Department Head Updates January 28, 2020

Engineering 1. Conducted dye testing for stormwater at

Exit 1. 2. Review of Bluefield State College Heritage

Hall student housing stormwater management plan.

3. Preliminary review of Intuit Prosperity Hub plan.

4. Prepared presentation for Grant Street Bridge Task Force meeting.

5. GIS is nearing completion of Municipal Land Bank Edits.

6. GIS is nearing completion of Stormwater Connectivity Edits.

7. Winter phase of the Hardy Street curve relaxation project is complete.

Public Works

1. Excavation of the Hardy Street project is complete. Phase II will relocate guard rails. Phase III will resurface when asphalt plants open in the Spring.

2. The previous Public Works facility has been cleared and is ready for the new owner to take possession at the close of sale.

3. We are hauling gravel to the Bluefield Avenue salt bin and mixing to have on standby for any future snow storms.

4. All Holiday of Lights displays have been taken down and put in storage. 5. Assisted Asplundh by hauling off the excess wood from trees they cut on Maryland

Avenue. This partnership was a savings in excess of 30K for the City. 6. Due to heavy rain the Bluefield Arts Center sustained water damage; several employees

were assigned to clean up and help contain the damage.

IT Department / Special Projects

1. With heavy rain and strong wind on January 11, the Arts building theater experienced water infiltration at the stage area. One wall sustained damage, and water made its way across the stage, but caused no damage. We are working with the Engineering and Public Works departments on a solution to the problem. Thanks to Public Works and Stormwater crews for assisting with finding the precise location of the problem, as well as testing drains and cleaning up debris around the building. A special thanks to the 4-Pals Production staff for cleaning up the mess inside the theater.

2. Conducted phone and in-person interviews for part-time IT Technician. Brian Click accepted the position, and starts January 27.

3. Getting quotes for repairing or replacing an HVAC unit at City Hall that has been out of service for several weeks.

4. Wild Turkey Road (Exit 1) demo bids due January 27. Our original goal was to have the structures demolished by the end of February. However, we now must wait for the completion of a required Phase 1 Archeological Study. Demo may not occur until sometime in the spring.

5. The pace has picked up at the Union St project. First floor, and one upstairs bedroom has all new drywall, bathroom floor tile is down and upstairs floor sanding in progress. Several rooms have also been painted.

6. During an inspection at the Arts building, an improperly installed electrical junction box with exposed wiring was discovered, and quickly corrected by our electrician Chris Roberts. Chris and I also canvassed the building for non-working emergency lighting and exit signs. Many are outdated and will soon be replaced.

7. Tech calls / routine items

Recreation Department 1. Our membership promotion has been extended through February. Save $100 on an annual

membership or get one month free when paying via monthly bank draft. In addition to radio and TV advertisements, we have three billboards going up in the Bluefield area. Alorica has signed on with a corporate membership agreement and we are working on an agreement with AMR Pemco Inc. in Bluefield, VA.

2. The staff has put together a great program plan for this calendar year that includes six special events. See attachment for program offerings.

3. Mark your calendar for the 2nd Annual Lift for 5 Push/Pull Competition scheduled for Saturday, February 29. Each participant will receive power lifting socks and the winner of each category will win an event medal. Proceeds will go towards a teen fitness center scholarship in honor of Lil’ Tony Webster Junior.

4. Group exercise class attendance and gym participation has really picked with the New Year. Our hope is to turn the New Year’s resolution participants into lifelong participants.

5. The pool has been very busy on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with the Pikeview and Mercer Makos Swim Teams practicing from 5:00 pm -7:30 pm. Each Mercer Mako swimmer has purchased a teen membership for the duration of the swim program.

6. Our after-school program now has 34 kids on the registry! We are just about at full capacity and we have had an average of about 25 kids the past two weeks. Reimbursement is steady and we are operating with an even distribution of full price private pay and Mountain Heart kids which should yield good budget news for the next few months.

7. Over the past couple of weeks, the after-school program celebrated the New Year with fun games and a party. We have had several All-Day Kids Camps which were a success. Since the students went back to school on Jan 6th, we have continued swimming and taking advantage of the local parks during warmer days. We are pleased to announce that 77% of our kids made the A/B Honor roll this grading period!

8. The department offered a staff CPR/First Aid/AED training on Jan. 16th for five employees. We are planning an open community class for March 8th.

9. The staff has been working with the Super Six South Committee putting together a bid to host the West Virginia State High School Football Championships for the next three years beginning in 2020.

