By Stephen Smoot
County Commissioners heard about progress made by both the Harrison County Economic Development Corporation and the Town of Lumberport as they wrapped up business for 2024.
A work session that consisted almost entirely of closed door executive session discussions took place at 9 AM with the regular meeting commencing at its normal time of 10 AM.
Commissioner Patsy Trecost provided the invocation in which he prayed “Heavenly Father, we just want to thank you for your mercy.” Next, all attendees rose for the Pledge of Allegiance.
At the start of the meeting, Commissioners voted to approve the Wolfe Summit site option, but table the lease agreement and energy PILOT agreement until Jan 15 of next year.
Next, Amy Haberbosch-Wilson rose to address the Commission to provide an update on the accomplishments of the HCEDC in 2024. She opened by thanking the Commissioners and sharing that “this has been an amazing year, not just for the Corporation, but for Harrison County.”
In the past year, she explained, “Harrison County is one of the top growth counties in the state and Harrison itself is the second highest income county, tied with Jefferson.” Haberbosch-Wilson stated that Ohio County earned the top rank in income for 2024.
“We’re clearly moving ahead,” she said, adding that “there’s a lot going on.”
That includes an approximately $500,000 brownfields grant. The purpose of these lies in identifying and rehabilitating lands with past industrial, mining, or other use that may have introduced pollutants into the soil. This grant will help HCEDC to review 35 sites for eligibility for further rehabilitation and “leveraging additional funds.”
Work done could result in an additional $20 to $30 million worth of development projects that will not break ground on new land, but utilize previously occupied spaces.
She then explained the difference between economic and community development, which have their own priorities, “but we do both.”
Examples of community development include engaging all 10 municipalities regularly. “We listen to what they want and we try to help,” Haberbosch-Wilson shared. The HCEDC supported 28 applications for congressionally directed spending that mostly supported what she called “the pillars” of health, workforce, education, and quality of life.
Community development, as she stated, also involves engaging state and federal contacts “on a daily basis.” These, as well as non profit and private sector sources, often issue “requests for information” in which the HCEDC can “pitch” Harrison County as the right place to do business or establish a beneficial project. She stated that “why West Virginia” and “why Harrison County” form the core of RFI responses.
Another achievement came in the form of taking full advantage of the Build West Virginia program that supports the construction of more housing. Harrison County used all that it was allocated and saw that “a lot of housing does happen, which means it’s growing the population.”
She also praised her small staff and Board for their steadfast work.
Lexi Mayfield, Mayor of Lumberport, spoke next. She came to update the Commission on both progress made in working on water, sewer, and administrative problems while also describing the overwhelming needs faced by the Town.
First, she took the opportunity to “thank our neighboring communities that have stepped up to help,” starting with the City of Shinnston, whose “water station provided emergency backup water for a lot of our citizens during a recent water main break.”
From Nutter Fort came “operations and maintenance help” from both their public works department and their office staff. Administrative help from Nutter Fort came “during the recent vacancy of our entire staff.”
“God sent those two women,” said Mayfield, who explained that the revamped the office to make it functional. Lumberport also got a handle on its water billing situation. December 18 saw the “first accurate water bills that we’ve sent out in the past three or four months.”
The long term plan lies in connecting to Hepzibah.
Before then, the Lumberport system has serious problems to address. In questions and conversation with Commissioner David Hinkle. Mayfield shared that the Town sees approximately 50 percent of water lost.
“Where do you stand on getting that corrected?” asked Hinkle.
She replied that Nutter Fort was “willing to combine efforts” between the two public works departments to track down the leaks. Mayfield also stated that the problems were much bigger than the two municipalities’ crews could handle on their own. The $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds that the Town has available falls well short of what the Town needs to correct its problems.
Ryan Holcomb from Thrasher also joined the conversation. That company has been working with Lumberport on correcting their infrastructure problems. He stated that one of their priorities lay in getting “ as many government dollars as we can for that project.”
“My takeaway,” said Hinkle, “is that we’ve got a source of water for you.” He explained that the problem not only lies in “funding to pay for that source of water . . . but the bigger issue is distribution of that water into your community” due to leaks and significant water loss.
“That’s a big stumbling block,” he added.
“It’s difficult day to day,” shared Mayor Mayfield, “but when you look at the big picture, there’s no way that a small municipality can do this ourselves.”
“Hopefully the county can try to help with that and find funding from other agencies,” replied Hinkle.