Commission President Lowell Moore gives an update to concerned citizens regarding the status of funding for repairs to the Pulp Mill Bottom Dike on Wednesday. Moore said he will share information weekly with The Parsons Advocate until the funding is received and repairs are made to the diversion dike.
By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – A group of about 30 concerned citizens gathered at Wednesday’s Tucker County Commission meeting looking for answers about when the Pulp Mill Dike repairs would begin. A large hole was discovered in the dike during the July 4 weekend back in 2014. The City of Parsons began to look for help funding the repairs, and in January of this year, found out that the Tucker County Commission would have to be the entity to apply for funding for the repairs.
Commission members had to begin the application process from the beginning in January, and on Wednesday, Commission President Lowell Moore told those gathered they were very close to the end of the request for funding process.
“We have a set of plans that were drawn up by Triad out of their Morgantown office,” Moore said. “Those plans have been approved by FEMA. Triad Engineering also prepared our bid letter and all we have to do when approved to go to bid is present the letter to the local papers.”
Moore said he and fellow Commissioners have maps, deeds and agreements necessary for the process.
“The City of Parsons has been very gracious and has worked with us hand-in-hand. They have given us a waste site and they also gave us a deeded easement through the Corrick’s Ford property. They also provided a crew at the dike. I want to commend them for their help to get this moving forward,” Moore said. “We have permits from the DNR, the Corps of Engineers and the Department of Highways.”
Moore said they have everything cleared except two items – one is an archeological issue through Corrick’s Ford.
“It’s a sensitive area, but I think they are going to approve it. I took a letter and went to SHPO, the West Virginia State Historical Preservation Office, and I think they will approve it. They were well pleased with the information I provided them. They must approve us going up through Corrick’s Ford Battlefield.”
Moore said the SHPO Office sent a letter on that said in their opinion, permission should be granted because the area has low probability to contain intact significant archeological resources due to prior disturbances.
“The other issue is with U.S. Fish and Wildlife,” Moore said. “This is Federal and State regulations and we must abide by them. Their policy is they will not let large trees from Nov. 15 to March 31 if it’s beside a river. We have to abide by this.”
“We are so close to putting this out to bid,” Moore said. “The bid package is ready to go.”
Moore said he is asking everyone to be patient and step back a step until they get the last two items in hand and put the job out to bid.
“I am hoping we can put it out for bid the last of October,” Moore said.
Commissioner Diane Hinkle said getting permission from SHPO usually takes up to three months.
“But by Lowell taking these down personally and speaking with them direct, it has expedited the process,” Hinkle said. “I commend him for taking that extra step.”
Moore said the timetable from the bid being awarded until repairs actually begin happening is projected for one week after the bid is let.
“We have to advertise for a week and we have a pre-bid. There is approximately seven days between them before we open the bids. The bidders have to have a chance to work up their bids,” Moore said. “I believe whoever gets the bid will understand the work needs to be done now before the water comes up.”
Moore said they have been working continuously to get the dike fixed.
“You just can’t go around regulations. It’s not just the City of Parsons, the County Commission or Tucker County, or the state of West Virginia. Federal laws mandate what they can do and what we can do. We have to work with these agencies and not against them. So far, we are making headway.”
Moore said the bid will be let out as a package deal.
One concerned citizen asked Commissioners if they had a back-up plan incase FEMA does not fund the repairs.
“I think we are pretty confident that this plan is going to push forward,” Hinkle said.
“FEMA has backed this wholeheartedly and I don’t see why they wouldn’t,” Moore said. “To answer your question, there isn’t much option. We have to fix it. They are aware of that.”