Gov. Jim Justice Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Justice Declares State Of Emergency Over FAFSA Forms

During his regular press briefing Tuesday, Justice said the declaration allows the state to bypass FAFSA requirements for state programs such as the PROMISE scholarship.

Gov. Jim Justice has declared a state of emergency for the state’s higher educational system.

During his regular press briefing Tuesday, Justice said the declaration allows the state to bypass FAFSA requirements for state programs such as the PROMISE scholarship.

“We have to find a way to bypass this FAFSA requirement that will provide eligibility to our high school kids in regards to their scholarships, especially PROMISE and on and on and on,” he said. “We have at this time a 40 percent decline in applications and the reason for that is, our kids don’t know what to do.”

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) unlocks both federal and state financial aid for students. The federal government released a shortened FAFSA at the end of last year that was intended to simplify the financial aid process for students, but the rollout of the new form has been plagued with delays and technical issues.

Justice was joined by Higher Education Policy Commission Chancellor Sarah Tucker, who assured West Virginia students they will get the support they deserve.

“To the students and families, I want you to know that we have your back,” she said. “We want you to know that if you qualify for PROMISE and or the higher education grant, you will get that money for this fall regardless of your FAFSA status.”

Tucker warned members of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability at an interim meeting earlier this month that the confusion over the new form was causing delays for the state’s educational programs and would require a creative solution.

“With Governor Justice’s proclamation, students who qualify and apply for the Promise scholarship by September 1 will receive an award of up to $5,500 for the 2024-2025 academic year,” Tucker said. “If a student completed last year’s FAFSA and qualifies for our need based higher education grant, they will receive the award of up to $3,400 for the fall semester.”

Tucker and Justice both implored students and parents to call the commission’s hotline at 1-877-987-7664 and to keep working on completing their FAFSAs.

According to Tucker, students who do not have a FAFSA on file can also qualify for Higher Education grants by presenting their eligibility letter for Department of Human Services programs such as SNAP, Medicaid or WIC to their higher education institution’s financial aid office.

Justice indicated West Virginia is leading the country by declaring a state of emergency to try and resolve FAFSA-related issues.

“We’ve got to still get you through this FAFSA requirement for you to get fed dollars,” he said. “But to get you state dollars, this state of emergency absolutely, we ought to be able to move forward.”

Justice Calls For More CPS Reporting, Funding In Wake Of Child’s Death

Reports surfaced last week of the death of a 14-year-old girl leading to her mother’s arrest. Gov. Jim Justice said Tuesday that this was not a CPS case.

Reports surfaced last week of the death of a 14-year-old girl found emaciated, and of her mother’s subsequent arrest. Gov. Jim Justice said Tuesday that this was not a Child Protective Services (CPS) case.

According to reporting from Eyewitness News, Julie Anne Stone Miller, 49, of Morrisvale in Boone County was arrested and charged with child neglect causing death last week.

The girl’s grandmother told Chief Deputy Mark Abbott that the girl had not attended school since late 2019 or early 2020 and had barely been out of the house in years.

This detail prompted the media to ask Justice during his weekly media briefing if the girl had been homeschooled and if so, why an academic assessment hadn’t brought attention to her condition.

“I think the answer just got to be just one thing,” Justice said. “The CPS folks, from what I understand, [had] no idea about this, about this child, no idea whatsoever.”

Department of Human Services Cabinet Secretary Cynthia Persily released a statement Monday. The press release provided no further information on the minor who passed away, but in the headline, she called the incident a criminal case.

Justice also said more funding for staffing at Child Protective Services was necessary.

“The more money we have, the better we’ll do,” Justice said. “The more workers we’ll have, the absolute better we’ll do. You know, we have got to understand that we’ve got to step up in every way, and try to do more.”

According to the Child Welfare Dashboard, child welfare positions are 88 percent filled in the state. Most vacancies remain in the Child Protective Service Worker category with 78 vacant positions. Earlier this year, the Department of Human Services announced an easing of the staffing shortages.

Justice asked the public to speak up and speak out if they see something suspicious.

“This is a tragedy that, I mean, it’s unthinkable,” Justice said. “I mean, it’s totally unthinkable. But stuff like this happens. And really, and truly, we got a lot of people out there that may have known of this kid, or whatever, this child, and speak up. I mean, yeah, this, really and truly, this is no different than being diligent, you know, in every way, from the standpoint of, you see somebody that looks suspicious, something that may be possibly going on, speak up. Tell us about all this.”

