INFORMATIVE
BDA MEETING
July 13 2020
A decent bit of new info was discussed during the
BDA meeting on July, 13, 2020, along with a couple new faces in
the crowd. With a quorum in place and one Boardster, Michael
Shamblin, on the phone, the meeting got underway beginning at
6:30pm.
The Marker Family
These two new faces, Scott and Jenny Marker,
are natives to New York, but have lived here for over 20 years.
The couple is looking to open up a new “mom & pop” style
restaurant called “Trail Kitchen.” in the Cold Springs
section of County Clay. Jenny has 30 years experience in the
restaurant business and Scott is doing the rehab, rebuild,
update of the facility. They will also be looking into AirBnb’s
later down the road, but want to focus on one thing first. They
hope to be open by September.
Always looking for funds..... With the Boardster
that led the Elk River Fest no longer part of the board and the
FEst off the schedule, there are extra funds ($700)
floating around. Also, The BDA set aside $1,548.56 for a large
clock in town if the Town's Streetscape would ever happen. Board
president, Mitch DeBoard requested the funds be moved to the
train fund account. Boardster Greg Fitzwater suggested moving
the loot to the BDA general operating account to help pay bills,
especially with them needing to come up with an extra $10K for
budget demands this year. $2k has already been transferred from
the train rides to the BDA account for this reason. The entire
board all agreed, including Mr DeBoard.
Member, Mike Shamblin, was able to aide the
BDA to receive $10k in grants from WVU as part of the “Be Wild,
Be Wonderful, Be Healthy” program. Those grant
dollars will be used to build new stuff to do beside the BDA
Building in Two Run.
Younger generations are always out next to the BDA
garage playing basketball on temporary "hoops" . They propose a
new fenced in basketball court on the lot. They also planned a
kids fort (playground) for the younger ones, but for legal
purposes, they prefer to only have equipment that does not
require climbing. They will also convert an old covered area
into a place where parents can sit as they watch their children.
Most in the county know that spot as the fuel station tank
foundation beside the BDA office. They will also be able
to fill in more gravel for the driveway for extra parking.
Which also brought on the next issue. Many
years ago a group of volunteers built a skateboard park beside
the building. It will be getting demolished to make room for the
new basketball court, as the youth are not using the skate park
as in past years. This left $964.64 (raised by the volunteers)
that needed reallocated as it was never spent on the original
project.
The Ace Cub Reporter, one of the original
volunteers, suggested using the $$$ to install bicycle racks in
town. He stated there are more young people riding around on
bikes than ever before, and with the ERTS trail coming thru
Town, it will only pick up. Those folks need a place to park and
lock their bikes while they stop in town. With a budget of a
little over $900, they may be able to purchase and install three
separate racks to be placed around the downtown area. The
Deliciously Vivid Committee will handle the leg work and
installation of this new project.
Face masks? No need for that during a public
meeting at the BDA
The FEMA contractors revealed something that
everyone else has left out. Some curves on the BC&G rails
have too high of an embankment, and water is getting trapped
causing sediment to build up. That change in elevation may be
caused by the Great Wash Out four years ago. The contractor will
be raising these areas, allowing to be more level to prevent
tipping over, and will allow water to flow through, and break up
the sediment. 13,000 new railroad ties will need to be installed
to stabilize and level the BC&G RR tracks. The entire
project is projected to be completed by December of 2021.
For the last three years, the BDA has maintained
Spread Park. Get this. They never actually had a lease with the
owners, the DOH. Now, the BDA no longer has the funds to keep up
with grass cutting and weed whacking. Mitch suggested allowing
the Elk River Trail Foundation (Clendenin) to take over the
lease That Foundation has more manpower and $$$ to keep Spread
Park looking good.
The Foundation still has to meet to make a decision, but
the head, Ken Tawney, is very interested according to DeBoard.
Once the paperwork is in order, the ERTS Foundation will be able
to set up camping areas for anyone to use and charge fees for
the much needed camping and picnic areas. As of right now, the
only issue that would stand in their way, they only have around
$900 in the bank, and to it takes $2,400 to get the place
insured. DeBoard is sure they will definitely have the funds in
no time, and highly recommends it. Everybody agreed.
Lets talk about the historic Swinging Bridge in the
metropolis of Elkhurst. That span could be a real tourist
attraction since it's along the ERTS hiking trail as well as a
convenience for locals in that community. For the last 20 years
or so, the State has refused to maintain the cable bridge and
has it closed down.
If anyone is willing to take on the contract to
restore the old swinging bridge, and willing to put time and
effort into, it’s up for grabs. To restore the bridge, it is to
cost around $80k. With many willing to donate to the
project and apply for grants, something may get done this
time around. It will cost $8k every three years for inspection,
and the fee is subject to change through the years. The hope is
to get it set up, and with the extra draw, and organization will
take it over. For instance, the Elk River Foundation.
The ERTS trail is projected to be completed from
Duck to Dundon by the end of this month. The trail from Queen
Shoals to Heartland will still take a great amount of time to
complete due to the number of encroachments on the rights of
way. That's a nice way of saying, to get ERTS open between
Hartland and Queen Shoals, there's going to be some real peed
off landowners, homeowners, in that area.
There have been some issues of individuals driving
ATV's on the BC&G RR train tracks. One of them was nearly
met head on with the jitney from the trail rides. The BDA tried
to take the nitwits to Court but legalities stopped that
process. Legalities?
The BDA was told by the Prosecutor and Brown Shirt Stuart
Simms that there needs to be more no trespassing signs installed
along the railroad rights of way before it will be upheld by the
law. Dustin Fitzwater suggested a local to make the signs, but
the price was a little steep at $80 per sign. The board agreed
they need the signs, but will search for more competitive
pricing, with a $400 cap. Motion passed.
The BC&G RR Haunted Trail has been canceled
this year due to all the new restrictions now placed. There is
no way to run it successfully this year. There are hopes 2021
will be a much better year.
The porta potty in Adair (where the train rides
turn around) has been piled full of garbage by campers. It will
now need a good but nasty clean out by hand. There will be many
changes put in place due to this incident. One of them being the
outhouse will now be locked and only for use during pit stops
from the rides. For a longer term fix, the BDA plans
to erect an official West Virginia landmark, an outhouse, there
to handle the sit down needs of the train riding public.
Speaking of river access points, a benevolent landowner
in the Little Italy neighborhood and situated along the now open
ERTS Park, is donating a 1/2 acre parcel to be used for a much
needed river access point.
Speaking again, this time on kayaking in Clayberry, Steve
Grau with Elk River Kayaking at Smith Bottom, says, his business
is going like gang busters this Summer. That's always good to
hear. A success!
Now 90 minutes into the gathering, and just before
the meeting adjourned, it was asked if there were any complaints
or accidents over on the pedal car rides this year. So far and
according to BDA Chair DeBoard, only one. Weeds. Mitch stated he
has not had time to spray the trail this year with the frequent
rain, and an individual offered to weed whack the entire thing
for only $250, so the deal was made.
Hear that readers??? The practice of spewing out cancer
causing chemicals this year, the BDA hasn't done it. Maybe it
has been too rainy during this drought stricken Summer or
maybe, just maybe, BDA leadership has changed its ways. Whatever
the answer is, it's a welcome change for a brighter future and
tourism in this county. Next meeting will be August 10th at 6:30
pm.
JM / AW