Administration and Finance Committee forwards five items to full council, including TIF public hearing and police grants

The Huntington City Council Administration and Finance Committee on Feb. 24 voted to forward five resolutions to full council, including two grant applications for the state Drug Evaluation and Classification (DRE) program, two contracts for police vehicles and facility repairs, and a resolution setting a March 24 public hearing on a proposed sales-tax TIF district.

The committee—composed of council members Arthur, Rombaugh, Holly, Archer and Walling—moved each item to full council with favorable recommendations after staff presentations and brief questions. All motions passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Beau Evans, traffic safety director, presented two resolutions related to the West Virginia Commission on Drunk Driving Prevention (CEDP) that fund the city’s DRE program, which is administered locally through the Huntington Regional Highway Safety program. The first resolution, 2025-R-16, would authorize the mayor to apply for and accept an $88,000 grant to purchase a 2025 Ford Police Interceptor and related equipment to be used by the West Virginia DRE program coordinator, who is a Huntington Police officer. Evans said the purchase would replace an older interceptor and that “this funding is reimbursable from the CEDP to the city of Huntington, and there are no matching funds required for this grant.” A motion from Ms. Rombaugh and a second from Mr. Arthur moved the resolution forward.

The second grant, 2025-R-17, seeks $15,600 to expand statewide training in DWI detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), covering instructor fees and lodging for officers who will provide training on their days off. Evans told the committee the city recently used a CEDP grant to certify nine additional officers as instructors and said the new funding would allow more trainings in critical-need areas. Mr. Arthur moved and Ms. Rombaugh seconded the motion to forward the item.

Mark Bates, public works director, presented bids for a partial roof replacement at the Public Works Complex and municipal garage (resolution 2025-R-19). The city received four bids: Par Roofing of Huntington ($56,400); Thoroughbred Construction Group of Ashland, Kentucky ($46,891.12); Tri State Roofing and Sheet Metal Company of Charleston ($65,402); and Fairfax Inc. of Chesapeake, Ohio ($59,000). Bates said the administration recommends awarding the contract to Thoroughbred Construction and that the expense will be paid from bonds previously approved by council and appropriated in the Public Works general fund budget. Ms. Rombaugh moved the recommendation and Mr. Arthur seconded.

Kathy Burns presented resolution 2025-R-20 to establish a public hearing on a proposed excise (sales tax) TIF district and its boundaries. Burns explained that West Virginia law allows cities and counties to request enabling legislation from the state legislature to create sales-tax TIF districts, and that Huntington would retain a share of incremental sales tax collected within a defined area if the legislature approves such legislation. Burns said the public hearing is required to be noticed 30 days in advance and requested that the committee set the hearing for the March 24 council meeting at 7:30 p.m. She described the proposed boundary roughly from the city’s eastern gateway (30 First Street East) through portions of Third and Fifth Avenues, including the ACF property, the central business district and the Innovation District along Fourth Avenue. Burns said the administration’s pro forma projects approximately $21,000,000 in new general sales tax increment and estimated the district could support about $25,000,000 in bonded projects and $12,000,000 in pay-as-you-go projects, but she emphasized that no projects have been promised and any use of funds would require separate approval by the city. The motion to forward the public-hearing resolution was moved and seconded by council members.

Finally, Huntington Police Chief Phil Watkins asked the committee to forward resolution 2025-R-21 authorizing the mayor to contract with Rocky Fork Enterprises of Charleston to paint, mark and install emergency equipment on two marked patrol vehicles. Watkins said the purchasing division opened the solicitation on Jan. 29 and received one bid from Rocky Fork Enterprises in the amount of $38,757. He said the expenditure will be funded from the police department’s existing state asset forfeiture account. Ms. Rombaugh moved the item forward and Ms. Holly seconded.

Each item will return to the full Huntington City Council for final consideration and any council-level votes or additional debate.