By Matthew Young, RealWV
The Greenbrier County Commission, on Tuesday, signed a “proclamation for [a] Constitution Week declaration,” prepared by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Representatives of the DAR were on-hand for Commission President Tammy Tincher’s reading of the proclamation.
“Whereas, Sept. 17, 2023 marks the 236th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America, by the Constitutional Convention. […] It is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document, and its memorable anniversary.”
“The Greenbrier County Commission authorizes,” Tincher continued, “By virtue of the authority vested in the State of West Virginia and the County of Greenbrier, we do hereby proclaim the week of Sept. 17 through 23, 2023 as ‘Constitution Week,’ and ask our citizens to affirm the ideals of the framers of the Constitution in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained.”
Next, the commission approved a $1.5 million funding commitment for the Ridges Appurtenant Replacement TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Project in White Sulphur Springs.
Providing an overview of the project was Region 4’s Cassandra Lawson, who said, “This project will replace five out-stations that serve the area known as ‘The Ridges.’ It’s really a project that’s critical in nature, because if any of those pumps go out, it could interrupt service to that area.”
“It is very important to water distribution in that area,” Lawson continued. “In addition to the $1.5 million that is requested of the TIF, the West Virginia Infrastructure, Jobs, and Development Council will also be providing half-a-million dollars. They like to be the last one in, so they will not actually formally commit until after the commission approves the project as being ‘technically feasible,’ and has approved the proposed funding scenario.”
At the conclusion of Lawson’s overview, Tincher noted that, “This is an urgent matter for us to move forward with the funding for this project. It meets all the requirements for the TIF funds to be spent on a project of this nature.”
“This is also funding that is coming from our previous TIF,” Tincher added. “It is not coming from our renewal. This would not only be good for the City of White Sulphur, but for the greater good of the entire White Sulphur District in making sure that their water is accessible to them.”
After their unanimous approval, Commissioner Lowell Rose said, “This is a necessary project that falls exactly in line with the reason we originally approved the TIF funding – infrastructure improvements.”
The commission then considered approving a reduced building permit fee for the Greenbrier Valley Airport’s hangar door-installation project. Airport Director Martha Livesay explained both the project, and the request.
“We are working on re-doing some failed hangar doors,” Livesay said. “We have three hangars that we rent. They generate quite a bit of revenue, and we’re losing that revenue because we cannot use them.”
According to Livesay, the door issue has been an ongoing and costly concern. For the first phase of the project, the Greenbrier Valley Airport paid out $1.2 million for renovations and permit fees. Renovations included clean-up, as well as foundation and utility installation. Phase two of the project has an estimated cost of $1 million.
“The second portion is actually hanging the doors,” Livesay said. “The majority of the cost consists of materials. $811,000 in materials, and $180,900 in labor.”
“Since the inspections are based on the progress of the labor, and the labor is much reduced from the cost of the materials, I’m asking that you would base the cost of the permit on the labor and not the materials,” Livesay added. “It is significantly less.”
The commission unanimously approved the airport’s request, with Tincher noting her status as a sitting member of the Greenbrier Valley Airport Authority for transparency. Matt Wyatt, airport director of operations, then provided an update as to the status of the recently-begun runway expansion project.
“Starting on the 17th, […] the runway will be closed for the paving project,” Wyatt said. “They are resurfacing the entire runway. That’s just the first phase of the project. The second phase will come up next year.”
“We also have a new snow removal equipment building going up now,” Wyatt added. “The concrete for that’s been poured, and they’re working on the outer edges of it now. It should be completed by early-to-mid-November. The hangar door project is due to be completed around the same time.”
The next regular meeting of the Greenbrier County Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m.
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