Driving south on Interstate 79 toward Charleston, I passed a mountain of flood debris piled along the highway. Furniture, appliances, building materials and the remnants of people’s homes were stacked together as crews continued the enormous job of cleaning up after the devastating July floods.
It was a sobering sight and a powerful reminder of how quickly life can change for a family or an entire community.
That image stayed with me as I arrived at the West Virginia Municipal League Annual Conference. A record number of municipal officials gathered in Charleston, the home of League President and Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin.
The conference was held at the beautifully renovated Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.
The facility proved to be the perfect venue, with impressive artwork, photographs and displays reflecting Charleston’s history and vision for the future. Evening events at Capitol Market and City Center at Slack Plaza gave delegates an opportunity to experience the city beyond the conference rooms.
Municipal conferences are part classroom, part reunion and part support group. Mayors, councilmembers, city managers, clerks, police chiefs, public works directors and other local officials come together to learn from experts—and from one another.
This year’s program included sessions on artificial intelligence, drones, grants, infrastructure and dozens of other subjects confronting local governments. The topics may change from year to year, but the value of bringing local leaders together remains constant.
There was also an unmistakable concern for the communities still recovering from the floods.
Buckhannon Mayor Robbie Skinner and his wife received a warm welcome when they arrived at the conference. Their own home had been affected, yet Robbie was there representing his city and demonstrating the determination that has marked Buckhannon’s response.
The City of Weston also issued a call for help with the massive cleanup effort. Municipal crews from other communities responded, helping tackle an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 cubic yards of debris and fallen trees. That response illustrated something those of us in local government have always known: When one West Virginia community is hurting, others show up.
The conference also provided an opportunity to celebrate excellence in municipal leadership.
Point Pleasant Mayor Amber Tatterson was named Mayor of the Year, a well-deserved recognition of her leadership and commitment to her community.
Spencer Mayor Terry Williams received the James C. Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award. Terry became mayor at the age of 24 and is now approaching an extraordinary 50 years of service. Few public officials anywhere can match his record of longevity, dedication and love for their hometown. I was deeply honored to see him receive an award bearing my name.
The League also presented its All-Star Community Awards to municipalities that completed innovative projects and community initiatives. These awards matter because many of the best ideas in government begin at the local level—often with limited resources, small staffs and citizens willing to work together.
I left Charleston encouraged by what I had seen. West Virginia’s cities face serious challenges, from aging infrastructure and limited resources to natural disasters that can transform a community in minutes.
But the conference offered a different picture of our state—hundreds of local leaders learning, sharing ideas, celebrating success and standing ready to help one another.
The flood debris along Interstate 79 represented tremendous loss. The people gathered in Charleston represented something equally powerful: resilience, service and hope.
That is the spirit of West Virginia’s cities.
