Community concerns expressed at Leadmine roundtable event
The community of Leadmine hosted the Tucker County Commission’s fourth roundtable event. The event was held at the Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall. The county roundtable provided a forum for different entities in the area to express challenges, opportunities, and items of interest.
The last roundtable was held at the Hendricks Town Hall on November 13. This roundtable hosted a different batch of community actors.
Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Kevin White provided an update on the ongoing debris removal project from the branch of the Cheat River that runs through Leadmine.
The Human Resource Development Foundation is managing the project. The goal is to remove debris in order to clear up the stream and reduce the chance of flooding.
The project began in response to the flooding of July 2017. Work began in April with a crew of about 10 working Mondays through Thursdays.
“Currently, under the funding it will end in September,” White said. “It was started late, so we’re hoping that it may go for a year, we’re hoping for an extension.”
“That stream is in the shape it’s in, when a tree falls across the stream, river material piles up,” Commissioner Lowell Moore said. “When you take that material out, Mother Nature will take care of itself by rerouting the stream,” Moore said.
“I do think it’s going to help,” White said. “Anytime you remove debris that is deflecting water it’s going to help. We’re going to work hard to get other help, but this is step one,” White said.
Community members questioned the effectiveness of the project. A frustration was raised about FEMA assistance being provided to Parsons to elevate three houses, when Leadmine has not received federal funds.
“The county commission, all three of us and Kevin, we have done our best, we’ve talked to senators and legislators. We’ve talked to FEMA people, we haven’t forgotten you, we just don’t know where else to go,” Moore said.
In July, the Department of Highways will work to fix the baskets on a bridge that spans over Leadmine Run. DOH is providing the manpower and equipment, and the County Commission is supplying the project materials. During that time, DOH will work on a bridge over Wolf Run.
Steven Leyh updated the attendees on his progress as newly appointed executive director of the Development Authority.
A tenant for the Corridor H industrial park signed a lease for the building. “We are getting ready to put a long term tenant in that building, and it will be announced very soon,” Leyh said.
Leyh said expanding existing businesses, especially in Parsons, is one of the Development Authority’s main objectives.
The Development Authority is co-hosting an entrepreneurial pitch contest to give away $15,000. “It’s an opportunity, if you have a business idea, it’s a chance to get money for it,” Leyh said. The tentative date is June 18 at the high school. The contest is open to new or existing businesses.
Commissioner Patrick Darlington represented Tucker County Parks and Recreation. Plans are developing to erect a 30 by 70 feet multipurpose metal building as a practice facility and to host events such as flea markets.
Camp Kidd is receiving revenue from a timbering project. “We plan on using some of the funds for an update to the camp itself,” Darlington said.
Parks and Recreation is looking to host baseball tournaments as another prospective revenue generator.
Other presenters included Tucker County EMS, Art Spring, Camp Horseshoe, St. George Medical Clinic, Hamrick PSD, and the municipalities of St. George, Parsons, and Davis.