KINGWOOD — Preston Commissioners are endorsing Arthurdale Heritage’s bid to become the first National Historic Site in West Virginia.
Arthurdale volunteer Deborah Miller spoke to commissioners Monday and got their vote to provide a letter of support.
“We’ve been told that this is likely to last, the process, 15 or more years,” Miller said.
Letters of support are the first step in the application process, she said.
No private property is involved in the application. Only the eight buildings and 16 acres already owned by Arthurdale Heritage is proposed for the site. The National Park System could provide much more marketing than Arthurdale Heritage could, Miller said.
She said U.S. Sens. Shelley Capito, R-W.Va., and Joe Manchin, D-W.V.a, and Congressman David McKinley, R-W.Va., all are aware of the application.
Commissioners Don Smith and Samantha Stone voted to send the letter of support. Commission President Dave Price was at an auditor’s training session and did not attend the meeting.
Also at the meeting, Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Susan Riddle presented the organization’s annual report to commissioners and said a tourism coordinator will be hired to work with Preston and Taylor Counties.
Commissioners approved use of the courthouse lawn for the Buckwheat Festival reviewing stand and the use of ATVs by the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department in downtown Kingwood, during the festival.
The commission was presented with a list of appointments to the Preston County Economic Development Authority Board of Directors. They will be voted on at the next commission meeting.
All are for three-year terms and include Commissioner Stone, representing the commission; Craig Rotruck and Greg Sypolt, at large members; Bill Shockey, agriculture; LaDeana Teets, business; Paul Webster, Brandonville; and Mike Jenkins, Albright.
