North Central West Virginia Airport Executive Director Rick Rock made a request to City Council Monday evening to support the airport's new essential air carrier. 

 

"We have new air service starting Nov. 1 - SkyWest, a United Express service with flights to Chicago's O'Hare and Washington Dulles airports," Rock said. " We have a program that we're asking you to be part of as we go through and try to create a schedule working with SkyWest United. We originally had 12 roundtrips per week, but we want to make sure we have a strong weekend schedule so we can bring as many into West Virginia as are flyout out." 

 

Rock's request, made on behalf of the Airport Development Authority, was for $100,000, considerably less than what was previously requested to help fund a program with another potential essential air carrier. 

 

Council approved a budget revision in the amount of $100,000, moving the funds from one-time B&O (business and occupational tax) capital reserve fund, in order to support North Central West Virginia Airport's minimum revenue guarantee, administered by the Harrison County Development Authority. The balance in that capital reserve account, said Finance Director Monica Musgrave, is $2,095,000.

 

Mayor Andy Lang stated his support of the project. 

 

"The airport is a really big part of our county, but particularly a really big part of this community," he said. "I love hearing the big planes flying out of here every day. That means progress."

 

Council member Bob Greer said the addition of SkyWest is a major upgrade in service provider for Bridgeport, Clarksburg and throughout Harrison and Marion counties and that the minimum revenue guarantee is a good investment for the city. 

 

"It's a supplement to the EAS grant and allows us to have daily jet service - 50-plus passenger planes - to a major hub, O'Hare in Chicago, not only allowing members of our community to travel on a roundtrip basis and to plan business, as well as personal travel, but I believe and the reason this is going through the Harrison County Development Authority, is that the airport service of this quality and level is as important to this community and this region from an economical development standpoint," Greer said. 

 

The area's interstate system and infrastructure supports such a major airline carrier, which in turn becomes an economical building block, Greer said. 

 

 "And it puts us back on the map - literally - in the back of every airport magazine in United's entire system," he said. "I'm glad to see us come forward and glad to support this today."

 

Council also voted unanimously to approve a facade improvement grant, recommended by Bridgeport Development Authority, for improvements to the Chandler Building on Main Street. 

 

City Clerk Andrea Kerr brought Council up to speed regarding the request.

 

"The Bridgeport Development Authority met a couple of weeks ago, after listening to a request of Mrs. Nancy Chandler to do facade improvements to her building," Kerr said. 

The Chandler Building, Kerr said, is the large white building across from Dairy Queen.

 

"It does need some paint to spruce it up a little bit and it falls under the qualifications of the facade improvement grant," she said. 

 

The work estimate which Chandler submitted was from Kennedy Painting of Clarksburg in the amount of $10,515.95.

 

"Per the ordinance, for a facade improvement grant, anything visible from the right-of-way qualifies so that will be three sides," Kerr said. "Once we approve the request, she will get the work done and then submit receipts. We will go take pictures of the building, making sure everything qualifies, look at the receipts and award the money to her after the work is completed."

The grant pays for 25 percent of completed work which qualifies - which, in this case, is 75 percent, Kerr said. 

 

Council member John Wilson pointed out that businesses housed in the Chandler Building are very supportive of events involving businesses of the downtown corridor, such as the recent series of Main Street Mondays.

 

Other new business included the reappointment of two members of Bridgeport's Planning Commission Board. Current president and vice-president, respectively, Rodney Kidd and Doug Gray were unanimously reappointment for three-year terms. 

 

Kidd has been on the planning commission since 1991 and has served several terms as the commission president, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Gray has served since 2009, his  knowledge in the insurance industry making him a great asset to the commission as he understands the importance of proper planning and zoning to ensure that regulated growth benefits all in the community.

 

Council also voted to hold the city's trick or treat observance 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31.  

 

Also Monday night, Mayor Lang presented a proclamation to Emergency Services Director Laura Pysz to recognize September as National Preparedness Month. Pysz has been working with members of the city's emergency services council on a month-long campaign, urging residents to be prepared for a potential emergency situation, such as storms and flooding situations. 

 

(See below Pysz's remarks following presentation of the proclamation.)

 

Before the meeting adjourned, Greer implemented a moment of silence for the thousands of lives lost on September 11, 2001.

 

"As a community and those who work with police, fire and emergency responders, we recognize that bravery as we pause for a moment in memory of the loss of lives that occurred that day," he said.