Western Pocahontas Properties made an offer to the Tucker County Commission to sell a four-acre parcel adjacent to the ball field in Davis.
The Commission held a meeting last Wednesday to discuss the offer. Further action was tabled at the meeting. “I am going to move to table any action on this until we can get more answers to some of the issues that have been raised,” Commission President Diane Hinkle said.
There will be another meeting to discuss the property and receive public input on Tuesday, February 6 at 11 a.m. in the County Courthouse. The Commission has until February 12 to act on the offer from Western Pocahontas.
Previously there was mining activity under a portion of the land, and there is currently an unexposed mineshaft on the property. The Commission plans to have the property surveyed before a purchase would take place.
The Commission took comments from the public. Comments included concern about usurping responsibility of the mineshaft, the possibility of the property being primarily on wetlands, and the cost.
The cost of the four acres is $40,000, equaling $10,000 an acre. “It’s a reasonable price,” Hinkle said. If purchased, the money would come out of the Rehabilitation of Property Line Item, which was previously budgeted for property acquisition purposes. “Money is set aside every year for these kinds of investment purposes for future planning,” Hinkle said.
The County Planning Commission, the Development Authority, Davis Parks and Recreation, the Town of Davis, and other agencies representing the Town of Davis all expressed support for the acquisition of the property.
The Commission commented that the possible future uses for the property include a second EMS station, a satellite office for law enforcement, a visitor’s center, or offices for public land managers.