Budget Correction Plans Increase After Clawback Averted

House Speaker Roger Hanshaw said the surplus budget revenue pool is in the $700 to $800 million range.

Now that a near half billion-dollar federal clawback is off the table, plans to fatten a skinny state budget are ramping up.

Gov. Jim Justice announced last Friday that West Virginia will not face a clawback of $465 million in COVID-19 money from the U.S. Department of Education. The news alleviated concerns raised by state lawmakers during the final days of the legislative session in March.

Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, said leaders from the executive and legislative branches have continued to regularly meet on setting budget priorities for an expected May special session.

“Before we meet in May,” Hanshaw said. “We will have made some tentative decisions on which of the various spending proposals that we had during the regular session will actually expect to pass into law and then go into our May interim period intending to do those things.”

Hanshaw said budget priorities begin with fulfilling certain ongoing state obligations.

“Like our public defender system, for example,” Hanshaw said. “It’s one of those every year where we have to pass a supplemental appropriation that lets us continue to meet our obligations of the justice system, funding the public defenders at a level that meets constitutional expectations.

Hanshaw said the surplus revenue pool is in the $700 to $800 million range. He said the budget meetings including state health officials highlight the priority issue of restoring several million dollars in health-related Medicaid funds.

“How do we make sure we’re maximizing federal dollars?” Hanshaw said. How do we make sure we’re maximizing our matching funds? We just had to delay it by about a month and a half this year.”

Hanshaw says legislators are watching possible federal changes in childcare funding to assess state budget input.

There’s a federal U.S. Department of Labor rule,” Hanshaw said. “I believe it is working its way through the federal system right now, that will have a big impact on that. A rule that would compel funding for childcare agencies on the basis of paying on an enrollment versus attendance model. We need some finality on that from the federal government before we can be certain just exactly how much we can allocate and the manner in which we allocated.”

In his State of the State Address, Justice proposed $50 million for a West Virginia State University agricultural lab. Hanshaw said that has been a state government priority for a long time. He expects it to be addressed in the Special Session.

“We need to get the Department of Agriculture in some new facilities,” Hanshaw said. “That’s well known. For many years, we’ve worked with the commissioner and with the President of WVSU, President Cage and his team there. That’s a shared priority for everybody.”

Hanshaw also expects long term EMS viability, and pay raises for non-uniformed corrections workers to be on Justice’s special session call, likely to be during held the May 19-21 interim legislative meetings

“It makes sense that we would utilize the time that people have already allocated to be here in the Capitol,” Hanshaw said.

Justice Endorses Moore Capito For Governor

One day after telling statehouse reporters he was still considering who to endorse in the hotly contested Republican primary for governor, the outgoing office holder, Gov Jim Justice, announced his pick; Moore Capito.

Update on Friday, April 19, 2024 at 12:45 p.m.

In a released statement responding to the Justice endorsement, Moore Capito spoke of a partnership.

“Governor Justice is a leader of generational consequence,” Capito said in the statement. “It is a true honor to have earned his endorsement. I’ve greatly enjoyed working alongside Governor Justice, watching and learning from him while we were getting big things done for the people of West Virginia. With Governor Justice at the helm, West Virginia has serious momentum and we’re on the right track toward becoming a 21st century powerhouse. Now is the time to take us to the next level. As Governor, I look forward to working with Senator Justice to keep getting it done for West Virginia by generating new opportunities for West Virginians and those who want to come here for our Wild Wonderful way of life.”

Original Story

In a press release sent out late Thursday afternoon, Justice said “We have good candidates, and I admire each for their individual accomplishments,” But he settled on the candidate who came out last September and endorsed him in his campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Moore Capito, former House Judiciary Chairman and candidate for governor.

*Photo Credit: Perry Bennett/WV Legislative Photography*

“I am honored to announce my wholehearted endorsement for Moore Capito for Governor and that I will support him in every way,” Justice said in his release. “He is from a family of thoroughbreds: from his three-time-elected Governor-grandfather Arch Moore to his current United States Senator-mother Shelley Moore Capito, Moore has shown he has the vision and knowledge to elevate West Virginia, and I am proud to wish him success.”

The writing was on the wall for this endorsement. Justice gained the endorsement of Moore Capito’s mother, Sen. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., when he announced his Senate run last April. In December, Moore Capito announced his resignation from the House of Delegates, to focus on his gubernatorial campaign, during one of Justice’s online statewide media briefings.

