Greenbrier Commission approves $64K for waterline project, re-evaluates FEMA-project participation
By Matthew Young, RealWV
LEWISBURG, W.Va. – The Greenbrier County Commission, during their regular meeting Tuesday, approved payment of Draw Request #16 (Resolution 19) of the PSD#2 waterline project.
Joining the meeting via Zoom to explain the payment-breakdown was Region 4 Project Specialist Amanda Smarr, who said, “The first one is going to be to Chojnacki Construction.”
The total payment to Chojnacki, Smarr added, is $97,563.52. $51,855.19 will be paid from the DWTRF (WV Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund) loan, with the remaining $24,734.01 paid from the DWTRF Principal Forgiveness fund.
“The following invoice from Chojnacki will have $115,869.42 coming out of the DWTRF Principal forgiveness,” Smarr said. “That’s the entire total for that invoice. You’ll also have an invoice for RDR Utility Services Group, for contract 4. The entire amount for that invoice, which is $175,938.24 will be coming out of the EEGF (Economic Enhancement Grant Fund) fund.”
In addition, Smarr noted, an invoice from Tribute Contracting & Consultants for contract # 5, in the amount of $299,202.85 was to be paid using EEGF funds.
“And then an invoice to the Thrasher Group…$64,599.50 will be paid out of commission funds,” Smarr said. “So the total for this draw request is $753,173.56. Of that total, $64,599.50 will come from the commission.”
Next before the commission was the consideration of Payment Resolution #’s 3 and 5, for the Ridges Project, and the Maple Dale Water Storage Tank Project respectively. E.L. Robinson Engineering is to be paid $7,500 for each project, for a total of $15,000 to be paid from available TIF (Tax Incremental Funding) funding. Both resolutions were approved with minimal discussion.
Commissioners then approved a request for an unpaid legislative leave of absence from the County Prosecutor’s Office for State Senator Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier, before officially rejecting the single bid received for the (Federal Emergency Management Administration) FEMA-backed Fort Springs elevation project. The bid was rejected as the total amount exceeded what FEMA will approve. Commissioners then withdrew their agreement to fund the project in advance of FEMA’s reimbursement, again, as FEMA did not approve the bid amount.
Going forward, the Greenbrier County Commission will no longer participate in FEMA projects where county funds will be used in advance of FEMA reimbursement.
The next meeting of the Greenbrier County Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m.
