A publication of the B-C-K-P Regional Intergovernmental Council Fall 2018

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1 RIC Messenger Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Putnam Counties A publication of the B-C-K-P Regional Intergovernmental Council Fall 2018 Chair s Message I hope everyone had a great summer and you all are enjoying the cooler temperatures of fall! I would like to take this opportunity to update you on what is happening at RIC and share some important accomplishments with you. The community development staff at RIC have been busy these past few months and I would like to share the following project updates. In the Town of Clay, construction has begun on the Blue Knob Waterline Extension and the project is now at 20% completion. Both the Manila Ridge Waterline Extension in Putnam County and the Prenter Waterline Extension in Boone County will be bid by the end of the year and construction will begin in early spring. The RIC transportation staff continues to work on the Kanawha-Putnam Bike and Pedestrian Plan and were busy this summer completing the Public Engagement Stage of the plan, which included outreach at festivals and fairs and a Bike Rodeo in Putnam County. The transportation staff has also been working on the Air Quality Conformity Analysis which is a required amendment to the Kanawha-Putnam 2045 Regional Transportation Plan. I look forward to seeing you at our quarterly meeting on December 13, 2018 as we work together to promote local communities, regional solutions and statewide impacts. D. Anne Cavalier, Ed.D. RIC Chair

2 History and Mission of the Regional Intergovernmental Council The Boone-Clay-Kanawha-Putnam Regional Intergovernmental Council (RIC) was established in 1970 as a voluntary association of local governments. In 1971, it was designated by then Governor Arch Moore as West Virginia Region III, one of eleven such councils in West Virginia. RIC is committed to promoting economic, environmental, educational, cultural and recreational growth in Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam Counties. In 1975, RIC was designated as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Charleston Urbanized Area. Later, this was expanded to include the entire Metropolitan Area (Kanawha and Putnam counties), to match the air quality non-attainment area. All urbanized areas in the U.S., as a condition of receiving federal highway and transit funding, must have an official MPO, whose responsibility it is to carry out a coordinated, cooperative and comprehensive planning process. This includes development of various transportation plans and programs in cooperation with state and local officials, transit agencies and local citizens RIC s policy board is comprised primarily of representatives of 25 municipal and four county governments in the Region. The board acts as a forum for discussing mutual problems and dealing with issues that transcend political boundaries. The RIC staff works for all 29 units of government by assisting with multijurisdictional issues. The general purpose of the Council as stated in its by-laws is as follows: The Council is organized and shall be operated as a cooperative organization of local governments for the promotion of public health, safety and welfare by providing improved public services and facilities, advancing the business prosperity and economic welfare and achieving a satisfactory level of living for the citizens of the area served by the Council. Regional Intergovernmental Council Officers Chair 1st Vice-Chair 2nd Vice-Chair 3rd Vice-Chair Treasurer & Secretary D. Anne Cavalier, Ed.D. William E. Cunningham Jay Snodgrass S. K. Miller Damron Bradshaw Sign-up to Join the RIC List If you would like to receive information about upcoming events and opportunities, sign up to join our list at or use the QR Code below:

3 Samuel Richardson Joins the Regional Intergovernmental Council Staff Samuel Richardson has joined the staff of the Regional Intergovernmental Council as a Transportation Planner. Samuel is a graduate of West Virginia University, where he received his undergraduate degree in Multidisciplinary Studies concentrating in Public Relations, Communication Studies and Leadership Studies and received a Masters in Public Administration. While attending West Virginia University, Samuel served in student government and founded a chapter of the Order of Omega, an honorary, academic service, and leadership organization. Samuel served as an AmeriCorps member with the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia and worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Communications Department of the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium. In his spare time, Samuel enjoys playing the tenor saxophone, dancing with the Heritage Dance Group in Wheeling and listening to James Earl Jones Reads the Bible audio book. Samuel is originally from Pittsford, New York and now resides in South Charleston. He attends church at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Charleston and the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling. Samuel hopes to work with leaders in the region to address the negative effects of tailpipe pollution on human health and the environment by improving pedestrian and bicycle facilities and promoting alternative vehicle fuel use, such as electric drive, propane, natural gas, biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen. Welcome New Board Members Mayor David Fletcher, Town of Belle Mayor Cam Clendenin, Town of Eleanor

4 Bike Safety Rodeo WV Connecting Communities, RIC and HDR sponsored a Bike Safety Rodeo on September 8, Approximately 20 families attended the free event held at the Teays Valley Baptist Church. As part of the event, bike helmets were given out to all children in attendance. The Bike Safety Rodeo was a great learning experience for all attendees and resulted in a successful public engagement opportunity for the Kanawha Putnam Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Update. Dennis Strawn, representative from WV Connecting Communities, has held several successful Bike Safety Rodeos in the Charleston area. HDR is in the process of developing prioritized project recommendations for the Kanawha Putnam Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. These will be presented to the Steering Committee for review and discussion at the next meeting on October 11, 2018.

5 Broadband Group Selects Consultant CCR Regional Broadband Committee and the Clay County Commission interviewed for a consultant to provide a broadband feasibility study, a business plan, and business and residential surveys to gauge the connection rate in the three-county area of the project. Three firms showed interest by submitting proposals to the group. After interviewing the firms, Design Nine from Blacksburg, Virginia was chosen and a contract for their services was signed. The agreement began September 1, 2018 with the study to be completed in February The CCR Regional Broadband Committee and the Clay County Commission are looking forward to working with Design Nine. Water Projects Set to Advertise for Bid Before the End of 2018 The Boone County PSD Route 5 Prenter Phase II and the Putnam County Manila Ridge Waterline Extensions are both very close to receiving approval to advertise for construction bids. All design and permitting have been received. Both projects should be under construction in early Thank you to everyone who made these projects possible. Regional Development Plan Update The Regional Intergovernmental Council has completed its annual Regional Development Plan (RDP) update as required by the West Virginia Development Office. The RDP serves as a report on recent trends in the regional economy and progress over the past year. The RDP Update can be found on the RIC website at Upcoming RIC Meeting December 13, :00 pm West Virginia Regional Technology Park

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7 For more information please contact Janet Young Spry, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau at or

8 Regional Intergovernmental Council 315 D Street South Charleston, WV Upcoming RIC Meeting December 13, 2018 ********************************************************** Regional Intergovernmental Council 315 D Street, South Charleston, WV Phone: (304) ; Fax: (304) Website: mail@wvregion3.org Chair: D. Anne Cavalier, Ed.D. Executive Director: Colt Sandoro Newsletter prepared by Joanna Keller The preparation of this newsletter is financially aided by grants from the Economic Development Administration, the U. S. Department of Transportation and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Local Communities / Regional Solutions / Statewide Impacts