Huntington committee forwards housing rehab loan, Hub leases and workers’ comp credit to full council

The Administration and Finance Committee on Feb. 23 voted to send several housing and finance measures to the full Huntington City Council with favorable recommendations.

Melinda Midkiff, a financial analyst with the Department of Development, told the committee that Ordinance 2026-08 would allow the city to accept a forgivable $120,000 loan from the West Virginia Housing Development Fund to support Project Shine, the city’s housing rehabilitation program. Midkiff said the money would be spent over a two-year period, with the city submitting invoices and backup documentation for reimbursement, and that the lender provides a release once the funds have been exhausted and outcomes are met. “This is the fifth year that the city has been awarded funds as part of this competitive process,” Midkiff said.

The committee moved and voted unanimously to forward the ordinance to full council with a favorable recommendation.

Scott Lemley, speaking from the mayor’s office, asked that the ordinance and a related resolution tied to the Paul Ambrose Trail For Health (“The Path”) be returned to the administration for further work before full-council consideration. Committee members acknowledged the request and indicated the trail items would be addressed later in the council agenda.

City Attorney Scott Damron outlined two lease measures for Huntington Homeless Services Hub Inc. Resolution 2026-R-14 would lease city-owned personal property located at the Hub — cots, linens, kitchen equipment, an industrial washer and dryer and related items — for use in operating a below-barrier shelter; the lease term is five years at $1 per year and requires the Hub to obtain liability insurance before the lease takes effect. “The lease agreement will establish a separation of the operation from the city for the purposes of protection to the city against any liability that may arise,” Damron said.

Resolution 2026-R-15 would assign by lease three city-owned parcels (including the Hub building and nearby lots) to the Hub for operation. Damron said the Hub must carry liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000; the city would retain responsibility for major repairs such as HVAC systems and noted recent renovations and warranties lessen near-term concerns. Both resolutions were moved, seconded and forwarded to full council with favorable recommendations.

Rick Montgomery, the city comptroller, presented Resolution 2026-R-17 to authorize the mayor to renew a WesBanco letter of credit required by the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner as part of the city’s workers’ compensation self-insurance surety. Montgomery said the required letter of credit amount is $218,317 and that the fees are 15%, described in the meeting as $3,275. He noted that, although such instruments have been required for years, the city has never had to draw on them to pay claims. The committee voted to forward the resolution to full council with a favorable recommendation.

All motions reported in committee were approved by voice vote with members saying “aye”; the committee asked committee members to sponsor the items when they proceed to the full council.