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Mathers receives Distinguished Mountaineer Award at Vienna City Council meeting

By Kristen Hainkel 3 min read

VIENNA -- Delegate Bob Fehrenbacher presented Friends of Vienna President Jack Mathers with a Distinguished Mountaineer Award from Gov. Jim Justice at Thursday's Vienna City Council meeting.

Fehrenbacher, R-Wood, said former county commissioner Rick Modesitt played a role in facilitating the award.

"I want to acknowledge the role that Rick Modesitt played in putting this together. Because I'm here basically as a spokesperson and frankly, very honored to represent Vienna and the Mid-Ohio Valley in some kind words I'll share with you," he said.

Fehrenbacher called Mathers to the front of the room, then read a proclamation about Mathers' contributions to his community. Among them were: serving the Vienna area for almost 40 years, reestablishing the Freedom Festival as the president of Friends of Vienna and caring for his late mother.

The final line of the proclamation read: "And therefore, I, Jim Justice, Governor of West Virginia, do proclaim Jack Mathers to be a Distinguished Mountaineer."

"It's great being part of this wonderful community," Mathers said in response. "Again, it's not a one-person thing in any project. It's city council, it's mayor, it's recorder, and it's all the people that serve on committees. The way to get stuff done is working together."

The first item on council's agenda was approving to pursue bond financing options for the Jackson Park pool. The resolution stated the bond amount would be $3 million, but Mayor Randy Rapp said that was a starting point and it could change based on the financing council chooses later.

"It depends on what level it is that you want to do this. Knowing that whatever the remainder is of the bond amount will have to come out of capital reserves," he said.

Council member Kim Williams said the resolution should be amended to state $3 million up to $4 million since council would have three bond amount options to choose from: $3 million, $3.5 million, and $4 million. The amendment passed unanimously.

Rapp read the resolution again with the amendment added and it passed unanimously. He said he would present this resolution to the city's bond council, John Stump, and start paperwork immediately.

The bond amount will be voted on in a future meeting.

Recorder Melissa Elam presented a map of temporary fencing built around the Jackson Park pool complex on the projector. Rapp said United Construction Co. Inc. has begun construction around the pool. Construction workers started gutting the pool house Thursday.

"You can still circle the building and the traffic pattern is still maintained, but there is a temporary fence that will section off the construction area," Rapp said.

He added, "Hopefully they will get on this project, it won't be delayed by any supply issues, and the weather will be gracious to us."

Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com

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