REEDSVILLE -— Reedsville Council voted this week to swap some property with Superior Fibers.
An email from Ella Belling, executive director of Mon River Trails Conservancy (MRTC), said the town owns a right-of-way called N Road in front of the Superior Fiber building.
Belling said Superior Fiber, “would like to swap the properties and allow the trail head property located on Cross Street be formally owned by the Town of Reedsville for the use of parking.”
Belling said it will take legal work to transfer the property and MRTC may be able to fund the work either by hiring an attorney or helping pay the town’s attorney.
“I do not want this to be ruled out due to a funding question,” Belling wrote.
Council voted unanimously to approve the swap “as long as MRTC or Superior Fibers takes care of funding the transfer and our attorney approves the paperwork.”
In other matters Monday, a discussion about purchasing equipment turned into a loud exchange of words.
Councilman Greg Burke told council he is looking at equipment the town needs to do necessary work on the roads, ditches and sewer.
“I talked to the bank and we can get a $50,000 or $60,000 loan for some of the equipment we need,” he said.
Councilwoman Renee Stone asked him who was going to operate the equipment if they bought it.
“How do you know they can operate it?” she asked when Burke said town employees would be using the equipment.
“If they have the equipment they can do their jobs better and get it done,” Burke said.
“What if it’s not done better and they don’t get it done?” she asked. “We’ll still owe $60,000. This is not my first rodeo. People never fail to disappoint. I see the electric is still not in.”
“It’s in,” Burke said. “We’re waiting for the fire department to come and look at it.”
“We have windows that have been sitting here for six months,” Stone replied.
Councilwoman Britney Titus intervened loudly. “We have damn good town employees,” she said. “If they don’t have the proper equipment they can’t do the job!”
“Why can’t we just buy one piece at a time?” Stone asked. “I don’t see going in debt when we get a finite amount of money every year.”
“Sometimes it takes several pieces of equipment to do one job,” Councilman Scott William said.
Burke said council saved $8,000 on insurance and suggested it could be used to purchase equipment. Stone said she believed buying equipment would strap the town financially.
“I think we need to keep our finances in check,” Stone said. “I think there is no end to this buying tools and equipment.”
Further discussion was tabled for a later meeting.
Council unanimously voted to buy 12 traffic cones, a box of 36 road flares and two 36-by-36-inch mower roll up traffic signs, for a total of $479.
Council also went into executive session to discuss personnel.
The next meeting of Reedsville Council will be 6:30 p.m. July 27.
