DAVIS – Tucker County residents came out Wednesday to gather information as well as share their thoughts on the potential sale of the Canaan Valley Institute property. Two entities, the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the National Youth Science Foundation, each have expressed their interest in obtaining the property for their use. The Tucker County Commission hosted the gathering, hoping to let local folks learn more about the sale, ask questions of each group and share their opinions on the subject.
Moderator for the event, Mont Miller, said he wanted to applaud the Commission for hosting the event which offered a two-way information cycle – where those in attendance can learn and also share their views. Miller said the written comment period is open through Dec. 19, and the Tucker County Commission would like copies of all written comments submitted to either the Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge or the National Youth Science Foundation.
Jenny Newland, Executive Director of Canaan Valley Institute said the organization is a non-profit, founded in 1995, working across the Central Appalachian Region for healthy streams and healthy water resources in rural communities.
“We believe that healthy water and healthy water resources and streams are important to grow and sustain viable communities in our region,” Newland said. “Our economy is dependent on having good clean water to drink and use for industry – we have to have it. In our region, 75 percent of all of the stream miles in our region are not in good shape.”
Newland said CVI works directly with communities and other partners to restore streams, prevent erosion, improve fish habitats and reduce damage from flooding.
“We also work with rural communities that do not have adequate waste water treatment,” Newland said. “We are trying to find solutions that are affordable and economically viable for smaller communities. We also work with students in the communities because engaged student who are outdoor using their hands are learning.”
Newland said she wanted folks to understand that no matter what happens to the building and property, CVI’s work will continue across the region.
“The building and what happens to it is not directly related to our project work,” Newland said. “Our work across the region will continue.”
Newland said the CVI property includes a headquarters building which is 27,000 square feet, and includes office space, conference rooms, education labs and a computer lab.
“We also have a small maintenance building and 36.5 acres,” Newland said. “The building was completed in 2009 and since that time, we have been trying to find others to share that space with us.”
Newland said 98 percent of the funding for the CVI building came from Federal Grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“Federal grant rules dictate what we can do when we find ourselves where we are now – we cannot afford the building,” Newland said. “In March, we sent a letter to NOAA saying we could no longer afford the buildings and property. In October we received a letter back from them saying that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife was interested in taking ownership of the property.”
Newland said CVI hopes to remain in the building, no matter who takes it over.
Joseph McCauley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Chief of Realty, said the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service starts with the words, “working with others.”
“So right from the get-go, we are letting folks know we are in this for partnerships,” McCauley said. “When your mission is to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants for the continuing benefit of the American people, that is a big task and we cannot do it alone. We feel it is important in our mission to work with others. This is very true in this situation.”
McCauley said if U.S. Fish and Wildlife takes over the CVI building and property, they will work with CVI, the National Youth Foundation , Tucker County Schools or others with join missions.
“Youth education is key to what we try to do,” McCauley said. “It is critical that we seek out and maintain partnerships.”
McCauley said the decision to acquire the CVI building and property was not a spur of the moment decision.
“It was a very deliberate process on our part,” McCauley said. “We looked at the existing headquarters building for Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. We did a condition assessment on that building and what we find is that there is more than $1 million in deferred maintenance projects that are required to maintain that building and make it safe and sanitary, and to make it energy efficient.”
Judge Ronald G. Pearson, Chairman of the National Youth Science Foundation Board of Trustees, said he felt the turnout for Wednesday’s meeting shows the sale of CVI is of considerable community interest.
“The National Youth Science Foundation has been conducting programs for West Virginia students, using the CVI facility for three years now,” Pearson said. “We have had the distinct pleasure of integrating and the good fortune to use some of the hydrologists and outstanding scientists, including Jenny and her staff, in our instruction for West Virginia students.”
Pearson said the Youth Science Foundation has a track record, having commenced youth science programs in 1963.
“I want to provide two critically important documents,” Pearson said. “The W.Va. Superintendent of Schools has endorsed our programs and assigned an assistant to help us obtain the money for programming necessary to make Tucker County the hub of STEM science education. This can bring thousands of students and thousands of their parents over the years, into Tucker County.”
Pearson said the Youth Science Foundation is not a Johnnie Come Lately.
“We have not been able to develop everything in the county as fast as we would like,” Pearson said. “But we have been working at this tirelessly and consistently since 2006. Our work in 2006 included a document in agreement with CVI. It gave CVI the right to use facilities we might construct and gave us the right to the first right of refusal for any buildings they were not able to fully utilize.”
Pearson said the agreement was known to NOAA and in March 30, 2009, the agreement is referenced.
He said he disagreed that the acquisition of the CVI property was merely a real estate matter.
“This is no real estate matter,” Pearson said. “This is going to affect the businesses and lives of the people in this county in a real substantial way. What is going to happen if the transaction goes through with Fish and Wildlife is it is going to increase the cost of the National Youth Science Foundation to ever develop the National Center for Youth Science Education. We own 111 acres, and this will increase our cost by 1/3.”
