The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
September 2, 2025
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on September 2, 2025.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Anthony McDaniel, Alicia Gardner, Tiffany Ramsay, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, Solicitor Ryan Regel, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
Absent: Council member Matt Schaber.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Anthony McDaniel made the motion to accept the August 18, 2025 meeting minutes as written. Tiffany Ramsay second. Matt Schaber – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
III. Registered Visitors:
None
IV. Old Business:
V. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks asked Mayor Hehr if she would like Chief Jones to do a Facebook post advertising the public hearing. Mr. Brooks said the adjoining property owners have been contacted but he thinks it may be to our best interest to post it on Facebook as well as posting it at the Municipal Building. Mayor Hehr said it would be a good idea.
Kevin Brooks reported that he has been working with Verdantas and AMP regarding the electric conversion. He received a price quote for preliminary engineering from Verdantas for $62,000.00, this is for a plan to organize the plan. Mr. Brooks said he does not want to pay $62,000.00 for a plan that has nothing to do with the engineering, it is basically just a schedule, and he is not wasting $62,000.00. He had a lengthy conversation with them, and they are revising the quote to get back to what we originally wanted, which is the design of the electric conversion. In the meantime, he has had conversations with AMP and Ferguson Group regarding funding. We are pursuing Appalachian Resource Commission Funding upwards of $2 million to fund the project and part of the contract agreement with Verdantas includes them pursuing funding for us through multiple sources which include ARC and US Department of Energy. Mr. Brooks still thinks the design cost will be in the $300,000.00 range and the total project will be $4-$6 million. He reminded Council that the retirement of the diesel generators and an alternate source for us to peak shave is the reason for this project.
Kevin Brooks said he will be out of the office next week for vacation.
VI. Fiscal Officer Report:
Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer, reported that the August bank reconciliation is complete and asked for Council to sign.
Lori Cunard asked about update of the Employee Handbook and if a meeting could be scheduled to go over it. Anthony McDaniel said he would have to check his schedule before he could set a date.
VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Tiffany Ramsay – Tiffany Ramsay reported that the Property Maintenance Committee met today before the Council meeting. She said they are still talking about abandoned houses, and they might possibly be in the final steps of having one torn down. They continued to talk about additional properties but there are so many, and it will take a long time, but she thinks once they get the first one done and they know the steps to take the others should go a little faster. Mayor Hehr said it is a lot of red tape, but she appreciates all the work Chief Jones has done. She said they would like to have 2 properties torn down this year and she wants to give a shout out to Chief Jones and Officer Kory Hill for
all the property maintenance work they have done this summer. Tiffany Ramsay said the next Property Maintenance Committee meeting will be October 6th @ 4:30 p.m.
Tiffany Ramsay reported that the Community Strong Committee has an event scheduled on September 20th from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. They are having a band on the lot next door and in case of rain it will be at the Rabbit and Poultry Barn on the Fairground.
The Community Strong Committee are selling raffle tickets for a cash and gift card basket that is over $400.00 in value. The drawing for the basket will be on September 20th. Mayor Hehr said they try very hard to get money for the Community Strong Committee and there is no money taken from the General Fund for the committee or events.
Tiffany Ramsay said they are planning a Halloween parade but still have a lot of details to work out and they are planning a square dance in November for a fundraiser, but they still have a lot of details to work out for this also.
Kevin Brooks asked when the Halloween event will be held and Tiffany Ramsay said it will probably be on Thursday, October 30th. Mr. Brooks asked if they want Council to do a motion for this so the Police Department can prepare. Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to hold trick or treat and the Halloween parade on Thursday, October 30th. Tiffany Ramsay made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Matt Schaber – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Alicia Gardner – Nothing to report.
Anthony McDaniel – Anthony McDaniel reported the Finance Committee met this week and discussed some of the policies in the Employee Handbook as well as wages. Anthony McDaniel requested Executive Session at the end of the meeting regarding Personnel/Compensation and Personnel employment, no action to be taken. Anthony McDaniel made a motion for Executive Session at the end of the meeting regarding Personnel/Compensation and Personnel employment, no action to be taken. Tom Kirkland second. Matt Schaber – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report.
Dale English – Nothing to report.
VIII: Solicitor’s Report:
Solicitor Regel said there was a case transferred from Mayor’s Court to County Court regarding property clean-up. He attended the pre-trial last Wednesday, and the property owner also attended. The property owner pled no contest and was given an extra 30 days for clean-up; another date has been set for another hearing to check the progress. He was directed to contact Chief Jones if there is progress or when he feels the clean-up is done to resolve the situation.
Solicitor Regel requested Executive Session at the end of the meeting regarding the Sale/Lease of property.
IX: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Dale English second. Matt Schaber – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court Report, August 2025. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Matt Schaber – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Income Tax Report, August 2025. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Matt Schaber – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
X. Un-Registered Visitors/Guest:
Dan Weber – Mr. Weber attended the Council meeting to update Council on the progress of his property in the Village. He said he spoke with the housing inspector the last 2 weeks, and the inspector told him he is off this week and was unable to prepare a letter for Council but will do one as soon as he can. The property inspector reviewed the properties and said Mr. Weber has done a lot of work and is
impressed with the work, so he is going to write a letter of recommendation. Mayor Hehr said she did notice that the properties are cleaned up and there has been a lot of work done. She asked Council what they want to do, they have options. She asked Mr. Weber if the inspector had actually come to the properties and Mr. Weber said he came and saw both properties. Mayor Hehr said we could give Mr. Weber until next meeting to come up with the letter from the inspector if Council wants to do so. Mayor Hehr said she had given Mr. Weber some information on a program to apply for and if he qualifies, he could receive money but not until after the first of the year. Tom Kirkland said we could give Mr. Weber the time to get the letter from the inspector. Mayor Hehr asked Mr. Weber to come back for the September 15th meeting. Mr. Weber said he is supposed to be out of town on September 15th, but he will drop off the letters when he gets them.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to go into Executive Session. Kevin Brooks asked if Council was going to discuss the rate schedule for the Brown Community Center. Mayor Hehr stated it would be discussed during Executive Session. Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to go into Executive Session regarding the Sale/Lease of property, action to be taken. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Matt Schaber – absent. Motion passed 5-0. Executive Session entered at 5:55 p.m.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to return to Regular Session. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Matt Schaber – absent. Motion passed 5-0. Regular Session entered at 7:10 p.m.
Kevin Brooks asked for a motion to hire Zack Bolin on a contract basis to be the facility manager at the Brown Community Center and we will negotiate a flat rate. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second. Matt Schaber – absent. Motion passed 5-0.
XI. Adjourn:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Alicia Gardner made the motion. Dale English second. Matt Schaber – absent. Motion passed 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer