By Jean Braithwaite
Tribune Correspondent
KEYSER - Meeting to examine ways to showcase the county at Mineral County Day at the Legislature in January 2010, the planning committee will begin placing priorities on a listing of projects to present to state officials.
Reviewing information contained in the 2009 brochure, the members discussed such water projects as system improvements in the City of Keyser, New Creek, and Fountain, all calling for line extensions.
Deborah Pamepinto, administrator for Keyser, cited, “Funding has been received for Phase I of our project,” and it continues to be an ongoing effort.
Sewerage needs are also among the projects to be listed in the updated brochure, along with additional funding to initiate and complete the county’s water resource study.
According to Dave Vanscoy, $93,000 has already been allotted from the State Department of Health and Human Services for a groundwater study, leaving the amount of $207,000 still required for completion of the project.
Placed high on the listing of urgent needs are water hydrants for fire protection in the mountain top community of Elk Garden.
About 250 residents are served by the Elk District Volunteer Fire Department, and the funding to install hydrants would provide additional fire protection.
Rick Linthicum, president of the Development Authority, wants water, sewerage, and other infrastructure projects placed in a bold format in the brochure.
“First and foremost, these are critical to our county, and need to be recognized by the state officials,” he said.
Rose Ann Maine, chair person for the planning sessions, suggested members “digest the information needed to be placed in the 2010 brochure and priorities will be set at the next meeting.”
With the theme for the trip to Charleston to be focused on Piedmont native and world-renown musician Don Redman, Ed McDonald, of the Mineral County Historical Society, stated, “I have a work in progress concerning Redman’s music.”
Telling about what could possibly happen at the reception, the wrap-up event for Mineral County Day at the Legislature, McDonald said he had been in contact with an area musician and perhaps the musician could “put together a quartet to make a presentation of Redman’s music.”
Commissioner Janice LaRue stated CDs of Redman’s music are available for loan from the Piedmont Library.
Redman will be inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in November, and historical materials that will be on display for that happening may be borrowed to use during events as locals converge on Charleston.
On behalf of the Historical Foundation, Frank Roleff named several projects that could enhance the county if funding was received, namely the establishment of a visitor’s center in the Travelers Rest, along Rt. 50, and the saving of the old Headsville Bridge to serve as a historical marker.
Superintendent Skip Hackworth will be selecting a school group that will provide entertainment during the noon luncheon at the capitol, as Maine said, “We have talented students all over this county.”
Hackworth will also investigate the possibility of using Kanawha County school buses to transport those attending Mineral County Day to and from the lodging area and the Capitol Complex.
A logo contest is underway among county students, and the entries will be displayed at the reception.
The next planning meeting for Mineral County Day at the Legislature is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 1, at noon, in the conference room, at the Grand Central Business Center.