Italian Heritage Festival seeks permanent 3-phase power at courthouse plaza; county pauses work pending agreement

Organizers of the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival told the Harrison County Commission on May 7 they have begun conduit work at the courthouse plaza to run three-phase power for staging and asked the county to allow a meter socket and finalize a hookup with FirstEnergy/Mon Power.

Bill Boyles, chairman of the festival committee, and vice chair Betty Waddy explained the group purchases generators each year and had experienced multiple generator failures and fuse problems during recent festivals. Boyles said volunteers and local contractors had hand-dug conduit and purchased conduit materials in anticipation of installing a more reliable three-phase power feed on the corner of the courthouse.

County staff and commissioners said they had not authorized the digging and that work should be paused until the parties agree on an arrangement with the power company and county maintenance. Commissioners asked the power company and county maintenance to meet with festival organizers and county attorneys to produce a documented agreement that explains who pays for installation costs, where a meter would be located, how meter minimums and commercial rates would apply, and responsibility for restoring the courthouse surface and landscape after work.

Staff confirmed the conduit is in place but that two access holes remain open pending a final agreement. The festival representatives said their contractor estimated the total project at roughly $12,000; commissioners asked staff to get detailed cost proposals and a written plan from FirstEnergy/Mon Power and return to the commission before further work proceeds.

Discussion vs. decision: the commission did not authorize additional work at the meeting and voted to table action pending a joint meeting between festival representatives, the power company, county maintenance, and county attorneys. The commission also asked festival organizers to provide documentation showing what has been installed and any payments already made.

Ending: County staff will convene the power company and maintenance team to produce a proposed agreement and cost allocation; festival organizers plan to proceed with their Labor Day event schedule only after the county approves a written plan and any necessary permits and meter installation.