By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – Residents of the Pulp Mill Bottom squeezed into the Parsons City Council meeting Tuesday evening as Tucker County Commission President Lowell Moore gave an update about the progress of the Pulp Mill Bottom Dike repairs status.
Moore said the Commission opened two bids for the repairs and said Sunrise Construction had the lowest bid with $269,825.
“I have in hand all of the permits we need except one,” Moore said. “The exception is a permit from SHPO. I went to Charleston and met with them and explained the urgency of time. They were very cooperative, and the next day, they sent a letter of recommendation to the Philadelphia Office.”
Moore said a few days later, he received an email from SHPO saying they did not see a need for any further study, but said they wanted the Environmental Historical Preservation group to come and see the property.
“The EHP came and met with me (at the Pulp Mill Dike property) and they said they had no reason to object to the project,” Moore said. “They said they have to write a letter to SHPO in Philadelphia. They said they have 30 days and SHPO has 30 days. I asked again for urgency.”
“Yesterday I found out EHP did not send their letter out to SHPO until Oct. 27,” Moore said. “I was told yesterday they will take the whole 30 days. I spoke with Sunrise and they are in agreement to start just as soon as possible. We cannot begin until we receive our letter from SHPO.”
Luke Elser, BAD Buildings Program Manager, Northern West Virginia Brownsfield Assistance Center, updated Councilmembers about the progress of the program. He said he works with communities across the state to do property redevelopment.
“We have been working with the city of Parsons and PRO ON TRAC for about a year and a half now on tackling better buildings,” Elser said. “The program is designed to be a road map for a group of local citizens to conduct a community wide windshield survey of possible problem properties and create an inventory of properties and prioritize that inventory based on properties that can be approved.”
Elser said the group surveyed the town, created a list and selected its priorities.
“We have produced a report back to Parsons on what that inventory contains, what it tells us and next step recommendations,” Elser said. “That is what I am presenting back to the City of Parsons.”
Elser said he would meet with Council along with PRO ON TRAC during the December meeting to have a larger discussion about what can be done and who will do that.
Mayor Dorothy Judy introduced the newest Parsons City Council member K.C. Morrison.
“We welcome you to the table,” Judy said.
The next Parsons City Council meeting is set for 6 p.m. Dec. 6 in Council