In a relatively brief town council meeting, Marlinton Mayor Joe Smith gave an update on the town depot reconstruction project. The historic building was damaged in a fire in 2008.

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ﾓHopefully we're going to sign the contract in the morning at the county commission meeting,ﾔ said Smith. ﾓThe contractor is ready, he's already ordered the supplies. They're going to begin as soon as they get a signed document giving them authority.ﾔ

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County commissioners had not received the contract as of Tuesday morning's commission meeting, and the contract was not signed.

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Smith discussed a recent town audit with council members.

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ﾓThe audit was done,ﾔ said Smith. ﾓIt was a good audit. We had an excellent interview with the auditor, he was very pleased, or appeared to be.ﾔ

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Smith said that the auditor recommended creating a compliance officer position because some businesses in town are not up-to-date with their business and operating tax.

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ﾓWe have businesses that are not paying the B and O Tax. Even if you do not owe, you still have to return the form,ﾔ said Smith. ﾓA lot of them aren't returning the form because they probably don't owe anything, so consequently they think they don't have to return the form.ﾔ

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Smith said the compliance officer would be able to shutter businesses that aren't keeping up with the tax.

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ﾓThat person has a lot of authority according to the auditor. They can physically close a business down on the spot for not doing their B and O Tax. That's pretty powerful as far as I'm concerned. That's something I don't think anyone on this council wants to see, but people that owe it, have to pay it.ﾔ

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Smith talked about a recent culvert construction behind Marlinton Elementary School.

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ﾓThe town applied for the permit. What that is going to do, once it's filled in and leveled off and smoothed down, it will be a green area that will be mowable. The Greenbrier River Trail will maintain it. It is going to save, someplace between $30 and $50,000 dollars on the Wellness Center. By doing what we did, it eliminates the need for a retaining wall. I thought it was a good project and I supported it.ﾔ

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Smith said despite the slightly higher cost, all the materials were purchased locally from Richardson's.

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ﾓThe state bid was only $10 per section, cheaper than Richardson's. So we bought the culvert locally, kept the business locally. If it was a hundred dollars, we might've reconsidered.ﾔ

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Council members voted to make a donation to Parks and Recreation to help with the culvert project.

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Council member Natasha McMann talked about updates with the proposed town recycling project. McMann shared pricing information for containers with council members, and talked about funding for the project.

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ﾓThe idea is to get grant funding, at least for the first year,ﾔ said McMann. ﾓThen after that we'd have to evaluate, and maybe assume it ourselves. I don't think we're eligible after the second year.ﾔ

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Council members debated whether or not to make a donation for a local trout stocking project.

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ﾓA bunch of local citizens got together and they stocked the Greenbrier River with trout,ﾔ Smith said. ﾓPrior to doing it, they asked for a donation, I told them it had to come before the council. Now, they feel like it's been successful enough that they're going to do a second stocking later in April or May. They're asking for a donation from the town to support this project.ﾔ

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Council member Norris Long was opposed to the idea.

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ﾓThe idea of stocking the Greenbrier River at this location with a cold water species, is not a good idea,ﾔ said Long. ﾓBiologically, this is a warm water habitat. We've got a great stocking program going on right now with several local streams. Whenever summer time gets here, there's not going to be one trout left, because there's not enough water to support a trout population.ﾔ

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ﾓI never thought the Greenbrier River would support trout either,ﾔ Smith said. ﾓBut they contacted the Department of Natural Resources fish biologist, now this is just what I was told, but the natural resources fish biologist says the Greenbrier River would support trout year round.ﾔ

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Council member David Zorn suggested tabling the issue until the council could gather information in hopes of making a more educated decision on the matter.

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Smith talked about the modified garbage schedule this month in accordance with the state clean-up program.

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ﾓClean-up month began today,ﾔ said Smith. ﾓWe'll do special pick-ups on Mondays and Fridays. Mondays to pick up anything where people have cleaned up over the weekend and Friday for anyone that's cleaned up during the week. Big item, special pick-ups. That's all month long.ﾔ

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According to Smith, the county 911 mapping is almost complete, and it may affect some Marlinton residents.

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ﾓThere have been some changes in Marlinton, mainly on Circle Drive, Smith Street, and the alleys,ﾔ said Smith. ﾓSome houses were renumbered. The houses that used to say, like 900 ﾽ Second Avenue, will no longer say that. There will be no more ﾽs in Marlinton, unless it is an upright apartment.ﾔ

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Smith talked about a new business that will be coming to Marlinton, a pet-wash facility. Smith also told board members that work is being done to reopen French's Diner.