MORGANTOWN — After touring Preston County’s roads last week, Governor Jim Justice conceded that sometimes, when it comes to the state’s roads, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
Monongalia County Commissioner Ed Hawkins challenged that notion on Wednesday, wondering just how squeaky the wheels in Monongalia County have to get before Charleston pays attention.
“We’ve been trying to cooperate for five years, and at the end of five years that’s resulted in no more cooperation from the state level beyond lip service,” Hawkins said, explaining that he’d be glad to provide a tour of Monongalia County’s roads.
“I’m asking the governor, if you want to come and meet with us, please come up here. I’ll drive you down a road, and I won’t have to go far to lift your head to the cab of my truck on the roads here in Monongalia County,” Hawkins said. “And these roads lead to Preston County.”
Hawkins went on to say he doesn’t understand why the state can’t or won’t provide a list of what roads have been addressed and how, echoing comments made by Commission President Tom Bloom last week.
“I strongly agree, emphatically, with Commissioner Hawkins’ comments,” Bloom said, holding up a pile of photos and messages solicited from Monongalia County residents.
“This is what we’ve collected so far. We keep sending them letters. We sent a letter last Wednesday for this information. We will continue doing this,” Bloom said.
Justice’s visit to Preston County came two days after he promised to do so during a campaign town hall in Morgantown.
During his visit, Justice was asked if Preston County received extra attention because the Preston County Commission declared their roads to be in a state of emergency, to which Justice responded, “Probably so,” before offering the colloquialism on squeaky wheels.
“Well I’m squeaking now,” Hawkins said. “Do you hear me?”
