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Council hears USDA presentation on Elk Creek Watershed; no commitment yet
Summary
A USDA Conservation Service representative briefed councilors on the Elk Creek Watershed project, noting planning is fully federally funded and implementation would require a local sponsor with a potential 25% local cost-share; councilors requested more detail and made no decision.
Clayton Scott of the USDA Conservation Service joined the meeting by phone to present the Elk Creek Watershed project and to outline what local sponsorship would mean for the town. Scott told councilors, “These projects require a local sponsor,” and said the watershed spans parts of Harrison, Barbour and Upshur counties.
Scott explained that preliminary and planning phases are paid 100% by federal funds and that cost-sharing applies only at the implementation phase, typically on a 75/25 basis (25% local share). He also said the town can withdraw from the process at any time during planning. Councilors asked questions about expected local costs and responsibilities; the transcript records that the dollar amount for the local share is unknown until after planning is complete.
Councilors did not take a vote and requested more information before deciding whether to act as the local sponsor. The timeline for a decision and the estimated local contribution were not provided at the meeting.
