County enlists aid of Raleigh SWA

By Steve Keenan
Staff Writer

April 29, 2008 07:47 pm

— Fayette County has turned to the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority for help with its dilapidated housing program.
At last week’s Fayette County Commission meeting, commissioners signed off on support of an agreement with the Raleigh County SWA to dispose of discarded materials from Fayette’s dilapidated building removal.
According to Phil Raney, a member of the county’s beautification committee, and county building code officer Allen Ballard, the agreement will allow Fayette officials to dispose of the construction and demolition materials from the old houses they tear down and defer the tipping fees — currently $8.75 per ton — until the property owners pay Fayette County for structure demolition.
“It will be a big step forward,” said Raney.
Aletha Stolar, coordinator of the Fayette County Family Resource Network, said, “Raleigh County has dedicated a portion of their landfill for abandoned and dilapidated buildings. It’s great that the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority is working with us.”
Stolar said a few structures have been torn down, and warning letters have been sent to property owners in several locations, but “there’s a lot out there.”
Raney also suggested the possibility of utilizing county resources, such as county park superintendent Earl Pauley and his crew, for some of the removal. Commissioner John Lopez said caution must be used so Pauley is not overburdened.
Another possibility discussed was seeking micro-loan funds from the Central Appalachian Empowerment Zone.
Also last week, commissioners:
n Approved — pending a technical review — a sole bid of $39,700, plus a maintenance fee of $5,334 after the first year, from PTS Solutions related to the 911 mapping program.
n Advised Brian Logan to talk to the Fayetteville American Legion to check into the possibility of housing the West Virginia Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building. Logan said a local wrestling group, which inducted Shirley Love last week during Mountain Mayhem, wants to honor the “people who paved the way to allow us to do what we’re doing.”
— E-mail:
skeenan@register-herald.com