City Council Meeting, 03/23/15

The Huntington City Council came together Monday and approved the budget for the city for the fiscal year of 2015-2016.

According to Mayor Steve Williams, the new budget includes the addition of two new field auditors in the finance department.

The revenue for the city will increase by $650,000, which ensures $1 million in place for street construction.

The budget passed 5-4 and will go into effect July 1.

Later in the meeting, Williams made a point to acknowledge the cities losses: Josh Martin, 21, and Rudy Magana, 28.

“The to events are separate from one another, and they’re tragic,” Williams said. “Our hearts beak for the families, and I pity the poor fools we find who conducted the second murder. I have the ultimate faith in the Huntington Police Department.”

Communications director for the City of Huntington, Bryan Chambers, asked for any assistance possible from the community in search of the perpetrator.

City Council Meeting, 03/09/15

The Huntington City Council applauded the success of receiving a national grant Monday and gave permission for Mayor Steve Williams to request for resources on behalf of the Healing Place during their meeting.

Williams said that there are great opportunities we have before us in our city and that the property between Marshall University and Highlawn represent a magnificent opportunity, but it’s also a reminder of recent failures.

The next step, according to Williams, is cleaning the potentially harmful areas and creating recreational areas and transforming Riverfront Park.

During the meeting, a resolution passed to authorize the mayor to request for a Governor’s Community Partnership Program to help fund the Healing Place.

Besides the approval for the request of grants, the council moved on to discuss, as well as praise, the efforts of the Public Works Department in their efforts of snow removal.

Williams acknowledged complaints addressed about the cities pothole issues and said to submit all appeals to their districts council member by March 20.

At the end of the meeting, the council unanimously selected Michael J. Emerson for is first term with the Huntington Municipal Development Authority.