State reclamation contractor, county and Shinston plan geotechnical work to repair rail-trail slide

The Harrison County Commission on May 7 authorized multiple agreements to allow geotechnical and repair work along sections of the county rail trail that have been affected by slides and deterioration.

Kleinfelder Inc., under contract to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Abandoned Mine Lands program, requested exploratory rights of entry and ingress/egress on county-leased property near the rail trail at Shinston (also referenced as Shenston in the record). Karen Cowell of Kleinfelder explained the firm will perform geotechnical and survey tasks needed to design a repair; the Abandoned Mine Lands project manager, Jamie Schafer, said the geotechnical work was expected to start Monday and would likely require seven days of fieldwork.

Pat Kovalcic, mayor of Shinston, told commissioners that detour signage should be posted to keep visitors from walking into the closed area; the county and Kleinfelder agreed to coordinate about barriers and alternate routes. Commissioners asked Kleinfelder to provide the county with copies of landowner access approvals and plans; Kleinfelder and the Abandoned Mine Lands manager said they would supply those documents to county staff.

Separately, the commission approved a temporary construction easement for the city of Clarksburg so the city can use a grant to resurface and upgrade drainage on the rail trail between Camden Street and Odd Fellows Cemetery. County staff asked Clarksburg to provide engineering materials for county review and to restore trail specifications to county standards when work is finished.

Discussion vs. decision: the commission acted to grant the requested rights of entry, ingress/egress and the construction easement (formal actions). Commissioners distinguished those approvals from final design or construction decisions, which require contractor staging, engineering submittals, and coordination with property holders.

Clarifying details: Kleinfelder said geotechnical work would begin on Monday and last about seven days; commissioners and the mayor discussed detour routing (up Malan Street to the old high school and down to the sewer plant) and placement of Jersey barriers and signage to keep the public from the slide area.

Ending: County staff and Kleinfelder will exchange contact information and documentation; Clarksburg must provide engineering plans before major work begins and agreed to restore trail conditions to county standards once work is complete.