MORGANTOWN — It appears as if citizen requests for additional traffic control at the intersection of Grafton and Goshen roads has support within the West Virginia Division of Highways.
The intersection sits next to Ridgedale Elementary School and has been the focus of parents who reached out to the Monongalia County Commission for help in addressing concerns over the amount of traffic and the speed at which much of that traffic moves through the posted 35 mph zone.
Monongalia County Commissioner Tom Bloom shared correspondence from DOH District 4 Engineer Mike Cronin following Wednesday’s commission meeting.
According to that correspondence, Cronin intends to initiate a project to install a traffic light at the location.
“I’m very excited about that. I think the community wanted it and we’re all working together to get that light,” Bloom said. “So that’s something positive.”
The Dominion Post reached out to WVDOT Public Relations Director Jennifer Dooley for confirmation.
Dooley confirmed Cronin has been in discussions about a stop light at that location, adding that the Cronin “wanted to point out that there are steps to developing a project that occur before on-the-ground work. Project design, review and letting to contract all occur before residents will see any significant on-the-ground movement.”
In other county news, the commission approved $100,000 to be distributed as one-time supplemental pay, essentially bonuses, for employees of the Monongalia County Health Department.
This is the second year the county has provided the funding for MCHD employees in the wake of the ongoing, and constantly evolving, COVID-19 pandemic.
Commission President Sean Sikora said he was hopeful last year’s payments would be a one-time offering.
“But here we are, still in the same situation. And when you look at the numbers, we’re surging back up again,” Sikora said, later adding “It’s not meant to slight anybody else. It’s meant to show our health department employees our appreciation for their tireless support through this pandemic.”
As MCHD employees are technically employed by the state, the commission’s gesture will need the approval of both the county board of health and the West Virginia Department of Personnel.
Speaking of state employees, the commission recognized a pair of resolutions from Gov. Jim Justice declaring Dec. 23 and 30 half days for the state’s public employees.
Lastly, Bloom announced that the final Mountaineer Food Bank food giveaway of 2021 will take place from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Saturday near the Senior Mons entrance, on the back side of the old Mountaineer Mall.
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