KINGWOOD — A Kingwood resident says he will file a complaint with the West Virginia Ethics Commission because city council refuses to maintain streets in his neighborhood.
Council says Kingwood doesn’t maintain the streets because they were never dedicated to the town, even though they are within city limits.
Justin Haymond, of the Rodeheaver Addition, asked council in June to stop storm water from running from Joy Street, which is the city’s, onto residents’ property in the Frank, Cord and Von Streets area.
“I’d like to have that corrected,” Haymond said. “The pipe’s there. It’s about half a day’s worth of work to have the storm water taken from where it’s at now to a different channel.”
He says the streets should be maintained by the city. The council and mayor said streets must be dedicated to the town and these never were. They previously cited an ordinance that requires streets to be brought up to standards and dedicated by deed.
Recorder Bill Robertson said council requested an opinion from its attorney as soon as Haymond made his initial appearance but it then searched for a new attorney, which took time, and is now awaiting his opinion. “We’ve been in limbo for basically three months now,” Robertson said.
Haymond also asked the city to trim trees hanging over property where he plans to build a home. Council said the trees are not on city land, which Haymond disputed.
“These streets were maintained, so if they did have ownership, why was the city maintaining them?” Haymond asked. “There was rock being used, there was snow removal. These are items that we’re not receiving currently. It doesn’t matter if it’s dedicated, undedicated … It’s still your responsibility as a city council for the safety of residents.”
“These roads are in horrible condition,” and pose a possible hazard to getting fire or ambulance service to the area, Haymond said.
Robertson said Kingwood will do snow removal on undedicated streets if more than 4 inches of snow falls or in an emergency. Haymond said residents pay a private company for snow removal.
“The answer is we’re waiting for our attorney to do something,” Mayor Jean Guillot said.
Another man asked council to research who owns Cord Street. “I’ve been told for 14 years the city doesn’t own it,” he said. Council told him it would not do the research for him.
Haymond said he agreed with Guillot’s recent comments that Kingwood needs to adopt sub development regulations so that streets are up to code when developments are built.
Council also:
approved the quarterly donation of $2,500 for Main Street Kingwood. MSK Director Mary Hibbs said trick or treating at Kingwood businesses will be 5-6:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Participating businesses will have balloons outside. can call Hibbs at 304-435-2737.
agreed to close streets for the Christmas parade, which will be noon Dec. 1, with lighting of the city tree at McGrew House at dusk.
set up a special account for $871 forfeited in two drug arrests. By law the money must be used for police investigations.
appointed Councilwoman Michelle Whetsell to the MSK board.
heard from Carole Jackson, who asked for a variance to the vacant building ordinance. She said her family uses an adjacent home on Springhill Drive for storage and would like the annual fee waived. Council promised to have an answer at its next meeting.
agreed to ask the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department to place “no parking” signs on one side of Beverly Street during the 2019 Buckwheat Festival.
asked the police chief to look at Pierce Street, where someone said parking on a curve is creating a hazard.
