At the heart of the controversy that arose at the commission’s regular meeting is the creation of a public water system in the Dingess area of the county.
Under the current commission, the system is moving toward completion, although efforts to get water to the area began more than 10 years ago. Currently, construction is underway to bring potable water to 560 families, with funding in place to continue the project to include more of the county, including the Jennie’s Creek area.
Charles “Bucky” Meade addressed the Commission Wednesday with concerns that the Dingess water project is moving slowly because of a competing project, the Twins Branch Motorsports Complex facility.
Funding the racetrack has taken several years. Grant coordinator Leigh Ann Ray explained the complicated process to the Daily News.
“The Economic Development Administration (EDA) originally gave the county $1.2 million dollars to develop the track,” Ray said. “They required Mingo to match that money, those matching funds were promised to us by Gov. Wise. He did not run for re-election, and Gov. Manchin said he would honor Wise’s commitment to the county for the matching funds. However, he changed the terms of the agreement, and the money was given to the county in the form of a loan.”
She went on to say the County Commission cannot, as an agency, borrow money, and that the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority eventually agreed to borrow the matching funds for the track. That loan will be repaid with revenue generated by the racetrack.
Meade said he had heard from his committeeman, Bob Wellman, that, although thousands of dollars had been poured into the racetrack project, there was still no water at the facility. He expressed concerns that money and efforts that should have been spent on the Dingess water project were being diverted to Twins Branch. He also questioned the progress being made at the track site.
“I talked to my committeeman and he told me there wasn’t any water up there yet,” Meade said. “So I went up there and took pictures. There isn’t a track up there, but I did see the water, the hydrant.”
Meade said the water project was at least a year behind schedule.
“No,” Commission President John Mark Hubbard said. “That projects is 16 years behind. But, to say we took water money and gave it to the track, or to any other project, is a lie. Not one penny.”
Hubbard said the source of the funds for the two projects were different, and that obtaining money for the track had nothing to do with the Dingess water system.
Commissioner David Baisden said he thought it was no coincidence that the issue came to light in the month before a statewide election.
“That EDA money was federal money specifically for that track,” Baisden said. “They are trying to spin this at election time. It’s April, and the lies start flying.”
Hubbard, who is seeking re-election to the commission, said he feels the political process is hampering progress in the county.
“If people want to believe lies, well, I’m tired of it,” Hubbard said. “If they want to continue in the same way the county has been going, then they can. Dave [Basiden] saw the potential in those 55 acres, and, through hope, vision and persistence, we have gotten water and sewage to the site.”
He said the site would prove useful even if the track was never built.
“I don’t know what we could have done that we have not done for Dingess,” Hubbard said. “We have kept people informed, not a day goes by that we haven’t pushed to see those families get water.”
He added that he feels proud of his conduct in the matter.
“If I am not re-elected, no matter what,” Hubbard said, “I feel we have taken the lead. I know I can leave here with my character and integrity intact.”
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