By Patrick Hurston
The Hardy County Commission met Sept. 16, resuming a second-monthly meeting, at least through year’s end.
The meeting was brief but brought news of a significant step forward in the County’s economic development efforts: a $2.268 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund critical infrastructure development for the Crites Business Park.
Hardy County Development Authority Executive Director Mallie Combs told Commissioners the grant will cover the installation of water and sewer lines at the business park. Combs said she has been working on the grant for about three years.
Combs said the grant was secured with assistance from former senator Joe Manchin and current senator, Shelley Moore Capito. The funding is part of the CARES Act; a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by Congress in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Combs noted that because it was funded through a HUD grant, there was a large learning curve. “I could not tell you how many times we took one step forward and ten steps backwards,” she said.
Commissioners and Combs agreed that the lengthy process and hurdles were worth it, creating some real opportunities for the County’s continued economic growth and development. “It’s good to finally be at this point,” said Combs. Commission President Steven Schetrom agreed, “Some good news. Some very good news.”
The infrastructure will not only make the business park ready for investment but will also create opportunities for new housing infrastructure along the new utility lines. According to the Development Authority’s web site, the Crites industrial park comprises approximately 205 acres in Moorefield, divided by Corridor H, but with road access on both sides of the highway.
Combs and Commissioners alike emphasized the broader impact of the project. The new sewer line will go from the regional sewer lines through Ogden Farms, opening opportunities for residents along the sewer line itself, while the water line will extend across the business park property and into surrounding areas.
Combs added that the project is already in preliminary design stages with Thrasher Engineering, and said her office will work closely with both the Hardy County Public Service District and the Town of Moorefield to ensure the infrastructure is built, turned over, and maintained properly.
The evening also brought a financial boost of another kind. Attorney Hunter Mullens of Mullens & Mullens Law presented the County with a check for $32,742.46, Hardy County’s share of national opioid settlement distributions.
While not a large sum compared to the need, Mullens said, the money represents a step forward in helping counties address the effects of the epidemic.
“This is the largest distribution we’ll see in the early years, with smaller amounts expected over the next nine years,” Mullens explained. He also noted that Hardy County has opted into additional settlements, which could provide more funds in the future.
Commissioners approved participation in eight new national settlement agreements and authorized Schetrom to sign required discovery responses in ongoing opioid-related litigation.
The Commission also heard, via phone, continued business from Dave Oberting of Questr Automation, LLC, a Hardy County-based technology startup working with local and family farms to introduce automation technology such as smart irrigation and environmental controls. Questr’s web site says it “pairs hands-on field know-how with modern tools to save time and cut costs for local producers.”
Questr has been exploring funding opportunities through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Power Grant program.
Oberting presented the Commission with a proposed cooperation agreement essentially outlining a partnership agreement for the County and Questr to jointly pursue grant opportunities over $25,000.
Combs, of the Development Authority, said she did not believe the company needed to have an agreement with the County to pursue grants, saying she’d in fact never encountered a situation requiring going through the Commission to get an agreement to apply for funding.
Although Questr missed this year’s deadline for the ARC Power Initiative grant cycle, Oberting said the company will, at Schetrom’s request, continue working with farmers to develop a budget to better identify what level of funding is needed.
Commissioners agreed to send the proposed cooperation agreement with Questr to the County attorney for review, while urging Overton to refine the scope of the proposal before any commitments are made.
Other business included:
– an update from the Sheriff’s Office on the need for new body armor ($650-$900 per vest) for eight courthouse security staff and ongoing issues with the building’s exterior camera system, likely electrical wiring;
– authorizing an application for a state Courthouse Facilities Improvement grant, which would help fund replacement of windows and exterior doors at the courthouse;
– approving budget revisions related to improvements at the County dog pound; and,
– approving exonerations, settlements, payroll, and other routine business of the County Clerk.
