St. Albans Council has given final approval to the annexation of three properties in the Amandaville area after a hostile standing-room-only crowd voiced opposition.
The vote was unanimous to take in Anne Bailey Elementary School, the Amandaville Court apartments, the city's trash transfer station just across the Putnam County line, and portions of U.S. 60 and W.Va. 817 in the Amandaville area.
Mayor Dick Callaway said the annexation is now final with no action required by either the county or state.
Callaway said the annexation will allow the city to provide police and fire services to the properties, which currently are in an unincorporated area. Because no homeowners or businesses are directly affected and the areas are being added to the city by petition, an election is not required.
Council got an earful prior to the vote.
Steve Walker said, "St. Albans' city limit ends at the Coal River and that's where it needs to stay." His comment was followed by a chorus of amens.
Cereda Watson, chairwoman of the Amandaville Improvement Association, said, "This is the fourth or fifth time you've tried to get into the Amandaville housing. Oliver Street is the only street in the state system - all of the other streets are privately owned."
Kin Sayre, a lawyer with the firm Bowles Rice, said he was speaking on behalf of the owners of Joe Pyle's auto auction. "Their only concern is they want assurance that there's no intention to annex their business or plan to make a hostile annexation effort in the future," he said. Callaway said there is no such intent.
Alan Fleishman asked if the business and occupation taxes would go up for businesses in the area. Callaway said B&O taxes wouldn't rise because there aren't any businesses in the annexed area.
Nancy Pearl, who said she lives across the street from Anne Bailey Elementary School, asked if people where she lives will be affected by the annexation. Callaway said they will not.
Three people spoke in favor of the annexation.
Ward 3 Councilman Ron Colby, who sits on the city's housing authority, said the authority's Board of Directors wrote a letter requesting Amandaville Court be brought into the city.
Michael Scott, who said he lives at Amandaville Court, said he would appreciate the city taking in the housing development. "The road over there is terrible," he said. "For my part, this is desperately needed."
A woman in the crowd who did not identify herself said that her car was just damaged when she hit a pothole and that she is in favor of the annexation.
The chief of the West Side Volunteer Fire Department, who did not give his name, said the mayor was incorrect when he said earlier this month that vandals had once burned down the city's transfer station.
"That was an electrical fire," he said.
In other action, council:
n Welcomed Joey Puterbaugh, the city's newest firefighter.
n Honored Ryan Davis, Christopher Marquart, Josh Woodrum and Matthew Curry for their volunteer help with the haunted trail at City Park.
n Agreed to give city employees Christmas Eve off work, as has been done in past years.
n Agreed to pay current invoices, which total $15,875.
During announcements, Callaway:
n Said city and Municipal Utility Commission offices will be closed Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
n Reminded everyone that the Festival of Lights at City Park will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Nov. 27 to Dec. 23, closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, and open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 26.
Councilman-at-large John Boles Jr., who has health issues, did not attend Monday's meeting.
Council's next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 on the second floor of the municipal building, 51 Sixth Ave.