Other than sorting through more than 2,000 emails and returning phone calls, the month of December was pretty-much uneventful, except for the monthly report to council which included any travel expense and special meetings. No internet service on the 4th of the month is always fun, especially when trying to prep for a Sustainable Tourism webinar presentation.
The intent to file for two Trailhead Grants created a whirlwind of activity that included two advertisements and two public meetings, per CDBG rules. The public meetings, and the meeting ads must be published two weeks in advance. Meanwhile, the engineering firm is working on details for the preliminary design, which will be incorporated into the application, which has a grant deadline of Friday, January 31. With other holiday activity, and a tight schedule, the meetings were scheduled as tightly as possible, with the first of two public meetings on December 30. The next will be January the 17.
Charles Evans, SHARC Trails Maintenance Coordinator, has framed up a kiosk at the proposed Trailhead location. Insert panels will be added in the very near future in preparation for a late spring or early summer 2025 opening of the “newly” constructed Monday Lick Trail. An Enduro-Race is scheduled for June 2025.
With the leaves off, I have had more questions about the Overlook Trail. Trail signage is in progress which will help with trail information.
The latest DEMO bid has been awarded to Empire Salvage. The demolition of four more properties is planned to begin before the end of January.
Also, for your information, remaining ARPA funds received by the Town of Marlinton had to be “obligated” in a report to the Treasury by December 31. That task has been accomplished.
With limited eligibility for the use of these funds, the Town has submitted the remaining $171,640 (and change) toward the completion of the Sewer-Stormwater project. The deadline for the actual distribution of these funds is December 31, 2026.
Happy New Year
Sam