

James outlined the process for longer-term paving: each council member compiles a ward paving list, those lists go to the public works committee, and the committee narrows the list based on need and available funds. The mayor said council members typically turn their lists in by February to mid‑March, and the public works committee inspects candidate roads before selection.

He also explained the city’s limits versus the state’s responsibility: residents should call the Department of Highways (DOH) for state roads, he said, and noted the city sometimes addresses state roads only when the state cannot respond promptly.

Why it matters: The explanation clarifies how residents can seek pavement work, why some pothole fixes are temporary and why repairs on state-maintained roads may require contacting the state rather than the city.

What residents should do: Mayor James urged residents to contact their council member to have a road added to a ward’s paving list and to report problem drains or localized flooding so public works can prioritize maintenance.","Mayor Scott James detailed how St. Albans handles pothole repairs during winter, the city’s paving ordinance and the ward-based paving list residents must use to request road work.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6304650,"St. Albans mayor outlines stormwater projects, FEMA funding push and multi-year utility plan",60,1139000,1199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910&start=1139&end=1199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2458643-d8d39236c9459b75aec60f70084ee910/thumbnail_1139000.jpg","/articles/6304650/St-Albans/Kanawha-County/West-Virginia/St-Albans-mayor-outlines-stormwater-projects-FEMA-funding-push-and-multi-year-utility-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6304650-57992212fad7659d79b89c37084b29a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172789&Signature=nXchlgbfBQFiSs-SV7ilxJcHalBZY-rHx4iKzWP0nSPlUnkrjEm8tG0bJwU20FyMEKwndD5JtNxg1aMH871WSL97sNLXLy9aoqbr2lyQpOvvji1pvp2LbrIBJgWAPsAvDpwLyTEIYBgM7Jz-KVHDJ9QQxSsw-Fdj9~1wD1HCv-LVFeF0gfdrzi53xBULLdtX4tp0Rg4N1aAUy0Rg~J3vzUaEPuwaX8wAU~32SnM8GjJy1NZYc7~PDZOtSBEYPWnTBPapi3rmTAVBQMXyA3F0P-jsQS8ZlPyT2xNIuGFVABaEuQn9qfFtq32uaeQpWMAnXaCC3Z4xOoc5LPVII8-vsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Scott James said St. Albans is moving ahead with multiple stormwater and water-system projects and is seeking federal funds to cover part of the cost.

“We're trying to meet all the criteria that FEMA has for the $2,843,000 congressionally direct spending ... from Senator [Shelley Moore] Capito's office for the rerouting of the Ramshorn storm drain,” Mayor James said on the city podcast. He described the work as substantial and warned it would cause detours and delays during construction.

The mayor said the Ramshorn work would fill an existing line beneath City National and reroute the drain down Sixth Avenue to reconnect with the larger channel after passing under other infrastructure. James described that earmarked federal amount as “maybe a little more than a third of the project,” and separately gave an overall multi-year estimate for utilities work.

“We have come up with an 8 to 10 year plan on infrastructure projects and an estimated cost over that period of time of $57,000,863,” James said. He listed that total as including the sewer plant, the water plant and water lines throughout the city.

James also said a separate water-tank project at City Park is slated to start soon, with scheduling dependent on weather. He attributed the availability of the federal funding request to work with the senator’s office and said the city is preparing bids once funding is secured.

City officials told listeners they are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on preliminary options to slow runoff — such as small retention ponds on creeks — but that such measures would require study and funding decisions after the study is complete.

Why it matters: Several items discussed — the Ramshorn reroute, the water-tank project and the 8–10 year utility estimate — affect city streets, traffic and long-term utility reliability and carry significant cost implications that will shape the city’s capital work and requests for outside funding.

What remains open: Mayor James supplied two different figures during the episode for the specific federal amount and its share of the project cost; the podcast transcript lists both $2,843,000 and $2,848,430 in separate passages. The timing of construction and the total funding gap depend on outcomes of FEMA and Corps of Engineers reviews and the city’s budgeting process.","Mayor Scott James described a set of stormwater and utilities projects — including a planned reroute of the Ramshorn storm drain, a city water-tank project and an 8–10 year infrastructure plan — and said the city is seeking federal assistance to cover part of the work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mayor: police pursuing car-break suspect; city recruiting for police and fire roles

St. Albans plans pickleball courts, park improvements and new entry signage; city unveils summer events slate

Council to revisit former junior high property; mayor says housing and park options remain under debate

Mayor James explains pothole repairs, paving ordinance and how residents can request streets

St. Albans mayor outlines stormwater projects, FEMA funding push and multi-year utility plan