Bridgeport City Council Mulls Mausoleum Project, Discusses Lights Fees, Gets Public Works Report
By Michael Minnich on August 25, 2026
Bridgeport City Council’s regular meeting on Monday revived a discussion on whether the mausoleum project at the Bridgeport Cemetery should go forward.
Mayor Robert Matheny put the item on the agenda.
Interim city manager Joe Shuttleworth provided the backstory from the last time this was discussed, over a year and a half ago.
A percentage of the interest money raised by the cemetery over the last 15-plus years has been put in an escrow account, currently holdling about $2.1 million dollars.
Back in 2011, a plan to build a new mausoleum was estimated at $4 million dollars, sending the city back to the drawing board for a ‘garden mausoleum’ that would cost around $1 million dollars, with $1 million going to other related projects, such as building a new office.
However, the increased need for that office and a slip behind the maintenance building, in that order, have moved that half of the project to the front burner, Shuttleworth said.
“There’s an old septic system back there failing and leaking water,” Shuttleworth said, noting that bids are in the works to install a new line.
Bringing the chapel up to current codes, while also preserving the beauty and history of the current building, is also a priority.
The stone work makes the building a challenge for the handicapped and parking and access are also problems.
Matheny said options could also be explored for funding due to the historic nature of the site.
Shuttleworth said that utility funding could also be used for the slip and sewer issues, but that he needed to do more research.
The council approved submission of an application to the West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Board to allow the city to keep its current election process “in accordance with the existing city charter” and to “permit the city relief from certain party affiliation requirements set forth in West Virginia code.”
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“The home rule board will review that and make the appropriate decision if we can be relieved from the state code that combines city elections with the other general elections or primary elections,” Matheny said. “I’m not sure of the timetable. I think the Home Rule Board meets in October, so there will be some legwork that leads up to that. They have a great board who are well-versed in government. They’ll make their decision and come back to us with the decision.”
“We know what’s best for our community,” council member Chris Kinney said. “We want to make sure our elections are highlighted.”
The meeting was also highlighted by a presentation from a very busy Public Works and Engineering Department, headed by city engineer Aaron Stevens and director Tiny Grimes.
Praise was universal for the work that the department has done.
“There’s nothing these guys can’t do,” Grimes said.
Stevens said the department is fully staffed for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stevens said, through a partnership with the Department of Highways, 100 tones of salt have been provided to treat 6.72 miles of roads, including Johnson Avenue, Route 131 and County Route 50/31, and pothole patching has been done on 6.2 miles of many of the same roads.
One of the major projects has been attempting to seal a leaking gas well at Deegan Lake, a problem “that’s been going on for over 50 years”, Stevens said, with the Bridgeport Fire Department assisting with access to the leaky well.
The Deegan Lake Dam water control grouting project’s first phase is out for bid, with an estimate of approximately $200,000 to “inject a polyurethane grout into the leaking areas of the concrete box culvert and inject a grout collar around the concrete box culvert to seal around the box and the concrete core wall.”
A lot of sediment is building up after an attempt to cap the pipes last year didn’t hold.
Sidewalks from Virginia Avenue to Route 131 on Main Street were cleaned and sealed, with city workers and CK Services combining on the project, with the bid to the contractors at $97,295.40.
Also, work in and around the new pickleball courts was done.
“I can’t express how well they did with that,” Grimes said of his workers.
With work on the Center Street Bridge, replacing a 1930s concrete T-beam bridge with a 50’0-0 span, 42’-3” wide prestressed concrete box beam bridge, slated to finish in November, with the bid out to RK Construction, Inc. for $1,670,777.06, attention is now turning to replacing the Virginia Avenue bridge.
Grimes compared the new bridge to “a Lego piece” that can be assembled quickly, with the plan to do it next summer while school is out to avoid traffic strain.
After recent vandalism, eight cameras have been installed around four water tanks in the city, Grimes said, with 40-foot poles purchased from Mon Power and 1,000 feet of conduit installed to power the cameras.
In all this year, the department has responded to 1,530 Miss Utility requests, 60 water leaks and 137 sewer leaks.
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Also, Shuttleworth said that the city closed Friday on the former trailer park property along Main Street.
“We want public input on what to do down there next,” Shuttleworth said.
After last week’s flooding, Shuttleworth said that officials are working with citizens on damage assessments and whether FEMA will be involved.
