BDA At Work
Clay County's
Business Development Authority (BDA) gathered April 11th ,
6pm, for their monthly public meeting. With a quorum in
place, here goes with what we saw .
Compliments a gun raffle, the BDA's bottom line in the general account grew by $8355 to a total of $8978.91.
This govt agency has been negotiating space for DNR office space for the new ERT State Park Superintendent, Keith Cliver. Renting office and storage space to the DNR will come in at $400 per month.
Beginning each Feb and go thru May, the State stocks Buffalo Creek with trout. They do it once a month on the norm. That usually happens near the beginning of each month
As an additional boost and according to BDA Chair Mitch DeBoard, the the Buffalo Watershed Assoc along with several donators, $1200 worth of more trout will tossed in Buffalo Creek around April 22nd.
Because the BDA held a lease on the old BC&G RR tracks during the June 2016 Great Wash Out, they are the group responsible for getting the tracks repaired. So far the FEMA has coughed up over $7million to get the old rails up to Federal RR standards. That project should be complete in the middle of Summer, 2022.
DeBoard provided his group an update on the FEMA project which included: almost all the new cross ties are in place; only 70 more need to be installed; most of the washed out culverts have been replaced; and, the new gravel (called ballast) between the rail will be in place this Summer.
DeBoard, " We're close to being on time."
Here's something that has been away from the public's prying ears for several months. From around the conference table... the BDA and Govt funders are not happy with the performance of the engineering firm handling the FEMA project. DeBoard felt that crappy workmanship has cost around $200,000.00 in faulty product. Already in place is an alternative engineering firm, E L Robinson.
The motion was made and passed to allow the Chair to fire the current engineer (we think that is Stone Consulting) and replace them with the Robinson firm if if if, Deboard thinks it's needed.
IF this winds up in Court, who knows how long it will take to get BC&G spur line completed.
Compliments a gun raffle, the BDA's bottom line in the general account grew by $8355 to a total of $8978.91.
This govt agency has been negotiating space for DNR office space for the new ERT State Park Superintendent, Keith Cliver. Renting office and storage space to the DNR will come in at $400 per month.
Beginning each Feb and go thru May, the State stocks Buffalo Creek with trout. They do it once a month on the norm. That usually happens near the beginning of each month
As an additional boost and according to BDA Chair Mitch DeBoard, the the Buffalo Watershed Assoc along with several donators, $1200 worth of more trout will tossed in Buffalo Creek around April 22nd.
Because the BDA held a lease on the old BC&G RR tracks during the June 2016 Great Wash Out, they are the group responsible for getting the tracks repaired. So far the FEMA has coughed up over $7million to get the old rails up to Federal RR standards. That project should be complete in the middle of Summer, 2022.
DeBoard provided his group an update on the FEMA project which included: almost all the new cross ties are in place; only 70 more need to be installed; most of the washed out culverts have been replaced; and, the new gravel (called ballast) between the rail will be in place this Summer.
DeBoard, " We're close to being on time."
Here's something that has been away from the public's prying ears for several months. From around the conference table... the BDA and Govt funders are not happy with the performance of the engineering firm handling the FEMA project. DeBoard felt that crappy workmanship has cost around $200,000.00 in faulty product. Already in place is an alternative engineering firm, E L Robinson.
The motion was made and passed to allow the Chair to fire the current engineer (we think that is Stone Consulting) and replace them with the Robinson firm if if if, Deboard thinks it's needed.
IF this winds up in Court, who knows how long it will take to get BC&G spur line completed.
Hino Electric Railbus
The big hope
is, once the spur line is completed this Summer, the pedal car
tourist ride will start running again. For the last 10 months,
the BDA has been discussing other options like trying to
locate a working steam engine back on the repaired rails. Most
feel (know) a steam engine would draw more tourists than the
existing pedal car and Jitney rides
During
discussion time, a fat guy in the peanut gallery brought some
new info on a possible alternative to those ideas. Look at the
picture just above. That's a brand new rail bus produced by
Hino Motors which is a division of Toyota Motors.
The guy provided, the Hino buses can be run electric or diesel, can switch from rails to street use in five minutes or so, their operation costs are greatly reduced while running on rails (little friction), can haul upwards of 20 riders, and since Hino received many tax credits when they moved into West Virginia, there may be a way to some discount or free buses. No decisions but there seemed to be some interest in the new possibility.
In other chit chat. Boardster Bernie Howe is working to establish dance classes in Clayberry. His updated included: four or five have contacted him with an interest in the program. Mr Howe's project will serve as a much needed fund raiser for the BDA.
AS for restarting the pedal car tourism ride, DeBoard said he has two people interested in operation of the tourism draw, a lease or contract. Up until now, the BDA has run the operation. You interested? Contact Mitch DeBoard.
Here's the ad Bernie Howe has been running in area outlets.
The guy provided, the Hino buses can be run electric or diesel, can switch from rails to street use in five minutes or so, their operation costs are greatly reduced while running on rails (little friction), can haul upwards of 20 riders, and since Hino received many tax credits when they moved into West Virginia, there may be a way to some discount or free buses. No decisions but there seemed to be some interest in the new possibility.
In other chit chat. Boardster Bernie Howe is working to establish dance classes in Clayberry. His updated included: four or five have contacted him with an interest in the program. Mr Howe's project will serve as a much needed fund raiser for the BDA.
AS for restarting the pedal car tourism ride, DeBoard said he has two people interested in operation of the tourism draw, a lease or contract. Up until now, the BDA has run the operation. You interested? Contact Mitch DeBoard.
Here's the ad Bernie Howe has been running in area outlets.
CALL
TO
COUNTRY WESTERN
MUSIC & DANCE
FANS
AWCOUNTRY WESTERN
MUSIC & DANCE
FANS
Do
you remember the classic Country/Western dancing of the
late ‘80s thru the ‘90s? 2-Step, Shuffle, Country
Waltz, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Cha-Cha, circle
dances, and increased enthusiasm in line dancing.
Let’s bring it back to Clay County, not only for the
social aspects, but also for the exercise.
Whether you are an experienced C/W dancer or just someone
interested in learning these dances, you need to let
Bernie Howe know. Anyone can enjoy this pastime if
they are willing to take the first step. If we can
find enough people interested, we have a plan to bring
this to fruition.
Give me a call at (804) 286-4665. If you don’t reach
me, leave a message and I’ll call you back. Or send
me an email at GSDDad11@gmail.com with your contact
information.