By Kelly Stadelman
For The Parsons Advocate
While the Thomas City Council considers contracting with a local company for trash removal, officials search for additional abandoned and dilapidated structures, including outbuildings and sheds, to demolish.
“We are looking for people inside city limits who have abandoned or dilapidated buildings on their property that they want removed,” said Mayor Jody Flanagan. “If anyone has a structure or an outbuilding they want removed, please contact city hall.”
Thomas City Hall telephone, 304-463-4360, or email cityofthomas@frontiernet.net.
In October 2022, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) awarded the city of Thomas $245,000 to remove abandoned and dilapidated structures. Thus far, city officials awarded $111,000 for demolishing five large buildings at no cost to the property owners.
“We have extra money that we were awarded under this particular project grant,” Flanagan said. “We can start taking down some more buildings, but we have to go through the bidding process again. It has to be advertised in paper for two weeks, and the asbestos testing has to be done again. We have until April to get everything completed.”
The grant covers the cost of removal of the outbuildings and structures, with the property owner retaining ownership of the land. Before demolition, property owners must sign off on the project, allowing the city to tear down the structure(s).
During the Dec. 12 regular council meeting, members heard from Josh Slone, business development manager of Sunrise Sanitation Services.
Slone said Sunrise Sanitation would be interested in taking over the responsibility of trash pickup for city residents and businesses. He said the company recently took over responsibility for trash for the Cities of Terra Alta and Tunnelton.
“I would love, if possible, to start the process of communicating and giving you a bit of information as far as what we can do and what we’ve done with a lot of other small towns,” Slone said. “Ultimately, we are able to save the city money just by the ease of us taking it over. We can take over all the billing, or you can still do the billing, and we can take care of the trash.
“There are a lot of different avenues that we can take to come at this.”
Slone reassured council members that they do not raise the price when Sunrise Sanitation takes over a city’s trash responsibilities for its residents and businesses.
“We don’t want to make a burden for any of the citizens or anything of that nature,” he said.
City Council member Erika Smith asked, “I want to clarify that you take the responsibility for trash, but are you also saying that you take on the fees that the city has already put in place?”
Slone responded in the affirmative that the company would give the customers the same price for at least 12 months and possibly longer. Currently, residents pay $11.75 monthly.
“In West Virginia, a lot of the pricing has to do with the Public Service Commission and their rules and regulations as far as what we can and can’t do,” he said. “We always guarantee a full year, and hopefully, we can continue the same price longer.”
He added that the collection and billing structure can be done several different ways.
“Our goal is to make it easy for you,” Slone said. “Obviously, we are already here, and we are in the business of picking up trash. We try to do as much as we can for the communities.
“Our goal is to get as much business as we can and grow if we can. If that means we’ve got to hire more people, we’ll hire more people, which is awesome.”
Slone said that Sunrise Sanitation is open to different contract lengths and is willing to purchase the city’s trash equipment if they wish.
Slone plans to attend the next regular City of Thomas Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 9, and give a formal presentation.
During the past year, the council has been reviewing the city’s Garbage ordinance for residents and businesses. The current ordinance is dated 2007, the last time rates changed.
Recorder Kimberly Trathen said she would contact the city’s accountant, Mark Joseph, to see if he completed the financial review of the Garbage account from the past two years.
In other business:
– Flanagan informed the council that he received a quote of $4,500 from City Neon to replace the old Miners & Merchants Bank sign on Front Street. The quote includes the cost of removing the old sign, installing new LED lighting, two new blank panels, and a skin (decal) to put over the panels.
“The bank would pay the $1,100 to remove their old sign, with the city being responsible for the $3,400,” he said. “Design of the new decal is included in the quote.”
Smith explained that Miners & Merchants Bank approached the new owners of the old bank building about their desire to remove their logo from the lighted sign. The new owners declined the offer, offering the sign to the city.
“The owners want to know if the city is interested,” Smith said. “If we decide not to put a new sign up, they’re going to take the whole sign down, so the time, the temperature, all of it would be taken down.”
After a short discussion, council members voted unanimously to move forward with the project, keeping the sign and replacing the old Miners & Merchants Bank logo.
– Council unanimously approved a building permit application from Mountain State Brewing Company. The brewery is adding an addition involving enclosing its existing dining area for additional seating.
Members also discussed the city’s options for enforcing its construction ordinance, requiring construction projects to receive approval before building.
Currently, there are two new housing projects in violation of the city’s ordinance. The projects didn’t receive approval before construction. One new house is completed, while the second is under the roof.
Members decided to proceed with enforcement of the construction ordinance by first mailing a letter asking for a construction permit to be filed and paid. If there is no response, the city will send a second letter of request by certified mail.