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Community
Ideals Identified:
- Public transportation
- Health care increased
- Major hospital
- Drug-free community
- Good city government
- Police department expanded
- Paid emergency personnel
- Clean air and water
- Good zoning laws
- River dredged for environmental flood control purposes
- Workable building and fire codes
- Flood control / dam for water supply south of the city
- Environmental balance
- More urban forestry
- Teen pregnancies reduced
- Airport improved for public
Priorities: Projects: Time frames:
Flood Control:
Priority #1 Establish task force Short
Priority #2 Public pressure about addressing the issue Short
Priority #3 Projects - dredge river, federal flood dam or wall
Long
Who: What:
Task Force Lead
Media Public awareness, information
Loggers Follow regulations
Army Corps Planning, funding, construction
Dept. Natural Resources Planning, regulations, enforcement
State Legislature Resolutions, information, finding
City Government Appoint Task Force
County Lead role in county
Business and property owners Participate, plant trees
State Funding, regulations
Feds Funding, regulations
FEMA Funding, regulations
Citizens Awareness, stay informed, task force
Environmentalists Information, input.
WVDOH Stop clear cutting on ROWs
Region 7 Planning Commission Coordinate with other counties
Health Care:
Priority #1 Organize/coordinate care providers Short
Priority #2 Health Center for Hospice, substance abuse, adult
care, birthing, and crisis center Short
Priority #3 In-home care Short-Medium
Priority #4 Education and public relations Short
Priority #5 Wellness clinics Medium
Priority #6 Programming Short
Who: What:
Wellness Council of Promotion, coordination
Wellness Council of Philippi Promotion, coordination
Hospital Services, programs
Clinics Services, programs
Health clubs Services, programs, facilities
Parks and recreation Trails, facilities, programs
Civic groups Promote, participate, funding
College Facilities, people
Youth services Education
Emergency Services:
Priority #1 Education of public on needs and operations Short
Priority #2 Expand Funding Long
Priority #3 More permanent mechanisms for funding emergency squad
Short-Medium
Priority #4 Expand Emergency Services Office - serve as lead
agency Long
Priority #5 Radio station for disaster information Long
Who: What:
Fire [volunteers] Plan, participate, coordinate
Police Plan, participate, coordinate
Ambulance [volunteers] Plan, participate, coordinate
State Funding
County Funding
Office Emergency Services Lead, Rumor Control
Relief Agencies Provide relief
College Students Volunteers
Citizens Volunteers
Schools Provide shelters
City Cable TV info
Flood Plain Management
A vital planning issue to Philippi's future is development within
the 100 year flood plain. A large portion of the community lies
within the flood plain and severe flooding has occurred as recently
as 1994. Philippi was developed prior to FEMA and flood plain
management. The built environment can only be retrofitted to
minimize future flood damage. However, there are large open spaces
lying with the flood plain, particularly along Anglins Run, that
should remain open space. The City needs to be very exacting
in enforcing its Flood Damage Control ordinance (Article 1705
of the Codified Ordinances of Philippi). Particular attention
should be given to improvements and rebuilding after a flooding
occurrence, particularly to residences in the Chestnut Street
and Wabash Avenue neighborhood.
Flood plain management makes good economic and "community"
sense. Failing to enforce the codes increases the potential for
loss of life and property unnecessarily increasing the risks
and vulnerability. Flooding escalates costs and over strains
community resources and extends disruptions to individuals, businesses,
industry and the community. Furthermore, it shifts the responsibility
from those most at risk, the property owners in the flood plain,
to the general taxpayer.
Public Services
Philippi is extraordinary in its management and ownership of
public utilities, which is considered by the residents a value
of the community. Philippi's utilities and services are modem
and capable of supporting population growth.
Water
City water is supplied by a pumping station on the Tygart River.
The filtration plant, constructed in 1979, has a pumping capacity
of 2.16 million gallons per day, while current usage is 750,000
-800,000 gallons per day. There is good reserve capacity to accommodate
population growth. Philippi has 55 miles of water lines.
