Steven Trent was sworn in to the Logan Fire Department by City of Logan Attorney Kendal Partlow.

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Several first responders were sworn in Tuesday, September 11, at Logan City Hall during a council meeting where the firefighters, police officers and EMTs who responded to a terrorist attack 11 years ago were remembered.

“It is a day we all remember,” said Logan Mayor Serafino Nolletti, who discussed the importance of first responders in dealing with crisis and calamity. City Accountant Jeff Valet gave a special prayer for the men and women of emergency services who often go in harm’s way for others.

Firefighter Steven Trent was the first to be sworn in. Mayor Nolletti noted that Trent had 13 years as a volunteer firefighter and recently came out on top in Civil Service testing. City Attorney Kendal Partlow handled the swearing in ceremony. “This is the coolest part of my job,” said Partlow.

Everette Maynard was then sworn in as a patrolman on the City of Logan Police Department. Finally former police chief and longtime Patrolman David Adkins was sworn in as a Patrolman again, after a short leave to switch careers before returning to service.

“Do you want me to read it to you,” Adkins quipped to Partlow.

Chief E.K. Harper said his department had received a $15,000 grant and he thanked the Logan Fire Department and the businesses in Logan for their cooperation at the recent funeral for local lawman Greg Eplin who lost a long battle to cancer. Main Street was closed in the town that Tuesday and was filled with mourners for Eplin who had a

veritable army of friends and loved ones.

Fire Chief Scotty Beckett said his department handled 79 calls in September and billed for 10 to be reimbursed. Beckett said the Logan Fire Department is also working on some grant applications.

City Building Inspector Ray Perry said the new state office building and the new hotel on Stratton Street were inspected and were doing okay. Perry warned one other structure might not do so well, however and warned the council they would hear complaints.

Harper explained that one local building was apparently the host of an unlicensed bar for a temporary time; however the operator had not done the proper paperwork on the upstairs facility for it to be legal and was shut down.

When asked what kind of guy would do such a thing, Harper noted “it was a former mayoral candidate.”

Mayor Nolletti said FEMA had been in contact with the city in regards to repairs to slippages in four areas of town following recent harsh storms. The mayor noted a drilling machine was located close to the Logan Banner on Tuesday and said “when the core drilling is done they will design four walls. Then they will submit them for bids to find a

contractor.”

Perry said four notices from Wilson Camp were in and a fifth was expected soon. Nolletti said the town would be receiving $50,000 in funds to do work on Charles Street to fix damages done by raging water.

The Mayor had some good news for tourists — a proposed new connector to the world famous Hatfield-McCoy Trails is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality.

“I spoke with John Fekete last week, and there were two property owners whose permission they needed. They have one and are working with the other,” said Nolletti.

The Mayor said that after that, the bulldozers could be expected and that it is quite possible that the new connector might be completed this fall.

“We might have a brand new trailhead by then,” said Nolletti.

The Mayor said the Central City Walk Bridge project was waiting for legal clearances and might take some time. Once the $400,000 in grant funds are deposited the project will be bided out. “We will have to go step by step,” Nolletti said, noting the town had received other grants recently for $26,000 thanks to help from Senator Art Kirkendoll and Senator Ron Stollings. The grants will assist the Logan Fire Department, Logan Police Department and the Logan Cal Ripken Ball League. “Our state senators worked very hard to get us those funds and we are appreciative,” the mayor added.

Perry said there has been another snag on one long term project-removal of some dilapidated houses in town.

“It’s the (permit for) land fill issue,” he said. “We need a place to take that wood to.” Perry said 10 more properties had been identified from the Dog Pound down through Draper Street. “The project is ready to go; we just need a place to put the rubble.”

In other city of Logan news:

Jeff Valet noted the town had to make a $2,000 payment into the firefighters pension this month, and that the town had not gotten its major property tax check yet, but that it was expected by the next payment cycle. Council approved payment of $80,000 worth of monthly bills.

City Street Commissioner Kevin Marcum said the town had put down more asphalt and the street department was busy working on cleaning up the High Street cemetery. Council also discussed purchasing a diesel powered street sweeper similar to one used by the County Commission.

The commission’s device was found at the old Man Hospital, repaired and put back into service.