[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6267228,"mediaKeyId","3077153-7e9bddaca826bfa3af4293d5169ec739","parentId",3077153,"title","St. Albans council approves finance items, authorizes bids for police body cameras under COPS grant","audioSeconds",136,"startMs",1186000,"endMs",1322000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077153-7e9bddaca826bfa3af4293d5169ec739&start=1186&end=1322","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077153-7e9bddaca826bfa3af4293d5169ec739/thumbnail_1186000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267228/St-Albans/Kanawha-County/West-Virginia/St-Albans-council-approves-finance-items-authorizes-bids-for-police-body-cameras-under-COPS-grant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267228-e96b9b31410321c35eb11bc8caa7ad0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961891&Signature=dkRzSt5V2FmPb5M6Gbl6mUrjUZEcRpWyH-7a1NnXAEwI9wh2Vdv~9CBnzIGwDt-1qQ2pI6QIVnajer0g9T1ITCBFr-ryC~DUW6CNkbecohJQBAzHajCyr5yVBXFzpjO6xFfOW3FXDc9Ip2lfi7DfiHQmM3z9OoAjghJ866YDLqwTyR0BEc1ehwA2oZUCLfw1AcAe~~uiHAIpioQrKt6E0Z9D8ANl3z7ufumGUikDEpA34vL8m-2rQ3nkT9Cl~wnT~i81BL6t6b9Rl5DupLzzD-glj7tT7C12PqkGRaVwNV~qdV5JQRfn2dHs--3no3S85k7F~BZYLFVROrBQ6V5dCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of St. Albans, WV","date","2025-04-22T08:28:54.693Z","article","The St. Albans City Council on April 21 approved a package of finance and operations measures and completed an ordinance first reading that will affect contractor licensing.

Key finance and operations actions included approval of current invoices, a demolition payment, budget approvals for municipal utilities, an award for tree removal, and authorization to solicit sealed bids for police body cameras and a server hub to be paid by a $150,000 COPS grant.

Councilman Roe, presenting the Finance Committee report, asked the council to approve payment of current invoices totaling $31,666.85; the motion carried by voice vote. The council also approved payment of $7,000 to Rodney Loftus and Sons Contracting for demolition of property located at 613 And 1 Half Spring Street, to be paid from line item 441-459-02.

The council approved the MEC water, sewer and stormwater budgets for fiscal year 2026 (no line-item details were read into the record) and approved seeking sealed bids for body cameras and a server hub to be funded by a $150,000 COPS grant; council members said the purchase will protect officers and provide retained evidence storage, with a policy for camera retention to be developed.

Other approved items: awarding a quote to All Your Tree Needs in the amount of $5,400 for tree removal near the address cited in the meeting record; seeking sealed bids for street maintenance; and approving the request to seek sealed bids described above. The council also held a first reading of an ordinance amending Article 753 of the codified ordinances to add subsection 7-53.371 for contractors/handyman license fees; the first reading carried by voice vote and an amendment to an existing contractors/handyman ordinance also passed first reading. The council confirmed the appointment of Councilman Kutz to replace Councilman McKinney on the Parks and Recreation Committee, term to expire 06/30/2028.

Votes at a glance (voice votes; counts not recorded):
- Approve payment of current invoices: $31,666.85 — approved.
- Payment to Rodney Loftus and Sons Contracting: $7,000 (demolition of 613 And 1 Half Spring Street), line item 441-459-02 — approved.
- Approve MEC water, sewer, stormwater budgets for FY2026 — approved.
- Seek sealed bids for police body cameras and server hub (to be paid by $150,000 COPS grant) — authorized.
- Award quote to All Your Tree Needs: $5,400 (tree removal) — approved.
- Seek sealed bids for street maintenance — authorized.
- Ordinance first reading: amend Article 753 to add contractors/handyman license fees (7-53.371) — first reading passed.
- Amendment to existing contractors/handyman ordinance (17 o 5 lisonbee) — first reading passed.
- Confirm appointment of Councilman Kutz to Parks & Recreation Committee (term to 06/30/2028) — approved.

