PARSONS – An event that showcases Tucker County has switched hands for 2017. Jessica Waldo, executive director of the Tucker County CVB, told Tucker County Commissioners Wednesday the Tucker County Chamber of Commerce is assuming responsibility for the planning and execution of Tucker County Day at the Legislature.
“It will be held March 29 beginning at 5 p.m.,” Waldo said. “With the election of the new governor, the Legislative Session is pushed back so the original date in February would have been day two of the Legislative Session.”
Waldo said an advantage of the March 29 date is the hope for better weather to travel to Charleston.
“We hope with better weather, more folks from Tucker County will be able to travel to Charleston. We hope there will not be nearly as much snow,” Waldo said. “This year we are going to have a history of skiing museum or exhibit put up. Cary Reed has so graciously offered to assist us with that. I don’t know how familiar you are with him and his family but their history goes way back into Canaan Valley. He has some wonderful archives.”
The Alpine Festival inherited all of Bob Barton’s items. “We will be putting up some of his things for display,” Waldo said.
Each year, everyone attending the Tucker County Day at the Legislature always looks forward to sampling the foods and drink items.
“This year, we will be serving brunch,” Waldo said. “This is to celebrate the passing of the ‘Brunch Bill.’ We want to thank the Legislative Session for passing the bill and our having the opportunity to serve (alcoholic beverages on Sunday) at 10 a.m. We are thinking along the theme of brunch menu items.”
Waldo said she spoke with Chef Carrie Shahan at Tucker County High School and said the Pro-Start Program students will be preparing food for the event. She said they have another commitment and they will not be able to travel to Charleston for Tucker County Day at the Legislature.
“We will still schedule the meetings during the day with elected officials,” Waldo said. “I will be emailing you to see if there is anyone specific you want me to schedule meetings with. Obviously, we will do the representatives. I know the Department of Highways is somewhere everyone wants to go meet with and talk. There is some concerns on the Chamber with US48 signage we want to bring up while we are with DOH.”
Waldo said the event is not a fundraiser but merely an opportunity to showcase the county.
“Today we are seeking funding to help assist with the cost,” Waldo said. “I had originally asked for $1,000 thinking it would be closer to that to rent the Cultural Center, but I was confirmed yesterday since we are non-profit, the cost will only be $750. That includes tables, chairs and the PA system. We are hoping to have some donated items including linens, food and paper products. We are seeking funding from some others.”
Tucker County Commission President Lowell Moore said he admired Waldo for continuing Tucker County Day at the Legislature.
“That is one of the biggest showcases Tucker County has ever had in Charleston,” Moore said. “I have been told it is one of the best attended county events put on down there.”
“I think it is a good investment,” Tucker County Commissioner Diane Hinkle said.
“The Chamber gladly took it on and we know it is going to be a lot of work,” Waldo said. “But we have an active board and everyone is taking on a role. I am hoping with it being later in March we will have more folks that can travel to Charleston for the event.”
Commission members voted unanimously to pay the $750 fee for renting the Cultural Center for Tucker County Day at the Legislature.
Also during Wednesday’s meeting, Waldo gave an update of the Tucker County CVB. She said the hotel/motel tax collections for 2016 were very flat.
“Countywide we were up $1,000 but Thomas, unfortunately, was lower. I have scheduled a meeting with their Council to see if there is anything we can do to assist with that,” she said.
Waldo said with the changing times, they are spending more money to advertise on the internet. She said this year they are using a lot of partnerships with the Division of Tourism with coops.
“We are excited about some new opportunities they are offering that we could not afford to do on our own,” she said. “We are participating in some story telling ideas that targets tourism and travel sites.”
Waldo said she met the new Tourism Commissioner and said she really enjoys Tucker County. She said newly elected Governor Jim Justice talked about tourism and economic development, along with infrastructure.
“If there is anybody out there who has not attended Tucker County Day, please come,” Moore said. “I think they will enjoy that.”
Commissioners voted to approve two board appointments including one for Karen Bonner for the Canaan Valley Board of Zoning and one for Ben Herrick for the Tucker County Planning Commission.
Moore gave an update on the Pulp Mill Bottom Dike.
“As of last week, we received clarification and the trees have been cut,” Moore said. “What the hold-up was with SHIPO. I told them the trees would be cut at ground level and they thought we were going to dig them out by the roots, which required an archeologist on site. When I finally convinced them the trees would be cut at ground level, the said go ahead and cut the trees. The trees are cut down but they have not yet been removed.”
Moore said work to repair the Pulp Mill Bottom Dike cannot begin until July 1 because of fish spawning in the river.
“SHIPO sent a letter to the West Virginia Civil War Preservation Society asking if they had any objection to the project,” Moore said. “As of last week, they have not heard back from the Civil War Preservation. I had to renew the DNR permit as well as the Homeland Security permit. We are just still waiting on approval from SHIPO.”
The next Tucker County Commission meeting is slated for 9 a.m. Feb. 8 in the Tucker County Courthouse Courtroom.
