Stories by Jean Braithwaite
news-tribune correspondent

BAYARD — Volunteers are needed in Bayard and those of the community that would desire to assist with the 2009 Make It Shine program will be among the nearly 5,000 statewide people that will lend a hand to promote clean-up efforts across West Virginia.
Mayor Steve Durst told the town council on Friday evening that the registration for participation in this year’s Make It Shine campaign is due by Feb. 15.
To be part of the program, sponsored by the WV Department of Environmental Protection, the council members set the date for trash removal along the town’s roads and streets for three days in early April.
Councilman Vince Culp reminded those in attendance of statistics from the 2008 clean-up program by saying, “We removed three truck loads of vehicle tires from our town, with at least 22 tires in one area.”
Bayard residents may contact Mayor Durst to be part of the Make It Shine program.
Other business at the monthly council meeting that will continue the efforts to have a cleaner community was discussed as Mayor Durst announced that Chris Davis, town attorney, is in the process of writing an ordinance that will tackle the problem of dilapidated structures located in town limits.
“This ordinance will be for the express purpose to give us the authority to condemn such buildings,” Durst said, naming one house in particular that has been in rundown condition for many years.
Council member Karen Renn Getz, voiced her opinion about this subject, and stated, “This is a good start to have our community cleaned up.”
Davis will also give support to Bayard by producing guidelines to create a local Building Commission.
“This commission is necessary as we begin the process to build a town garage,” Durst said.
In addition, Durst mentioned the commission will consist of three appointed Bayard residents who will be empowered the same as those members in other statewide Building Commissions.
To take a step closer to implement the sidewalk renewal project, Durst stated that within several weeks, a meeting will be held with the officials of the Department of Highways “to outline the specifics of the overall undertaking.”
Bayard was recently notified of a grant for $28,800 from the Transportation Enhancement Program to be used to replace community sidewalks.
According to Durst, the addition of the community share of $7,200, will allow the town to start this project “on the ground floor” with a future goal to have every sidewalk in Bayard replaced.
A communication from Thrasher Engineering was part of the town meeting as the firm wanted to be considered to assist Bayard with any future public works construction that would result from President-elect Barack Obama’s plans to revive the country’s economic program through water, roads, bridges, and other projects.
The next Bayard town meeting will be held on Friday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. at the town building.