MORGANTOWN — Almost as consistent as the Monongalia County Commission’s weekly meeting schedule are its critiques of the way the county’s roads are being addressed — or not — by the administration of Governor Jim Justice and the West Virginia Division of Highways.
This theme continued Wednesday as Commission President Tom Bloom addressed two letters — one to Justice and one to WVU President Gordon Gee.
Bloom explained that the county intends to send a certified letter to Justice reiterating the commission’s desire to sit with the governor and DOH staff. The letter will include a stack of complaints and photographs submitted by county residents and compiled by Bloom in recent weeks.
According to the letter, the commission has attempted to meet with Justice and top DOH officials since the end of July.
Bloom said the commission is continually referred to the DOH’s online transparency map, which is supposed to track road projects.
“We have requested specific information for each road because there appears to be a major miscommunication with the transparency maps that are being shown to the public and the actual work being done,” the letter states. “There is much confusion that we need to clarify.”
The commission also wants a running list of what roads have been addressed and what the DOH’s plans are going forward for roads, culverts and canopy clearing.
By way of offering another alternative for improving communication with Charleston, Bloom said he would like to see Morgantown host a public forum of all gubernatorial candidates in December focusing specifically on issues impacting North Central West Virginia.
In other DOH-themed topics, the Commission has reached out to Gee for assistance in getting the DOH to address lighting along Monongahela Boulevard prior to the start of WVU’s basketball season, which tips off in a little over a week.
“This issue has not been resolved in over two years, and with the WVU basketball season about to begin, this has become a serious and dangerous situation that the DOH has refused to fix,” Bloom said.
Gee confirmed he is on board in a Wednesday morning email to the commission, stating “I could not agree with you more that we need to get this issue resolved. Do let me know what you think I can do to best be of help.”
In other news, it was announced that a free public open house will be held from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday at the new aquatic center, in Mylan Park.
Bloom said the event will provide a “sampler of services,” and that people will be able to swim and use the community amenities.
The aquatic center is a fully accessible 90,000 square-foot facility featuring a 50-meter competition pool and diving well.
In addition, the facility houses a community pool with zero-depth entry, water slides and play features, a six-lane lap pool, outdoor splash pad and more.
The $35 million facility was funded using a $15 million gift from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust. The remainder was financed by the Mylan Park Foundation through Huntington Bank.
Lastly, Commissioner Ed Hawkins said he recently spoke with Preston County Commissioner Don Smith regarding recreational use of the Cheat River.
Hawkins asked that the commission discuss supporting the wishes of Friends of Cheat regarding the removal of the dam at Albright.
“This is an obstacle in the Cheat that prevents kayakers from continuing on down the Cheat River,” Hawkins said.
