Harpers Ferry hears 22 funding requests including police staffing, transit match and festival support

Harpers Ferry town leaders held a budget hearing to hear 22 funding requests from local organizations and municipal departments, with presenters seeking support for public safety staffing and equipment, transit operations, festivals and events, historic‑building maintenance and a series of smaller community projects.

The hearing convened as a listening session: presenters outlined needs but council members made no decisions or votes. Chief John (Chief of Police) described multiple public‑safety items the department is seeking — including two additional full‑time officers, vehicle replacements, in‑vehicle computers (ToughPads), replacement body armor, helmets, AEDs and responder medical bags — and asked council to consider those increases as part of next year’s budget. "I think there's gonna be a need for those two officers in the very near future, and I want to be prepared for that need," Chief John said.

The Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority (EPTA) asked the town to continue an annual operating contribution the agency has received in prior years. Elaine Carlson, EPTA executive director, said the town’s municipal contribution pays direct local operating costs for service that stops in Harpers Ferry and stressed ridership has recovered to pre‑COVID levels. "We always use the funds given, by municipalities towards operations of the transit routes," Carlson said. EPTA requested $7,500 — the same municipal allotment the agency received in recent years — and said Saturday service in Jefferson County is a priority if additional local funding becomes available.

Event and tourism groups also asked for town support. The merchants association sought support for the Old Time Christmas kickoff and related costs; Vice President Kathy Graham requested $7,600 as a placeholder while explaining the group intends to hire a paid event coordinator and will return with firm contracts and cost estimates before the event. The Flip Flop Festival organizers described prior years’ costs (roughly $600 in the recent year for basic festival needs) and warned volunteer capacity will determine whether an expanded, Lower Town festival could proceed in 2026; organizers asked for a modest municipal contribution, but a final number was not specified.

The Canal Town Partnership (the regional canal‑town tourism partnership) described membership benefits for small towns along the Potomac and asked for the town’s usual dues/support for the coming year plus a small contingency for meeting hospitality and brochure distribution. The presenter explained annual dues are $500 per town under the partnership’s published level but the transcript did not provide a clear, confirmed dollar total tied to Harpers Ferry’s FY26 request; the request amount is therefore recorded as not specified in the town’s packet.

Historic preservation and small nonprofit requests included a presentation from Phil Folk for the Odd Fellows lodge in Harpers Ferry, which outlined deferred maintenance needs (weatherproofing, door and cellar repairs, masonry and heating work) and noted a $2,000 allocation from a prior year that remains unused; Folk described volunteers contributing labor and asked the town to consider funding as specific projects are defined. David Simmons of DZA requested support for land‑use and planning training provided by a West Virginia law/land‑use clinic; Simmons supplied a cost estimate (mileage plus instructor) of roughly $1,250 and suggested courses aimed at planning commissioners and board volunteers to improve local review capacity.

Other municipal requests included the tree commission’s annual maintenance ask (the commission requested $8,000 to address hazardous tree work and storm response) and a parking/streets signage refresh (estimated roughly $7,300) to replace faded or noncompliant signs and bring sign height and visibility into standard practice. Council and staff clarified signage procurement should be coordinated with the planning commission and applicable state DOT guidance for traffic control and clearance.

Councilors and staff repeatedly reminded presenters of the town’s normal budget process: the current hearing is a fact‑gathering step. Several presenters were asked to return with detailed bids, contracts or clarified line‑item estimates (for example, the merchants association was asked to return in October with a firm contract for an event coordinator so council could consider a reimbursement schedule). Town staff and council also discussed establishing an assigned capital account for larger projects (town hall rehabilitation was discussed as a multi‑year capital priority) rather than obligating general operating funds immediately.

No motions, formal votes or allocations were made during the session; council members said deliberation and final allocations will occur at a later scheduled budget/finance meeting when council considers all 22 requests together.

Ending: The council closed the hearing after hearing every presenter. Staff said they will circulate follow‑up guidance to applicants and compile the material for the council’s deliberative budget meeting, where final recommendations or allocations will be made.