TOWN OF BATH COUNCIL MEETING  September 19, 2023  1. CALL TO ORDER: @ 5:30pm by Mayor.  2. ROLL CALL: Scott Merki (X) Susan Webster (X) Elizabeth Skinner (X) Greg Schene (X) Rebecca MacLeod (X) Mary Lynn Hickey (X) Tom Hall (X) Quorum present. 3. REVIEW OF MINUTES: Minutes ofthe Regular Meeting of September 5, 2023 were approved by Common Consent with a Water Committee meeting date 4. PERSONS BEFORE COUNCIL: TBS President Stephanie Rebant and Laura Smith attended to present this organization's Annual Financial Report (attached). 5. COMMUNICATION FROM MAYOR: The Mayor noted that the Morgan County Homeless Coalition "Walk a While in their Shoes" event was held September 23. Councilwoman Hickey further explained the Coalition's purpose and goals. The Chamber ofCommerce Food Truck Festival was held on September 8. In spite  correction.  Discussion was had on points ofinterest and calculations.  ofinclement weather the event was enjoyed by many.  COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS  1. BATH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY:Next: meeting is October 4 at 4:30pm at the 2. PARKS & REC: No report at this time. The next meeting is September 20. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION (PC): The next meeting is September 21 and will 4. RAIL/TRAIL (NBRT): The progress report has been submitted to the Town office (attached) and Co-Chair Pete Brown was in attendance with further details. 5. STREEISCAPE: Committee Co-Chair Pete Brown has submitted reports on Streetscape, the Berkeley Springs State Park and the Greenway mausoleum projects 6. TRAIN DEPOT: Chairman Webster reported on the Apple Butter parking fund raiser project and November 11 event progress. She is grateful for help offered including that ofthe Morgan County Historic and Genealogical Society. WV Division ofTourism was in Bath recently and included the Depot in it's photo shoot. 7. LANDMARK COMMISSION (HLC): Next meeting is October 19 at 2pm. 8. CLERK/RECORDER REPORT: Clerk Corrick reminded all of the State Auditor's training to be held on October 4 in Matinsburg (attached). She also advised ofa Notice ofl Building Improvement submitted for 33 N. Washington Street. 9.1 FINANCE: Chairwoman Webster delivered the following bills for approval: (a) Town of] Bath $22,214.91- Motion to approve: Webster/Schene- Carried (b) BSWW 60,147.21 - Motion to approve: Webster/Skinner- Carried Chairwoman Webster reiterated the intention of the Finance Committee to expand  Courthouse. The group continues work on their website.  include the Finance Committee.  to the Town (attached).  1    the requirement of a Facilities Use Application for outside organization's 10. TREE BOARD: President Kate Lehman explained Board's aim to have their next grant submitted by September 21. She explained their goals and objectives. 11.GRANT: The next meeting is October 11 at 4:30pm. Chairwoman Hickey reported that the Committee is researching the abilities of Region 9 Planning and 12. PUBLIC SAFETY: The next: meeting is October 11.A letter has been sent to the WV Division ofHighways concerning crosswalks and speed signs in Bath. 13. CEMETERY: The next meeting is September 22. Councilwoman Skinner is in the process ofinterviewing and obtaining a contractor for quotes on the mausoleum work. 15. ORDINANCE: The next meeting is September 20. Chairman Schene is planning a visit in Bath with WVMunicipal League Deputy Executive Director Susan Economou in 17.PUBLIC COMMENT: Councilman Hall inquired about a business owner's use oft the median in front oftheir establishment. The Mayor explained that this had been addressed and progress was being made. Hall also inquired as to why the parking meters were being sent out for repair. Public Safety Committee members explained this necessity for digital Councilwoman Hickey reminded all of the Starting Points Annual Empty Bowls fund  purposes.  Development  to assist Bath. She hopes to focus on public safety necessities.  