West Virginia Department of Commerce James Bailey steers attendees at a meeting to take public input on the future of Summersville Lake State Park away from offering oral public comment in a group setting, preferring written comments, instead, to the chagrin of some participants.
West Virginia Department of Commerce James Bailey steers attendees at a meeting to take public input on the future of Summersville Lake State Park away from offering oral public comment in a group setting, preferring written comments, instead, to the chagrin of some participants.
The head of the West Virginia Department of Commerce fielded a limited number of questions at a meeting Tuesday to collect ideas on the future of West Virginia’s newest state park, instead encouraging written comments he said will help shape that future.
Joined by DNR Director Brett McMillion, Department of Commerce Secretary James Bailey led the meeting Tuesday evening in Summersville to gather public input on Summersville Lake State Park as the DNR plans a third-party contract for the financing, construction and operation of new recreational offerings, lodging and facilities at the park.
The park was established by House Bill 124 in August after Gov. Jim Justice included creation of the park in a list of legislative priorities during a special session. The northern shore of Summersville Lake, the state’s largest lake, is the home of the 177-acre park off U.S. 19, in Nicholas County.
Officials asked attendees at the Summersville Arena and Conference Center to write down ideas and comments on cards for them to consider.
“If you have something that you want us to take back that you want utilized or brought into the design phase, please write it down,†McMillion said.
Bailey fielded questions for roughly 30 minutes in a group setting, declining to take oral comments.
“Not everybody on our team is here currently, and also we don’t have a concessionaire contract,†Bailey said. “These are going to be things that will shape not just for the moment but … moving forward through the more detailed planning stages, so we want a record of it.â€
Bailey said he wasn’t sure whether the state would publicly advertise for proposals.
McMillion said the new park won’t be a traditional state park. McMillion said state officials want to “promote a strong focus†on outdoor recreation, while Bailey said an unspecified number of cabins and campgrounds should be expected.
But McMillion and Bailey suggested the park’s future is wide open. Bailey said a park can look however a community wants it to look.
“That’s why we’re here today,†Bailey said.
Asked by the public how state officials would share comments they collect, Bailey said officials hadn’t thought about how they would do so, citing a plan to aggregate and share them internally. Bailey cut off an attendee’s comment voicing support for sharing comments publicly.
“I’m going to keep it to questions,†Bailey said.
Bailey said state officials would keep taking input indefinitely and said comments could be directed to him. Bailey’s email address is james.m.bailey@wv.gov.
Bailey didn’t commit to holding another public meeting once a third-party concessionaire is selected, though he said one may be held.
The DNR agreed to pay $4.3 million for property for the new park, per an Aug. 4 purchase and sale agreement obtained by the Gazette-Mail through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The DNR purchased the property from Nicholas Investments LLC, a Summersville-based affiliate of Bright Enterprises, a prominent group of businesses headquartered in the city whose holdings have included significant coal, oil and gas royalty interests, Winterplace Ski Resort and the Elk River Railroad.
The concessionaire will design the park with state approval, Bailey said at Tuesday evening’s meeting.
State officials will solicit proposals, Bailey said, noting the state won’t necessarily select the cheapest option. The state doesn’t have a preferred vendor, Bailey told attendees.
Tuesday’s meeting was held to comply with HB 4408 which requires the DNR director to hold a public hearing be held in the county in which a facility is to be located prior to initiating a contract for new recreational, lodging and ancillary facilities at state parks and state forests.
HB 4408 drew controversy for allowing the DNR director to execute third-party contracts to finance, construct and operate new “recreational, lodging and ancillary†facilities at all state forests and every state park but Watoga State Park, in Pocahontas County.
Environmental and park advocates have been wary of plans to expand recreation at state parks and forests, fearing the state will compromise the natural character of the sites.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without eventually finding a proper partner that can help us,†Bailey said, speaking to the importance of a third-party contractor in creating a future for Summersville Lake State Park.
Bailey indicated the state would enter a revenue-sharing agreement with the eventual third party and own any assets, like cabins, built on park property.
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