photo by: Shelley Hanson

Moundsville Mayor David Wood speaks during city council’s meeting on Tuesday.

A proposed ordinance to abandon a portion of an alleyway was tabled by Moundsville City Council on Tuesday to allow members to look into the idea further.

During a regular council meeting, resident Crystal Bonnette spoke against a proposed ordinance to abandon 160 feet of an alley between 112 and 114 Tomlinson Ave.

Bonnette said she has been trying to get that section of alley reopened for about two years as it was blocked by weeds and debris.

She said when other roadways are shut down for emergencies or work the alley becomes even more important to allow people access to their homes.

“We’re forced to go the wrong way during closures,” she said.

Resident Robert Gibson said he wants it abandoned to keep his property safe. He said his house has been struck twice by trucks trying to use that section of alleyway.

“The alley was blocked long before I purchased the property,” he said.

Councilman Gene Saunders said he wanted to look into the matter further. Council approved tabling the first reading of the ordinance to allow him to do so.

It was noted the proposed ordinance had already gone through the street committee, which recommended the measure go before council.

In other matters, resident Nelson Hooker asked council when a storm sewer line that runs between his and a neighbor’s home was going to be fixed in the Cedar Avenue area. He said for years it has caused continuous flooding. He estimated his home has had $30,000 in damage over the years.

Hooker said he had complained to council and city leaders before, but it appeared nothing was done.

“If it was your problem you wouldn’t put up with it,” he said.

City Manager Rick Healy said city workers are slated to install a larger catch basin that is expected to help with the matter. He said one issue with the storm sewer line is that in some sections it runs under people’s homes. He said a couple years ago the city looked into installing new lines in new locations altogether, but the price was too high for the city to afford.