She is pleased with the progress made.  14. PUBLIC WORKS: Next meeting is October 3. No report at this time.  October.  16. BSWW: Next meeting is September 20. No report at this time.  meters.  raiser to bel held on September 22 at the. American Legion. 18. MOTION TO. ADJOURN: Approved by Common Consent.  Attest:  Mayor Sotfem  Recorder gbilo  2    July1,2022-) June 30, 2023 Financial Summary  Income County Hotel/ Motel Town Hotel/Motel Paw Paw Hotel/Motel Water Tasting Membership Dues Fireworks Interest Legislative Visit Expenses Web Advertising Print Advertising TVA Advertising Social Media Radio Billboard Ad Grants to Members Payroll Water Tasting Brochures Telephone Internet Videos & Design Office WVACVB Insurance Community Outreach Rent & Utilities Media Contract Accounting Expenses Legislative Visit  83% 13% 1% 1% 1% 1% 100% 15% 18% 8% 6% .6% .7% 1% 9% 7% 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% 7% 3% 10% 3% 4% 100%  $407,591 $6 63,841 $839 $7,228 $3 3,624 $ 5,000 $ 890 $4,800 $493,813 $54,869 $65,558 $30,071 $21,662 $2,295 $3,600 $10,405 $32,993 $22,420 $4 4,430 $3 3,345 $2 2,419 $ 8,515 $ 6,874 $1 1,670 $1 1,569 $38,090 $3 3,929 $37,300 $2,588 $13,556 $368,158  Total July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023  Total July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023  July1,2022 - June 30, 2023 Financial Summary    2023-2024 Budget  Actual 2022-2023  Budget 2023-2024  Notes  Income Bank Interest Water Tasting Booth Fee Entries Sponsors/Ads Total  890  1,000  150 3,593 3,485 7,228  150 3,500 5,000 8,650 $0 $100 $0 $100 3,700 444,221 64,000 1,000 $5,000 $0 $527,671  Renewal Fest UVW Hey, Girlfriend Total  $75 $75 3,624 407,591 63,841 839. $5,000 $0 $489,088  Membership Dues County Tax Town Tax Town of Paw Paw Misc Grants Product Sales Total    2023-2024 Budget  Actual 2022-2023 Budget 2023-2024  Notes  Expense Advertising Brochures-B/W Brochures-Color Maps Print/w online Web Television Social Media Billboards Google Ads Design Email Blast Mobile Text Press Relations Photo Shoot Media Contract Total  $1,626 $76 $2,728 $65,558 $54,869 $30,071 $3,823 $3,600 $15,432 $0.00 $699 $1,708 $3,890 $37,300 $221,380  $2,500 $1,000 $4,000 $80,000 $80,000 $31,000 $5,000 $5,000 $16,000 $0.00 $800 $1,800 $3,000 $30,000 $37,300 $297,400  Water Tasting Contract Services Event Expenses Printing Postage Total  $7,970 $13,031 $874 $545 $22,420 $257 $1,550 0.00 $1,807 $17,000 $10,405  $9,000 $15,000 $900 $600 $25,500 $300 $1,500 $0 $1,800 $10,000 $30,000  Renewal Fest UVW Hey, Girlfriend Total Sponsorships Ad Grant Awards    2023-2024 Budget  Business Promotions Community Projects Signage Total  $0.00 $14,657 $42,062  $0.00 $20,000 $50,000 $110,000  Actual 2022-2023  Budget 2023-2024  Expense Internet DSL Museum Web Hosting Telephone/DSL Maintenance/Training Domain Names Server Change New Web Design Total Office Insurance Office Rent/Electric Office Copier Postage & Supplies Conferences Member Benefits Major Purchases Cleaning Dues Professional /Accounting Fireworks Total  $600 $495 $2,745 $916 $340 $668 $4,625 $10,389  $800 $500 $3,000 $1,000 $400 $0.00 $0.00 $5,700  $1,222 $3,929 $1,465 $991 $2,489 $993 $12,220 $1,320 $1,670 $2,588 $10,931 $39,818  $1,300 $6,000 $1,500 $800 $2,500 $1,000 $15,000 $1,500 $2,000 $2,600 $11,000 $45,200    2023-2024 Budget  Actual 2022-2023  Budget 2023-2024  Expense Staff Salary Federal Tax Social Security State Tax Worker's Comp E& O Insurance Total Total Income Expenses  $22,397 $3,628 $4,694 $2,309 $347 $33,375 $371,251 $489,088 $371,251  $30,000 $4,000 $5,200 $2,800 $350 $42,350 $424,950 $527,671 $527,950    TRAVEL BERKELEY SPRINGS. ECONOMIC IMPACT OF VISITOR  SPENDING! IN FY23 SUMMARY:  Travel Berkeley Springs reports that visitor spending in the industry as whole Total hotel/motel tax revenue collected by the town and county in FY23 (7/1/22- 6/30/23) amounted to $942,864 an increase of $133,448 or 9% from the previous year. The percentage increase is significantly lower than FY22 but that being said the 9% increase is true growth. Both Cacapon