NewsNews
Aug. 24, 2010
Stormwater committee to regroup. City Council is re-establishing a committee that will explore long-term solutions for the city's stormwater problems, Bryan Chambers writes in The Herald-Dispatch. The council's stormwater committee will meet for the first time in nearly two years at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15. The committee went dormant primarily because the city had been unable to fill the public works director's position. Assistant Public Works Director Kit Anderson, who was hired earlier this year, has since taken on the responsibility of preparing a long-term stormwater management plan, as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Read More.
Aug. 10, 2010
Council passes tax reform package. Workers within the city of Huntington are another step closer to paying a 1 percent occupation tax after Huntington City Council approved a new tax package Monday, following months of consideration and debate on the issue. Writing for The Herald-Dispatch, Jean Tarbett Hardiman notes the tax package still has a few more steps to go through before it is set in stone — including more public comment, another vote at a work session and a vote by the state’s home rule board — but Monday’s vote was a major hurdle. To read the full story, click here.
July 27, 2010
Tax cap prompts heated debate. By a 7-4 vote, city council has placed a $125,000 limit on the amount of earnings that the city can tax in its proposed 1 percent occupation tax ordinance, meaning someone who works in the city would pay no more than $1,250 annually in occupation taxes. Because the ordinance was amended, it was moved to a third reading — and likely a vote — at the Aug. 9 council meeting. To read Bryan Chambers's story in The Herald-Dispatch, click here.
July 13, 2010
Council advances tax reform package. City Council advanced to a second reading ordinances authorizing the implementation of a 1 percent occupation tax and 1 percent sales tax. Of this, Bryan Chambers wrote in The Herald-Dispatch, "All three prongs of a reform package that would bring fundamental changes to the city of Huntington’s tax structure moved one step closer to passage." Read more.
July 13, 2010
City Service Fee Data Released. Included are a breakdown of the revenues and expenses for the current fiscal year, a list of milestones for the fiscal year including the status of all streets paved, equipment purchased and police officers hired and a breakdown of all revenues received since the creation of the City Service Fee. Click here for the report.
July 9, 2010
City unveils tax reform package. City Council members have unveiled a three-pronged tax reform package that includes a 1 percent occupation tax and 1 percent sales tax, both of which would take effect within the next nine months. Writing in The Herald-Dispatch, Bryan Chambers says portions of the business and occupation tax, viewed by many as a significant hurdle to attracting businesses to Huntington, would be eliminated or reduced as well. The $3-a-week user fee also would be repealed. Read more.
June 30, 2010
Council votes to save three jobs. City Council voted to restore three positions to the floodwall division, but it came amid harsh words about Mayor Kim Wolfe's decision to switch to a four-day work week for many city employees. By a 7-3 vote with one absence, the council approved a budget resolution that moves approximately $94,000 to the floodwall division in the fiscal 2011 budget, which begins Thursday, July 1. The money will prevent the layoff of three employees. Click here to read Bryan Chambers' story in the Herald-Dispatch.
June 15, 2010
Chairman Insco proposes new tax strategy. City Council chairman Jim Insco says council must come together to take action or inform the administration that a tax reform package isn't coming. Writing in The Herald-Dispatch, reporter Bill Rosenberger quotes Insco as saying, "The state gave us Home Rule and we have sat back and done nothing," taking note of the strides of the Land Bank program. "We just can't stay stagnant. It's time to do something or move on." Insco handed out a timeline that includes a proposal of several changes within the city's tax structure. First and foremost, he wants a first reading for the occupation tax on the June 28 agenda. Council previously considered a 1 percent occupation tax, but dropped the issue in response to public outcry and then began to pursue, instead, a sales tax. Insco is calling for a reading of the occupation tax ordinance "as presented," plus he would include a $10,000 floor and $100,000 cap. His proposal would put the occupation tax in place on Jan. 1, 2011. To read Rosenberger's full report, click here.
June 5, 2010
Mayor announces job, pay cuts. Mayor Kim Wolfe will close City Hall on Fridays, reduce city employees pay by 10 percent and eliminate seven positions, mainly through attrition, beginning in July in an effort to stay within a reduced city budget. The changes, which Wolfe announced Friday, are expected to save the city $425,000. That's enough to balance the city's $39.3 million budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, which begins July 1.Beginning July 5, offices in City Hall will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Employees in the city's Department of Development and Planning, who are not funded out of the city's general fund, will work four 10-hour work days. More on the story, as reported by Christian Alexandersen in The Herald-Dispatcyh, click here.
May 25, 2010
Agencies show support for teen court. A city ordinance that creates a funding source to help pay for a teen court in Cabell County has advanced to a second reading. Writing in The Herald-Dispatch, Bryan Chambers reports a coalition of agencies, including Cabell County Schools and United Way of the River Cities, attended the meeting to show their support for the proposal. Click for details.
May 18, 2010
Action and Consolidation Plans: The City of Huntington's Office of Development and Planning has released the final copy of their FY2010 Action Plan and Consolidated Plan for 2010-2014. To view the press release, click here. To view more details for the FY2010 Action, click here. For more details on the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan, click here.
