By Jean Braithwaite
tribune correspondent

ELK GARDEN — The Elk Garden town government voted at a recent meeting to show support for the US WindForce Pinnacle Project by issuing a statement to the West Virginia Public Service Commission speaking in favor of the 23-turbine wind farm.
David Friend, vice president of sales and marketing for US WindForce, was
present at the town meeting, and he stated the letter of backing “will help the PSC know and understand the feelings of the town of Elk Garden concerning the project.”
Friend also gave statistics about the Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage, saying the location is about 2.5 miles southwest of Keyser on Green Mountain, and the project will bring approximately $433,000 per year in property taxes into Mineral County.
Friend mentioned a public hearing on the Pinnacle project will be held Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Mineral County Courthouse, and he invited those of the community of Elk Garden to attend to voice any concerns.
In other business, and addressing citizens' complaints about blocked alleyways throughout the town, Councilmen Walt Ward Jr., stated, for safety reasons, “all items blocking the alleyways must be removed.”
He further said if an emergency occurred as a fire or ambulance call and access was needed to those blocked areas of Elk Garden, “it would be impossible to get the emergency vehicles through the alleys.”
Agreeing with Ward on this matter, the council voted to send letters to all residents that have dwellings on either side of the alleys, informing them of the necessity of removing anything and everything that blocks the alleys or face legal action.
“The residents will have until the next town meeting to remove the items, and we will tour the community during that time to check progress on this situation.” he said.
According to Ward, the subject of the problem of numerous potholes in town streets may soon be taken care of with assistance from Pinnacle resident Ringo Nelson and the Department of Highways.
With Elk Garden’s budget not allowing for complete repair of community streets, Nelson was able to be in contact with the State Division of Highways, resulting in what Ward stated “will work out for the town.”
The plan will be for Elk Garden to purchase the blacktop material and the Burlington District DOH will assist with the project by furnishing trucks and drivers to complete the street project.
In the absence of Mayor Lawrence “Buddy” Stonebraker, Barb Clemons, recorder, conducted the town meeting and gave updates on several items including the removal of topsoil from the area where a pavilion is being built in the Elk Garden town park.
Clemons reported that several loads of topsoil were removed from the park, but Mayor Stonebraker had given permission for the citizens to do so.
During the financial report, it was revealed that the last check received  for rent of space in the town building that houses a rural health clinic was received in June.
The $400 per month rent is used to cover the utilities that are used by the health clinic.
Several days after the town meeting, Clemons  reported the rental checks had been sent and the payments to the town are now up-to-date.
The next Elk Garden town meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m., at the town hall.