Bath begins distributing more Hotel-Motel funds
The Town of Bath will be sending out checks this week to organizations that are recipients of hotel-motel tax funds.
The money is from the $25,000 in back hotel-motel tax payments made in November and December by The Country Inn. Travel Berkeley Springs by state code received half, or $12,500.
The other half is being distributed to organizations that requested funds, but did not receive all the funds requested, for fiscal year 2009-2010.
Councilman and Finance Committee Chairman Andy Swaim said the $12,500 still did not make up the shortage for 2009-2010.
“Everybody will get something, but nobody will get all they asked for,” Swaim said.
If more back hotel-motel taxes are received, it will first be applied to what is still outstanding from 2009-2010 before going to requests for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, he said.
Plant Fair
Robert Robb, representing the Morgan County Master Gardeners, said this year’s plant fair will be held in Berkeley Springs State Park on Mother’s Day weekend, May 11-12.
Robb asked the council to bag three meters on Fairfax Street next to the park for loading and unloading. Police Chief Craig Pearrell agreed to bag the meters.
“This is a major event for the town,” Robb said.
Possible TIGER grant
Larry Lower told council a letter of intent to apply for a TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant has been submitted to the state.
Lower and John McCracken are working with both the town and county to try and procure a grant of $11 million.
Although receiving the grant is considered a long shot, Lower said if awarded $9 million would go to the county and $2 million to the town. He is arranging a meeting of town and county officials to discuss ways to use the money if the grant is awarded.
Some suggestions are restoration of the town center involving lifting all the bricks on both the east and west sides of Fairfax Street, laying a proper foundation and re-laying the bricks.
Other suggestions, Lower said, are new curbs, streetlights and sidewalks for parts of Fairfax and Washington streets near the center of town and fixing the bridge over the run on west Fairfax.
The grant application is due to the state Department of Transportation in mid-March. Morgan County Grant Assistant Carol York is helping with the application.
Treasury report
Rob Campbell asked council to produce a monthly treasury report for public review. “I feel like the town ought to be doing that,” he said.
Campbell offered to compile the report himself if the town office provided the information.
He made a formal written request to the town for all documents concerning accounting, bookkeeping and other financial information for the month of January 2012.
Mayor Susan Webster asked Town Clerk Debra Peck to provide the information.
Police association meeting
Chief Pearrell said the West Virginia Police Chief’s Association meeting in September will be held at The Country Inn.
The meeting will bring up to 75 police chiefs and their families to town the weekend of September 21-23.
The council passed the first reading of Ordinance 2012-01 which is an ordinance to adopt and enforce the state of West Virginia comprehensive traffic code. A second reading and vote to pass the ordinance will be held at the March 6 meeting.
