It’s not a new idea, just a good one. Perhaps a brilliant one.
Yet, ultimately such ideas often end up on a shelf because of one or more flaws.
Almost from the outset, there are problems with the idea of decentralizing the state Division of Highways.
And most stem from this flaw: The state Legislature and the executive branch do not trust local governments to figure out their own budgets, let alone how to maintain and repair their roads.
Thus, you have state-imposed decisions on everything from priority road repairs and the number of filled DOH positions or lack of them and where road funds go.
At the same time, the state requires counties and municipalities to stand in line and virtually beg for potholes to be patched and core maintenance provided.
We wish the Monongalia County Commission well on its scheduled sit-down meeting with state Department of Transportation officials in Charleston on Nov. 22.
However, we would recommend they narrow the focus of their concerns to a few practical concerns that can be readily addressed rather than seek to restructure the DOH.
For one thing, ask the DOH to allow for more input from the County Commission on what needs to be done and what is being done in quarterly, if not monthly, reports
It’s a given that if you keep your constituents, clients, customers or what have you in the loop, they still may not be happy, but they are generally appeased
Another thing to ask is why a pilot program in our county — the first in the state — to allow independent contractors to perform core maintenance was news to everyone until recently?
Doesn’t such a project deserve at least a news release explaining who the contractors are, what level of funding is involved and how long it will last?
In this vein it couldn’t hurt next week to urge the state’s secretary of transportation to beef up the DOH’s communications office to address media and public officials’ inquiries in a more timely fashion.
And finally, why not recommend a pilot program to allow counties and municipalities to bill the state for maintaining certain roads or helping respond to priorities.
No, this would not work in every county or city or town, but it very well could in Monongalia County and Morgantown’s environs.
Let’s be clear. We’re not dismissing the idea of decentralizing the DOH and perhaps even some other state agencies up the road.
Bouncing new ideas off the DOH or putting big ideas into its officials’ heads can never hurt, despite the season or circumstances.
But for now, with winter looming large, decentralizing the DOH looks to be a hot idea gone too far.