Council members said a retention policy for camera footage will be drafted; one council member noted technical features of some body-camera systems that may capture limited pre-activation video and that staff will develop a policy and request bids reflecting local practices. Several motions were handled as routine business and carried by voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","St. Albans City Council Meeting - April 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","St. Albans City Council approved a package of finance and operations measures on April 21, including invoice payments, demolition and tree-removal contracts, utility budgets, and authorization to seek sealed bids for police body cameras funded by a $150,000 COPS grant.","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},6267232,"Council approves administrative resubdivision petition for 2312 Canal Terrace",65,308000,373000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077153-7e9bddaca826bfa3af4293d5169ec739&start=308&end=373","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077153-7e9bddaca826bfa3af4293d5169ec739/thumbnail_308000.jpg","/articles/6267232/St-Albans/Kanawha-County/West-Virginia/Council-approves-administrative-resubdivision-petition-for-2312-Canal-Terrace","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267232-612ff000d542dbd1919b401789dcae18/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961891&Signature=SF3qvytheTSmo2qsu8lD5EMCbyLR14vK44hwHv3LkltMMM26myt1DUMbJ9cQzT860FPbqTjqOET6vi51bn8E~cjUtI~KO3beEluy7Z-zw4tdKlfIYqzFP-XdTEtW1fbaV9Jif9iEt5DMsLDoPfIgSkNm~b4jFq5ZOemIt10743yPhdStxcHzT85-5gMGCHNpkiu~JXjRzm41mPXZ8aguIvOM-sHglxHE-5dk1seyhGKrxIzXPIAVpPPoBS68jCicz~EDwpKY9iVH8HsaP2VNWJGHFio6EonSzWWb4P1J6TDkvhnegorNpt8Y9nXURMa3RZfBrs2-YNidYjrEBx-FHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Albans City Council voted Monday to approve a petition from Susan Mitchison for an administrative resubdivision of property at 2312 Canal Terrace.

Councilman Fairfield reported that Mitchison has prepared required maps and boundaries and has taken necessary preliminary steps; the council approved the petition and directed staff to prepare an ordinance for final adoption. Fairfield said the property includes a house and an apartment; Mitchison intends to move into the apartment and sell the house once the resubdivision is complete.

The motion carried by voice vote. Council members congratulated the applicants and welcomed them to St. Albans.","Council moved to approve an administrative resubdivision petition submitted by Susan Mitchison for 2312 Canal Terrace and instructed staff to prepare the required ordinance for final adoption.",{"_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},6267237,"St. Albans council refers municipal-judge election and council-size review to ordinance committee",264,633000,897000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077153-7e9bddaca826bfa3af4293d5169ec739&start=633&end=897","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077153-7e9bddaca826bfa3af4293d5169ec739/thumbnail_633000.jpg","/articles/6267237/St-Albans/Kanawha-County/West-Virginia/St-Albans-council-refers-municipal-judge-election-and-council-size-review-to-ordinance-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267237-1d8e2b617d11898a1d4a53e6ba9f58d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961891&Signature=ogWIbem1Tcz-Zglfd4-q6Njwns1hhI3FSa~iIc7SHftRBsqyh7uM2cBuRgFKLznO5f8WrHM2pncvLSKsc-gl5WPyB4pCS96Opjw~b5kodipyBPtKgNmplistk3apnF~phmkkIvOC~scBrmKRiJwLjHz~qcXVkqjySBUvYXXfJ4X0ab3aplm22-ztgrkPtsQ5gq~NuyEmGASkJFlsKM3qxkwpJlNeAmDybLr9fNjt4FuSZPa5bmzv6SPsGy1lT~T0MbJVv-NrP0Pe~DQbIBtnT6tmNw3gAIvgLV7cd~oGEGUHjfkYJxrnnaoG~tNh6DtmsIFdr9xe2cczyxjbp99sFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Albans City Council on April 21 voted to refer two charter-and-code topics to the Ordinance Committee: whether the municipal judge should be an elected position and whether the size of the City Council should be decreased.

