By Steve Pendleton
The Wardensville Town Council convened in regular session on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Visitor’s Center. Present were Mayor Besty Orndoff-Sayers; Council members Charlotte Bowman, Serena Kay Cline, and Ed Klinovski.
The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council approved minutes of the August meeting and authorized bills to be paid.
Mayor’s Report
Aiden Baker, Erich Atkinson, and I met with Miranda Lough and Mary Beth Alzier from the West Virginia Rural Water Apprentice Program. We are exploring if that program would be a good fit for our water utility. The apprenticeship is a 2-year program and the participant takes classes and participates in on-the-job training. The cost of the program is $3,000. The next group of participants starts in January 2027.
The Humane Society of Hardy County has updated us that they will be moving traps over to Wardensville in the next few weeks to begin trapping cats in the community for spay and neutering services.
We received a rough estimate for $4.5 million dollars for the cafeteria building. This is $3 million more that we have funds for. We are working with Region 8 and Logan Mongold (USDA) to see what our options are available.
The two-library window heating/cooling units have stopped working. Our HVAC worker will be here on Monday to take a look at the units. Town staff Erich Atkinson and Holly Lockhart installed the portable AC units from the Visitor’s Center storage area to make the library comfortable.
Elaine Kennedy has submitted her resignation from the Senior Program at the Visitor’s Center. Michelle Butler has been placed on temporary leave from the program to care for a family member.
I would like Council to consider hiring a person for the program through the Workforce Program for employment for 30 hours a week or consider using some of our municipal sales tax revenue to fund two part-time positions. The Senior Program is a great program, but it is proving difficult for some applicants to navigate how the program may affect their Social Security benefits.
We are having a delay in getting a new ad written by Omni & Associates for the splash pad.
Laura Cox and her team have submitted a Transportation Alternative Design Grant for sidewalks and lighting and a FEMA Security Grant for cameras at town owned properties.
Levi Whetzel, our entrance permit contact is no longer with DOH. Jason Arnold is our new contact and we have a call into him about moving forward with making Oak Street one way project.
We completed the application work with Carrie Baughman from the Department of Energy to update our Congressional Earmark award package. We are one step closer to being able to advertise for bids.
Mark Sifler of Metro Recreation submitted a quote for the two pieces of playground equipment for the park. We have ordered the equipment. Mark will provide the edging to and Joe expands the play area at no cost to us. We met with Boy Scout Alex Yeater and his father Joe Yeater, to sign off on his Eagle Scout Award application. The park is looking lovely with efforts of so many people.
Public Works Report
Erich Atkinson stated that the aerator at the lagoon has malfunctioned. A repairman will be there on September 15 to look at it. Well #5 being funded by the Division of Highways is coming along. Lead copper samples are periodically being drawn from the water system for the State Department of Health. Twenty samples are required every six months. A pump to test chlorine levels is being used to prevent rust damage to the water pipes. It finds invisible salt on the metal.
Unfinished Business
Resolution 2026-20 (water drawdown #24) was approved with a roll call vote.
There is $2.1 million earmarked for the cafeteria building project, which is expected to include a childcare center, workout space, among other amenities. The United States Department of Agriculture has committed $1.21 million.
The remaining expense must be provided by Wardensville and funding promised by the governor’s office. The town has, despite attempts, struggled to get confirmation from the latter to officially secure that commitment. The current architect working on the project found termite damage in two locations. The firm recommended tearing down the 6,500-square-foot building and replace it with an 8,585-square-foot metal building. However, the estimate for this work was projected to be $4.5 million. Key Construction looked at the site and brought in Four Square Architects. That firm believes the project can be completed for the $2.1 million now available, providing that the governor’s office follows through on its commitment. Four Square can hire a separate structural engineer to provide consultation.
The Humane Society of Hardy County (HSHC) has begun the spay/neuter operation in the Wardensville area. Thus far six cats have been sterilized at Lost River Animal Hospital with six more scheduled this week. HSHC Board member and Pendleton Community Branch manager Patti Yarbrough will seek funds from local businesses to match the town’s recent $2,000 donation.
New Business
The town’s Dell Server has become obsolete. The new model at a cost of $31,59 will provide higher speed, more memory, and allow extra additions as needed. The purchase, which is a lease to buy arrangement, will include Information Technology support. Another convenient feature is accepting credit cards for water bill payments.
The boy scout troop in Wardensville is disbanding due to lack of active members. A recent request for a donation will now be sent to the scout troop in Hampshire County.
Council voted to contribute $250 to that group which recently helped with a town project.
A donation of $200 to the Hardy County Library was also approved. The state DLAP (Dilapidated Properties Program) through the Department of Environmental Protection has $10 million to allocate to counties and towns. The razing of the old Freezer King building is a possible site for demolition. Currently, the VFW is located in the building but will be seeking to construct a new space. Charlotte Bowman asked if the town could face a penalty if the work is not completed within a certain time frame. Mayor Orndoff-Sayers stated that a one-year cushion is given to use the funds or return the money, so a penalty is not an issue.
The town has $257,000 left over from the sewer project. New generators are a big need. Snyder Environmental, the firm that worked on the sewage project, said that Freestate Electric of Cumberland could provide the generators for $144,792 which will include installing concrete pads at Pine Street and Warden Acres. Erich Atkinson has a quote of $133,000 from another source. The town will study both proposals before making a decision.
With no other business to conduct, the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
The next Town Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 12, 2026, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Visitor’s Center. The public is welcome to attend.