May 11, 2010
City Council withdraws occupation tax. City Council has unanimously withdrawn a proposed 1 percent occupation tax from its agenda with the hopes of creating a more complete tax package during the next few weeks. Writing in The Herald-Dispatch, reporter Bryan Chambers notes the removal came at the recommendation of the council's Finance Committee, which realized after three public hearings that the proposal needed more work, Councilman Steve Williams said. Read more.
May 1, 2010
Committee wants to start over on tax. Huntington City Council's Finance Committee has voted unanimously to recommend that the full council withdraw a proposal for a 1 percent occupation tax. Several committee members, however, said the city must continue working on a tax reform package that still might include an occupation tax. Read about it.
April 27, 2010
Council advances occupation tax. City Council has advanced a proposed 1 percent occupation tax to a second reading. Writing in The Herald-Dispatch, reporter Bryan Chambers notes the occupation tax also withstood an attempt by Councilman Scott Caserta to table the measure, which moved on without any amendments. A few council members, however, indicated they will attempt to amend the occupation tax ordinance in addition to reducing or eliminating a slew of other taxes or fees. Read Chambers' story.
April 23, 2010
Sweeping changes proposed for taxes. Huntington City Council members proposed sweeping changes to the city's tax structure Thursday night during a Finance Committee meeting that also saw a 1 percent occupation tax ordinance advance to the full council without a positive or negative recommendation. In the Herald-Dispatch, writer Bryan Chambers notes he occupation tax, which would be imposed on the gross earnings of anyone who works in the city and makes more than $10,000 per year, has been in the public spotlight since Mayor Kim Wolfe unveiled the plan last week. The $3-per-week user fee also would be repealed upon the tax's July 1 implementation date. Read Chambers' story.
April 14, 2010
Mayor proposes 1% tax on pay. The Finance Committee will meet in the City Hall Council Chambers at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, to receive and review the administration’s proposed occupation tax ordinance and to receive public comment. Mayor Kim Wolfe will propose a 1 percent occupation tax that would be levied on the gross wages of anyone who works in Huntington. In the Herald-Dispatch, writer Bryan Chambers notes the mayor's plan, if approved, would take effect July 1 at the beginning of the city's 2010-2011 budget year. Click for more details.
April 13, 2010
City OKs extension of lease to Amazon. Council unanimously has approved a resolution that extends the city's lease with Amazon.com for one year. In The Herald-Dispatch, writer Bryan Chambers notes the online retailer's call center has operated on the top two floors of the Jean Dean Public Safety Building on 10th Street since the company came to Huntington in 2000. Its 10-year lease with the city, which owns the building, expires at the end of this month. Click for more details.
Apirl 10, 2010
Action and Consolidated Plans Released. The City of Huntington's Office of Development and Planning has released the draft copy of their FY2010 Action Plan and Consolidated Plan for 2010-2014. To view the press release, click here. To view more details for the FY2010 Action, click here. For more details on the 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan, click here.
March 24, 2010
Huntington vying for ultra-fast Internet. The city is becoming one of hundreds of communities throughout the country vying to be the test site for Google's ultra-high speed, fiber-optic broadband Internet. Mayor Kim Wolfe, Marshall University President Stephen Kopp and Cabell County Schools Superintendent Bill Smith met at on Marshall's Huntington campus to announce their intent. Huntington will send its application to Google on March 26, Christian Alexandersen reports in The Herald-Dispatch. Click for more details.
March 23, 2010
Council approves 2011 budget. City Council has passed a 2011 fiscal budget that includes furloughs for public works and adminis trative employees and $867,000 in unspecified cuts that city leaders say would likely result in layoffs.
After the meeting, however, Mayor Kim Wolfe told The Herald-Dispatch's Bryan Chambers that he will bring a “revenue-generat ing” proposal to council mem bers in the next few weeks that would stave off furloughs and layoffs. Click here for more information.
March 21, 2010
City plans layoffs, furloughs. City Council ended its last budget meeting of the year with unanimous approval of more than $867,000 in reductions that will mean 20-day furloughs and an estimated 10 layoffs. Bill Rosenberger reports in The Herald-Dispatchthe call for reductions came after Mayor Kim Wolfe's State of the City address on Feb. 13. His administration's initial budget included about $1 million in cuts from the $21 million combined budget of the police and fire departments. But council members overwhelmingly disapproved and directed the administration to find another way. Click for more information. Also councilapproved two budgets and heard reports on three others during Saturday's last meeting for the 2010-2011 budget. The three-hour session included a review of municipal court, parking board, Big Sandy Superstore Arena, the enterprise fund and insurance. Click here for details.
March 14, 2010
Council restores fire department funds. Just like it did two weeks ago for the Huntington Police Department, city council members have agreed to restore money to the Huntington Fire Department in next year’s budget. Writing in The Herald-Dispatch, reporter David Malloy notes neither department will have to face 20-day furloughs that other city departments face. Approximately $432,155 was restored to the fire department’s $10.1 million budget during a special budget ses sion Saturday. It is one of four budget sessions council is holding to review a proposed $39.8 million budget that has to be balanced by the end of the month. A fourth special session is set for Saturday, March 27.Click here for Malloy's report.
