City Council Plans for Citywide Pothole Repairs

After this year’s rough winter took a toll on city roads, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams asked for city council’s cooperation Monday in repairing road damage and potholes.

During the city council meeting, the mayor asked that council members get input from their constituents on repair needs and submit a list for paving to the Public Works Department by March 20. Williams said he knows this project will take time but emphasized the severity of the situation.

“After coming out of this winter season, our roads are beat to Hades,” Williams said.

Williams said patching the potholes would begin once the weather improves and the roadways lose excess water. He said the lists from constituents are a way to plan ahead for upcoming improvements.

Williams added that during the last winter storm, all of Huntington’s snow plows ran 3 days with no accidents or injuries reported.

During his report at the meeting, Williams also announced that Huntington was the recipient of a $200,000 brownfield planning grant funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. Williams said the grant would ensure that the project is efficient and effective.

“This $200,000 grant will help us measure twice and cut once,” Williams said.

The grant would contribute to funding for an extensive overhaul of the area between Marshall University and the Highlawn area. According to Williams, the area functioned for 142 years as an industrial property but has not been used for the last 10-20 years.

The area, which encompasses 78-acres worth of property, is likely to house Rubberlite Incorporated, an advanced polymer manufacturing center, as well as mixed-use development. Williams said the manufacturing center would also bring more opportunities for cooperative efforts between the city and Marshall University.

Williams also declared April 2015 Fair Housing Month to commemorate the 47^th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

The city council voted to refer a resolution prohibiting advertisements on the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame to the Recreation Committee for further discussion.

Williams said he hopes the referral will allow for an intelligent and thoughtful decision to be made that will not constitute a complete ban on a medium for businesses in the city.

The next city council meeting is March 23 at 7:30 p.m.