Ravenswood council approves multiple grant drawdowns, hears updates on tanks, lagoons and kayak launch

Ravenswood City Council on Nov. 18 approved multiple grant drawdowns and a supplemental loan resolution as officials said work is progressing on several water, sewer and river‑access projects.

The council voted to approve drawdown invoices related to the sewer and marina projects and to extend a construction anticipation note tied to the sewer project. Carly, a city staff presenter, told the council the Silver Hills water storage tanks required restabilization after observed earth movement and that crews “drove really long steel rods into the ground at an angle, and then there was a concrete retaining wall placed,” which also allowed the tank site to be extended for parking and maintenance access.

Why it matters: The drawdowns and resolution keep multiple federally and state‑funded projects moving: the sewer phase work that must reach construction to stop accruing interest on short‑term financing, completion of the lagoon phase that will accept flow, and river‑access features that the city hopes will boost recreation and local business activity.

Council approved a draw for phase 2A of the sewer work that included invoices listed in meeting materials (Thrasher Group $50,700; Steve Koger $2,160; MOBRC $2,730.88; and an added $55 consulting invoice from RD Newell & Associates), a package the presiding official said totaled $55,590.88 and was forwarded to the West Virginia Development Authority for processing. Carly told the council the lagoon control panels were expected by the end of the week and contractor installation was scheduled for the week after Thanksgiving, with the lagoons able to begin accepting new flow by mid‑December and projected flow service in March.

The council also approved draw number 6 for the marina and boat slips to pay for additional security cameras (DGR Support LLC invoice $1,873) and consultant support (RD Newell & Associates $205), leaving an estimated $146,199.11 remaining in that specific grant line, the presiding official said. Discussion noted possible future uses of remaining funds — for a linear transient boat slip near the proposed welcome center and a potential diverter to reduce Sand Creek debris buildup.

On financing, John Stump of Steptoe & Johnson, bond counsel for the city, explained the city’s 2020 construction anticipation note related to early sewer design and pre‑construction costs. Stump said the council was being asked to approve a supplemental resolution “which authorizes an extension of the maturity date for the construction anticipation note to 06/30/2026” to give the city six additional months to get the project to construction and pay off the note from loan and grant proceeds. The council voted to adopt the resolution.

Councillors and staff said they would continue meetings with contractors to try to keep other projects within the $1.5 million grant ceiling for the proposed Welcome Center/Business Incubator; the council instructed staff to meet with the low‑bid contractor and explore design changes or, if necessary, request a grant amendment.

What council approved (summary of formal actions): - Approval of phase 2A drawdown and associated invoices; motion adopted as presented. - Approval of draw number 6 for marina/boat slips (security camera and consultant invoices); motion adopted. - Approval of draw number 4 for bidding/construction documents from Thrasher Group ($12,800) for the Welcome Center/Business Incubator; motion adopted. - Adoption of a supplemental resolution extending the construction anticipation note maturity date to June 30, 2026; motion adopted.

Next steps: Staff said they expect lagoon control panel installation the week after Thanksgiving, with contractors aiming to have the lagoons accepting flow by mid‑December; the council moved into executive session at 8:11 p.m. after completing the public portion of the meeting.