March 10, 2010
Housing, Internet focus of D.C. trip. Huntington city officials left for Washington, D.C., Tuesday to ask West Virginia's congressional delegation to support some key initiatives, including an effort to bring a high-speed broadband network to the region. Mayor Kim Wolfe, three members of his administration and two City Council members drove to the nation's capital for scheduled meetings Wednesday with Rep. Nick J. Rahall, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, Sen. Robert C. Byrd and an aide for Sen. Jay Rockefeller. Bryan Chambers writes in The Herald-Dispatch that among the issues to be discussed are dilapidated housing, continued funding of the city's Weed and Seed program and Huntington's application for a Google high-speed fiber network, said Brandi Jacobs-Jones, director of administration and finance. Click here for more on Chambers' report.
March 9, 2010
Committee to address Stamford Park storm water runoff issue. City Council Chairman Jim Insco says he plans to appoint members for a new committee whose charge will be to discuss the city's storm water runoff issues. Writing in reporter Christian Alexandersen notes Insco's announcement came during council's regular meeting on Monday evening, after council was alerted to a storm water runoff problem in Huntington's Stamford Park neighborhood. Click here for Alexandersen's report.
March 7, 2010
City discovers costly waterline problem. he city of Huntington will save thousands of dollars in utility costs at Harris Riverfront Park this year, due in large part to the discovery of a broken waterline that continuously pumped water underground for several years. Writing in The Herald-Dispatch, reporter Bryan Chambers notes the one-inch waterline line, which once ran to a drinking water fountain on the west end of the park, was discovered in February 2009 when Mayor Kim Wolfe's administration came into office, City Council members learned during a budget session Saturday morning. Click here for Chambers' story.
Feb. 28, 2010
City Council balks at police cuts. Even though the city of Huntington anticipates $2.5 million less in revenues next budget year, cutting the Huntington Police Department by some $545,000 is not an option Huntington City Council members are willing to abide by. Writing in The Herald-Dispatch, reporter David Malloy notes council members voted to restore $545,118 to the proposed police department budget Saturday during a four-and-a-half hour meeting at City Hall. The city has to adopt a budget before the end of March. Click here for Malloy's report.
Feb. 24, 2010
City may put restrictions on big clubs. Writing in The Herald-Dispatch, Bryan Chambers quotes Mayor Kim Wolfe as saying his administration will propose a city ordinance that places restrictions on large night clubs in the wake of another weekend shooting. "The problem that we're seeing over and over are these megabars that let in hundreds of people and are run by irresponsible bar owners," Wolfe said Tuesday. "I think we need to come up with some guidelines." Click here for Chambers' full story.
Feb. 23, 2010
Contract approved for new traffic signal system. City Council unanimously approved a contract to install a new computerized traffic signal system at 57 intersections in the city during its Monday night meeting. Herald-Dispatch reporter Christian Alexandersen writes the state Department of Transportation will replace the aging control system and switch to energy-efficient LED lights. The lights are expected to cut the city's operating costs by as much as $250,000 a year, improve traffic flow and reduce emissions. Click to read Alexandersen's report.
Feb. 23, 2010
Club shooting raises security questions. City Councilman Mark Bates says a shooting that injured three at adowntown nightclub over the weekend puts a light on a city problem that needsresolution. Writing in The Herald-Dispatch, Curtis Johnson quotes Bates as calling for revisiting the idea of some kind of bar moratorium. Click here to read Johnson's story.
Feb. 14, 2010
Mayor Wolfe Delivers State of the City Address. Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe has released a proposed budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year that includes civilian layoffs in the police and firedepartments and furloughs for all city employees. Meanwhile, Huntington City Council's chairman says there will be a push in the coming weeks to adopt either an occupation tax or sales tax that would eliminate the need for layoffs and furloughs. To read Bryan Chamber's report in the Herald-Dispatch, click here.
Feb. 12, 2010
Second delinquent fees list released. The city has released another delinquent fee list to the media in hopes that it helps the city's collection efforts.The list of 2,113 past due refuse feeaccounts represents approximately $4 million in fees and penalties. The accounts made the list if they have outstanding balances greater than $500, are at least three quarters behind and have no payment activity since July 1, 2009. Click here to read Bryan Chamber's report in the Herald-Dispatch.
Feb. 9, 2010
Council passes zoning notification changes. City Council passed several policy changes at its meeting on Monday, in an effort to give residents and property owners better notification of proposed zoning changes in their neighborhoods. Click here for the Herald-Dispatch's report.
Feb. 9, 2010
Officials release delinquent fee list. The city released to the media on Monday a list of 2,333 delinquent municipal fee accounts that have outstanding balances greater than $500 and are at least three quarters behind. The list included the names and addresses on each account along with the outstanding balance. Click for details.
