[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6177273,"mediaKeyId","5340935-f2f99d30517c301d985d56b0ac387898","parentId",5340935,"title","Fayette County postpones decision on Meadow Bridge radio tower after cost and safety questions","audioSeconds",3057,"startMs",443000,"endMs",3500000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5340935-f2f99d30517c301d985d56b0ac387898&start=443&end=3500","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5340935-f2f99d30517c301d985d56b0ac387898/thumbnail_443000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6177273/Fayette-County/West-Virginia/Fayette-County-postpones-decision-on-Meadow-Bridge-radio-tower-after-cost-and-safety-questions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177273-54bd8bf63625d7a2aadba7e5836e26b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159236&Signature=Gdd9zqSOcO49pwDn5ex2UVrLLTwQHgVZVm6VlZNBlnSzOmiR8c39u-THqOrL4~mUi7PrmXlzgkih9noVnV-5bLhTYvrxa2zG2LFerFe2Pggwb5owSNTM9FjPF7-AGGwn-aei4tVy9nD6w4h6DdHozG9nZ4QUIs29BgrJEAOwpJ8GGvWk~eUdpTxyYrNlUQV25jgJoiol02-8rxdiJ4IJ-6UOxf8wOEMW6JHVVgMbAMeBl51FlMA3kOTw2BuYEBkAFRcUJTFb5CUGb1bR~XnuCkixzinZK2d9NW9FDBsrGQ0O7jF7HiWXYhEJcTezjMNASvuMyhKqnZsumlRX~nOrRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fayette County, WV","date","2025-07-10T00:10:17.273Z","article","At its June 2025 meeting, the Fayette County Commission postponed a decision on whether to repair or replace the Meadow Bridge radio tower after local firefighters and county staff raised questions about structural capacity, estimated costs and who would share the bill.

The issue matters because the tower supports antennas used by emergency services and local agencies; participants said the site now carries multiple antennas while documentation suggested it was originally built for fewer. Commissioners voted to delay final action and directed staff to obtain additional cost estimates and technical information before placing the item on a future agenda.

Fire department representatives told the commission the tower currently carries multiple antennas for emergency services and other local users. The meeting record includes an estimate of $192,778.15 for a more permanent solution; presenters and commission members said insurance payments and deductibles could substantially reduce the countys out-of-pocket cost. County staff also warned that replacing the structure rather than repairing it could trigger geotechnical and environmental studies that would add cost and time.

\"You may wanna consider just doing a repair here because you'll be able to dodge all that,\" Philip, a county staff member participating by Zoom, said when discussing repair versus replacement and the potential need for studies tied to changing the structure type.

Commissioners and local responders discussed options to share costs. Meeting participants proposed sending letters to entities that benefit from the towers operation, including the Board of Education and volunteer organizations, requesting contributions toward replacement or repair. Commission members also requested written cost comparisons that separate a straight repair estimate from a full replacement estimate that would likely require additional engineering and environmental work.

County staff described potential added costs linked to replacement: geotechnical and environmental studies could range up to about $20,000 or more depending on scope, a staff member said during the technical briefing. An earlier figure presented at the meeting listed $192,778.15 as a total estimate; presenters said insurance and deductibles already applied to the estimate could reduce the immediate out-of-pocket amount to roughly $75,000, though the commission record did not show a final, binding figure.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to postpone the item to the commissions next regular meeting while staff gathers additional cost options and technical estimates; the motion was seconded and carried with an affirmative voice vote.

The commission did not authorize repairs or replacement at the meeting. Members asked staff and engineering contacts to return with a comparative analysis showing: (1) a repair-only cost and timeline; (2) a replacement cost with an itemized list of likely geotechnical and environmental studies; and (3) potential funding approaches, including insurance proceeds and outreach to other agencies that use the tower.

Next steps: staff will obtain and present written cost options and the commission will revisit the item at a future meeting after receiving that material.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fayette County Commission Meeting June 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its June 2025 meeting, the Fayette County Commission postponed a decision on whether to repair or replace the Meadow Bridge radio tower after local firefighters and county staff raised questions about structural capacity, estimated costs and who would share the bill.","taxTitle","Fayette County, West Virginia","taxId",68907,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6177263,"Fayette County approves awarding REAP housing rehabilitation bids to lowest qualifying bidders pending final review",322,1204000,1526000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5340935-f2f99d30517c301d985d56b0ac387898&start=1204&end=1526","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5340935-f2f99d30517c301d985d56b0ac387898/thumbnail_1204000.jpg","/articles/6177263/Fayette-County/West-Virginia/Fayette-County-approves-awarding-REAP-housing-rehabilitation-bids-to-lowest-qualifying-bidders-pending-final-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177263-7e820efc6dfae4350bd5413c36f1a8d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159236&Signature=X9djo2cygtQsgasoWw-UWM~BbzDuEAtGmz~SVLGrs8NfSL4yEStWS24bC6fPe3gU3yiAUAkJsOOsak9yXy2cn139a1TcdsyQHx5nxSVc3rwypbkqxNQbcNY~7IXBXb0xGVoDkM3wuO-~rUUR9IqXbzOkNazh9-OvJ0YPSe1mfTWj2YRUOdV7ffJo8OXBbwYUoaHxVAVhEA-WXOfw83o4twGVCubd9hZQn4f-22hazG~HsNjmffEZmRQe3z6A4acwFomwWSGMLUCAcHSIIeT2hHTZO-3aARBdhjv5pSwbJdiy-VypSa39pO5jZuawxMKUOhw1fFpunXxZB-JOOZr9VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During its June 2025 meeting, the Fayette County Commission voted to award REAP-funded housing rehabilitation contracts for recent bidding rounds to the lowest responsive bidders, contingent on verification of bidder documents and a final administrative review.

