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"Anyone can move a mountain if he really tries.
Anyone can move a mountain, you must realize.
It will take a little time, a lot of faith, make up your
mind,
And you’ll arrive at where you strive to go.
So never be afraid to dream, for that’s what you must do.
If you never dream at all, then your dreams can’t come true.
Any one can move a mountain, everyone should know,
Just believe it and you’ll find it so.
(written by Johnny Marks, for TV’s “Smokey The Bear”)
I attended the meeting of the mayor and council on Jan. 2 and
was frustrated by the feelings that the Town Hall committee is
moving too slow and not showing enough progress.
Below is a time line to show what has been accomplished in a
two-year period. This information comes from the Town Hall
committee and also from reports given at regular meetings of the
town council.
September 2004:
An inspection recommended that the current town hall be
vacated for safety reasons.
January 2005:
The Town of Grantsville appointed the Town Hall committee.
Town offices were relocated to the main floor of the former
Calhoun County jail.
Applied for and received all necessary permits from the Dept.
of Environmental Protection.
Moved all endangered utility lines.
It was announced that ECIRP, LLC, in Charleston offered to
remove metal from old building and supply town with dumpster for
collection of metals and steel. They will pay the town for metal
received and remove old water tanks, but cannot pay for this
metal.
Creston Oil Corp. offered to demolish the building, with no
cost to the town, after the asbestos has been abated and the
metal removed.
Cerrone Associates, Inc., was chosen to provide the town with
a design for a new building, which will include space for lobby,
council room, offices, storage, restrooms, police area,
kitchenette and two-bay garage. The design will cost $4,000 and
money already in the bank can be used to pay for it. Cerrone
Associates is willing to defer payment until additional funding
is available, or the project is abandoned.
A letter of request was drafted by the chairman, Frank
Venezia, to be submitted for Budget Digest funds.
July 2005:
Drawings by Cerrone Associates were presented for new Town
Hall. These were created from input by Town Hall committee,
mayor and council. The proposed building includes approximately
1,100 square feet within a structure 22 feet deep by 44 feet
long. Variable cost is $262,470. This depends on choices made in
construction and finishing materials.
The Town Hall fund has reached nearly $8,000. These funds are
from local donations and support. A request for Budget Digest
funds has been submitted through the help of Delegate William
Stemple, and representatives from Alan Mollohan and Shelly
Capito have been approached for support. Calhoun County Banks
and Minnie Hamilton Health Care Center have made financial
commitments.
August 2006:
A local firm furnished equipment, labor and supplies to
demolish and remove all debris of the town hall and fence off
the site. Delegate William Stemple contacted the National Guard
for help in hauling fill to site and backfill it to level grade.
The fill dirt is also being donated. The site must still be
filled.
A new town hall will be a source of community pride and
promote a positive public image. It will be a showcase for
bringing in economic development and remain an increasingly
valuable asset for the town. The town will have the security of
owning property. The donated services saved the town thousands
of dollars. Valuable services have been donated that represent
thousands of dollars. Most of these services are from firms
located outside of the town limits of Grantsville. If the town
chooses to give or sell the property, it will have an adverse
effect on future projects in the whole county, because it will
show poor money management.
If the town hall site is sold, the cash on hand could
jeopardize other pending town grant projects, such as recreation
and water systems. The replacement for the old town hall can not
be just an office space, it must house the police department,
the waste management department and town storage. A commitment
has been made. This money cannot be used for other purposes.
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What can we do? The Town Hall committee meetings are open to
the public. The next meeting is Monday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m., in the
Calhoun Courthouse little courtroom. We can show an interest in
what is being done. This is our county seat and center for all
county business, not just Grantsville. Even small donations will
raise the amount for matching funds and show that our citizens
care. If each person in the county donated at least one dollar,
it would show that we do not give up. Donations can be made to
the Town Hall Committee, in care of Calhoun County Bank.
Dan Rather once said, “If all difficulties were known at the
start of a long journey, most of us would never start at all.”
This journey has been started and we can overcome the
difficulties.
CALHOUNERS DO NOT QUIT!
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