Moundsville City Manager Rick Healy attended a meeting of the Moundsville Lions Club this past week in which he discussed “Great Things in the City.”

He spent time discussing the overall general condition of the city and also some exciting endeavors upcoming.

It was pointed out that the city had just completed its fiscal year on June 30, with the City Manager happy to report that the revenues continue to be strong, finishing at $11.17 million, which was over its budgeted amount.

“Our Business and Occupation continues to be our largest revenue source, coming in at just over $3.1 million,” Healey said. “The 1% Municipal Sales Tax is our second leading revenue item at just over $2.2 million. That sales tax has become the ‘game-changer’ for Moundsville, allowing the dedication of funds to line items such as paving, demolition, parks and recreation, arts and culture, recycling, technology, public safety, public works, a buffer account and the largest amount, currently at 40% goes to the new Municipal Building Project.”

“As we developed the new fiscal year budget for 2024-2025, the first consideration for Council is always the employees. For the second year in a row, we will be able to approve 5% across-the-board raises and also maintain an excellent benefit package.”

He continued by discussing the biggest project undertaken during his tenure as city manager is the new municipal/public safety building. After completing about 45-50% of the job, the general contractor filed for bankruptcy and left the job. Since March of this year, Healy said, “I have spent many hours talking with attorneys, our architect, and consultants. Without going into legal details, I hope we will have a new contractor on-site sometime in August.”

When completed, the 26,000 square foot building will house municipal offices, the water billing department and police and fire departments. It will also include a drive-through pay window that will accept all city utility payments. It will also give every office staff member their own office, thus moving out of dated cubicles.

The Police Department will have a much more functional office, including a sallyport, which allows for a cruiser to pull in with an arrest and securely process them all in one location.

The Fire Department will still exit their emergency vehicles onto 6th Street.

All around the building will be energy efficient fixtures. A 24-hour dispatch department will be in the building, providing much more security for everyone.

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Council recently approved a bid for the 2024 Street Paving Program. This year’s budget will remain at $750,000 and includes repaving sections of eight different streets. The repairs for two sections of concrete streets will also be bid out this year.

Over the last six years, approximately $3.8 million has been spent on paving.

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The 24th Annual Marshall County Back 2 School Fun Fair will be held this Wednesday, July 31, in the Moundsville Center at the former West Virginia Penitentiary from 9 a.m. until noon. It is open to Marshall County students in grades Pre-K to 12th who are accompanied by an adult. There are no income guidelines to participate. The Marshall County Health Department will be on hand to provided check-ups, and approximately 50 different agencies will be represented to assist students and parents. Milk and doughnuts will be served for breakfast.

Marshall County Schools employees Susie Baker started the “Fun Fair” in 2009. Last year more than 1,900 families participated in the event.

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The Benwood-McMechen Public Library will be offering the following activities during the month of August: There will be two free movies shown during the month. They will be “Over the Hedge” on Aug. 14 at 4 p.m., and “Kung Fu Panda 4”’ on Aug. 28 at also at 4 p.m.

The Chess Club with Joshua Phillips will meet at 3:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays.

Summer reading programs will continue in August, and those participating are to follow the Library’s Facebook page or call the library for further details, 304-232-9720.

The library contacts are Jewel Vucelik and Cheyenne Douglass.