HUNTINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Legislature hosted their May 2023 interim committee meetings in Huntington, WV on the campus of Marshall University. As a result, many elected officials from the City of Huntington and Cabell County were invited by various interim committees to make presentations and answer questions.
While most meetings are at the capitol building in Charleston, House and Senate leadership have committed to hosting a few of these study sessions each year in facilities across the state. Last year, members met at West Virginia University in Morgantown and at Cacapon Resort State Park. In 2023, legislators will convene in Wheeling in November, in addition to this month’s meeting in Huntington.
Williams Touts Pension Turnaround
On Sunday, mayor and potential gubernatorial candidate, Steve Williams (D-Huntington), made a presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Pensions and Retirement in which he presented an overview of the poor state of municipal police and fire pensions when he took office in 2013 and the reforms made his decade in city hall.
According to Williams, pensions have gone from 2% funded under the previous administration to 36% for fire and 46% for police and the city now has an A+ bond rating.
(In a possible hint at his 2024 strategy if he runs for governor, Williams noted that he reduced taxes while increasing revenue. This would put him closer to the center in a Democratic primary field with the likes of former Senate Minority Leader Stephen Baldwin or WV Can’t Wait‘s Stephen Smith.)
Williams, Linville Spar in Finance; Sobonya Abides
Mayor Williams returned on Monday to provide legislators with an overall assessment of the fiscal situation facing the City of Huntington. He spoke to the Joint Standing Committee on Finance about the Hal Greer Blvd improvement project, the redevelopment of former American Car and Foundry Company (ACF) factory in the Highlawn neighborhood, and the renovation of a former garment factory in Westmoreland (the portion of Huntington in Wayne County).
Williams acknowledged Kelli Sobonya, a former Delegate and current Cabell County Commissioner, in the audience and notes that he looks to regional growth, not just expansion for the city. He cited the current wastewater treatment system upgrade as an example of a project that will improve sewer service for customers of wastewater collection systems that use Huntington’s plant.
Delegate Daniel Linville (R-Cabell, 22) asked Williams for some specifics on project funding from state money and private sector payouts. He did not have the information at hand, but called the state “a partner.”
Linville then pivoted to the the purchase of Pullman Square by the Huntington Municipal Development Authority (HMDA) using $7m in COVID relief dollars. Pullman Square, a redeveloped city block that combines elements of a town square with parking facilities and a shopping plaza, was available and, according to Williams, the city had to seize the opportunity to protect the city’s project from falling into the hands of potentially unscrupulous private sector ownership.
Williams was able to return to a more comfortable topic as Delegate Mathew Rohrbach (R-Cabell, 26) asked about the wastewater collection and treatment upgrades. Williams noted that rates did increase but was required to receive funding from federal sources. This will be the first major sewer project for Huntington since 1962.
Commissioner Sobonya presented to Finance after Williams. She praised Williams and talked about open government. Cabell County has recently joined the State Auditor’s Office’s Open Checkbook program and is now live-streaming meetings.
Hammers Talks Alternative Sentencing
On Tuesday, Cabell County Prosecuting Attorney Sean “Corky” Hammers presented to the Legislative Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority.
Hammers spoke highly of the county’s home confinement program, day report center, and drug court.
Legislators will hold their next interim committee meetings in Charleston in August.