St. Albans council updates purchasing thresholds, approves multiple fire and equipment expenditures
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Summary
The St. Albans City Council voted to update its purchasing policy to reflect recent West Virginia state purchasing changes and approved a series of finance committee recommendations including vehicle and equipment purchases for local fire departments and several vendor payments.
The St. Albans City Council voted to update the city purchasing policy to mirror changes in the West Virginia state purchasing policy and approved several finance committee recommendations, including purchases and payments for the St. Albans and St. Thomas fire departments.
Councilman Page moved to update the city purchasing policy “to mirror the state,” noting the state lowered the sealed-bid threshold and increased the amount that a local official may approve. A staff member, Ronnie, told council the state changed its rules in December and that the city will need an ordinance to amend Article 107 to reflect the sealed-bid threshold change. The motion carried.
The council’s finance committee presented multiple items and the council approved each during the meeting. Approved items included: the payment of invoices totaling about $20,210.99; the purchase of a 2013 GMT truck for public works for $6,200 to be paid from the coal severance fund; soliciting bids for a UTV for the St. Thomas Fire Department to be paid from opioid funds; the purchase of medical bags and equipment up to $2,500 for the St. Albans Fire Department to be paid from opioid funds; obtaining an actuarial study from MPOB’s Bolton for the St. Albans Fire Department, up to $7,500 from line item 441-459; and a vendor payment of $2,819.87 to Atlantic Emergency Intelligence for engine valve rebuilds charged to line item 706-217. Each motion was put to a voice vote and the council chair announced the motion carried.
Council also confirmed the appointment of Tammy Lattar, of 204 Bowie Street, to the Parks and Recreation Committee to fill an unexpired term ending June 30, 2026. The appointment was approved by voice vote.
Votes at a glance
- Update purchasing policy to mirror WV state purchasing policy (change to ordinance Article 107 required for sealed-bid threshold). Motion: move to update purchasing policy to mirror the state (moved by Councilman Page). Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve payment of invoices totaling $20,210.99. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve purchase of 2013 GMT truck for public works, $6,200, paid from coal severance fund. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Authorize solicitation of bids for a UTV for the St. Thomas Fire Department, to be paid with opioid funds. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve purchase of medical bags and equipment for St. Albans Fire Department, up to $2,500, paid with opioid funds. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve procurement of an actuarial study from MPOB’s Bolton for the St. Albans Fire Department, up to $7,500, charged to line item 441-459. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve payment of $2,819.87 to Atlantic Emergency Intelligence for engine valve rebuilds, charged to line item 706-217. Outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Confirm appointment of Tammy Lattar to the Parks and Recreation Committee (term to expire 06/30/2026). Outcome: approved (voice vote).
Why it matters: The purchasing-policy update aligns city procedures with recently revised state rules and raises the local approval threshold cited by council members as necessary because small-dollar thresholds “don’t get you anything nowadays,” in the council’s words. Several public safety purchases were funded from designated sources (coal severance and opioid funds) or from specific budget line items, which the council identified on the record.
The council chair and finance committee members did not read a roll-call vote on these items; each was approved by voice vote and announced as carried.
