MATEWAN — The Matewan City Council continued discussion on issues concerning the Red Jacket and Thacker water projects during its regular meeting last week.

The council is still awaiting approval of the new Thacker water tank site. At the last meeting the council had been notified that the original selected site could not be used because the location was permitted for mining. The new site will have to be resubmitted to the health department for approval.

The Red Jacket water project was discussed in length by the council. Mayor Shelia Kessler said FEMA is requesting that Veolia report how long and how much they are pumping from sewer pits each day. FEMA had notified the council they would be requiring this information before the town could be reimbursed for payment.

The pits are now being pumped seven days a week, which FEMA and the council feels is excessive. Kessler suggested that the council hire a new employee to monitor Veolia while the pits are being pumped. The council agreed to begin the process of hire an employee for that position.

Kessler also advised the council that Veolia had granted the town an extension on pit pumping services. The council had received a letter from Veolia threatening to cease work if the town did not make an up-to-date payment for sewer services rendered. Veolia gave them to the end of the month to make arrangements.

The GSA Tracts of Land was discussed, the Mayor advising the council, that an application needed to be submitted before the land was sold. The land will possibly be used for a campground.

The council approved a decrease in prices for shower use at the Hatfield-McCoy Trailhead. A 10- minute shower was previously priced at $5. Now, the town will charge $2. The town feels the new fee will still give the town a substantial profit. The council hopes area businesses will sell shower tokens to their customers in an effort to increase customer volume.

In other business, the council:

• Discussed developing a board or team dedicated to tourism. Council members feel this would help develop more tourism activities to draw out-of-town and state visitors. The council plans to revisit this suggestion next scheduled meeting.

• Considered developing a building commission, which would help clean up some of the buildings in town. Kessler talked to council members about the Williamson’s building commission and building commissioner. A building commissioner would be beneficial for inspections, making sure owners have everything up to code. The council plans to speak with the town attorney about writing an ordinance for the building commission.