Your Towns: Belle election, Marmet sewer project funded, Kroger Park Place updates

Here’s a roundup of municipal news and events for the Kanawha Valley from January and a look ahead to February.

Belle

• It is an election year for mayor, recorder and all five council members for the town of Belle. Mayor Dave Fletcher said he is not running for reelection. Council member Melanie Vickers has filed to run for mayor, and the current town recorder, Jon Syner, has filed for reelection. Two current council members, Nicole Fletcher and Marc Doughty, are also running for reelection, according to Fletcher.

• The town of Belle is still in the process of hiring a new police chief, Fletcher said. Former Belle Police Chief Robert Glenn, whose employment was terminated in October, had 90 days to appeal the decision and did not do so, Fletcher said.

• The town sold a 2018 Ford police vehicle for $5,000 to the town of Pratt. “It’s one of our older police cars that was out of service for us,â€� Fletcher said. “We’re just trying to help out one of our fellow towns on the east end of Kanawha County.â€�

• The town continues to clear roads of snow. “The weather has been the big news, just trying to keep things cleaned up, keep the snow and ice off many of the roads and try to salt the town,â€� Fletcher said.

• The next monthly Friday night sing at Belle Town Hall, 1100 Dupont Ave. E., will take place Feb. 6, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and music from the band Restless beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is $5. “We’ll do another dance the first Friday of each month through June,â€� Fletcher said.

• The next town council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at Belle Town Hall.

Cedar Grove

• Each first Saturday of the month, an auction is held at the Cedar Grove Community Center, 322 William St.

• The next council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 302 Alexander St.

Chesapeake

• The Human Resource Development Fund’s Senior Community Service Employment Program, a senior workforce reskill program, is a new community partnership for the town of Chesapeake. Unemployed seniors age 55 and up can take part in the HRDF program. “The town is a worksite agency that provides on-the-job training,â€� Mayor Melissa Hill said. “We pay $1,500, and the senior participants are paid minimum wage through federal funding.â€�

• The town is also partnering with the Appalachian Center for Independent Living, which will deliver workshops and classes to the community. “These partnerships align with Chesapeake’s long-standing mission to serve as a hub for families and community support,â€� Hill said. “The town of Chesapeake continues to actively engage partners to strengthen resources for both the town and the eastern Kanawha County community.â€�

• The next town council meeting is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 23, at 12404 MacCorkle Ave. SE.

Clendenin

• The town movie night originally scheduled for Jan. 24 at the Clendenin Community Center, 103 First St., has been rescheduled for Feb. 28.

• Clendenin’s next scheduled town council meetings will be from 6-7 p.m. Monday and Feb. 23 at 103 First St.

Dunbar

• The Dunbar Police Department is still accepting applications. Two candidates are currently in the West Virginia State Police Academy.

• The city is in the process of selling six residential lots. Two have already sold and another sale is pending. Three more single residential single are for sale for $7,762 each. “They’re just lots the city has acquired over the years,â€� secretary Lacy Crawford said. For addresses and more information, contact the city clerk at 304-766-0218.

• The next city council meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 2 at City Hall, 210 12th St.

Marmet

• On Wednesday, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that the state Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council awarded Marmet $418,000 to eliminate sewer overflows on Maryland Avenue. The project will reconfigure the overflow at 87th Street Pump Station. This sewer upgrade project will impact 625 existing customers. This funding, combined with a federal Congressionally Directed Spending Grant and a state match of $172,000, fully covers the $1,450,000 needed to complete the project.

• Marmet is working on a comprehensive plan for the town, which kicked off with a public meeting on Tuesday. “We’d like to have the public’s participation in this to give us ideas, what they’d like to see in the future of Marmet, so we can get this done and get some funding from grants once we have the comprehensive plan in place,â€� Mayor Frances Armentrout said. Once the comprehensive plan is completed, Armentrout said there are a number of improvements she’d like to see in the town, including a splash park for children.

• The state will install a new sidewalk in the town, running from GoMart to Kroger, expected to be completed by the end of summer. The state is funding the project, Armentrout said.

• The town is having a Valentine’s Day dinner Feb. 14 along with dancing and live music. Cost is $20 per person. It will be at the Marmet Recreation Center, 8515 McCorkle Ave. Dinner starts at 6 p.m., and the music starts at 7 p.m.

• The Ben Morris Field will undergo renovations in the coming months, including new dugouts and field leveling.

• Marmet’s next council meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at Town Hall, 9403 MacCorkle Ave. SE.

Nitro

• Nitro officials reported no events or updates at this time. “We will start previewing some of the notable ones in March,â€� said Joe Stevens, executive director of the Nitro CVB.

• Stevens also dispelled rumors of a Costco coming to Nitro.

• Nitro’s next city council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at 2009 20th St.

Pratt

• Officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

• The next town council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall, 200 Center St.

St. Albans

• St. Albans Mayor Scott James said the city was fortunate to have no power outages during the recent winter storm and thanked the Kanawha Regional Transportation Authority for providing a warming bus at the city’s bus station. “I really want to give a shout out to our street crews and water and sewer guys,â€� James said. “They’ve been fixing leaks in this cold weather, and police and fire has done a wonderful job. We’ve got great employees.â€�

• The project for the former McKinley Middle School gymnasium is moving forward. “We’re going to put in a batting cage soon so people can utilize that, and once we get the gym cleared, we’re going to proceed from there,â€� James said. “They’ve cleared some of it but still have more to go.â€�

• Magic Among Friends with magician Chuck Thomas will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Alban Arts Center. Opening night of the Alban Arts Center’s production of “The Shawshank Redemptionâ€� is set for 8 p.m. Feb. 13.

• St. Albans’ next city council meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at 1499 MacCorkle Ave.

South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä

• All employees at the Dunbar and South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä Riverwalk Kroger locations will be placed at the new Kroger store at Park Place in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä, which will open in June, according to Mayor Frank Mullens. “No one’s going to lose their job, so we’re happy about that,â€� Mullens said. “That store is progressing along really well.â€�

• The existing Kroger building at Riverwalk is planned to house two retail stores, but Mullens said he also can’t announce those just yet. “I can say that those leases are signed and those people are ready to go, I’m just waiting for the ownership of the Riverwalk,â€� Mullens said. “What’s going to happen with the old space at Riverwalk Kroger? It is backfilled with two retailers I think people are going to enjoy.â€�

• The next city council meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at 401 D St.