This week, I will share carry-overs from February and other items in progress as we move into spring and summer. Although the Verizon cell tower is operational, the contractor is still waiting on connector materials to complete the top of the tower.
An initial meeting has happened and other follow-up meetings will be necessary to finalize the Discovery Junction First-Friday schedule for 2023.
Cadet Kendall Ober is more than half-way through Law Enforcement Academy Training. Last week, while on a break from classes, he took the cruiser for an appointment to be decaled and it looks great. Officer Ober will be in-service full-time beginning in May.
The latest Sewer System project conference calls included 20 attendees. Between IJDC, PSC, DEP, DHHR, auditors, legal counsel, bond counsel and others, it is quite a process. Moving the plan forward is presently stalled while waiting on audits and PSC reports. It seems all authorized state CPAs are tied up with more audits than they are able to handle.
In other areas, Broadband and SHARC Zoom meetings continue to move forward with positive results. The Pocahontas County Housing Task Force continues to meet. Another grant application for a sidewalk project has been submitted. We will wait and see if Marlinton is closer to being accepted in this round.
The time springing forward this past weekend matches projects springing forward for summer.
The “Make Marlinton Shine” program will move forward ahead of the planned Kick-off date. A portion of the plan will include a cleanup of brush along Marlin Run from the 8th Street bridge to the mouth at Knapp Creek. The majority of the Make Marlinton Shine Cleanup begins April 22 on Earth Day, and will continue through May 21.
Thanks to Sara Cottingham, of Downstrean Strategies, the MFT Grants Committee has found grant monies that can begin signage and other work concerning the Marlinton Trailhead project. Also, the Overlook Trail work will resume and should be completed by early-to-mid May.