NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. –City council met in special session to discuss financial matters Tuesday. Council is looking for funding to repair the road slip on Commerce Street. At the last council meeting they received three bids with estimated costs between $200-300,000. Council knows they do not currently have the funding for the repair.

They determined applying for grants is the best option. Council member Lawrence Binkoski suggested City Clerk Sara Hawkins try to meet with the governor’s office while she attends training in Charleston to see if the government could offer any assistance. Hawkins suggested writing a letter to the state government, and said she will see if anyone from the government would meet with her. They also discussed reaching out to Senator Ryan Wells and Delegate Randy Swartzmiller for assistance.

Police Chief Lester Skinner, suggested seeing if FEMA would be willing to help, due to Commerce Street being the detour route for when state Route 2 floods.

Hawkins said she will look into grants and apply to those the city qualifies for. The council also decided they will look at the budget and determine how much they can put towards the project.

Hawkins announced the city will be scheduled for audit sometime this month. She also asked if council wanted to vote on sending her to an audit training during the special session or at the next meeting. Council voted to send Hawkins to an annual budgeting training hosted by the state auditor in Wheeling on Feb. 12.

Hawkins also informed council that during Monday’s water and sewer committee meeting it was decided that the city will give one of the street department trucks to the water and sewer departments. The city owns both vehicles, and the committee concluded the street department does not need two trucks. Council member Melissa Perkins, added they did not receive bids matching their vehicle request.

Council member, Will White, reminded council they received a $197,000 loan for the soft cost of the sewer project. White said the money will primarily go to engineering and legal fees.

The meeting ended with council going into executive session to discuss the first draft of the city’s budget and employee salaries.

jriedel@reviewonline.com