Williamstown to auction city property
By JOLENE CRAIG, jcraig@newsandsentinel.comWILLIAMSTOWN - City council Tuesday adopted an ordinance to auction city property.
Council held the second vote and approved to have an auction Dec. 5 at the city building for a 3.311-acre property near EnviroTech that was donated to the city for use as a soccer field.
Mayor Jean Ford previously said the city has no use for the land that is along the Ohio River.
The minimum bid for the property will be $25,000, said city attorney Blaine Myers.
Council also discussed the city's agreement with developer Jeff Martin for an alternative mainline extension agreement for Cooper's Ridge development.
City clerk Susan Knopp said she received a telephone call from David Holley, a technical analyst associate from the energy division of the West Virginia Public Service Commission, to discuss changes to the agreement.
The changes include calculations for the city's payments to Martin as well as wording throughout the document.
Ford said the city has not had a chance to discuss the changes with Martin.
"We should talk to him before we take action," Ford said.
The agreement as written would allow the city to pay its cost of the water and sewer infrastructure over time and a smaller amount.
According to the West Virginia Public Service Commission rebate provisions of water, the main line extension rules include a new manner of calculating a customer's financial contribution to the cost of an extension.
Construction on Cooper's Ridge can begin as soon as the state approves the agreement between Martin and the city.
The plans include 30 residential home sites and seven duplex homes that should be ready for people to move in by the spring, Martin said.
Martin's previous developments in Williamstown include Painter's Crossing and The Fields at Little Run Farm.
In other business:
- There will be a special council meeting Thursday to discuss changes to the city's parking ordinance. The meeting will follow a public meeting on the parking ordinance at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers.
- Williamstown tree lighting ceremony will take place Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the city building.