10. Staff and volunteers have been finalizing trail names for rebranding of the trail system in Bluefield City Park. The goal for this spring is to install new signage with emergency location along the eastern trail system. The staff and volunteers will also work on trail features and create a better flow to the existing trails.

11. City of Bluefield Parks and Recreation 2020 Program Calendar can be found on the City of Bluefield’s website: www.cityofbluefield.com or call 304-325-5707.

Human Resources Department 1. On boarded 2 FT Firefighters, 1 FT Code Enforcement Office and 1 PT Lifeguard. 2. Accepting applications for the following openings; FT Public Works, Laborer, PT

Information Technology Assistant, FT Stormwater Laborer, PT Lifeguard, PT Certified Personal Trainers

3. Assisted Information Technology Director with interviews for a PT Assistant. 4. Participated in the review of the Fire Department Assessment.

5. Researched FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) for specific policy and considerations for revision.

6. Attended the January training luncheon with the SHRM Appalachian Chapter of the Virginias. The speaker was Russell Shaw with Calrus Solutions, presenting:

Inspection Department

1. Total cost of building construction $128,477 2. Building permits issued 22 3. Field Inspections: 11 4. Rental Properties: 1 5. Vacant Properties: 6. Unfit for Habitation: 1 7. Trash: 7 8. Complaints: 10 9. Parking Tickets: 10. Abandon Vehicles: 0 11. Animal Control: 4 complaints. 9 Seizures. 12. Bluefield Building Commission hearing set for January 28, 2020 for 12 structures.

Code Enforcement is working on the following projects:

1. Working on approval for Consent to Demolition Form. Waiting on approval. 2. Developed a fillable building permit form to put on the website. Completed. 3. Working with the State Fire Marshal to review fire protection plans. Waiting on

confirmation from the State Fire Marshal. 4. Working with the Fire Department to develop a Fire Inspection Program. Waiting on the

city ordinance change. 5. Scheduled interviews on January 13 for Code Enforcement Officer/Animal Control. Hired

Nikki Alley. 6. Looking to revise the language in the city ordinance to define Code Enforcement Officer.

Waiting on approval. 7. New uniforms for Code Enforcement. Should be in by the first of February, 2020. 8. Working on training for new hire. Tanner will be leaving the end of January, 2020 to

pursue a degree in Wytheville, VA. Nikki will be taking classes in the fall in animal control.

9. Working on fee schedule for building permits. Waiting on approval. 10. New apartments at Bluefield State College. Under review.

Discovering Personalities using the DISC Method

improve work productivity, teamwork and communication

11. Vacant Structure Registration – restarting. Has a fillable form to register on the website. Will be starting enforcement in February, 2020. Want to do radio or TV announcement on the program, with approval.

12. Rental Property Inspection Program – restarting. Has a fillable form on the website. Will be starting enforcement in February, 2020. Want to do radio or TV announcement on the program, with approval.

13. Unfit for Habitation Program – Reduce potential risk of arson. Working with the Fire Department to get them certified in Property Maintenance Inspector to assist with these inspections.

City Ambassador

1. Participated in the Grant Street Bridge Task Force meeting January 9. 2. Attended “Spring into Fitness” event meeting – January 9. 3. Uploaded five (5) additional jobs to the Army PaYS website for a total of 10 job listings. 4. Made contacts for Student Government Day scheduled for March 10. 5. Attemded Alliance for the Arts board meeting at the Bluefield Arts Center. 6. Assisted with Congresswoman Miller’s visit to Bluefield Tuesday January 21.

Congresswoman Miller and Appalachian League Baseball President at the Bluefield Arts Center during a press conference January 21, 2020.

7. Assisted visitors to City Hall. 8. Performed additional duties as assigned.

Fire Department

EMS Incidents 31 Fire Incidents 20 Motor Vehicle Collision 04 Utilities Incidents 01 Good Will 03 K9 0 Total calls for Service 59

Notable Calls for this period

1. 551 Bluefield Avenue (Dumpster Fire). 2. 504 West Cumberland Road (Structure Fire). 3. 2001 Virginia Heights (Structure Fire, Mutual Aid given).

1. All Engines are back up and running. 2. Ladder 5 is up and running. 3. Specs are being looked at for replacing Truck 7, as

well as a possible fix from another Bluefield Department.

4. EMS continues to be the biggest call load we deal with.

5. Inspected 1504 Jefferson Street for possible new business.

Images of the incident on

Cumberland Rd. show devasting destruction fire can cause.