By Stephen Smoot
Discussion on spending $120,000 on properties to complete the Rail Trail sparked intense and heated debate among Harrison County Commissioners last week.
The agenda item concerning the purchase referred to sending a “best and final offer” to current owners of the property before the County entered eminent domain proceedings.
Eminent domain refers to a public entity’s innate prerogative to compel the sale or cession of land from private owners for a public good – in this case, working toward completion of the Rail Trail and the broader goal of a complete and unbroken connection between Pittsburgh and Parkersburg.
County Commissioner Patsy Trecost made a motion in last week’s meeting to offer $120,000 as the County’s last one before initiating proceedings, but Commissioner David Hinkle asked about “what we’re buying.”
Commission discussions centering around the rail trail have often in the past year or more set officials at odds with each other on questions over how to proceed with Rail Trail expansion and how to pay for it.
Hinkle asked if anyone had performed environmental and other studies on the proposed property purchases. An official stated in response that no one had directed that action, to which Hinkle asked “what’s going to be the cost to bring this trail up to a usable condition for the County?”
He went on and stated that “I’m hoping the gentleman who made the motion knows how much this will cost the County going forward,” then blasted Trecost for not responding to the question and then asking if anyone knew how much the project would cost beyond $120,000.
The Thrasher representative stated that he had examined the properties. He said that parts of it are really good, but that other parts are “really bad and need a lot of work.” He specifically noted a slip near the Gypsy Bridge that would require attention.
“From Gypsy to Haywood, it’s pretty difficult to get to,” he said.
Hinkle then asked “will the land be as . . . toxic as the land we just got from the railroad?”
Industrial and rail lands often have soil laden with toxic chemicals that leach off of operations over decades.
The Rail Trail in Harrison County is expected to eventually help to complete an unbroken line of biking and hiking trails connecting Pittsburgh with Parkersburg. Over the years, many have touted the potential of its economic impact in growing the tourism industry.
Shinnston has seen the trail emerge as a strong part of the city’s tourism and community recreational planning.
Trey Simmerman, County counsel, pointed out that grant funding can defer much of the cost of rehabilitating the ;and for recreational purposes, but that the County must “have an interest” in the land to obtain the funds.
Hinkle replied that he foresaw that the county will spend $120,000”and they will sit back and say ‘holy s****, this is going to cost us millions.” When the Commissioners scoffed at Hinkle’s statement, he said “These two think it’s funny the way . . .”
“You’re funny the way you’re talking about the way tax dollars have been spent in this county,” Harrison County Commission President Susan Thomas interjected and fired back.
Simmerman added in response that the proposed purchase represented the last link in the Rail Trail chain in Harrison County that has been developing over the past quarter of a century.
Trecost’s motion to make the offer had been under discussion the entire time, but Hinkle moved to nix the property purchase. Trecost’s motion passed two to one and Hinkle’s failed with the opposite voting tally.
Later, a representative gave an update on the Trail’s progress that included suggestions on how to proceed.
Some of the information shared included the fact that there was contact every two weeks with the Federal Emergency Management Administration about mitigation planning and other issues. “Extensive” work with FEMA, he said “seems to be moving in the right direction.”
He then stated that there should be a plan that prioritizes which “gaps” in the Rail Trail to address “in the order you would like.” Additionally, the representative related that “there are some good funding opportunities out there” to help defer costs bourne by the County.
The idea, he stated, is to get grants “so you don’t have to spend county money.”
The update included discussion on bridge projects over the West Fork in Clarksburg and also Simpson Creek. A strong likelihood exists that the West Fork project would commence first, but the bridge over Simpson Creek might be completed before the other. The representative suggested that it would save money to bid out for both projects simultaneously.
Hinkle asked if any traffic studies in the affected areas have been done. The answer was that they did not know. The Commissioner then requested that Thrasher provide the cost to date.
The representative next suggested that the County rely on materials proposed by local groups involved with the Rail Trail that provided suggestions on how to proceed. “I don’t see any reason not to use that,” he shared.
Hinkle then explained that part of his resistance to even grants for the Rail Trail came from the notion of opportunity cost. He stated that when the County asks for grants to fulfill one purpose, it cannot then ask the same entity for assistance to help with another, “Like a new park or a livestock barn,” Hinkle said.
He then added that the County cannot get grants for “every wish list in Harrison County. It has to be narrowed down.” He then questioned why the State has not “stepped up” to help.