Jacob Arnold, Charleston’s public works director, stands beside one of 86 lighted Christmas decorations being set up in South Charleston’s Little Creek Park on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.
Here’s a roundup of what happened in October — plus a little of what’s to come in November — in municipal government in Kanawha County’s outlying towns and cities.
Belle
Representatives from Belle were unavailable to provide any information by deadline for this story.
Cedar Grove
Multiple attempts to contact Mayor Melissa Young went unanswered.
At the Oct. 28 town council meeting, Mayor Melissa Hill said some entities — including churches — were not paying for the use of municipal properties for events. Hill said fees charged will now be equitable for all.
In a public notice, the town and its sanitary board acknowledged that the entities had not been in compliance regarding annual audits. In a statement, representatives wrote, "Specifically, there were three years of back audits that had not been conducted. We are pleased to announce that the current Administration has successfully addressed this issue." The auditor’s reports from fiscal years 2021-2023 identified several deficiencies including "incomplete" ledgers, and that the town did not employ people with "the skills, knowledge, and/or experience for the adequate bookkeeping of their financial activity."
Town employees are checking public records to determine whether or not any of the town's debts may have already been paid. However, the search has not yielded such information thus far, according to the mayor.
Clendenin
Applications are available at the Town Hall for the Christmas parade, and also for the town's decoration contests.
Mayor Kay Summers said work continues on the Clendenin Trailhead in downtown Clendenin, and work is complete on the boat dock at the foot of Virginia Avenue.
12-3 p.m., Nov. 23: Main Street will be closed for an Adopt-A-Pup event. The Kanawha Charleston Humane Association will have puppies and dogs for adoption.
7:30 p.m. Nov. 23, Clendenin Community Center, 103 First Ave.: A free movie will shown, along with free popcorn and drinks.
A cruiser sits outside the Dunbar Police Department on Oct. 31, 2024.
Gazette-Mail file photo
Dunbar
With a unanimous vote by city council, John Garten was sworn in as the new police chief on Oct. 7. Garten has more than 20 years' experience with the Charleston Police Department. Garten said at the meeting, "This is a new chapter for the City of Dunbar, and for me. Everything is going to be evaluated, transparent, well-documented, and we're all going to go forward."
This is an aerial view of the Nitro Athletic Complex, which opened to the public in 2023.
Courtesy file photo
Nitro
The Nitro Athletic Complex received the "Placemaking Award" from the Charleston Area Alliance as part of the "We Love Our Community" 2024 awards.
11 a.m, Saturday, Living Memorial Park, 2009 20th St.: Wagging Tails and Nitro Ales Chili Cook-off. There are 22 cooks registered. Attendees will pick a People's Choice winner. Proceeds benefit HospiceCare and other local charities.
Major General William “Bill” Crane, the Adjutant General, will be speaking at one of the City of Nitro's Veterans Day ceremonies.
Submitted Photo | The City of Nitro
5 p.m., Nov. 10, Nitro Veterans Memorial, 21st Street and First Avenue: Veterans Day event featuring a lowering-of-flags ceremony. The keynote speaker will be Maj. General William “Bill” Crane, Adjutant General of West Virginia National Guard.
7:30 a.m., Nov. 11, Nitro Veterans Memorial: A second Veterans Day event will feature the raising of the flags at sunrise followed by lowering the flags to half-staff.
St. Albans
The city will soon have a new million-gallon water tank for residents in the east end of town, according to Mayor Scott James, who said the current water tank is leaking.
The St. Albans Festival of Lights will run from Nov. 26-Dec. 26. Find details at salights.com.
Jacob Arnold, Charleston’s public works director, stands beside one of 86 lighted Christmas decorations being set up in South Charleston’s Little Creek Park on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.
CHRIS DORST | Gazette-Mail
South Charleston
At the Oct. 3 city council meeting, council unanimously awarded a $5.4 million bid to ZMM Architects for the planning and concept, final design, construction inspection, and administration of the construction of a proposed $80 million health and wellness center. City Manager Rick Atkinson confirmed that the project is in its first phase, which includes conceptual planning, cost estimates and site options. Mayor Frank Mullens envisions a "state-of-the-art health club" with separate therapy and recreational swimming pools, e-gaming, and pickleball courts. In addition, Mullens hopes the project can include a separate indoor space for sports, concerts and conferences.
Mullens said the city is working on a 'cat-control' problem on the west end of town. "We have a situation where someone's hoarding cats," Mullens said. "We've had anywhere from 20 to 25 cats on one property at one time." Mullens said the cats will be trapped, spayed/neutered, and released.
Over 700 customers currently have access to the local SecureNet fiberoptic internet network, which Mullens says will create better pricing and competition for South Charleston residents.
A date hasn't been set yet, but sometime during Thanksgiving week there will be a Christmas tree lighting at Little Creek Park. Holiday decorations were purchased for $38,000 from Tennessee-based Christmas Done Bright, according to meeting minutes. Mullens said this is part of an ongoing effort improve the city's annual holiday light show.
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