County staff opened sealed bids for multiple REAP rounds and presented the tabulation sheets. For one round the low bids ranged from about $55,500 to $167,960; for another round bids ranged approximately from $75,500 to $250,600. Commissioners discussed streamlining award by authorizing staff to proceed with the low, qualifying bidder after a thorough review of license and contract documents.

A county official moved that awards be made to the lowest bidders who pass a staff review; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. Commissioners also voted to approve the scoring sheets for contractor qualifications and to proceed with award paperwork pending Lesters (staff) review of documents.

Commissioners and staff noted remaining REAP funding timelines: the program requires obligations and expenditures within the grant period, and county staff said they would reach out to partner municipalities to identify additional voluntary properties if funding remained available. Staff also emphasized that some commercially oriented projects require REAP approval before they can proceed.

No contractor was named as a final, unconditional award in the meeting minutes; instead, the commission authorized awards to the lowest responsive bidders pending completion of staffs document reviews and verification of licenses.

Next steps: county staff will complete contractor document reviews, confirm lowest responsive bidders meet procurement requirements and finalize award paperwork so work can proceed within REAP funding deadlines.","The commission approved motions to award REAP-funded rehabilitation contracts for multiple rounds (phases 4 and 5) to the lowest responsive bidders, subject to a final review of documents. Commissioners also approved scoring worksheets and authorized staff to complete award paperwork after verifying contractor documents.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6177267,"Fayette County approves match, letter of support for health department resiliency grant",1405,1844000,3249000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5340935-f2f99d30517c301d985d56b0ac387898&start=1844&end=3249","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5340935-f2f99d30517c301d985d56b0ac387898/thumbnail_1844000.jpg","/articles/6177267/Fayette-County/West-Virginia/Fayette-County-approves-match-letter-of-support-for-health-department-resiliency-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6177267-20c2d3d077b404430599c969d9f78851/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159236&Signature=IBG8k3V60EWpdRv-fRnQ~4Gr4PnJTfGwkMBarH3vlwhbaXi3MrmeI4dyy5lmUUTwKukmdAdU8wBaizgXHVpITyouaaQMJGkhn9cjyTOFxw-yCS-byNZqrwsOtZdN5giD-R9rsUpEUuzP3bq8-JysxhALpT~x4qVUwTWuamNZXXEzWPTQ8xGPlJBMmzImqBffjaCc06vADQMqE9uP1AZCmekZwyEgNrYqy1~kkhDkAZTJw0fNsLqwilJEyQUHxUJ20xeJP8uow~b1tDQO1-jcTL3zYX0ZIwf-mHSyBQ~1YbQtDx-03j6sdBLmKmTkA35ve9klXnI4AUMAcGRqM~dRzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its June 2025 meeting, the Fayette County Commission agreed to provide a cash match and a letter of support to the Fayette County Health Department for a resiliency initiative aimed at strengthening local disaster recovery and preparedness capacity.

The Health Department asked the commission for a cash match to satisfy a federal grants 20% cost-share requirement and for a letter of support to accompany an Economic Development Administration (EDA) application. Presenters said the grant would fund two full-time disaster resilience coordinators for an 18-month period and support capacity building, local volunteer and shelter coordination, case management for disaster survivors and grant-writing and stakeholder engagement work.

Sarah Hamrick, a consultant with SPP who has worked on disaster recovery in West Virginia, described gaps in local recovery capacity and explained the proposed projects components: training and retaining volunteer case managers, developing a consistent shelter activation and reporting process, updating the countys emergency operations plan, forming a resiliency working group and supporting EDA grant-writing efforts.

\"We typically are really good at response. We know how to deploy. We know how to save lives,\" Hamrick said, describing the projects emphasis on building recovery and long-term resilience after immediate response. She said the proposed grant application includes a 20% match and that in-kind contributions from county staff time were shown in the budget, but the EDA requires some portion of the match in cash.

Terry Harland, executive director of the Fayette County Health Department, said the requested county cash match is approximately $13,000 to $13,900 depending on final budget proportions and presentation; she and Hamrick requested a letter of support and a county commitment to the cash match to finalize the application. \"We need a commitment for the cash match, which is, like, $13,000,\" Hamrick said during the presentation; later in the discussion the application figure of $13,900 was referenced.

Commissioners asked how the program would work with existing local entities, such as emergency management and regional development organizations, and were told the project intends to support and collaborate with those groups rather than duplicate existing efforts. Presenters said the scope includes supporting stakeholder engagement for infrastructure projects where appropriate and creating a brownfields inventory to identify potential redevelopment sites.

After questions and discussion about scope, in-kind contributions and the EDA application process, a commissioner moved to allocate the requested funds and provide a letter of support. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The commission approved the cash match commitment and the request for a letter of support. Staff and Health Department representatives plan to continue stakeholder outreach and to return with updates as the EDA application progresses.","The Fayette County Commission voted to provide a cash match and a letter of support to the Fayette County Health Department for an 18-month resiliency initiative intended to build local disaster recovery capacity, including hiring two full-time coordinators and creating a county-wide resiliency working group.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fayette County postpones decision on Meadow Bridge radio tower after cost and safety questions

Fayette County approves awarding REAP housing rehabilitation bids to lowest qualifying bidders pending final review

Fayette County approves match, letter of support for health department resiliency grant