Resort State Park'si increase in rooms and rates plus the new marketplace law have been in effect for the whole The county total in FY22 was $815,182 ($680,542 FY22) and the town total was Half oft the tax receipts were used toj promote tourism through Travel Berkeley Springs, while the other half, or $471,432 was allocated to various community groups by the Morgan County commissioners and the Bath town council. Analysis of the direct impact oft tourism is based on the 6%1 tax for all FY23 as Iti is useful to repeatedly point out to local governments both the tremendous value of the tax distribution as an economic development tool (promoting tourism) as well as community development through the services provided by various groups. And, that all this benefit comes atl NO TAX COST to residents. Its should also be obvious that the overall benefit ofa $152.6 million boost to the local economy, and the property taxes paid by the tourism industry and jobs provided, is worth the minimal effort expended by the governmental entities in administering the tax. Those very real monetary contributions are not included in this impact statement. The tax revenue total of $942,864 translates into $15 million in lodging revenue alone. With an average. room cost of $160 ai night, the tax represents payments for 94,000 room nights, or approximately 198,000 overnight visitors since room units Morgan County has approximately 5,000 vacation-home owners (about 2500 second home units.) There still seems to be a desire to escape cities which encourages weekenders to come more often. Assuming each ofthe weekender's journey here just four times a year, and are accompanied by their families and friends, the number of vacation-days amounts to 66,000 a year. TBS estimates that some 400,000 people come to Morgan County for a single-day visit. This number is extrapolated from downtown businesses, meals served by  amounted to $195 million in FY23.  fiscal year and are now the norm. $127,682( ($128,874FY22).  well as WV Tourism calculations for visitor spending.  are usually occupied by a minimum oftwo persons.    restaurants, ai number reported by Cacapon State Park, which includes golfers, picnickers, hikers and local folks. Plus, WV Tourism studies calculate 75% of visitors to the state are day trippers. We estimate a lesser percent - 65% - in Morgan County since we do not have gaming businesses which are ai major There is noj precise way ofk knowing what each oft the more than 598,000 visitors spend each day. WV Tourism studies have estimated $450/visitor statewide which seems modest for Morgan County since WV figures for FY22 showed that the three counties oft the Eastern Panhandle accounted for nearly 25% of all statewide visitor spending. Using state figures, overnight visitors result in a total expenditure of$75 million. For weekenders and guests with their own lodging and the estimated 400,000-day trippers, TBS estimates a modest $300 is spent on: items including food, shopping, spa services, golf fees, gas, and other sundries on their This brings to $195 million the total amount pumped into Morgan County's economy by its visitors - an amount that shows an impressive increase considering the ongoing concerns about the virus and the increase in gas prices. This substantial amount makes visitor spending Morgan County's largest generator of In economic analysis, ai multiplier number is often used to determine the impact a particular sector has on the overall economy ofaj place. In this analysis, it represents the impact oft taxes and salaries both directly within the industry plus the impact of those organizations and activities funded by the hotel tax. The standard is ai multiplier of7; we have chosen to use ai more conservative multiplier of5. Using this process, the total impact tourism has on the economy ofMorgan  contributor to daytrips.  visits to Morgan County for ai total of$120 million.  revenues.  County is $975 million.  