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Commission authorizes bids, easement talks and an advisory board as rail‑trail work advances
Summary
Harrison County approved Thrasher Group’s request to advertise two rail‑trail contracts, authorized negotiation of a drainage easement with Lost Creek, and directed staff to form a rail‑trail advisory board to guide future work.
The Harrison County Commission on June 3 voted to advance multiple rail‑trail initiatives, authorizing advertising for bids, negotiating a drainage easement with the town of Lost Creek and creating a rail‑trail advisory board.
Sam Rich, project manager with the Thrasher Group, described two bid packages: a 5.2‑mile improvement package from Lost Creek to the Mount Clare volunteer fire department (including tunnel lighting and spot repairs) and a separate 4.3‑mile Clarksburg–Reynoldsville connection that would link the county trail to existing corridors. Rich said stream‑bank stabilization work in one section will require U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting and that bids are expected to be advertised around June 16 with openings in July so construction can begin this summer.
County staff reported coordination with Lost Creek on a separate drainage project that will cross and run adjacent to the Southern Rail Trail. Engineers and Stantec representative Richard Gaines said the Lost Creek project is out to bid with bids due June 30 and that planned work can be coordinated to avoid negative impacts on the trail. The commission authorized staff to negotiate and execute a drainage easement with standard county construction and remediation terms so Lost Creek’s project can proceed.
Commissioners also approved creating a rail‑trail advisory board and asked staff to consult with neighboring counties that already have similar groups, draft mission statements and bylaws, and return recommended appointments.
The commission voted to allow Thrasher to proceed with advertising and bidding, with staff to coordinate pre‑bid conferences and bid openings and to ensure county representation at procurement events. Thrasher noted possible change‑order flexibility to add contiguous work if permitting and schedules permit.
Next steps: staff will finalize advertisement materials, confirm dates for pre‑bid and bid opening events, negotiate the Lost Creek drainage easement with restoration standards and contractor coordination language, and report back on advisory board composition and appointments.
