Jefferson County briefs

April 14, 2006

Commission split on annexation requests

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday accepted an annexation from the City of Charles Town but delayed taking action on one from the City of Ranson.

The annexation from Charles Town involved the 19-acre Davenport property off W.Va. 51, the site of a newly renovated train station.

There has been an interest in using the station for office space but it was not zoned for that use in the county, said Paul Raco, head of Jefferson County's Department of Planning, Zoning and Engineering.

Commission member Rusty Morgan complained during the commission's regular meeting Thursday that the annexation means the county is losing a potential business because of "rules that don't work anymore."

The annexation in Ranson was delayed until the commission could determine whether the annexation is within Ranson's growth boundary.

Details about its size and location were not available.

Manuel asks for sludge information

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Jefferson County Commission member Dale Manuel said Thursday he has submitted a request to a state agency for it to provide any information it can about a proposal to dispose Washington, D.C., sewage sludge in the county.

Commission members said recently they have heard about a proposal to bring the sludge into the county and dump it on a field, although a state Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman said she was not familiar with such a plan.

Jessica Greathouse could not confirm Thursday whether such a proposal exists but said she was reviewing Manuel's Freedom of Information request and searching files and any other possible sources of information that might shed light on the issue.

There has been concern that dumping the sludge in the county would be a threat to the county's groundwater supply.

- Dave McMillion

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