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Council hears committee request

BUCKHANNON — A county resident requested that the City of Buckhannon send regular representatives to the Local Emergency Emergency Planning Committee.

The Lewis-Upshur LEPC alternates meetings in Buckhannon and Weston each month and is charged by the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act to plan for all types of hazards and potential emergency situations or events.

At Thursday’s City Council meeting, LEPC member Kevin Campbell said, “I’ve been involved with the Local Emergency Planning Committee for probably five or six years now and for a long time I was the only Upshur County firefighter regularly in attendance.”

No longer an active volunteer firefighter, Campbell now attends meetings to represent the Buckhannon River Watershed Association.

In Campbell’s five or six years on the board, he said there has been little city representation at the meeting aside from former BFD fire chief Jim Townsend and some firefighters attending a few meetings.

“We have a problem with city representation at the LEPC,” he said. “I know [chief of police] Matt [Gregory] has meetings coming out of his ears but it’s essential that the city police and fire be represented there.”

Upshur County Commission, County EMS and Upshur County E-911 are all represented although Campbell said sheriff’s deputies and state police do not attend.

“This year, they will be focusing on Upshur County and evaluation plans for hazards in our community,” he said. “Last year, it was done for most of Lewis County. It is really important that we have the participation of the city because it is part of our security. It’s important should a disaster occur that we get all the FEMA funding we are entitled to. This is one of those things they look at is who has been in attendance and who has been working on the emergency preparations.”

Mayor David McCauley asked, “What are those meetings I have attended down at the training room with emergency responders from all over the place?”

Gregory said that there are various events that come up such as the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, table top exercises and full-scale exercises in which the emergency agencies meet to plan.

Campbell acknowledged that the BPD was involved in the LEPC exercise at the airport last year.

“They do get involved in the exercises, but my concern is – and it came up in a meeting – that Lewis County people were complaining that enough Upshur County people weren’t participating so I’m bringing the message,” Campbell said.

Councilman Robbie Skinner asked if the LEPC was different from what Jeff Harvey of JH Consulting does.

Campbell said, “This is what Jeff Harvey was involved with.”

Last year, JH Consulting did the Lewis County plan. This year’s Upshur County plan bid has not yet been awarded.

Skinner said, “But this is not the strategic plan for emergency response in this county? This is for an evacuation plan for disasters as well helping us get all the FEMA funding we should be receiving in the event of a disaster? This is not a response plan?”

Campbell said, “Correct.”

Skinner said, “I just want to make sure I understand the difference.”

Campbell said getting citizens involved is important.

“We have a lot of hazards around here like tanker cars over at the old Coastal Lumber that don’t have any secondary containment around them and they are a quarter mile from the Buckhannon River,” he said. “It’s a hazard that people in the neighborhood are aware of.”

LEPC meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month normally but will meet the fourth Wednesday this month, April 24 at noon at the Upshur County E-911 Center.

McCauley said, “We will have a discussion with Chief Kimble and Chief Gregory and see what we can do to participate.”

Zoning officer Vincent Smith addressed complaints about certain properties.

“People are complaining about properties that the pride for some property owners — i.e. rental property or given to them — for some reason, we have lost that — the pride in keeping your property up,” he said. “It’s a constant battle to try to get people to conform with what the rest of the community looks like.”

However, Smith said the vacant building ordinance which was added a couple years ago has led to some positive movement because people don’t want to be assessed a fee.

“It’s working,” he said.

One issue has come up with the city’s toter system.

“For some reason, people like to bring them out to the front and leave them out there,” Smith said. “I will put a tag on it with the ordinance that explains to you why it needs to go in the side or rear yard.”

Councilman Dave Thomas speculated that people new to the area such as those working for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline may not know the rules. “We had a lot of people coming in from out-of-town and they are renting and they are not aware of what the ordinances are to keep the properties they are renting in the condition that we accept or they accept,” he said.

Smith said, “The landlord should explain to them.”

In other business, council:

∫ approved on second and final reading Ordinance 436 State Building Code Adoption which updates the city ordinance to the most recent state building code version. Skinner moved, seconded by city recorder Colin Reger to approve.

∫ approved Gregory’s recommendation to place Cpl. Josh Wilson in charge of the municipal traffic school following the passing of Matt Hymes. “He has actually coordinated a number of traffic safety classes for local businesses in the past so we think he will be a good fit with this program,” Gregory said. Thomas moved, seconded by Skinner to approve Wilson.

∫ approved on motion by Reger and second by Skinner about 20 pieces of equipment to be auctioned.

∫ established an insurance committee of McCauley, Skinner, Thomas and director of finance and administration Amberle Jenkins.

∫ approved the reappointment of Mary Albaugh to the board of the Upshur County Convention and Visitors Bureau as the city representative for her second term to expire June 30, 2022.

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