BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (WV News) — The Upshur County Commission heard an update regarding the James W. Curry Campground improvement project design and cost estimate for upgrades by Todd Schoolcraft of E.L. Robinson Engineering Company, during its Thursday meeting.
Schoolcraft shared with the commissioners a detailed concept plan for the James W. Curry Campground improvement project.
“We went through and came up with a concept plan after speaking with the James W. Curry Foundation Advisory Board. They were interested in the dump station for the RVs at the campsite and a bath house for use by folks staying or visiting the park,” Schoolcraft said.
After lengthy discussion between Schoolcraft, the commission members and County Administrator Tabatha Perry, commissioners decided to ask Schoolcraft to redo his presentation, along with estimated costs of the project, at a later meeting that would focus on just the dump station for the time being.
Commission President Sam Nolte agreed and said that addressing the dump station made sense. All costs associated with the upgrades at the park will be paid through draw-downs of the James W. Curry Foundation funds. Commissioners approved the motion to have Schoolcraft return with a slimmed down project estimate.
Commissioners also approved proclaiming September 23 through 27 as the Upshur County Association of Retired School Employees week.
Jo Ella Wills requested the commissioners approve a proclamation she read aloud regarding the Upshur County Association of Retired School Employees.
“UCAR takes all retired school employees, not just teachers or service personnel. We meet on the second Tuesday of every month beginning in September. We take a few months off in the winter and then come back in February,” Wills said. She said that UCAR contributed 16,922 volunteer hours last year with an estimated value of $538,119.60 in service.
“We currently have around 200 members and we are always looking for retired school employees to join and help with our volunteer projects. We will be having our annual auction next month that will help support our scholarship fund that is awarded each year to a graduating senior at Buckhannon-Upshur High School. The scholarship committee names two students and they each receive $500 per semester,” Wills said. Commissioners were quick to approve the proclamation request.
In other business, commissioners approved an annual lease for 92 square feet of office space in the Upshur-Buckhannon Health Department to the West Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services. The office space agreement will be for a one year period beginning Sept. 1, 2024 at an agreed sum of $250.
“Once she is set up in the new office, she will come to the commission and give a presentation on the services her office provides.”
Commissioners approved allowing rabies’ traps to be set up in the county in order for federal wildlife services to determine rabies rates in the county.
It was agreed that the commission would approve times and date for Trick or Treating in concurrence with Buckhannon City Council. Hence, the date will be October 31 and will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Several reimbursement requests were approved for the Upshur County Regional Airport. The reimbursements are for a hangar built a few years ago and for the current aviation beacon replacement project. The hangar reimbursement, the final installment from the FAA, was in the amount of $32,517. The beacon replacement project requests totaled just over $2,300.
The next regular meeting of the Upshur County Commission will be held Thursday, Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. in the courthouse annex on Main Street in downtown Buckhannon. The meeting scheduled for Sept. 26 has been canceled.