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Moundsville Mulls Stormwater Fee

Photos by Alan Olson Moundsville Council members Judy Hunt and Phil Remke discuss the future of the city’s stormwater policies.

While no new business came before the Moundsville City Council, issues up for deeper discussion at next week’s policy subcommittee meeting were raised, including a proposed stormwater fee and a social media policy for city workers.

During discussion of a regular stormwater board meeting, Mayor Allen Hendershot touched on a motion that had passed, allowing the board to shut off water to homes with delinquent stormwater fees, as well as regular water bill payments. The proposal passed the water board, and facing opposition on the notion from within council, will be brought before the policy committee to discuss the possibility of halting it before its July implementation. CPA Kay Goddard said a delinquency fee on the account was as much as $50,000.

“If you don’t pay, there’s a provision in city ordinance to turn water off, the same as if you didn’t pay the water bill,” the mayor said.

Councilwoman Ginger DeWitt, joined by Gene Saunders, took issue with the notion of charging residents for matters outside of their control.

“Right now if you don’t pay your stormwater bill — because we’re totally in control of all this rain we’re having — there’s not a lot they can do,” DeWitt said. “That’s ridiculous. … I could see if it was something you could control. Electric, you can cut back if you think your bill’s going to be too high, you can adjust for that. Or you watch how much water you use, but you have no control over the stormwater.”

Councilwoman Judy Hunt pointed out that the stormwater fee amounted to $5 monthly, or $12.50 for commercial use.

“When they first started the stormwater board, they said they’d make all kinds of money off that,” DeWitt added. “Now they’re wanting to try another avenue.”

Councilman David Haynes pointed out that for new construction, such as garages, which create runoff, a $100 permit must be issued in the first place, which he also called “ridiculous.”

The matter was forwarded for further discussion at next week’s policy subcommittee meeting.

Also briefly discussed Tuesday was Councilman Dave Wood’s idea to look into drafting a social media policy for use by the city’s employees.

“This is something we need to be, all of us, aware of — some downfalls of social media and the use of it,” Wood said. “I know the board of education has social media policies, and I’d like to research that.”

After the meeting, Wood elaborated, but did not provide details on what specific matters would need to be addressed, nor if the matter was brought on by any particular issue.

“We want to protect the city and its employees, and make sure we do understand social media and what can or should not be said,” he added. “We want to look at its entirety, and see what can be done. Right now we don’t have any policy. We have a Facebook page, and a couple other pages, but we just want to protect our people, and what’s social to be put on social media.”

Council also went into executive session to discuss personnel matters.

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