By Steve Pendleton
The Wardensville Town Council convened in regular session on Monday, March 9, 2026, at the Visitor’s Center. Present were Mayor Besty Orndoff-Sayers; Council members Greg Alderman, Charlotte Bowman, Serena Kay Cline, Ed Klinovski, Erich Atkinson: Public Works Supervisor; Connie Miller, office staff.
The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council approved minutes from the February meeting and authorized bills to be paid.
Public Meeting
Per advertisement in the Examiner, a public hearing was held for the second reading of the proposed adoption of the state building code. With no residents in attendance, Council unanimously approved the reading of Ordinance 26-01 by roll call vote.
Invited Guests
Steve Pendleton with Humane Society of Hardy County spoke to Council about the organization and the town co-hosting and promoting a meeting in Wardensville.
Residents would be invited to learn about HSHC and available services and program needs. Also, discussion about feral cats in town can be addressed. HSHC is interested in teaming with town hall and residents to develop a plan to lessen the population. This could include loaning live traps to people and training on how to properly use the traps.
Mayor Betsy Orndoff-Sayers and Councilwoman Charlotte Bowman supported the recommendation and believe this would draw the interest of citizens. Councilman Ed Klinovkski said that feral cats concentrate on certain streets in Wardensville and had firsthand experience with taking in one. Mr. Pendleton stated that HSHC was granted funding last year by the town of Moorefield for the sterilization of feral cats within town limits. Residents requested and were given applications that were then forwarded to veterinarians. That resulted in 71 cats being fixed. However, many will have to be trapped and held for at least a couple of days before the appointment. A question of having a rabies clinic was brought up, like the one that is occasionally available at Tractor Supply. Mr. Pendleton said that an organization out of Winchester sponsors those clinics. He agreed to check into it to see if having the event in Wardensville would be possible.
Citizen Comments and Concerns
Hampshire County resident Melonie Wurfel talked to Council about conducting a poll on area Facebook group pages to gather recommendations for a new business. She and her husband are interested in opening a business in Wardensville but first need to determine what enterprise would be most successful while meeting local needs. Mayor Orndoff-Sayer has met with Ms. Wurfel and fully supports the initiative. Council members back the plan and encouraged her to proceed.
Resident Jeremy Smith noted that he was impressed with the renovations and upgrades being made at the park. He said the pavilion in particular looked great. The mayor indicated that new lights were also being installed at that location.
Mayor’s Report
Mayor’s Report – February 9, 2026, # 3 The community remains on a Boil Water notice. We have requested a hearing with the WV Bureau of Public Health to request the lifting of the Boil Water Notice. The boil water is a precautionary warning. We have filed a response to the Public Service Commission regarding Shanna Miller’s filing of a formal complaint. We are in the process of responding the news. Sanitary Survey’s Significant Finding. I would like to point out that our previous Sanitary Surveys did not show these findings. The bulk of the findings have to do with the operation of a filtration plant. We do not have a filtration plant, nor are we installing one at this time. Birds, Bugs, Blooms More: A Watercolor Sketchbook is the name of our first CALL art class for 2026. Kristin Colebank is the instructor and the class if filling up.
We received a termite inspection image showing the damaged areas in the cafeteria from Larry Smith with Extreme Pest Control. The report showed substantial termite damage. The architect noted that the brick veneer was not installed properly and that the issue with the roof that we are at the point that the building would cost more to rehabilitate, than building a new structure. FEMA has requested additional information on the parking lot grant. We are working with the grant writer to respond to their questions. Connie Miller, Holly Lockhart, John Sayers and myself attended the Auditor’s Budget Training in Martinsburg in preparation of compiling the 26-27 Budget.
Staff are in the process of gathering information for the upcoming single audit in February. Ferrari & Associates will be here on February 19th & 20th to do our audit. Class II legal ads have been placed with the Moorefield Examiner for the for the pool demo and pool house renovation ads. The pre-bid for the pool demo and the pool house upgrade was held on February 4th. We had 4 companies to attend the pool demo and 2 companies to attend for the upgrade.
