The city council voted on and approved a new zoning commission during the August meeting.
The commission will also have a board of directors.
Several residents were named to the board and approved by council on Tuesday.
“This is another step to move the town into a better place with something that has long been needed,” Mayor Serafino Nolletti said. “In the past, we have had problems with zoning and this will address those issues.”
City Building Inspector Ray Perry said the commission will consist of 10 people who would start work on the drafting of a zoning ordinance which would divide the city up into segments.
“That way, you don’t have commercial buildings in a residential area or a house built in your business district,” Perry explained, noting that other issues would be addressed such as crowding, which can be a fire issue. “It will also tie in with flood zone regulations. This can be a really good tool for a municipality to use.”
Fire Chief Scott Beckett said the measure would bring Logan up to the standards of Charleston, Morgantown and other areas which had planned out zoning.
“Mostly it deals with commercial structures,” Mayor Nolletti said when asked how it would affect a homeowner whose house had burned down.
Nolletti said Perry and Beckett have already contacted 20 qualified people to see if they would be willing to serve and that Kevin Marcum, Dave Whitman, Keno Muncy, Mike Allie Jr. , Teddy Tomblin, Howard Jemerison, Stan Morgan, B.J. Picklesimer and Claudia Ellis had agreed to serve if approved.
Councilman Tom Fink brought up another longterm thorn in the city’s side, noting that residents in the Central City district were very upset about the lack of repairs on the railroad crossings in their area.
Fink asked Nolletti to contact railroad officials and have them attend a councilmeeting so that the public could find out why the promised repairs never came. For some time, Fink has expressed concerns about the state of the crossings in town and earlier this summer announcements were made that repairs would be coming.
Mayor Nolletti said he was surprised when some of the repairs were not completed. Nolletti said he was told by the railroad that the projects should be done by October.
“I brought it up and I want it addressed,” Fink said, adding that the public wanted to know about a protected date.
In other city council news:
• Councilmembers went into executive session to address a potential issue regarding the city’s two parking garages. Following a lengthy delay council reconvened with no recommendations or actions.
“No motion will be made at this time,” Mayor Nolletti said.
• Fire Chief Scott Beckett told the council his department had a busy summer and good turnout on some major disasters including a flood and another mine disaster.
“I want to thank our men,” Beckett said. “We have 30 men on the roster and at both the flood and the Bandmill Coal fire and other incidents we had about 27 who turned out to help. That included several rescues.”
“Those firefighters are fearless,” Councilman Dave Steele said, noting he had witnessed one of the rescue incidents.
Beckett said his department is working with Massey on fire protection plans in the aftermath of the second fire at Bandmill.
• Logan Police Chief E.K. Harper said his department was ready to begin interviews and background checks on applicants who had passed recent Civil Service testing, in order to hire a new police officer.
The progressive Council also put in place a e-911 City type address for Town residents.