The YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless Women & Families, in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, is seen Monday, July 21, 2025. Repairs are underway in the building to end issues related to water leaks. YWCA CEO Sonya Hairston said that mold has forced clients to seek medical attention.
The YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless Women & Families, in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, is seen Monday, July 21, 2025. Repairs are underway in the building to end issues related to water leaks. YWCA CEO Sonya Hairston said that mold has forced clients to seek medical attention.
LAURA BILSON | Gazette-Mail
ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä City Council approved on Monday night a new roof for the YWCA Sojourner’s Shelter for Homeless Women & Families.
Prolonged leaking has led to some mold in the facility. Two tests this year indicated no dangerous mold.
This spring, city officials began a plan to replace the roof on the building, which is owned by the city. The cost of the replacement is $157,200, in part because of asbestos under the current roof that needs to be taken care of, City Manager Ben Mishoe said.
Council also approved a change in billing procedures for the ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Fire Department ambulance service. The CFD has contracted with the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority to do billing for the flat rate of $122,800 a year.
With the KCEAA moving their billing services to Quick Med Claims, both CFD and the KCEAA thought it would be better for CFD to have its own contract with Quick Med Claims.
The new contract costs 3.8% of the revenue that is collected. Mishoe said this new rate means the annual cost should go down some. However, he pointed out, revenue from billing will likely increase as the new rate incentivizes Quick Med Claims to collect as much as possible.
Holiday changes
A bill that made technical changes to holidays in city code also passed Monday night. City Attorney Kevin Baker said the bill did four things:
Consolidates the list of holidays in city code into one section
Clarifies the compensation procedure when a police officer is scheduled to be off on a holiday and is called in to work
Adds Juneteenth (which has been observed in the last few years) as an official city holiday
Removes the requirement that the city observe holidays called by the governor or president
The last point came up when Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared July 3 as an extra holiday this year. Morrisey’s resolution said that local governments did not have to observe the day, but ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä’s law required the city to observe holidays called by the governor, Baker said.
