BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
WARFIELD — The Warfield City Commission met Thursday at City Hall and completed a short agenda.
Commissioners accepted Kentucky Power Company’s franchise bid and conducted the first reading of an ordinance assigning the 20-year franchise to Kentucky Power. The city will have the second reading during next month’s regularly scheduled meeting.
Citing a lack of funding for street repair, commissioners approved a resolution in March recommending the Martin County Fiscal Court adopt the city’s streets into the county road plan. The county is in the process of doing that. However, due to confusion about the location of Groundhog Hollow and Groundhog Road, the city drafted a letter Thursday requesting the county correct its map.
Mayor Mike Hinkle announced the city was awaiting its SAM (system of award management) registration approval, which “could take up to 30 days.” After the city has its SAM number, it can apply for grants to repair sidewalks, according to Hinkle.
Commissioner John Sammons questioned expenditures to T&D Hardware ($249), Kermit Western Auto ($327) and Visa ($2,190).
“That’s right around $3,000,” Sammons said. “How much money do we have left?”
City clerk Rhonda Price advised Sammons that he had the financial statement in his meeting packet.
“Right here it says $7,451.78,” Hinkle told Sammons.
Price explained that the city had $19,629 in its ARPA account from the first ARPA installment.
“The second ARPA installment we got was when they declared we could use it as lost revenue,” said Price. “So we didn’t put the second one in that. The second one went into the [general fund].”
“So what we’ve got left in our checking account is $7,000?” asked Sammons.
“Almost $7,500 now,” Commissioner Davey Bell corrected.
“If it would be easier, I could explain it to you later,” Price told Sammons.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” said Sammons. “You spent $300 at Western Auto.”
Price said the Western Auto bill was for repairs on a weedeater and truck parts.
Hinkle announced the city needed to purchase a new desk for Price.
“I don’t think we need to spend the money on it,” Commissioner Crystal Bell said.
According to Price, city workers recently attempted to pick the desk up and move it.
“They were afraid it would fall apart,” said Price.
“Well, wait until you move it,” Commissioner David Bell said. “And if it doesn’t fall apart–”
“If it falls apart we’ll nail it together, and then we’ll order you one,” joked Davey Bell.
Price has used the same desk for the last 12 years, which she believes is the same desk the city clerk used in the 1990s.