By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
The City of Parsons City Council addreseds ongoing projects and other city business. Among updates presented to the council, City of Parsons Police Chief Kevin Keplinger provided updates on law enforcement in the city and representatives from Thrasher Architecture, Engineering and Field Services provided updates on three projects.
Police Chief Kevin Keplinger told the council of an incident that concerned him recently. According to Keplinger about a week and a half ago, his department received a complaint about a four wheeler in the dead end of Main Street area that had interaction with residents. “By the time we got on scene, the patrolman got on scene, the four wheeler had already left,” Keplinger said. “Had a little bit of interaction with some residents down there and a baggie of a green leafy substance that to the best of my training, knowledge and experience I would say was marijuana, was recovered. When that was tested by field test kit, it tested immediately and very strongly for amphetamines. So we did not get a chance to interview this person. So I don’t know if that was intentional. I don’t know if we’re dealing with laced marijuana, but it may not be. So just want to make people aware of that.”
Keplinger also updated the council on the latest developments in the city. “We had 40 calls for service, 911 calls for service, CAD calls for service since our last meeting,” Keplinger said. “Several of those have included some rather complex investigations that we’re working right now kind of hand in hand with the Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services on a few abuse/neglect complaints that I think we are probably going to end up presenting to the fall grand jury.”
Keplinger said his department had several successful hearing on several felony charges, as well. “We successfully had a preliminary hearing on several felony charges for Homewood St. Those were bound over for trial,” Keplinger said. “So those will proceed to trial very shortly.”
Keplinger also told the council that the two AED units donated to the department by the Tucker EMS are now in the vehicles and ready for use should the need arise. “There’s been several times that I’ve been out on a call that I could have used them and I anticipate that at some point in time we probably will.”
Keplinger also said he had been contacted by Tucker County Emergency Management Director Kevin White about a state program supplying Narcan and Epipens. “The Governor is going through a, I guess an emphasis on pushing Narcan for first responders. We carry Narcan. That was one of the first things I did when I came here, but there’s an expiration date and ours expire January of 24. So I’m going to get together with Kevin White and we are going to pick up some fresh supply of Narcan.”
In regards to the Epipens, Keplinger said he had some liability concerns about his department carrying and distributing them. “He’s also getting Epipens,” Keplinger said. “I am a little leery about that and I just think maybe and reach out to me sometime. My concern is the liability. If I was to have an Epipen and I give it to somebody else and they use it, you know is that different then trying to use it myself? You understand my concern with it? So, its an absolutely important thing, but I don’t want to put us in a position of liability with anything like that.”
Thrasher provided information to the council on the status of the Parsons-Hamrick PSD Emergency Interconnection, Parsons Sanitary Sewer System Improvements and Parsons Water System Improvements Project.
In regards to the Emergency Interconnection project, Thrasher said they are still awaiting Bid Authorization from the WV Development Office. Other updates included that all bid documents are ready and all permits have been received as was a preliminary title opinion. Thrasher said that both their organization and Region VII have repeatedly reached out for updates on the bid authorization documents.
The Parsons Sanitary Sewer System Improvements updates given by Thrasher included a funding application that was accepted by WVJDC and a facility plan was submitted to DEP. Other updates on the project included the sewer replacement design was in progress with the field layout complete, mapping is being updated, bid documents on the project are 60 percent complete and the design plan is 20 percent complete. Thrasher said they are going to prepare an easement list for the proposed replacement areas and the Project Team will soon begin having conference calls with DEP on the project. According the Thrasher, the estimated construction cost of the project will be $3.1 million with a total estimated project cost of $4.01 million.
The Parsons Water System Improvements Project updates included a funding application approved by WVIJDC, a application submitted to the DWTRF Program by Region VII, an application for $500,000 in Earmark Funds was submitted and passed the first step of approval. Other updates on the project included information on the Waterline Replacement Design process. The field layout is 50 percent complete and the mapping is being updated on the project. According to Thrasher, the project team is discussing additional grant eligibility through the Economic Enhancement Grant Funds. Thrasher reported that the estimated project cost is $3.184 million with a total estimated project cost of $3.984 million.
Councilman Tim Turner updated the council on a conversation that was held with the Softball League over damaged equipment. According to Turner, the league agreed to pay for the damaged rake right away and will be paying off the other damages over time. “They are going to work at paying for the rake and the other thing they are going to have to pay over time because they don’t have a regular income coming in. So I guess it will just be whatever they can charge groups or teams or leagues or whatever. So they will pay that over time.”
City Administrator Agnes Arnold informed the council that the demolition of the three buildings approved by the council previously was on track to be completed by the deadline. According to Arnold, the city is only awaiting release by DEP to begin the demolition and Arnold said she is confident that all properties will be demolished by the September 30 deadline.
The next meeting of the Parsons City Council will be held August 15th at 6 p.m. at the Charles W. “Bill” Rosenau Municipal Building at 341 Second Street in Parsons.
