At Tuesday’s meeting, Bridgeport City Council voted to go forward with final design of facilities to be located at the city’s newly-acquired property along Route 131, just across from the entrance to Bridgeport Recreation Complex.

 

At the work session which preceded the meeting, City Manager Kim Haws talked about some of the groundwork that was done to get the project to this point. A handful of administrative staff members combined efforts to ascertain that the property has been surveyed and meets requirements insofar as right-of-way access, adequate room for building sites and vehicle turn-around room. The property was purchased by and is adjacent to North Central West Virginia Airport, so there are specific requirements.

 

“With construction of the buildings, certainly height is an issue and the kind of lighting they put out is also an issue. All those things have been taken care of,” Haws said.

 

Mayor Andy Lang asked what buildings will become vacant once new ones are established on the Route 131 property.

 

Haws said the current salt storage building is in the flood plain and will be vacated and leveled out. The red maintenance building located next to the city pool concession stand will still be utilized somewhat, but most of the stockpiling of supplies will be at the new property.

Money for the project has been escrowed for the past few years and will be subsidized by water and sewer funds, Haws said.

The process of acquiring the property started about four years ago when some of the first large events were held at Bridgeport Recreation Complex and it was noted that overflow parking was needed. In addition to additional parking spaces, amenities at the new property will include:

During the Council meeting that followed work session, Council voted to advance to the next planning stage. The project will soon go out to bid.

Council member Lowell Maxey brought Council up to speed on his work with the Harrison County Senior Citizen Center. In response to an invitation sent by the center some time ago, asking City Council to appoint an individual to serve as a voting member of the organization’s board of directors. Maxey volunteered and was thereafter appointed. It’s been an eye-opening experience, he said. Among other new board members is Bridgeport’s Bill Phillips of Arnett, Carbis, Toothman. 

 

In recent months, there has also been a significant turnaround in operations and financial stability. With the new Bridgeport representation and the fact that the Bridgeport satellite of the senior center benefits from any improvements to the county senior center, Maxey asked Council to consider making a financial contribution.

 

“The biggest need they have right now is help with the transportation budget. I’ve been to some of the Bridgeport Senior Citizen meetings and they use transportation services to take groups to places like Adaland Mansion in Philippi, boat rides on Tygart River and transportation to doctor offices, the mall and other places,” Maxey said. “I’d like to put out a request for $10,000 to be put into the transportation budget to use as they see fit.”

 

That budget encompasses purchase of vehicles, as well as fuel and other maintenance costs. That request for funding will be addressed at the next Bridgeport City Council meeting.