Published: September 07, 2008 12:10 am      

Mineral County Day Plan for 2009

Many issues from last year, like water improvements and transportation needs, still high on list of priorities

KEYSER, W.Va. — The majority of the issues that Mineral County’s delegation took to Charleston during Mineral County Day 2008 will still be on the list of priorities for next year’s event.

Water improvements and transportation needs will once again top the list, according to discussion held Tuesday when the planning committee met to begin discussion about Mineral County Day 2009.

Under the direction of Chamber of Commerce President Dave Vanscoy, the group of more than 20 people representing various facets of the county went over the list of last year’s priorities in preparing a trifold brochure to be presented to the state legislators in February.

Priorities were additional funding for improvements to the Fountain water system, the extension of Keyser’s water system to the Hollywood area, renovations at Keyser’s water treatment facility, continued work toward the replacement of the Keyser/McCoole bridge, a traffic light at the intersection of U.S. Route 220 and Pin Oak Lane, various safety concerns about state Route 28 between Fort Ashby and Wiley Ford, and expanded broadband and cell phone coverage throughout the county.

According to County Coordinator Mike Bland, the Wiley Ford water project can be taken off the list because it is now fully funded.

Elk Garden Councilman Tom Braithwaite asked that water needed for fire protection in the mountaintop town be placed back on the list; it was on the list in 2007 but taken off the 2008 list.

The U.S. 220 corridor was also mentioned, as were the various concerns that have been discussed by the multicounty Route 50 Association over the past several months.

Commission president and Piedmont resident Janice LaRue suggested the need for a guardrail along state Route 46 near the Z Tower.

Ed McDonald of the Mineral County Historical Foundation expressed his desire to keep a number of topics relating to historic preservation on the list. Among them were the birthplace of Nancy Hanks and the ongoing restoration at the Carskadon Mansion and Traveler’s Rest.

Anyone with additional suggestions is asked to contact Vanscoy so he can compile a list for discussion at the next meeting.

“We need to pare all this down to something manageable,” Mineral County Development Authority Director Mona Ridder said.

The next planning meeting is scheduled for Oct. 15 at noon at the Grand Central Business Center conference room.

Contact Liz Beavers at lbeavers@times-news.com.