Bids are due Thursday, February 12th by 10 am. I have been asked to participated in the WV Arts in Our Communities Conference in Charleston. I will be part of a panel on the Creative Aging for Lifelong Learning program. The filing period for our Municipal Election coming up in May closed on January 31st. Charlotte Bowman and Edward Kilnovski are running for the 2 Council seats and I am running for Mayor. We received a lovely thank you card from the Wardensville Lion’s Club thanking us for our participation in Christmas Joy.
Mayor’s Report – March 9, 2026 The community remains on a Boil Water notice. Our request for a hearing with the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health to ask for the lifting of the Boil Water Notice has been moved to discussion. Both parties were directed by the Administrative Law Judge to resolve the matter. We met with members of the Bureau of Public Health and will meet again after the new well has been tested and certified non-GWUDI. As previously mentioned, the boil water notice is a precautionary warning.
We have spoken with Sylvie Steranka with the Public Service Commission regarding Shanna Miller’s filing of a formal complaint. Shanna declined arbitration. We are waiting to hear of PSC’s determination of the complaint.
We had our first project meeting with Hyre’s Well Drilling regarding Well #5. Hyre’s has received a notice to proceed. We anticipate they will mobilize for the work during the first week of April.
The Birds, Bugs, Blooms More: A Watercolor Sketchbook has expanded into 2 sections due to interest. Both classes have a waiting list. The Easter Basket class taught by Tammy Keller May has expanded to 2 different classes. We are currently working with Donna Funkhouser on the Embroidery class and Holly Landes for a line drawing class.
Additional funds have been applied for from the Eastern WV Community Foundation. If we receive funding from the Community Foundation, we will be able to offer an art class to folks aged 18 to 55 in the community.
The additional information requested by FEMA on the parking lot project has been submitted. I had a zoom meeting with Logan Mongold (USDA), Kim Ruddle (Region 8), David Snider (Omni) to discuss the Cafeteria Project. We will be soliciting bids to demolish the entire building and concrete pads. The new structure will be a metal building on a concrete slate. We will do as much interior finish work that the grant will allow. The plan is to have space that could be leased and the tenant to finish their space for a lower rent with a long term lease. This is what was done with Dr. Jerry Hahn and Wardensville Medical Center when Council acquired the former Wardensville School.
Ferrari & Associates were here on February 19th and 20th to do our annual audit and single audit. We received over $750,000 in federal project money during FY 24-25 which required a single audit. The single audit threshold increases to $1 million in federal funds for FY 25 -26.
Pittsnoggle, LLC will be doing the pool demolition. Erich Atkinson and I met with David and Phil Pittsnoggle last Thursday to review the scope of work. We have contacted the West Virginia Division of Highways about a construction entrance permit for the park.
The West Virginia Arts in Our Communities Conference in Charleston was informative. I was on the panel speaking about the Creative Aging for Lifelong Learning program.
Some of the communities are using grant funds to support a community choir, experimental dance, and community art studio programs.
