Published: May 06, 2007 12:54 am         

Hardy agencies handling issues

MOOREFIELD - With the separation of the Hardy County Rural Development Authority and the Hardy County Public Service District, a number of logistical issues needed to be worked out.

The two agencies have separate boards and directors but continue to work out of the same facility located on Main Street.

At the Hardy County Commission meeting Tuesday, commissioners Roger Champ, Stanley Moyer and J.R. Keplinger discussed renovating the county's former jail building, which also housed the county planning commission, now located in the basement of the courthouse, for the possible use of the PSD in the future.

Keplinger, who serves on the RDA board, reported to the commissioners that he is on the agency board's finance committee and because the commission only approved $45,000 of the $71,000 budget request for next fiscal year, the RDA is facing a $26,000 shortfall.

He said that will impact the short term financing of economic development projects that may be receiving loans or grants.

"That also includes fees for administration (of the grants and loans)," he said, noting that the money for both are replenished when the project money comes in from the grant or loan.

"We're looking at ways to regroup," he said.

Also Keplinger said that the RDA is looking at its rental properties and is considering the sale of some.

One of those, he said, is the McMechan House which has been leased as a bed and breakfast. However, the lessees have relocated to another facility.

Keplinger said that the RDA did acquire the kitchen equipment which is fairly new and adds to the value of the property.

Champ suggested that Mallie Combs, director of the RDA, be invited to attend a future commission meeting to make a report on the current activities of the agency.

Keplinger, Champ and Moyer also addressed an issue relating to fire hydrants to be installed on existing water lines.

Champ said they have $10,000 in a governor's partnership grant to install fire hydrants. Keplinger said they have an estimate of $500 just for labor to install each of the hydrants.

Champ said that he thinks the PSD personnel should install the hydrants themselves. He said the county has a hot-tap machine they can use that requires little time and taps directly into the line.

"They don't even have to shut off the water to do it," he said. "They should be able to do the excavation and do it themselves with the PSD staff."

"And they should be able to do them all in one day," added Keplinger.

Champ said that he realizes that everybody wants a fire hydrant because their location significantly reduces homeowners and business insurance premiums.

"But they should be put in where they will provide the most benefit," he said.

In other business relating to water issues, Ed Kesecker and Louis Aspey of the Natural Resources Conservation Service announced that the final document for the proposed Lost River dam site 16 at Lower Cove has been completed and will be on file prior to October, after the final period of public comment.

Aspey said that the dam, which is designed for flood control, water supply and incidental recreation, including fishing, is estimated to cost $24 million.

"There is no funding obligated," he emphasized, noting that the watershed agreement the commissioners were being asked to sign is simply a part of the final documentation before they begin to seek funding.

He said that is part of the process for approval of state and federal officials and that no funding has been appropriated by Congress yet.

Aspey said those interested in the proposed project can get more information at the NRCS Web site at www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wa-tershed/lost river.html.

Mona Ridder can be reached at mridder@times-news.com.