By Jean Braithwaite
tribune correspondent

KEYSER — Mineral County has 25 water, sewer, and community projects of the 82 entries on the Region 8 Planning and Development Council priority listing.
The projects include a five-county region, taking requests from  Mineral, Grant, Hardy, Hampshire, and Pendleton counties.
Ken Dyche, executive director for Region 8 PDC, stated that notification has been sent to numerous agencies and organizations to submit updates concerning the project list.
“By the last of October, we expect to present any list changes to the planning committee,” he said.
Dyche added that by mid-December, “we want to have any changes in place and obtain a recommendation of approval for the complete priority list from the development council.”
Not all projects will receive the go ahead, with approval based on available funding and need.
As it stands now, and in the top-three projects, Romney is scheduled to receive about $8,000,000 for a town sewer plant improvement, Moorefield will also have the same type of project at the cost of $35,000,000, and Petersburg will need $5,000,000 for water improvement,
The first item for Mineral County is listed at No. 5 and is an information technology center for Potomac State College, followed close by a Keyser water system improvement.
Although the funding
has been designated to the county’s Development Authority for a Broadband study, this project will be updated and probably be removed from the projects document.
The funding of $25,000 is through the Appalachian Regional Commission for the study.
Also, receiving lines on the project list is New Creek Sewer System III, Frankfort District Sewer System, along with water extensions, Potomac Highland Airport Industrial Park, and Fountain water extensions.
The municipality of Carpendale has several projects that need funding, and they include Rails-to-Trails, water storage tank, and street improvements.
Piedmont has five community projects, and they are water, sewer, street, and recreation improvements, in addition to the restoration of a former railroad station.
Street and water needs are requested by the town of Elk Garden, and both projects have been on the Region 8 list for several years.
Among the needs within the city of Keyser is a CSX Industrial Park through the Urban Renewal Authority, redevelopment of the neighborhood of Potomac Heights, and the amount of $555,000 for protective services for the Limestone Dam.
The Burlington United Methodist Family Services is looking for $1,500,000 to build a new gymnasium for the Burlington Children’s Home.
The Mineral County Commission continues to ask for $4,000,000 of state funding to be applied to the replacement of the courthouse.
Various sources of funding are being sought for the regional projects, including Small Cities Block Grants, Economic Development Administration, Transportation Enhancement group, Rural Utilities Service, and Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council.