A cleanup of flood debris will happen on Wednesday; anyone interested in having a stop on their street needs to contact Andrea Kerr by Tuesday night.
Shuttleworth said the Bridgeport Fire Department went on 91 calls in the last week, assisting two people from residences during the flooding and performing three water rescues from vehicles.
The city garage experienced some flooding; Shuttleworth said they are “looking at insurance options…but we don’t want our workers being around mold and unsafe.”
Speaking of Mother Nature, after high winds took down Bridgeport’s Christmas tree and damaged decorations last year, insurance money and budgeted funds have been used to replace them.
Shuttleworth said the “upgraded” new tree and some fresh decorations, selected by a committee that included council member Dr. Jaclyn Rominger, will arrive soon.
The council also revisited a past discussion on light usage fees at The Bridge and other fields around the city.
The hourly fee is currently “around $15”, with Bridgeport Little League representative Mark Harrison saying the bill this year for his organization coming to $3,855 and Shuttleworth saying the cost for all organizations adds up to around $12,000 per year.
Council had previously discussed waiving those fees for organizations like Bridgeport Little League, Bridgeport Youth Football, soccer and softball that are community-based; that doesn’t include travel ball organizations that are pay-to-play with tryouts as opposed to the open-to-all rec teams.
But no decision was made then and city attorney John Ashcom noted at this meeting that the master fee schedule would have to be revised, so no direct action could be taken yet.
Matheny and the council asked Shuttleworth to come up with a report for the next meeting and that further discussion would happen then.
In recent years, the lighting system was upgraded so that accounts were linked to the lights, allowing for accountability rather than the past system of the lights being operated by keys.
Council was quick to approve a recommendation from the Bridgeport Development Authority for a business sustainability incentive at Charles Pointe for Clutch House, a unique lodging idea that would allow visiting teams to stay as a group and have access to on-site practice facilities.
“I think it’s an amazing concept,” Matheny said. “Coaches would obviously prefer to keep their team together. This provides that for them without going into individual separate rooms with facilities that the teams can practice in, train and go over game plans. I think it’s an excellent idea with room for growth. Right now, it’s one wing in addition to the gymnasium.”
Clutch House could also be used for local events like birthday parties when the rooms are not occupied.
The incentive is capped at $10,000 with a 90% tax credit in the first year and 40% in the second and third years.
If the business does well, that cap could be reached a lot earlier than the full three-year window.
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Police Lt. Scott Carpenter was recognized by Matheny and Police Chief Mark Rogers for 25 years of service.
“It’s a testament to the job he’s done that so many people showed up to see him get this,” Rogers said.
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Eric P. Hudson was then sworn in as the newest member of the police force.
“Eric was part of the U.S. Marshals Special Task Force on Fugitives,” Rogers said. “We’re stunned and proud to have him on board.”
Shuttleworth said four more new officers are in the academy and will graduate on December 11.
Other items of note:
-Shuttleworth said the city is working with the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection to resolve issues at the Briarwood Retention Pond, noting that he’s “struck out on four contractors” due to lack of business licenses.
-During public comments, veteran Tom Leonette encouraged the council to look into building a pavilion, “not a big one, maybe space for one or two tables” at the Veterans Memorial in town.
-Matheny reflected on the terminal dedication ceremony last week at North Central West Virginia Airport: “It’s a game changer for North Central West Virginia and the city of Bridgeport…it’s taken lots of years of commitment from past administrations and will require commitment from administrations to come.”
=Shuttleworth said bids for the work at Deegan Lake Dam will open on September 4. The process was recently reopened.
- In the course of recent construction work on Route 131, the city partnered with the Department of Highways to upgrade 6-10-inch piping to 12-inch piping, with the city paying for the difference in materials.
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-Matheny read proclamations for International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31) and recognized Lt. Colonel Evan Dale of the Army National Guard for his leadership in winning a National Aviation Safety Award. Dale noted that 45 soldiers and civilians are part of his organization here and people from out of town have praised this area and its people.
-Miltary banner sales have gone well, per Shuttleworth, and the banners will be up from early September through Veterans Day in November.
-Matheny noted that the Women’s Club’s 75th anniversary is coming up.
-Shuttleworth said that The Bridge will re-open on Wednesday after the facility closed for routine maintenance, like polishing the floors, redoing the gym floors and doing some basic painting.
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