WILEY FORD — State Delegate Bob Schadler and Mineral County Commission President Wayne Spiggle are collaborating to bring state and county officials to Wiley Ford on Tuesday, July 7, to get a first-person look at some of the community's needs.
Among the delegation will be members of the Mineral County Building Safety Committee, chaired by Short Gap Fire Chief Everett Matheny. Also invited to attend are Sheriff Craig Fraley, Humane Officers Jim Hawk and Melissa Kidwell, as well as representatives of the West Virginia Division of Highways, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Protection. 
They and other interested parties will tour the community to examine abandoned and unsafe buildings, road conditions, trash and unauthorized dumps that have become problems for the town.
“Wiley Ford is one of the communities in the county with many good people who want to improve their town but lack the ability to do it without outside help and encouragement,” Spiggle said.
Although Spiggle has been chairing regular meetings with the citizens of Short Gap since before he became a county commissioner, he says he wishes to take those meetings to the  next level.
“I'm hoping that this exercise will contribute tot he development of a realistic plan to help the town realize its potential,” he said.
“Wiley Ford is the gateway to our area for anyone arriving through our airport. The first impression of any visitor is important and Wiley Ford could contribute more positively to that very important dynamic for the entire region.”
The tour will be led by members of the Wiley Ford Fire Department and will begin at the fire hall at 6 p.m. 
After the tour, the visitors will return to the fire hall and be joined by members of the community to discuss needs and available opportunities to clean up Wiley Ford and make it a better place to live.