Local News
Craig Howell
TABLING FUNDING REQUEST – In response to comments from residents Tuesday, Brooke County commissioners, from left, Tom Diserio, Christina White, and Stacey Wise, tabled a requested annual allocation of $4,000 for the West Virginia Route 2/I-68 Authority.
WELLSBURG – Some residents are questioning the effectiveness of the W.Va.2/Interstate 68 Authority in the area, asking Brooke County commissioners to have representatives of the group provide a public update on its work.
The Brooke Commission was set to approve an annual request of $4,000 from the county in support of the authority; however, it tabled the request after hearing concerns Tuesday about the effectiveness of the nonprofit organization created under the authority of the West Virginia Legislature in 1997.
“We contribute to this every year,” explained Commission Tom Diserio.
According to the authority’s website, the group’s objective is “to promote, plan, and assist advancing the construction of the expansions of WV Route 2 and the I68 Energy Corridor for the purpose of encouraging new economic and community development.”
One of its earliest projects was the widening of W.Va. 2 between Weirton and Follansbee, which lasted from June 2000 to October 2001 at a cost of $21,444,875. Other projects have taken place in the years since, with the eventual goal to have W.Va. 2 widened from two lanes to four lanes from Hancock County to Wood County.
The authority’ other goal is to extend I-68 from its original terminus near Morgantown to connect with W.Va. 2.
Commissioner Stacey Wise explained the projects are among many in development throughout the state, often performed in stages and taking years to implement.
“There’s stuff being worked on around the state all the time,” Wise said.
Some of those in attendance, though, including Wellsburg Councilman Larry Swanson, felt there wasn’t much visible return for the yearly allotment of funds from the county.
“That’s a lot of money,” Swanson said. “We don’t see a lot of progress in our area.”
Resident Mary Blum asked if representatives of the authority could provide regular updates on any projects in the works, asking for them to attend a commission meeting.
“They should be here,” Blum said. “Come here and give a report that the public can hear.”
According to commissioners, Brooke County is represented on the authority by Duane Heck and Tim Ennis, with Robert Miller of Marshall County having last attended a Brooke Commission meeting in January. The commission receives periodic written updates from the authority.
Diserio recommended the funding allocation be tabled until such a public presentation is made.
(Howell can be contacted at [email protected])
