By Dakota Baker
The Greenbrier County Commission held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 10.
The first two agenda items – Budget Amendment No. 2 for the Greenbrier GigReady Broadband project and Engineering Amendment No. 1 for the same project – were both tabled pending additional information from legal counsel.
Commissioners then considered project documents to continue construction, and awarded a bid to Quanta Telecommunications Solutions, LLC in the amount of $6,155,157.67, which was the lowest bid. A large portion of this project will be reimbursed by the state of West Virginia’s GigReady Project.
Next, the commission reviewed Resolution No. 10 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant disinfection project related to the White Sulphur Springs (WSS) TIF project. Construction has been completed, and the project is currently in the troubleshooting phase. Commissioners approved Resolution No. 10 in the amount of $38,250.13, contingent upon receipt of a corrected expenditure schedule from Kathy Simmons.
The commission also reviewed a cost analysis for the water meter upgrade project associated with the WSS TIF project. The existing radio system must be upgraded because the company no longer manufactures the AM-frequency radios originally used.
“Without this upgrade, we are dead in the water,” said White Sulphur Springs Mayor Thomas Taylor. He explained that the new system would allow all but about 30 meters to be read remotely from towers, with the remaining meters read via a drive-by system. The total estimated cost of the project, including engineering fees, is $1,705,000, and it has not yet been put out for bid.
Commissioner Holliday asked whether completing the project would increase revenue for White Sulphur Springs; Taylor said it would. Holliday also asked whether the city had attempted to recover costs under warranties for the current meters. Taylor said the city had spoken with the manufacturer, Sittco, which offered only a discounted rate on a new system.
Holliday said he would be more comfortable if the city attorney reviewed the original contracts to determine whether compensation might be available, noting that the city has received only about half of the system’s expected lifespan. Commission President Lowell Rose said he would support a motion to authorize up to $1,750,000 in TIF funds to bid out the project, with any recovered compensation to be reimbursed to the TIF fund.
A motion was made to approve the cost analysis, pending John Stump’s review, for up to $1,750,000, with the stipulation that any funds recovered from the faulty meters be returned to the TIF fund. The motion passed.
The commission then discussed updates to the zoning ordinance and thanked residents who attended to share their input. Holliday noted that proposed changes include allowing certain businesses and recreational services through conditional use permits in designated areas.
Because the revisions are extensive, commissioners said an additional public hearing will be required before the updated ordinance can be approved.
“We originally didn’t think we’d have to hold another public hearing, but we’ve made so many changes that it’s required,” Rose said. “We’ll schedule another public hearing at a later date.”
Finally, the commission authorized next steps toward resolving claims against SQP related to the courthouse construction project. The commission entered executive session to consult with legal counsel. Following counsel’s recommendation, commissioners approved a motion to pursue mediation with the contractor and enter into a tolling agreement.
