By Gracie Ferretti

For the Gazette

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- South Charleston City Council passed the first reading of a motion Thursday to annex a section of Ruthdale Road, located behind Moses Factory Outlet. This area includes Ruthlawn Elementary, the Davis Creek Nazarene church and a section of condominiums.

Council members must approve a second reading before the annexation would pass.

Mayor Frank Mullens said the owners of the condominiums proposed the annexation to the city.

Other matters discussed at the meeting:

• During an inspection earlier this year, the fire department was deficient in the number of officers who had their required credentials. Fire Chief John Taylor said that in 2007, it became a requirement to have officers and lieutenants attend additional training.

Taylor reported that all of the previous deficiencies found earlier this year had been corrected as of Thursday.

Taylor said, "The officers worked hard in the class. Now that it is over we aren't going to stop training them. Sky's the limit."

Other deficiencies found were in equipment and ladder testing.

• Shop with a Cop will take place with the South Charleston Police Department on Dec. 12 at Target. This event will start at 6 p.m. and will benefit 18 lucky children from the South Charleston area -- six from each elementary school -- to go on a shopping spree at Target.