This week:
Crackdown on $18.5M in unpaid City fees
Cutting-edge bridge safety tech in Guyandotte
Restoring Kinetic Park ponds to reduce neighborhood flooding
Making the case for Huntington’s future at Marshall’s Economic Development Conference
💰 Holding Negligent Property Owners Accountable
Huntington is moving to collect $18.5M in unpaid municipal fees and vacant building liens — the first large-scale action of its kind in City history.
$13M in municipal (fire protection) and refuse (trash) liens on Cabell County properties within city limits (3,900 liens; avg. $3,336.36)
$1.36M in municipal (fire protection) and refuse (trash) liens on Wayne County properties within city limits (390 liens; avg. $3,502.82)
$4.2M in vacant building liens (600 liens; avg. $7,016)
Why it matters: Everybody needs to pay their fair share. This makes sure people can’t shirk their responsibilities and ensures resources to keep Huntington clean, safe, and thriving.
What’s next: The first 20 certified demand letters went out last week. Owners have 30 days to pay before lawsuits are filed.
🛠 Guyandotte Leads in Bridge Safety
Governor Patrick Morrisey, U.S. DOT’s Shaz Umer, and WV Transportation Secretary Stephen Rumbaugh joined us in Guyandotte to announce an $820,000 federal SMART Grant — the first in West Virginia — for real-time monitoring of the East Huntington Bridge.
New equipment tracks structural health to catch problems early, speed repairs, and save taxpayer dollars.
Discussions are underway to bring back the bridge lights that frame our skyline.
🌧 Kinetic Park Ponds: Flood Protection in Action
The city approved a contract to dredge retention ponds at Kinetic Park for the first time since 2016.
Remove 3,000 cubic yards of sediment and debris (~5,000 tons)
Restore stormwater capacity, reducing flood risk for Enslow Park and Southside
Why it matters: The dredging will improve stormwater capacity and reduce the chance of costly flood damage in nearby neighborhoods, protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure during heavy rains.
What’s next: Work will begin in September once the ponds dry from recent rain.
Read more on our flooding projects
🦬 Why Here, Why Now: Mayor Farrell at Marshall’s Economic Development Conference
The moment: At Marshall University’s Accelerating Six Pillars of Excellence for West Virginia’s Economic Development Summit, I delivered the “Why Here, Why Now” address, making the case for Huntington as a hub for growth and innovation.
Why it matters: The City is at a turning point. Investments in infrastructure, public safety, and quality of life are creating momentum that attracts new businesses and talent. Huntington’s location, workforce, and collaborative partnerships position it to compete and win in a changing economy.
What’s next: We will continue aligning our economic development strategy with Marshall’s Six Pillars of Excellence framework, turning conference conversations into actionable projects that deliver results for residents and businesses.
🤝 Finding Common Ground in Divisive Times
The moment: In my Mayor’s Report at the most recent City Council meeting, I shared what I learned from meeting with other West Virginia mayors about the growing challenge of political divisiveness.
Why it matters: Cities and towns across the state are facing the same polarization, making it harder to solve problems and move communities forward. Turning down the temperature, both online and at public meetings, is a good way for us to move ahead together.
📹 Watch a clip from the Mayor’s Report