West Virginians can carry firearms to many city swimming pools, tennis courts and afterschool centers under protections approved by state lawmakers and the governor in 2014. Now lawmakers in this gun-friendly state are debating whether to strengthen security at the Capitol.
After last year’s decision eliminating gun bans at city centers hosting afterschool activities, state officials are now considering metal detectors or other security measures in West Virginia’s Capitol.
Republican Senate President Bill Cole says it is ridiculous that Capitol security is weaker than in surrounding state buildings. Guns are still illegal on the Capitol complex, except for concealed carry permit holders who leave guns locked in their cars.
A judge says the state properly awarded a $3 million contract for a security project at the Capitol Complex.
Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Joanna Tabit’s decision came in a lawsuit filed by McClanahan Construction of Poca.
Tabit’s order says McClanahan admitted that it couldn’t comply with a 120-day deadline to compete the project.
McClanahan was the low bidder for the contract but was disqualified for submitting a nonconforming bid. The state awarded the contract to the second-lowest bidder, Wiseman Construction of Charleston.
The state plans to install a fence surrounding the Governor’s Mansion and convert two parking lots adjacent to the Culture Center into a bus turnaround.
Work on a security project at the Capitol Complex is on hold while a judge considers a contractor’s lawsuit.
McClanahan Construction of Poca is challenging the state’s decision to award the contract for the $3.4 million project to Wiseman Construction of Charleston.
The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Joanna Tabit on Monday granted McClanahan’s request to temporarily stop work on the project.
McClanahan was the low bidder for the contract but was disqualified for submitting a nonconforming bid. Wiseman submitted the second lowest bid.
The state plans to install a fence surrounding the Governor’s Mansion and convert two parking lots adjacent to the Culture Center into a bus turnaround.
Work is expected to begin soon on security improvements at the West Virginia Capitol Complex, including installation of a fence surrounding the Governor’s Mansion.
The state has awarded a contract worth about $3 million to Wiseman Construction of Charleston for the project.
Department of Administration spokeswoman Diane Holley-Brown tells The Charleston Gazette-Mail that state officials and Wiseman representatives will hold a pre-construction conference later this week. Wiseman will have 120 days to complete the project once the notice to proceed is signed.
One lane of the road in front of the mansion will be converted into a sidewalk and green space. The change addresses concerns about the mansion’s proximity to Kanawha Boulevard.
The project also includes converting two parking lots adjacent to the Culture Center into a bus turnaround.
West Virginia officials are working to address a lack of public parking spaces at the Capitol Complex.The Charleston Gazette reports there are plans to…
West Virginia officials are working to address a lack of public parking spaces at the Capitol Complex.
The Charleston Gazette reports there are plans to convert two parking lots north of the state Culture Center into a bus turnaround, which will make finding a parking spot more difficult.
Department of Administration spokeswoman Diane Holley-Brown says the department is working to make sure there is ultimately a net loss of zero spaces following the conversion.
The main Culture Center lot contains 54 spaces, which will be reduced to 12 handicapped parking spaces with construction of the turnaround.
Holley-Brown says 49 metered spaces remain on California Avenue, next to the East Wing of the Capitol.
At the capitol Monday, a rally was held to speak out against the scaling back of the prevailing wage. Senate Bill 361 passed last Thursday in the senate. The rally was organized by Senator Jeff Kessler who has spoken strongly against the bill on the Senate Floor.
Over 1,000 people showed up to support the rally on the steps of the capitol building. The majority of protestors were union workers who were angered by the bill which initially repealed the wage altogether.
A number of Democrats from both the House and Senate spoke to the crowd including Delegate Tim Manchin.
“The snow out here it looks like Christmas, and it is. It’s Christmas from the Chamber of Commerce, and guess who’s buying the presents? You are! You’re paying for the presents. You’re paying for the presents, because they’re taking away the safety that you’ve come to expect after 60 years under Democratic rule. This is not a new agenda. They’ve been proposing these bill for the last ten years since I’ve been here. We’re the ones that have stopped them,” Manchin said.
Credit Liz McCormick / West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Sen. Jeff Kessler speaking at the rally he called at the Capitol to protest changes to the state’s prevailing wage.
Anthony Jividen was one of the many protestors who felt like the scaling back of the prevailing wage would hurt workers and their families.
“They’re basically taking food off our tables and our livelihood; taking food from our families,” Jividen said, “I mean, they get voted for us, the working man, they say, for that they need to show it. All these bills they’re passing, it’s not right. It’s just telling us, they don’t care.”
Laurie and Sheila are teamsters from Wheeling, and they both feel like the prevailing wage is good and to lose it is detrimental.
“It affects our wages. The thing with the union is, you know, you get treated fairly, good wages, it’s made a huge difference in my life, and I know it has in Sheila’s also. And just want to support it,” Laurie said.
“You know I can make all the noise on the floor of the Senate that I’d like and over in the House the same way. Politicians understand one thing and that’s the voice of their voters and the voice of their people, and quite frankly I think many of them think they came down here, they won their election, and they have a mandate, because if you look at the votes that are being cast, you know, I don’t call it a mandate, I call it a mistake. Because there are so many things that are running out of there that are not good for the people of our state. I challenge anybody to go out there and say, I can’t remember any of the new majority that ran on a platform issue of right to work, and prevailing wage repeal, and shutting down the seventh amendment right to have access to the courts. I don’t remember any of that, I don’t remember anybody out there advocating those type of issues, and yet those are the things that are shooting right out of the box, and ram-rodding through." – Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler
Senator Kessler says he was very glad to see the turnout for the rally, and he hopes it sends a message to his fellow legislators.
Senate Bill 361 has been sent to House Government Organization for Consideration.
