Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE Published: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 Page: 9A Byline: ARAN JENKINS FOR THE GAZETTE
For more than a decade, Nitro city officials have wanted to build a boat ramp on the site of a former landfill on Smith Street.
Mayor Rusty Casto told City Council members Tuesday night the project would officially get underway with a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 4.
Casto said Gov. Joe Manchin would attend.
The mayor waved a certificate of completion for the project at the meeting.
"This goes back 12 years," Councilman Joe Savilla said of the project.
In other business, council members passed an ordinance increasing the minimum amount for contracted city projects to go out to competitive bids.
For any project costing the city more than $1,000, a minimum of three competitive written bids must be obtained before the project is completed.
The minimum expense was increased from $300, according to city attorney Richie Robb.
Robb and Councilman Craig Matthews brought gifts donated from Nitro's sister city - Alfreton, England. A small group of citizens, including Robb and Matthews, returned Saturday from a weeklong visit to England.
The items donated included a mug for Mayor Casto, a decorative plate and several books to be displayed in the city's library.
"They're the nicest people you'll ever want to meet," Matthews said.