“I hope we can take some time to realize that we are talking about building a center for youth science education that will attract people from West Virginia and across the nation and from other countries,” Pearson said. “We have had three calls from other countries wanting to know if we can take more students that they would like to send to the National Youth Science Camp. If we are able to acquire and develop the CVI property, we have the ability to say yes to those questions. We can’t do it now. The CVI property offers the opportunity to do that.”
Pearson said he cannot assure anyone of the absolute success of the National Youth Science Foundation being able to obtain the $40 million that might be necessary to fully develop the site.
“No one can do that, but it is so important in the national interest that efforts are made to make sure our young people can excel in science fields,” Pearson said. “We cannot afford not to try and frankly, we need your help.”
Anne Jones, Tucker County Development Authority Director, asked both entities how they see, as a new tenant, their organization would improve the economic and community impact of Tucker County.
“We have looked at that and if we are able to start operating in the existing CVI facility, we are talking about 20 new jobs in the county,” Pearson said. “The jobs would be required in a fully staffed National Youth Science Center are more than 40. Of course, there would be construction jobs as well.”
Anne Sittauer, Refuges Program Supervisor for U.S. Fish and Wildlife, said she did not have any specific numbers on new jobs.
“We have conducted an economic analysis of National Wildlife Refuges across the country and every time we do it, we are shown how much National Wildlife Refuges bring into the community,” Sittauer said. “The figures tell us we bring in new jobs and lots of money, too. We pay in lieu of taxes.”
Rita Haverty, of Canaan Valley, said she is a grandmother who has two grandchildren who benefitted from the National Youth Foundation Science camps.
“I certainly am very worried about the impact of moving the Wildlife Visitation Center will have on Canaan Valley,” Haverty said. “It has been an asset to the valley, and certainly people who visit the valley come to visit it. They offer lots of programs, and moving it out of the area to somewhere else, is not beneficial to anyone. The only thing I can see here is the Wildlife Refuge is trying to undermine a commitment that another government agency has already made to the Youth Foundation with this building. I think you need to think about this. It does not look right….Tucker County youth need anything they can get, science wise.”
Davis resident Walter Ron Marshall Tucker County needs folks coming to the county to spend money.
“I think the National Youth Foundation will bring more money into the area than the Refuge,” Marshall said. “I believe the Refuge has cost us jobs and visitors to the valley. I don’t know how many of you remember 15 or 20 years ago where multiple events brought in millions of dollars in the valley. Now constraints on land use have pretty much ended that.”
Casey Rucker, president of the Friends of the 500, said his group has more than 400 members.
“We currently staff the bookstore in the visitor’s center, underwrite two full time AmeriCorps Volunteers and coordinate volunteer activities,” Rucker said. “We submitted our comments and we understand there are advantages to the CVI building. We do not have objections to the relocation of office staff members. Based on comments by our members, we strongly object to moving the visitor’s center from its currently location in Canaan Valley.”
Rucker said the board feels moving to CVI would cause a decrease in volunteer participation in the Friends group and in Refuge programs.
Vice president of the Friends of the 500, Bruce Dalton, asked Pearson what steps the National Youth Science Foundation would have to go through to acquire the CVI building and property since their original request was denied.
“Because we are not a federal agency, we do not have the same requirements as another federal agency would have,” Pearson said. “Our board has approved accepting financial responsibility on the terms that we are able to offer. If we get the okay from NOAA, we will work together with CVI to meet their financial shortfalls for two years, and we will earnestly attempt for two years, to raise the money to renovate the facility and to get a commitment from W.Va. and other program sponsors for the kind of program activities to meet the operating costs of the facility.”
Pearson said he has talked with Tucker County Commissioners and they will work together to set up a fee in lieu of taxes. “We realize we will have to shoulder some of those costs as well.”
Former Army officer and Davis resident Allen Thompson asked McCauley if one of the main reasons they were looking to relocate was to save on maintenance costs and building improvements.
“I would offer that historically, organizations that defer maintenance continue to defer maintenance,” Thompson said. “You will find that five or 10 years from now, the CVI building will need maintenance and there won’t be any money to pay it.”
Thompson said as an Army officer, he was taught to look at situations to discover what was good, not for himself, but for those around him.
“What is good for the nation?” Thompson said. “I got on Google and went to the website for the White House. There are five priorities and one of them is education. We have heard the word STEM tonight – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. To move American students to the forefront, they want to extend this education to the students. This is what is good for this country and what we need for students around the nation.”
Thompson said he read the National Youth Science Foundation mission is to inspire lifelong engagement and ethical leadership in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and related professions through its proven educational model for mentoring, challenging and motivating students. By building communities among students, teachers and professionals, National Youth Science Foundation programs bridge the gap between the traditional school curriculum and careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and related professions. He asked Pearson if this was correct.
“That is correct,” Pearson said.
Thompson asked that folks also send their comments to the director of NOAA, the governor, senators and other elected officials.
The final day for written comments is Dec. 19.
Ed Horton, from NOAA, said public comments would be considered. He said U.S. Fish and Wildlife representatives need to have their deliberations and decide whether they are still interested in the CVI building.
“It depends on Fish and Wildlife as to when a decision will be made,” Horton said. “It closes on the 19th of Dec. and we could have an answer by Feb. 1. I think it will take less than 60 days.”