Prepared by Laura S. Smith - September 2023  NOTE: The process of calculation used in this memo has been the same used by Travel Berkeley Springs for more than a decade. The resulting figure of direct tourism spending over those years has always matched the revenue number calculated by WV Tourism using other methods. Dean Runyan Associates is now doing the state visitor research. The state figures show remarkable growth but some of that can be attributed to the new national park that opened this year.  The state will not have county break downs until October.    Status of Streetscape, State Park and NBRT Projects for Town Council  Tuesday September 19, 2023 STREETSCAPE  Phase' V: Design & Budget:  Thrasher Design & Cost updates to the 90% level should be available this week. I've asked Jeff Gola to send me a preliminary, near-final version by' Wednesday to be reviewed int the Streetscape Committee Meeting Thursday. DOH Programs (Tim Sedosky & Kyle Olivar) are preparing a revised Funding Agreement that will replace the earlier version sent to the Towni in late June. That earlier version did not include the funds that remain int the Design Grant that were slated to roll over into the Construction Phase. We expect the total Construction Phase. Agreement to be: TA Grants: $427,997; Town Cash Match: $106,999.25; Total: $534,996.25." This includes the DOH 13% for reserves and construction management. Once received from DOH, we expect the Town to sign following resolution of the 90% No date yet fort the first Thrasher invoice ($15,000 for the 30% Design) but likely in Sep or Oct. Town will pay Invoice and DOH will reimburse the payment at 100%. There are three invoices ($55,000t total) to be paid for Phase' V design DOH awarded Construction Contract on Aug 3rd to the low bidder: W.F Delauter & Son, Inc; for $578,717 Initial Contract completion date was Sep 8, 2023, but that has been revised to Nov 9th Pre-Construction conference call was held Friday Sep 15th and an on-site pre-construction session is setf for Thursday The contractor and DOH District 5 were notified oft the Apple Butter Festival dates and the contractor was asked to adjust their work schedules to avoid the October 6-8 timeframe and to ensure that the Park will be safe and accessible then. The Chamber has also been notified and will likely be at the Thursday session. Items requiring Park approval are being reviewed: Sidewalk coloring and stamping (pattern). A sample of the wall repairs (mortar, color etc) will be done as part oft the initial repairs in one area; the proposed bridge does not comply with the drawing requirements. DOHI D-5 and Thrasher have been advised. Awaiting contractor response.  review of drawings and cost estimate.  work.  Berkeley Springs State Park Grant & Project  Sep 21st.  Repairs to the Cemetery Mausoleum  Three RFQ responses were received by the Sep 15lh deadline. The Evaluation Team is reviewing and scoring these now. Recommendation from this evaluation willl be provided to the Cemetery Committee. The RFQ contains repairs to; Upper concrete vault top area, newl left and right corner pillars, repairs to the existing matrix on the façade, cleaning ofs somelall marble doors, sealing of all marble doors. These repairs also consist of concrete staining and sealing. The previously existing upper façade blocks will not be replaced.  NBRT  The official Letting date is still December 12, 2023. Photo: The Depot Lot- no Trailers in old WESTVACO Lot  The solicitation has a construction completion date of March: 28, 2025. This includes both the Design Phase and the Construction Phase. So fari there are no Questions for After solicitation and evaluation for construction of the Parcel 1B Storm Water Management System, Pentoney Brothers Contracting LLC has been elected as the most responsive contractor with assistance by Downstream Strategies LLC. Contracts are being prepared for Council approval. A pre-construction meeting is required with the funder and WVDEP before we can issue a notice to  WVDOH showing in Bidx.  proceed. Pete Brown 571-213-3687