Berkeley Springs briefs

May 22, 2007|by TRISH RUDDER

Bath drafts courthouse proposal

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - The Town of Bath drafted a proposal to the Morgan County Commissioners for possible inclusion in the new county courthouse and will deliver the proposal later this week.

At Monday's town council meeting, Councilman David Crosby, who chairs the finance committee, said the town council is interested in being included only if the town offices and the Bath police department remain together.

The town space would require 2,500 square feet at a cost of about $575,000, Crosby said. The town would have about $350,000 from selling some assets and would need about $250,000 from grants or other funding sources.

"We believe that this might be possible if there is cooperation between the county and the town," Crosby wrote in the draft.

Mayor Susan Webster said she met with Gov. Joe Manchin last week, and "he asked us to explore all options, not only the courthouse," she said.

Webster said Manchin will get back to her this week regarding funding, and she asked the council to wait until she hears from him before sending the proposal to the commissioners.

Bath police issues being addressed

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Bath Police Chief James Minton said some of the police department issues raised last week by town businesses and residents are being addressed.

Minton said the department is aware of the serious issue with parking.

He said Mayor Susan Webster asked him not to attend the meeting to allow people to speak more freely. He was in his office during the meeting, he said.

Webster said it was the council's decision not to invite the police employees.

She said Bath is different from other towns.

"We have tourists, we are the county seat and about 15,000 in traffic are going through our town every day," Webster said. "We are a small town with a lot of traffic."

Minton said, "we will work together as a team, and I appreciate our department."

Councilwoman Nancy Harvey said a follow-up meeting with business owners will be Wednesday at 1 p.m.

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