4 days ago
Community input needed on new playgrounds in Marion County
FAIRMONT — Marion County Commissioner Bobby DeVaul asked his fellow commissioners Wednesday to earmark money for three or four new playgrounds around the county and present that information at a future commission meeting.
'I like to earmark the money so the community knows, it's not just us blowing smoke,' DeVaul said. 'The money's earmarked, and that's where hopefully you guys can help us get a story out there, get some responses and see if anybody actually wants it. And if it's earmarked on the next agenda, then we can go from there.'
The county recently installed a new playground at the Marion County Soccer Complex so far on US 250 North. DeVaul said the community response to the addition has been great. The playground was added to give kids who accompany soccer players something to do while they wait for the player to finish their game. Although there was initial skepticism the playground would interfere with the games, it is a welcomed addition to the complex.
Now, DeVaul wants to replicate that success at other locations throughout the county. He hopes earmarking the money will show the community he's serious about building the playgrounds, and generate community engagement for the project. Another source of inspiration was the recent work the City of Fairmont has done to improve the city's playgrounds and parks.
DeVaul isn't prepared to receive responses from the community just yet. More information will be released after commissioners successfully earmark an amount. Commissioners will finalize the details before placing the item on the next meeting's agenda.
DeVaul said sometimes the county forgets the outlying areas and he thought it'd be nice to be able to give something back.
'I hope to keep kids active out in the playgrounds,' he said. 'Give something for families to go do when it's nice out. I was at Merrickville Baseball Field. There's nothing for kids to do while games are going on. It'd be great if they had a playground there for the same kind of thing.'
Jon Dodds, board member of the West Virginia Three Rivers Festival gave commissioners a report about this year's festival. He said, although the weather was a challenge and some groups didn't show up, the festival was still a success. Dodds, who shoots video using a drone, said his video of the festival has received 10,000 views on Facebook. Commissioner Linda Longstreth complimented him for making the festival available virtually.
Wesley Dobbs, interim president of the Dunbar School Foundation, attended the meeting in an attempt to rebuild trust with the Marion County Commission. Foundation Board Secretary Howard Brooks attended last month to let the commission know the foundation was working to get Dunbar School back on track. He also requested funds for a refurbishment project. The Foundation has been navigating the fallout from an alleged misuse of COVID-19 pandemic funds, which led to the federal government seeking answers from a former employee.
Dobbs told the commission the foundation wants to turn the annex building of the Dunbar School into a place that can provide technical education classes. Dobbs said Fairmont's Black community wants to do its part, and to do that requires providing new graduates out of high school a place to learn trade skills and keep them out of problems.
Dobbs said refurbishing the building will require a new roof. He also said the foundation will continue to be a nonprofit. Brooks also attended to follow up on the the funding request. After figuring out there was a breakdown in communication over some necessary paperwork, Commission President Ernie VanGilder said the commission would get the paperwork over to the foundation.
There's still work to be done to repair the damage done to the foundation's reputation.
'We're just trying to come out from that stigma and do something good for the community,' Dobbs said.
