Published: December 28, 2007 11:56 am      

Authority progressing strategic plan for Hardy

MOOREFIELD — It’s possible a bed and breakfast and restaurant soon will operate from the 1853 McMechen property on Main Street.

Mallie Combs-Snyder, executive director of the Hardy County Rural Development Authority, recently presented a report of the agency’s activities to Hardy County commissioners, including efforts to sell the McMechen property.

She said the agency has completed the update for the Hardy County Strategic Plan.

“This document has been very helpful in preparation of funding documents to date,” she said.

Combs-Snyder said the RDA has been working with Tri-County Tool Rental to expand by adding two acres at the site in Moorefield. That’s expected to be finished by Jan. 1 or sooner.

She said the development authority, since transferring the operation of the sewer lines to the Hardy County Public Service District, has been working on securing funding to abandon the Caledonia Heights lagoon.

She said notice also was received Dec. 13 that the lagoon must cease taking sewage from the Caledonia Heights residential community by Dec. 31. Combs-Snyder said it is now up to the public service district to determine its options in dealing with the problem.

The county commissioners in meeting with U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito’s representative recently stressed the need for funding to construct a sewer line connection for Caledonia Heights and beyond, where two schools are located. The nearby industrial park is utilizing a package plant that also will likely need to be replaced soon.

Commissioner Roger Champ said at that time the county is unable to keep up with the infrastructure demands of continued residential and commercial growth.

Combs-Snyder said the RDA is continuing to work to secure funding to extend water, sewer and highway infrastructure to the area. Two applications for funding have been denied but “other avenues are being explored..”

She said the Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College would be served first, followed by the National Guard project at the industrial park entrance.

The authority has been contacted by businesses that would like to expand or start in the county but their operations would not be permitted under the current covenants of the business parks.

“There is a real need to pursue a new site for these types of development,” she said.

Combs-Snyder said that in discussions with both business and government leaders, it is also apparent that there is a serious need to expand cell phone service in the county.

“One business noted the importance for safety reasons and how the lack of cell coverage negatively impacts their business operation in the county,” she said.

Champ pointed out the commissioners had attempted to survey the county’s businesses for support for cell service.

“We need to be bombarded with requests to improve cell service in order to convince a vendor there is a serious need,” he said.

Officials are to meet with a vendor soon.

Combs-Snyder said that RDA has been given permission to apply for funding to a transportation enhancement grant program for a Winchester and Main streets parking project that will incorporate a historical aspect.

The commissioners app-roved David Kirby of Pilgrim’s Pride and Derek Barr of Hardy Telecommunications to fill unexpired term vacancies on the development authority board left by resignations. The terms end Aug. 31, 2008. They also approved the reappointment of Leslie A. Barr, Ray “Red” Funkhouser, Robert Keller and Branson Keller to terms that will end Dec. 31, 2010. The board is composed of 17 members.

Contact Mona Ridder at mridder@times-news.com.