Councilman Page moved to send the question of making the municipal judge an elected office to the Ordinance Committee for further investigation and drafting. Page said there is precedent for elected municipal judges elsewhere and that citizens should have a say in who handles the matters dealt with by that court. The motion passed by voice vote.

The council also voted to refer review of decreasing the size of the City Council to the Ordinance Committee. The motion’s sponsor said the city’s population has declined since the current council size was set and suggested a review to determine whether fewer councilmembers would improve efficiency and align St. Albans with comparable municipalities. Some members expressed concern that downsizing could make it easier for a small clique of members to control decisions; others said a smaller council might be more productive. The matter will be discussed by the Ordinance Committee and a draft ordinance prepared if the committee recommends change.

Both referrals are study-only at this stage: the committee will research precedent, review charter implications and redistricting issues, and return recommendations to the full council. Any change to the municipal judge’s status or council size would require charter or code amendments and would not take effect immediately; council members noted such changes would be scheduled for the next applicable election cycle if approved.","Council members voted to send two separate proposals — making the municipal judge an elected position and reducing the size of the city council — to the ordinance committee for research and a draft ordinance; proponents cited precedent and efficiency, opponents warned about concentration of power.",{"_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},6267242,"St. Albans council sends proposed illuminated-sign rules to planning commission",267,411000,678000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077153-7e9bddaca826bfa3af4293d5169ec739&start=411&end=678","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077153-7e9bddaca826bfa3af4293d5169ec739/thumbnail_411000.jpg","/articles/6267242/St-Albans/Kanawha-County/West-Virginia/St-Albans-council-sends-proposed-illuminated-sign-rules-to-planning-commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267242-2e942d4a1faaf98fce840f80cfda937c/orig.mp4?Expires=1774961891&Signature=m11UIwK-Qln~brzGx~wOFj2jYt5~AF9E9DAovTPNofRPxTlWAO0-qQ6ZKx7nKmxCe1YfzMnGvmTMgKqumZP4aSUniJwdUlhkpZi7YDfbPVCwGShdhpP6g1rKqMsIifR-9YU3Rf1IpDKrDcPunNzRagjDJEu0onwlvWEtr~MOwkaV7vpKW9WUj-eGnQcjC3yGHJN8~PAGgnVY-W8tPOXqFqofPFvvFXHbEkmnYTrNRSffEfVBoApf0Yv2bSScgZ37ONhu5RxmLq801yPdyjdE3VLNaUpXl30JpoJJdG9T7XrSd2bCQnV5zDGLpUlOyQRKskK2gdXUzfxL1I1mPPYoOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Albans City Council on Monday voted to send a proposed amendment to the city zoning code that would change rules for illuminated signage to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a public hearing and recommendation.

The motion, approved by voice vote, would amend zoning code section 1-3-3.16 and related appendices to address prohibited illuminated signage and would require an ordinance to enact any change.

Council members discussed the practical reason behind the request: the city aims to allow a marquee at the police station that would announce police and city business, but members said they want to avoid allowing bright, illuminated signs in residential neighborhoods. Several council members suggested limiting any new allowance to Route 60 or other specified commercial corridors rather than making the change citywide.

Council members noted there are existing illuminated signs for some churches and businesses that were approved under prior councils and said the Planning and Zoning Commission should consider whether those signs should remain grandfathered. The council also discussed technical aspects such as light height and LED brightness and asked staff to present narrower geographic or design limits to reduce neighborhood disturbance.

Next steps: the Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing and return a recommendation to the City Council; if the commission recommends changes, an ordinance will be drafted for council consideration.","On April 21 the St. Albans City Council voted to send a proposed amendment to the zoning code about illuminated signage to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a public hearing and recommendation; councilmembers discussed restricting changes to commercial corridors to protect neighborhoods.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

St. Albans council approves finance items, authorizes bids for police body cameras under COPS grant

Council approves administrative resubdivision petition for 2312 Canal Terrace

St. Albans council refers municipal-judge election and council-size review to ordinance committee

St. Albans council sends proposed illuminated-sign rules to planning commission