Didn’t do their homework

Dear Editor:

In regard to my comments to the Morgan County Commission about soil tests at the new soccer field, I would like to set the record straight.

In no way did I disparage the environmental analysis by Potesta Engineering as I have a high regard for the firm’s work. I have confidence that they completed exactly the analysis that the commission requested them to do. However, I still stand by my statements that by failing to do their homework, the commissioners wasted $8,000 by not asking for the correct type of analysis.

When the issue of contamination was brought up, the commission would have been more prudent to search out more information about the historic uses of the site. If heavy metal contamination was suspected, the Parks & Recreation Board should have been directed to collect soil samples for a preliminary test for metals (which in fact costs $110 per sample at Reliance Labs).

Once that test was returned, the commission would have realized that they did not need the full blown environmental study that Potesta did for them for $8,000. This manner of questioning, gathering information and analyzing data is prudent and follows standard procedures when you are uncertain of exactly what contamination might be present.

I am sure the $8,000 for the study could have been better spent on the actual remediation work that the commissioners and Parks & Recreation are planning. This remediation plan is based on common sense and deals with the real problem at the soccer field: scrap metal. Like all plans, it will need to be reviewed and refined as time goes on, but it is a step in the right direction. And it didn’t take an environmental analysis to develop it.

When the commission fails to do their homework, asks the wrong questions and doesn’t look for input from the committee charged with dealing with the situation, they will get advice that steers them in the wrong direction every time.

Rebecca MacLeod
Berkeley Springs