Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
At the Marlinton Town Council meeting Monday evening, Mayor Sam Felton gave an update to Town Council regarding the CARES Act funding. The CARES Act – Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act – is a $2.2 trillion nationwide economic stimulus bill passed by Congress.
Felton explained that the Town of Marlinton has received the first half of funding it was promised in the amount of $212,000. A second check of the same amount is expected later. He said that $100,000 of the funding has already been promised to the broadband programs coming to the county.
“We’re going to need more information before we write anyone a check with regard to any broadband programs because it’s a puzzle,” he said. “The eligibility factors and getting them to match with the area – not just around Marlinton, but Pocahontas County – is a challenge to say the least because of the underbid that Frontier Communications did with regard to the bid process.”
Council has yet to decide how to spend the rest of the CARES funding, and Felton said there is plenty of time to brainstorm projects according to the deadline attached to the funding.
“We have until December 31, 2024 to really provide our plans for what we’re going to do,” Felton said. “It’s my understanding, after we develop our plan, we have until December 2026 to actually spend those monies. That takes some of the pressure off. We don’t want to waste time, but that will give us more time to consider these things.”
During the public input portion of the agenda, council heard from concerned residents who have had items disappear from porches and properties on Third Avenue. They said they have contacted the police, but are unable to press charges because they could not identify the thief or thieves at this time.
Felton said he has heard about the thefts and that he would pass the information on to town officer Shane Peacock to investigate.
Council approved the following items:
• Dunn Engineering Agreement – CDBG-MIT Stormwater Project.
• Dunn Engineering Agreement – Sewer System Improvement Project.
• Dunn Engineering Agreement – Water Rehabilitation Project.
• to move forward with contracting American Legal Publishing Corporation to codify the town ordinances.
Marlinton Town Council meets the first Monday of each month, holidays excluded, at 7 p.m. in the municipal building auditorium. The meeting is available virtually through Zoom.