by Lisa Schauer
Town of Bath Mayor Greg Schene introduced a new grant program for business and commercial property owners at the Bath town council meeting on Tuesday, October 7.
Intended to support the town’s beautification goals, the “Fabulous Façade” grant program reimburses owners up to $2,500 on a $5,000 project to enhance the exterior appearance of their building. 
Improvements could include signage, paint, awnings, doors, windows, gutters, lighting fixtures, benches, and other exterior projects.
Only commercial street-facing facades in the Town of Bath qualify for the grant. Anyone interested in applying can go to the Town of Bath website for details.
Morgan County Commission, Travel Berkeley Springs, and CNB Bank are co-sponsors of the grant program. Funding will be available on a rolling basis.
Schene said he hopes to complete five or six such projects a year, which he believes will help drive the local economy.
Tree work in town
Council recognized Kate Lehman with the Tree Board for securing a $25,000 grant for the town’s tree canopy.
Lehman said time is getting tight for fall planting. Work will be done along Washington Street and in Greenway Cemetery in preparation for a Veteran’s Day program there on November 11.
Repairs at Water Works
Council member Mary Lynn Hickey said she will be applying for grants to make repairs needed to the Berkeley Springs Water Works facility.
Hickey said it would take $10 million to build a new facility, versus around $6 million to repair and replace the water infrastructure in the existing building.
Trick-or-treating traffic safety
Council member Susan Webster suggested closing off Wilkes Street to traffic during trick or treating on Friday, October 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Webster said around 300 kids are expected there that night. In his public safety report, police chief Ron Gardner said he would want to make sure emergency vehicles could get through.
Growth in tourism
Dusty Martin from Travel Berkeley Springs reported to council that he recently attended the governor’s conference on tourism in Morgantown.
Martin said West Virginia is now in the top ten in tourism growth, beating out our neighboring states, with Morgan County leading the way.
“So, our future is tourism, not data centers,” observed council member Rick Weber.
Martin and Schene both affirmed that sentiment, noting the town has all the elements for a travel destination, including history, wellness, and a growing food scene.
