The April 6, 2026 Hurricane City Council meeting included reports from 2025 Ms. and Pre-Teen Hurricane Independence Day queens and updates from department heads in addition to conduction of regular business.
One business item, a resolution to authorize entering into an agreement with the West Virginia Department of Transportation, is more important than its name might suggest. The agreement will give ownership to a stoplight to the City of Hurricane. The light will be installed at the entrance of the soon-to-be Woodworth Farms at the junction of Main Street and Harbour Lane. The agreement will immediately allow contractors to begin infrastructure construction for the 400+-unit subdivision. As owner of the light, the city must pay electricity use and maintenance costs. The light’s timing control will also belong to the City.
Council held the second reading of an ordinance to annex 4.92 acres on Harbour Lane into city limits. The property is adjacent to Kelly’s Cove. The property owner, AB Contracting, plans to construct a 95-unit residential housing complex. In a related but separate action, council approved a request from AB Contracting to have certain fees waived.
Council approved a change in city code which will allow city building code officers to do side work, providing the work is outside of city limits. Council also approved a change in definition of “family” in the city code. The new definition, modeled after Martinsburg’s, is more stringent than the previous definition.
Fire Chief Paul Niedbalski reported that Dow Chemical has contracted to use Hurricane Fire & Rescue’s Regional Training Center for its employees.
In his update, Police Chief Mike Mullins informed council HPD responded to 19 domestic violence calls (an unusually high number) during March. During the month, the department responded to a total of 761 call, made 22 State arrests, 11 City arrests, and issued 104 tickets.
City manager Andy Skidmore informed council that the contract to built a pickelball court near the Main Street entrance to Bridge Park has been awarded to Raynes Excavating.
In other business, Vernon Wysong was reappointed to serve on the Hurricane Building Commission.
The next regular Hurricane council meeting will be Monday, May 4, at6:30 p.m.
