By Richard Kerns
rkerns@newstribune.info
tribune staff writer

KEYSER — The Keyser Mayor and City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to increase the minimum purchase amount that triggers bidding procedures from the current $2,000 to $5,000.
The council also took steps to address a blighted property on Vernon Street, where neighbors complain about piles of trash and debris that have drawn rats to the area.
Members of the city council said the $2,000 bid limit was too low, because inflation had reduced buying power so that such purchases became more routine over the
years. Under the new policy, any purchase up to $5,000 will no longer have to be bid out to seek the best price among multiple vendors or products.
Officials noted that under the new policy city staff will still have to receive a purchase order from the City Administrator for purchases of less than $5,000, so that employees cannot simply go out and buy something without approval from City Hall.
“The only change would be the sum, not the procedure,” said City Attorney John Athey.
On the Vernon Street issue, Keyser resident and City Council candidate Mark Tranum first brought the issue to the council's attention at the May 11 council meeting, speaking on behalf of nearby residents who complained about a mobile home on the street whose owner allows junk and trash bags to accumulate, creating a public health hazard.
Speaking at Tuesday's meeting, Councilman Dave Sowers asked, "What can we do right now?"
Asked for an update on the property, City Building Inspector Earl Perrine said the property owner was sent a registered letter, but had not yet signed for it. If the receipt is returned documenting that the letter was received, the owner would have 10 days to clean up the property or face possible fines and jail time. At that point, the city could also clean up the property itself or pay someone to do it, and then bill the property owner for the expense. If the bill was not paid, a lien could be placed on the property, so that the expense would be paid at the time of a future sale.
The main question Tuesday centered on what happens if a property owner doesn't accept the certified letter.
Councilman Ed Miller, a former mail carrier, noted that many people will ignore or refuse to accept a registered letter because they know who it's from. In such cases, he said, the Post Office will deem the letter undeliverable after 30 days.
With that in mind, the council directed that the matter be tabled until the 30 days have elapsed, around June 15.
Athey said the city may want to consider using a process server to deliver the citation in person, if mail delivery does not work.
Asked whether the ordinance itself needs revised, Athey said the procedures that are in place appear adequate, but resolution of the Vernon Street problem will require a concerted effort on the city's part.
"I think the existing law really provides us everything we need to address it," he said.