BDA Meets
May 11 2021
Clay County's
Lead Economic Development Agency, the Business Development
Authority (BDA) convened their monthly meeting May 11 at 6:30.
Board members in attendance, well, they were sparse.
Let's talk money for a second or two. The BDA began the month with $5087 in their general account and spent $304.00 during April leaving a balance of $4857. Those are the only figures made public during each meeting. But, as for hordes of $$ banked in other accounts, not so. In April, their general account started off with $5087.25.
For April their tourism account had a grand total of $1936 after spending $1635 for resale merchandise. Monies left in the original FEMA grant account amount to $78,852.64. From that account, the BDA paid out $19,4443 for Stone Consulting, $11,132 for municipal disaster and $7 for postage.
The posted meeting agenda was sparse with no decisions made during the meeting. Often the discussion items are more interesting. That was the case this time around.
Here's some snippets:
Elk River Getaway's (Kayak Service) Steve Gaur told the assembled his company is already open for the 2021 season. They have expanded this Spring by purchasing a new launch site three doors from the Procious Post Office. Total river adventure is now 12 miles. Steve is seeking workers for the service. Need a fun job, something other than slopping grease, get a hold of Elk River Getaway now.
The local pedal car rides are closed this Spring and early Summer due to contractors rebuilding the tracks along Buffalo Creek. They are expecting to do some rides after the contractors have upgraded the rails from Dundon up to Adair.
As for the main ERTS along Elk River and according to Chair Mitch DeBoard, for now, the trail will end just above Frametown. From Nottingham Store (Duck) North , no one knew if the final top coat, smooth surface, had been applied. That probably means, you might walk or bike that section of ERTS, but boy oh boy, it will be rough on your buttocks.
As for when the State Park system will actually take over ERTS, no one knew.
Down at Queen Shoals, the Elk River Foundation owns the old church situated on the trail. There, demolition is underway to get rid of one addition on the frame building.... on the actual trail.
As for ERTS opening from Clendenin North for three miles, no would commit to saying, that will happen this Spring as other newspapers have reported. Two major bridges have to be replaced down there and the money has not been released for that part of the rebuild.
In the county: the Trail Kitchen diner in Cold Springs, has reopened for the season; Clay Lumber Company opened on May 10th under new ownership; and, the old and empty NAPA store building on Main Street was sold last week for $61,000.00
That mentioned above Elk River Foundation is in need of members from Clay County. Reason? Members Micky Boggs, Josh Shamblin, and Big Lup of CAEZ notoriety were removed from the roles due to lack of attendance.
DeBoard felt, the CAEZ owned caboosi blocking the BC&G rails, those obstructions will be removed before the June 1st deadline. Otherwise, the BDA will take that agency to court.
Someone unloaded a huge pile of used building materials along Elkhurst Road a few days ago. That pile is a God awful eyesore. Deboard reported that the DNR's Stuart Sims is investigating the roadside dump.
Buffalo Creek was stocked twice in May including taking some of the trout up Buffalo via the pedal car ride vehicle. That remote area may give the wigglers a chance to live a little longer.
Bids were suppose to be opened for that FEMA paid for BC&G RR rebuild along Buffalo Creek. That date has been pushed back to May 28th at noon because bidders need a little longer to get their bid packets in order.
And then, and then, the cluster of the meeting.
Back on Dec 23rd 2020, the West Virginia Rail Authority purchased the 19 miles of rail along Buffalo Creek for $1.8 million. The cluster is, instead of deeding over just the land, rights of way for that 19 miles, they deeded the ENTIRE ERTS main line. That's an additional 30 miles for the price of 19!
DeBoard admitted that someone screwed up big time but scholarly lawyers are at work correcting their major mess.
AW
Let's talk money for a second or two. The BDA began the month with $5087 in their general account and spent $304.00 during April leaving a balance of $4857. Those are the only figures made public during each meeting. But, as for hordes of $$ banked in other accounts, not so. In April, their general account started off with $5087.25.
For April their tourism account had a grand total of $1936 after spending $1635 for resale merchandise. Monies left in the original FEMA grant account amount to $78,852.64. From that account, the BDA paid out $19,4443 for Stone Consulting, $11,132 for municipal disaster and $7 for postage.
The posted meeting agenda was sparse with no decisions made during the meeting. Often the discussion items are more interesting. That was the case this time around.
Here's some snippets:
Elk River Getaway's (Kayak Service) Steve Gaur told the assembled his company is already open for the 2021 season. They have expanded this Spring by purchasing a new launch site three doors from the Procious Post Office. Total river adventure is now 12 miles. Steve is seeking workers for the service. Need a fun job, something other than slopping grease, get a hold of Elk River Getaway now.
The local pedal car rides are closed this Spring and early Summer due to contractors rebuilding the tracks along Buffalo Creek. They are expecting to do some rides after the contractors have upgraded the rails from Dundon up to Adair.
As for the main ERTS along Elk River and according to Chair Mitch DeBoard, for now, the trail will end just above Frametown. From Nottingham Store (Duck) North , no one knew if the final top coat, smooth surface, had been applied. That probably means, you might walk or bike that section of ERTS, but boy oh boy, it will be rough on your buttocks.
As for when the State Park system will actually take over ERTS, no one knew.
Down at Queen Shoals, the Elk River Foundation owns the old church situated on the trail. There, demolition is underway to get rid of one addition on the frame building.... on the actual trail.
As for ERTS opening from Clendenin North for three miles, no would commit to saying, that will happen this Spring as other newspapers have reported. Two major bridges have to be replaced down there and the money has not been released for that part of the rebuild.
In the county: the Trail Kitchen diner in Cold Springs, has reopened for the season; Clay Lumber Company opened on May 10th under new ownership; and, the old and empty NAPA store building on Main Street was sold last week for $61,000.00
That mentioned above Elk River Foundation is in need of members from Clay County. Reason? Members Micky Boggs, Josh Shamblin, and Big Lup of CAEZ notoriety were removed from the roles due to lack of attendance.
DeBoard felt, the CAEZ owned caboosi blocking the BC&G rails, those obstructions will be removed before the June 1st deadline. Otherwise, the BDA will take that agency to court.
Someone unloaded a huge pile of used building materials along Elkhurst Road a few days ago. That pile is a God awful eyesore. Deboard reported that the DNR's Stuart Sims is investigating the roadside dump.
Buffalo Creek was stocked twice in May including taking some of the trout up Buffalo via the pedal car ride vehicle. That remote area may give the wigglers a chance to live a little longer.
Bids were suppose to be opened for that FEMA paid for BC&G RR rebuild along Buffalo Creek. That date has been pushed back to May 28th at noon because bidders need a little longer to get their bid packets in order.
And then, and then, the cluster of the meeting.
Back on Dec 23rd 2020, the West Virginia Rail Authority purchased the 19 miles of rail along Buffalo Creek for $1.8 million. The cluster is, instead of deeding over just the land, rights of way for that 19 miles, they deeded the ENTIRE ERTS main line. That's an additional 30 miles for the price of 19!
DeBoard admitted that someone screwed up big time but scholarly lawyers are at work correcting their major mess.
AW
Mitch DeBoard