MORGANTOWN — To paraphrase Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat, when you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.
That quote, Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom explained, is what comes to mind when he reflects on his efforts to get a progress report from the state on road projects in Monongalia County.
During Wednesday’s Commission meeting, Bloom said he recently reached out to West Virginia Transportation Secretary and Highways Commissioner Byrd White. Bloom said he’s been asking White for a meeting, or at least an update, since late July.
“I would like to see a running record of what roads have been completed and what was done on each road,” Bloom said. “How do we know what needs to be done if we don’t know what has been accomplished?”
He said he would also like some information about what the DOH’s future plans are for the county’s roads and culverts.
Bloom raised the issue during his report, noting Governor Jim Justice planned to be in Preston County today to discuss roads with the Preston County Commission.
“I did this because I heard they are going to Preston again on Thursday. So maybe they can come see us,” he said.
In other news from Wednesday’s meeting, it was explained that the WVU Board of Governors intends to sell 1.59 acres off Van Voorhis Road — currently the site of the former Fieldcrest Hall — to WVU Hospitals.
The issue came before the commission because of a stipulation in state code that says any state institution of higher education selling property with a proposed sale price of $50,000 or higher must provide notice to the county commission.
A public hearing on the sale will be held at 11 a.m. or soon thereafter, on Oct. 31, in Marina Tower, Room 401.
Lastly, Main Street Morgantown Executive Director Barbara Watkins was on hand to thank the Commission for the group’s frequent use of the courthouse square — specifically during the recent Arts Walk and Hops on the Mon events.
