Council Talks Plans for Route 131 Property, Expansion of Trail System and Downtown Parking
By Julie Perine on November 14, 2018 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Mayor Andy Lang opened Tuesday night’s Bridgeport City Council meeting by sharing some positive facts about Bridgeport and Harrison County. Harrison County, he said, leads the state in per capita personal income which is projected to grow by 1.6 percent. Our county is also one of only eight in West Virginia that has grown in jobs in the past year and is behind only Monongalia County as far as total employment; both counties having an unemployment rate of only four percent.
“The median age is less than the U.S. average and less than the West Virginia average, so our area .jpg)
is doing good with the retention of younger people,” Lang said.
is doing good with the retention of younger people,” Lang said.
Lang gathered those facts earlier Tuesday while attending the North Central West Virginia Economic Outlook Conference at Fairmont’s Robert H. Mollohan Research Center.
Combine that positive news with the fact that USA Today recently ranked Bridgeport one of the country’s top 50 cities to live in, that city schools continue to rank high and athletic teams remain successful and current investment in the city’s business and residential construction is $57 million, Lang said we are a fortunate community.
“Our county and town remain very strong economically compared to the rest of the state. We should consider ourselves very lucky,” he said.
With that lead-in, the meeting featured agenda items indicative of continued growth.
City Manager Kim Haws provided a brief update on the city’s walk trail expansion project.
“We’ve been waiting a long time to kick off the extension of the trail from Main Street to (Hinkle and Deegan) Lakes,” he said. “As of today, the West Virginia Department of Highways has still not received a report from the (West Virginia Division of Culture and History) Historic Preservation Office and that report has to be received before any work can be done. After it is received, we will start the process of constructing that project.”
Also to be expanded in the near future is parking space at Center Street. Throughout the winter months, manholes will be lowered and paving will thereafter take place at the onset of spring.
“Probably by mid-April, we’ll have 27 additional parking spaces,” Haws said.
Haws also reported that the LED light project has been completed and programmed at Bridgeport Recreation Complex and that those lights can now be controlled online. Christmas lights and decorations are currently going up and though that work has created some minor traffic issues, the result will be a festive city.
“We’re really excited about that. There’s been a lot of hard work going on by city staff to prepare for Light Up Night,” said Haws about the Nov. 29 holiday celebration during which the city Christmas tree will be lit and city businesses will set up tents along the Main Street corridor, treating residents to free treats. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be among special guests and elementary students will sing. The Bridgeport High School Jazz Band, other school-based groups and individual vocalists will lend their talents to the annual event.
Haws also communicated that much utility work has been taking place along Glen Avenue and sidewalk work has begun; all expected to be completed before winter.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Ruth Allen thanked Council and the community for support of the Oct. 20 food drive implemented by the GFWC Woman’s Club of Bridgeport, Bridgeport Fire Department and other volunteers. Non-perishable food items, cleaning and hygiene products were picked up beginning at 10 a.m., thereafter taken to Shepherd’s Corner on Pennsylvania Avenue, where Cub Scouts and parents sorted and put items away. The project was completed by 1 p.m.
“We only do this once a year and it was very successful because flyers went out to more people than what we can usually distribute on foot,” Allen said. “We therefore received quite a few more donations from 
additional areas.”
additional areas.”
Donations will be distributed to area residents in need through Shepherd’s Corner.
Another growing organization is the city’s Volunteers in Police Services. Two new VIPS – James and Gloria Dutchess – were sworn in Tuesday night by Mayor Lang and received their official pins by Bridgeport Police Sgt. Bart Sayers. The new members bring the VIPS force up to 30. VIPS perform many duties for Bridgeport Police, including fingerprinting, traffic control and special event patrolling.
Council Member Dustin Vincent said he and his young son appreciated the VIPS’ efforts during trick-or-treat night. Units drove through neighborhoods, 
making sure children were safe, distributing candy along the way.
making sure children were safe, distributing candy along the way.
Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker said the volunteers are very valuable to his police force – and the city.
Haws also provided an update on the city’s newly-acquired property on Route 131, located just across the roadway from Forrester Boulevard; the entrance to Bridgeport Recreation Complex.
“This has been a longtime coming,” he said. “The city has been working with (North Central West Virginia) Airport for the last four or five years to acquire this property to allow city services to expand and be better organized.”
Within the last year and a half, the acreage was acquired, after which city staff and engineers were asked for input regarding what must be done to prepare the property for construction. Soft construction estimates have been received and the project will soon be sent out to bid.
“We can move forward confidently, knowing dollars have been budgeted – some accumulating over the last two or three years,” Haws said. “We have enough money to construct a number of facilities.”
Those facilities include:
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An office for parks and recreation maintenance personnel, as well as a much-needed expansion of their current maintenance garage currently located next to the Bridgeport Pool concession stand;
- Upgrading of a wash base to be utilized by city employees for city vehicles;
- Installation of a second fuel pumping station for city vehicles;
- A large garage for public works and police to store and secure seasonal equipment;
- Facilities to store salt in bulk; enough supply for a couple years, as well as mulch, sand, gravel and other materials used by the city’s parks and recreation department.
“We seek Council approval to go ahead and finalize the design of those facilities and put the project out to bid, to be approved by Council after received,” Haws said.
Motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
Council also voted to adopt aresolution, notice and order for the excess levy.
“The levy election will be held this spring and it’s very timely that Council address where the levy dollars will end up being distributed and this resolution, notice and order will allow staff to publicize the levy, so the public is fully aware of what is going to transpire at the time of election and start the process moving,” Haws said.
Council went into executive session to discuss expansion of the city’s fire services. No action was taken.
Pastor Ben Moses of Simpson Creek Baptist Church opened the meeting in prayer. A short work session preceded the meeting.
See additional photos from Tuesday night's meeting at the gallery link below.