The Philippi Water Department operates as an enterprise fund
within the city budget. In addition to direct customers, the
department provides water through bulk sales to three public
service districts serving 80% of Barbour County.
Other than the complaint that the water was "hard,"
Philippi residents seem satisfied with their water service. Anglins
Run Addition, however, is without fire hydrants causing concern
in that neighborhood.
Sewage
A new waste water treatment plant was constructed in 1989 utilizing
FEMA funds available after the 1985 disastrous flood. Now located
out of the flood plain, the new plant runs at 60-75% capacity,
processing 500,000 gallons per day. No heavy industries are connected
to the sewage system therefore the resulting sludge has been
tested as free of heavy metals. Sludge is land applied off-site
at city property.
There are 26 miles of sewer lines. The city has an ongoing
program of separating storm sewers from sanitary sewer lines
and installing upgraded lines utilizing various finding sources
including EDA, EPA and Small Cities Development Block Grant funds.
Many of the older streets and neighborhoods experience flooding
and other problems from combined storm and sanitary sewers. This
is not an uncommon situation, as historically combination sewers
were accepted and installed in communities across the country.
Separating sewers is expensive, and the Public Works Department
should identify those areas that have critical need of attention
and develop a long term strategy to address the needs. This activity
would be included in a Capital Improvement Program.
Solid Waste
The City of Philippi collects residential and commercial garbage
and compacts the collections at a city-owned transfer station
constructed in 198 1. The compacted solid waste is then transported
26 miles to a licensed landfill in Harrison County where the
dumping fee is currently $41.00 a ton. A rou-off container is
located at the transfer station for the disposal of recyclable
materials. Due to transportation and dumping fee costs, the city
needs to reduce its volume. Therefore, it is implementing a residential
recycling program in the summer of 1995.
The city provides 1, I 00 residential customers with once
a week pick up, and each year the city provides a special spring
clean up program. The Solid Waste Department is funded within
the general fund budget of the city.
Electric
Philippi's electric system is one of two municipally owned electric
power systems in the state. The city purchases power wholesale
from Monongalia Power Company and resells it to city customers.
All street lights are owned and maintained by the Electric Department.
City-owned utilities were one of the values identified during
the visioning process. The consensus was that the city is more
responsive to the community and its customers than a larger and
presumably indifferent utility company. Complaints about service,
repairs, etc. can be taken directly to city council. However,
there were no complaints concerning the city electric service
or lighting in general.
As with all public utilities within West Virginia, rates are
controlled by the Public Service is Commission. The Electric
Department operates as an enterprise fund.
Cable
Philippi also has the distinction of owning and operating the
local television cable company. Thirty-six channels, including
Disney, are offered in the "Basic Plus" package. City
council and other public meetings are taped for later viewing.
The cable system is regularly used by the city for quickly disseminating
public notices and information.
Streets
The Street Department is responsible for 24 miles of streets
within the corporate limits. Funded with general funds, the street
department is responsible for street cleaning, snow removal,
street patching, parking meters, mowing, and signage. Paving
is done by private contractors.
In neighborhoods throughout the city, there were complaints
of poor or no sidewalks. Sidewalks are the responsibility of
the property owner. However, the city will remove a sidewalk
free of charge, if the property owner is prepared to pay for
its replacement. AU new development should have sidewalks and
curbs.
Police and Fire
The city provides 24 hour police protection to its 3,000 residents.
The fire department is staffed by trained volunteers, supported
by modern equipment, and housed in a centrally located station
constructed in 1977. Though the fire department is technically
for the City of Philippi, its personnel and equipment respond
county-wide. An "Enhanced 91 1 communications system operated
by Barbour County notifies, directs, and coordinates all emergency
responses.
Emergency ambulance services are of particular concern to
the community. Ambulances transport patients to hospitals outside
of the community, adding high mileage to the vehicles. This volunteer
service has high operating, maintenance, and replacement costs
without secure funding from the community. A broad-based task
group needs to be established to assess the problem, create a
community awareness campaign, and spearhead funding solutions.
Other recommendations coming from the neighborhood meetings
included patrols walking the beat and the creation of a bicycle
safety program.
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