By DYLAN VIDOVICH, The Logan Banner
LOGAN, W.Va. — The Logan City Council has voted to begin the process of turning Logan into one of West Virginia’s home rule cities.
Started in 2007 as a pilot program for the cities of Charleston, Huntington, Wheeling and Bridgeport, home rule allows municipalities to have more control in managing local issues by allowing them to implement ordinances, rules and regulations not available under normal statutes that apply to all municipalities.
After the initial pilot period, the home rule program was expanded, and 34 municipalities in the Mountain State now participate. In March, the Legislature rewrote the statute to make the program permanent and open to all municipalities in the state.
During Thursday’s council meeting, Mayor Serafino Nolletti said he has taken a backseat approach to home rule, watching and traveling to other municipalities to observe its effect. The program, he said, has benefited other cities and towns tremendously. …
