CAEZ Meets
July 6 2021
Central
Appalachian Empowerment Zone , the CAEZ, has been on its last
legs for several years. For that matter, 10 years ago we
published something along the lines of, last person out,
please turn off their light bulb.
At one point two years ago they even lost their IRS non profit status. Not being a non profit could be a good reason for not being able to apply for govt grants.
The whole idea of CAEZ was to be a citizen lead economic improvement leader in the poorest of poor counties. about as soon as it was funded, our school system walked in and swiped a load of CAEZ $$$. It was downhill after that.
On July 6th, the CAEZ Board of Directors convened their monthly meeting at the campground in Dundon. Continuing the trend of Boardsters not showing up for duty, such was the case on the 6th. Two Clayberry reps, Fran King and Connie Kinder, continued being AWOL. Returning after a two year absence , Linda Rhodes returned to the fold.
During the meeting we heard no mention of ANY projects the CAEZ is engaged in. We heard no mention of applying for new grants nor starting any new projects to help the citizens of the service area.
Their campground in Dundon is operation the only ongoing endeavor they have which makes money. It is a pretty lodge building and well kept too. The campground part of the operation is minus any shade trees with five campsites squeezed closely together. With that being said, we noticed a couple campers on site and few more tent campers in a lower section.
Speaking of money, CAEZ owns the old Valley Fork Grade School out toward I-79. There they have two or three paying customers. WorkForce W Va and a W Va Educational Center with each coughing up $650 per month. As far as we can tell, other than the seasonal campground operation, that $1300 / month is about the only real income coming into the CAEZ coffers.
A children's day care center is considering opening there soon.
Group by-laws call for an annual meeting of the owners of CAEZ to be held each Sept. The owners are called general members and have a vote in operations and direction,.... if they want to.
Discussion turned to doing away with the traditional free dinner and general membership meeting. In the end, that General membership meeting will be held Sept 7th in the Lodge building beginning at 6pm. There will not be a free meal this year. Too costly with too many people showing up for the annual meeting.
As for a decision on selling the Valley Fork Grade School to a local contractor, after a closed door secret time, no decision was made according the office manager.
Pierson Lumber Co is donating rough cut lumber to the Campground so they can build a "pavillion" .
At one point two years ago they even lost their IRS non profit status. Not being a non profit could be a good reason for not being able to apply for govt grants.
The whole idea of CAEZ was to be a citizen lead economic improvement leader in the poorest of poor counties. about as soon as it was funded, our school system walked in and swiped a load of CAEZ $$$. It was downhill after that.
On July 6th, the CAEZ Board of Directors convened their monthly meeting at the campground in Dundon. Continuing the trend of Boardsters not showing up for duty, such was the case on the 6th. Two Clayberry reps, Fran King and Connie Kinder, continued being AWOL. Returning after a two year absence , Linda Rhodes returned to the fold.
During the meeting we heard no mention of ANY projects the CAEZ is engaged in. We heard no mention of applying for new grants nor starting any new projects to help the citizens of the service area.
Their campground in Dundon is operation the only ongoing endeavor they have which makes money. It is a pretty lodge building and well kept too. The campground part of the operation is minus any shade trees with five campsites squeezed closely together. With that being said, we noticed a couple campers on site and few more tent campers in a lower section.
Speaking of money, CAEZ owns the old Valley Fork Grade School out toward I-79. There they have two or three paying customers. WorkForce W Va and a W Va Educational Center with each coughing up $650 per month. As far as we can tell, other than the seasonal campground operation, that $1300 / month is about the only real income coming into the CAEZ coffers.
A children's day care center is considering opening there soon.
Group by-laws call for an annual meeting of the owners of CAEZ to be held each Sept. The owners are called general members and have a vote in operations and direction,.... if they want to.
Discussion turned to doing away with the traditional free dinner and general membership meeting. In the end, that General membership meeting will be held Sept 7th in the Lodge building beginning at 6pm. There will not be a free meal this year. Too costly with too many people showing up for the annual meeting.
As for a decision on selling the Valley Fork Grade School to a local contractor, after a closed door secret time, no decision was made according the office manager.
Pierson Lumber Co is donating rough cut lumber to the Campground so they can build a "pavillion" .
CAEZ Caboosi located beside the Dundon Campground
Here's
the biggy for this meeting. Mitch DeBoard was on hand to
deliver a message to the CAEZ Bd of Directors.
CAEZ claims to own two caboosi which are setting on the BC&G RR rail and rights of way. They do no have permission from the property owner for the squatting. As a matter of fact, nearly two years ago, CAEZ was told to remove the rusting metal hulks.
DeBoard brought with him a letter from the West Virginia Rail Authority which actually owns the old BC&G line.
According to Mitch, CAEZ has until Monday July 12th to remove the two units or else. We don't know what the else is but it would most certainly include a court case. But worster, unless the caboosi are removed by the 12th, rebuilding of the BC&G line would come to a halt.
Construction did you ask? Yelp. The FEMA paid for $5.7 million upgrade of the tracks will begin July 12th. That project includes replacing 13,000+ ties; rebuilding a couple RR trustles; upgrading 14 miles of the old line (almost to Widen) ; and putting in a railroad crossing at Cressmont.
CAEZ Bd Chair Mickey Boggs told DeBoard, she would get right on the caboosi removal.
Moving 2 30 ton metal hulks will be a big job and one requiring some pretty heavy duty equipment
CAEZ claims to own two caboosi which are setting on the BC&G RR rail and rights of way. They do no have permission from the property owner for the squatting. As a matter of fact, nearly two years ago, CAEZ was told to remove the rusting metal hulks.
DeBoard brought with him a letter from the West Virginia Rail Authority which actually owns the old BC&G line.
According to Mitch, CAEZ has until Monday July 12th to remove the two units or else. We don't know what the else is but it would most certainly include a court case. But worster, unless the caboosi are removed by the 12th, rebuilding of the BC&G line would come to a halt.
Construction did you ask? Yelp. The FEMA paid for $5.7 million upgrade of the tracks will begin July 12th. That project includes replacing 13,000+ ties; rebuilding a couple RR trustles; upgrading 14 miles of the old line (almost to Widen) ; and putting in a railroad crossing at Cressmont.
CAEZ Bd Chair Mickey Boggs told DeBoard, she would get right on the caboosi removal.
Moving 2 30 ton metal hulks will be a big job and one requiring some pretty heavy duty equipment
Here's a pic of where the caboosi will be situated after the move. This location on the banks of Buffalo Creek and a little closer to the Dundon Lodge building.
AW