Mayor’s Report – February 9, 2026, # 3 The community remains on a Boil Water notice. We have requested a hearing with the WV Bureau of Public Health to request the lifting of the Boil Water Notice. The boil water is a precautionary warning. We have filed a response to the Public Service Commission regarding. Shanna Miller’s filing of a formal complaint. We are in the process of responding to the new Sanitary Survey’s Significant Finding. I would like to note that our previous Sanitary Surveys did not show these findings. The bulk of the findings have to do with the operation of a filtration plant. We do not have a filtration plant, nor are we installing one at this time.Birds, Bugs, Blooms More: A Watercolor Sketchbook is the name of our first CALL art class for 2026. Kristin Colebank is the instructor and the class filling up. We received a termite inspection image showing the damaged areas in the cafeteria from Larry Smith with Extreme Pest Control. The report showed substantial termite damage. The architect noted that the brick veneer was not installed properly and that the issue with the roof that we are at the point that the building would cost more to rehabilitate, than building a new structure. FEMA has requested additional information on the parking lot grant. We are working with the grant writer to respond to their questions.Connie Miller, Holly Lockhart, John Sayers and myself attended the Auditor’s Budget Training in Martinsburg in preparation of compiling the 26-27 Budget. Staff are in the process of gathering information for the upcoming single audit in February. Ferrari & Associates will be here on February 19th & 20th to do our audit. Class II legal ads have been placed with the Moorefield Examiner for the pool demo and pool house renovation ads. The pre-bid for the pool demo and the pool house upgrade was held on February 4th. We had 4 companies to attend the pool demo and 2 companies to attend for the upgrade. Bids are due Thursday, February 12th by 10 am. I have been asked to participate in the WV Arts in Our Communities Conference in Charleston. I will be part of a panel on the Creative Aging for Lifelong Learning program.The filing period for our Municipal Election coming up in May closed on January 31st. Charlotte Bowman and Edward Kilnovski are running for the 2 Council seats and I am running for Mayor. We received a lovely thank you card from the Wardensville Lion’s Club thanking us for our participation in Christmas Joy.
Public Works Report
A culvert will be installed for the old pool following demolition. There is a mainline leak near the main garage. The waterboy will be temporarily shut down. GUYDE testing for town well number 4 is finished. Results should be available by Monday, March 16th.
Electric at the lift station pump was knocked out last Saturday, presumably by lightening. Potomac Edison responded quickly to make necessary repairs. However, the water pump had to be emptied, costing the town $750. Atkinson reported that he now has a monitor at his desk that allows him to view operations at the new water plant.
The system, called SCADA, provides real time surveillance and immediately issues an alert when a water tank falls below a marked level. According to Wikipedia, Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is a control system architecture comprising computers, networked data communications and graphical user interfaces for high-level supervision of machines and processes. It also covers sensors and other devices, such as programmable logic controllers, also known as a distributed control system (DCS), which interface with process plant or machinery.
Mr. Atkinson met with Omni Architect staff to discuss optimal designs for handling water runoff following severe weather events. The new sewer plant building is progressing with a new water heater and shut off valve being installed.
Unfinished Business
Resolutions 2026-05 (water system funding draw down) and 2026-06 (sewage system draw down) were approved via roll call vote by council members. Mayor Orndoff-Sayers reported that a successful conference call was held Logan Mongold of the USDA and Kim Ruddle of Region 8 on options for the cafeteria building project. This included what kitchen features would best serve the childcare center. The mayor plans to visit facilities such as the Hardy County Child Care Center in Moorefield to see what amenities those kitchens offer. She suggests that the town take care of the current building’s demolition themselves so that it can be designed to best suit the needs of the community. Ms. Ruddle indicated that FEMA funding may be available for kitchen construction.
Funding from the LWCF (Land, Water Conservation Fund) will be used to complete the pool demolition which should be finished by September 30th.
New Business/Announcements
Alica Sanders with the Little League has requested use of the town gym when weather prevents outdoor practice. After discussing the matter, it was mentioned that a previous promise of a donation from that organization was not fulfilled following previous use of the gym. Ms. Bowman recommended that a solution must be developed for safety standards and leaving the facility in a clean condition. The men’s basketball group has used the gym, always cleaning and arranging things before leaving. However, another user didn’t follow that example, including defecating on the bathroom floor. Ed Klinovsi recommended a minimal donation being mandatory from anyone being approved to use the gym. The matter will be considered by the Council.
At 7:58, the Council entered into executive session to discuss legal matters. Following the session, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the Wardensville Town Council is scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2026, in the Visitors Center beginning at 6:30 p.m.
