From left, Councilman Tony Morrison asks City Attorney Russ Skogstad a clarifying question regarding the Thrasher Group contract during Thursday evening’s Vienna City Council meeting. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

VIENNA — Vienna City Council opened its regular Thursday evening meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilwoman Tami Rhodes before moving into public forum, where Councilman Henry Sasyn addressed council on community facilities, population trends and winter weather preparation.

Councilman Jim Leach was absent.

Sasyn said he recently attended a swim meet that drew 17 schools and filled available space. He also said he attended a recent Wood County Board of Education meeting where enrollment declines were discussed.

“This year they dropped the population by 254 kids,” he said. “If we’re not careful, we’re gonna be in trouble.”

Sasyn said he later spoke with Superintendent Christie Willis about the possibility of collaboration between city and school officials.

Vienna Mayor Chad Emrick encourages Vienna residents to stay off the roads ahead of anticipated winter weather. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“Maybe we get the city officials and government officials of the school board together and start putting our heads together before things really get out of hand,” Sasyn said.

Council approved minutes from its Jan. 8, 2026, meeting without correction. A scheduled presentation from Dr. Torie Jackson and Lindsey Piersol was postponed due to illness and rescheduled for the first council meeting in February.

Council approved on first reading an ordinance conveying a road right-of-way and easement to the West Virginia University at Parkersburg Foundation Inc.

City Attorney Russ Skogstad said the conveyance would allow construction of a road to serve a proposed elementary school.

“We’re giving them a road so that the state will pay for it, then that road will be conveyed back to the city of Vienna,” Skogstad said.

The ordinance passed 6-0.

Council also adopted a resolution authorizing an election to renew an existing levy for continued operation of the mass transportation system. Skogstad noted a discrepancy between figures in the paperwork and the ballot language.

“The number that will be placed on the ballot… is $20 less than what is in the paper that’s in front of you,” he said.

Later in the meeting, council approved a five-year engineering services agreement with the Thrasher Group following a brief executive session. Council then amended the agreement to specify that engineering services would be limited to Spencer’s Landing before approving the resolution.

Council also approved on first reading an ordinance allowing limited internal budget revisions within departments without prior council approval, capped at 20% of a department’s operating budget and excluding personnel and capital expenditures.

Mayor Chad Emrick said the ordinance would improve efficiency and transparency.

“We don’t have anything in place… there’s nothing that we have in ordinance or policy that actually addresses how we do any type of revisions,” he said, adding, “Nothing’s going to be done in the dark.”

Before adjourning, council announced the planning commission will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, followed by its regular meeting.

Emrick also reminded residents to prepare for the coming snowstorm.

“If you have the availability to keep your cars off the road, put them in your driveways,” he said.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com