By Adam Pack
The Greenbrier County Commission met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. The commission heard issues concerning the Meadow River Trail. Matthew Ford, Lead Engineer for the Meadow River Trail project, was on hand to discuss the trail with the commission, first noting that the trail is indeed still closed.
“I’m here today to file a public notice regarding the trail, just to let people know that it’s still not complete and it’s still closed since the flood damage of 2016.” Ford noted that there have been “ATV issues that have been going on for a while.” He said that the Meadow River Rail Trail is aware of these tresspasses, as well as the fact that people have been using the trail as access to the water and to go whitewater rafting. The trail will soon be outfitted with cameras “so that we can start dealing with that stuff,” Ford said. A public notice will be published in area newspapers advising citizens to stay off of the trail until it is officially opened.
He also explained details regarding the final steps for completion work on the Trail. Ford presented the Commission with a Substantial Completion Document (SCD), which stipulates “punch list” items that to be corrected, and a timeframe for completing the work with Court Street Construction. Those items, Ford explained, include the placement of posts in the middle of the trail at the bridges which will “discourage ATV or motor travel” as well as some minor repairs due to recent rains. The aforementioned timeframe refers to the 30 days that Court Street Construction will have to complete these items after signing. The Commission approved the public notice of closure as well as the SCD, and praised the work done so far on the trail, with Commissioner Tincher saying, “You guys have just done so well and it looks so good, so we appreciate all that you [Ford] and Court Street have done.” Commissioner McClung added that “hearing the word ‘punch list’ on this project is very refreshing.”
In other news, the Commission appointed Ron McGruder to the Planning Commission. Currently a Parks and Recreation employee, McGruder will be released from that position in order to take up his new post.
The Commission also signed two documents pertaining to grants. The first is a completed grant for security alarms for the new courthouse addition. It was written to secure funds to “increase the duress alarms and proxies that’ll be added to the new building and renovations” according to County Commission Assistant Kelly Banton, who was the author of the grant. The request in the grant was for the sum of $30,994, which is the exact amount approved for the county. The second grant related item is an application for a grant through the West Virginia Court Facility Improvement Association. That grant, also written by Banton, is requesting $100,000 to complete the second phase of installation of sprinklers at the new facilities. This grant source awarded the county the same amount mentioned above for phase one of sprinkler installation. Lastly, the county commission approved and signed the Family Court Renewal lease.
The County Commission is scheduled to meet again for their regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 25, at 10 a.m. in the County Commission meeting chambers. The public is invited to attend.
