By Kara Linaburg
At the May 9 City Council meeting, Mayor Rodney Strait announced that a local movie company is coming to Shinnston to make movies in the area. “What they need from us,” Strait said, “is filming locations, hotel rooms, coffee, food, and mostly support. But we’ll make $150 for extras per person. But it sounds like a pretty good company coming in here to support.”
“And we were listed,” Julia Curry said. “Our city was probably the second listed next to Morgantown. Imagine that. So we’re on the charts for getting stuff done.”
“We talked to them and they’re very interested in coming here and to Clarksburg and Fairmont,” Strait said. “They made a movie in Fairmont for the Lifetime channel.”
The Council voted to approve buying various lots and parcels of land in Shinnston that are connected with properties that need to be demolished or developed.
“This will be turned over to the land bank,” Strait said, “to have a discussion of what to do about these properties, whether to tear them down or sell them or whatever.” Shinnston City Council approved board members for the land bank, also known as a land reuse agency, in an effort to alleviate the problem of abandoned and dilapidated properties in the city, in January.
The approval to buy them carried. The list of properties are as follows:
1 LOT 122 PLEASANT HILL
2 LOTS 121 PLEASANT HILL
3 LOTS 117-118-119 PLEASANT HILL INCL PAR 106-107
2 LOTS HOWARD PLACE INC PAR 110
1 LOT MARY M MONROE PLAT CHARLES STREET
1 LOT (.59 AC) HOOD ADD
1 TRACT PT ABANDONED SWIGER AVE.
A first reading of the high grass and grass clippings ordinance was done, and it will be added to the existing ordinance that no person should allow grass clippings on roads. City Manager Chad Edwards said, “Mainly what this is about is grass clippings. It specifically says that no person shall place on any of the roads, streets, alleys, or sidewalks of the city in the substance of obstruction material of grass clippings or thing of any kind that may cause personal injuries or injuries to property that may cause or endanger life or limb or person property.”
Edwards said there will be enforcement. He said that the danger grass clippings can cause to motorcyclists alone are one of the reasons this ordinance is important for the city.
The Miley Legal Group stated on their website about grass clippings, “If you’re mowing in your yard, don’t throw grass clippings out on the roadway. If a cyclist is coming by the road on the curb and there are grass clippings, there’s a good chance that the motorcycle will wreck and the bike will go off from under the rider.”
Council member Pat Kolvack attended the mayors association meeting for Strait and said, “any business that is under two years old, the chamber (of commerce), they’re offering a $10,000 contribution for the winner of a contest.” He said that they will have to submit a video. Amanda Sayers, council member and owner of Home Style LLC, said that she would be trying to get the word out there.
“We lost one officer last month,” Chad Edwards, city manager said of an officer who is no longer on staff. “We are currently at six.” Edwards also said that two city workers are also no longer employed with the city.
Bike racks are coming to Ferguson park with the total cost being $221 and signs for the bathrooms are at the park. According to Tori Drainer, executive assistant, the signs “are there and on.”
The 2023 paving schedule was discussed, and City Manager Chad Edwards said they have yet to obtain the price, “but we have an idea of what we want to prioritize.” Eleven areas to be paved are on the list, according to the Council.
After looking at the list, Strait said that he wanted Robinson Court to be prioritized in the paving schedule because it is no longer “patchable,” and people are continually using the drive-thru from the Chinese restaurant.
Also in city business:
- The fire hydrants have all been painted and color coded. The next step is to hydro test them.
- Sidewalks have all been completed.
- The Textmygov app is up and running.
- The pool is painted and being prepped for opening May 27.
- The first Wind Down Wednesday is June 7.
What about people keeping up their property with paint and repairs if they aren’t physically able surely someone can help them . Also the houses at baseball field I thought a grant was given to take them down why? Hasn’t that been done ? Curfew ??? Is that even around anymore and bike helmets ?
Wonderful
Thank you for the grass clipping ordinance-it’s so dangerous – glad we made land purchases, opportunity for upgraded building.