The Justice endorsement of Moore Capito also referred to the negative campaign ads for governor between two opponents, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and businessman Chris Miller. Their messages center on who is more pro-former President Donald Trump, or anti-transgender.

“As I have watched this campaign mature, however, I am saddened by the ridiculous mudslinging” Justice said. “I have realized only one candidate is laser focused on continuing to keep us on the path of goodness for all of us. I think only one truly understands that we got here by pulling the rope together. Our great turnaround story still has chapters to be written, and I believe one candidate is prepared to keep the course.”

Professor John Kilwein, chair of the Department of Political Science at West Virginia University, says the Justice endorsement of Moore Capito makes sense within some of the state’s politically established circles.

“There’s an establishment that looks at the race for governor and I don’t think they probably like what they see and would probably rather see Moore Capito than then the two people who are ahead in the polls,” Kilwein said.

The latest polling from the WV MetroNews West Virginia Poll shows a close Republican Gubernatorial primary race at the top. Morrisey leads with support from 31 percent of registered Republican voters and independent voters who will request a Republican ballot. Capito is at 29 percent. Chris Miller, son of U.S. Representative Carol Miller, stands at 16 percent. The fourth major candidate, Secretary of State Mac Warner, registered at 12 percent in the poll. The poll had 10 percent of Republican voters saying they were still unsure.

Some prevailing political analysis speculates the far-right campaign war between Morrisey and Miller may bode well for Capito among more centrist and independent voters. Kilwein says he is not so sure.

“That would make a lot of sense to me in the general election, but in the primary? I’m not exactly sure,” Kilwein said. “I think that Morrissey and Miller probably have tapped into the kind of the things that animate that electorate. I don’t know that that fear is going to wake up people, independents, who are kind of sitting it out.”

Kilwein did offer the caveat that there are still three weeks until West Virginia’s primary election. He’s ‘not sure how many are paying attention.’

W.Va. Rail Trails Network Getting Multi-Million Dollar Upgrade

Nearly 700 miles of new or enhanced rail trails are part of a nearly $19 million outdoor recreation infrastructure project.

Gov. Jim Justice said, in a press release, that these grants will help towns, cities and counties build and improve sidewalks, lighting, walking paths, rail trails and more.

“Investing in our cities, towns, parks, and trails is truly one of the best ways to attract tourists and improve the daily lives of our residents,” Justice said. “This program allocates millions of dollars to make some of the most cherished places in West Virginia easier to access, which will also increase visitation throughout the state.”

The overall program combines local, federal and state funds, Justice said. Projects are being funded in all nine West Virginia travel regions and 34 counties.

Among those project plans, more than $764,000 will go to replace the decking on about 37 Greenbrier River Trail bridges.

Greenbrier County Commission President Tammy Tincher said maintaining the popular 78-mile trail enhances tourism revenues and employment in Lewisburg and throughout the county.

“It definitely has allowed opportunities for small business growth,” Tincher said. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to reutilize our geography and continue to allow growth and tourism to flourish.”

Transportation Alternatives Projects Include:

(Projects with total funding, including Federal funding and sponsor match):

Barbour County
The City of Philippi has secured $75,000 for new and replacement sidewalks along both sides of Main Street.

Berkeley County
The City of Martinsburg has been awarded $400,000 for Martinsburg Frog Hollow Rail-Trail Route 9 Overpass Bridge Remediation, which will upgrade the 103 feet bridge span to protect the structure and enhance the safety of the bridge for users, including the abutments and railings.

Braxton County
Braxton County Commission has received $100,000 for the Gassaway Trail-to-Town Connector. The funding will be utilized for sidewalks connecting the Elk River Trail on Elk Road and the Gassaway Depot to 5th Street.

Doddridge County
Doddridge County Commission has secured $125,000 for the Doddridge County Park Pedestrian Bridge, spanning the Meathouse Fork and connecting to the EQT Creekside Education Trail and the North Bend Rail Trail.

Grant County
Grant County Commission has been awarded $162,500 for Petersburg River Park Hike and Bike Trail Continuation—Phase II, which will construct a trail on the Town of Petersburg’s levee system.

Greenbrier County
Greenbrier River Trail Foundation, Inc. has received $764,941.25 for Greenbrier River Trail Bridge Decking—Supplemental Phase to replace the decking on approximately 37 Greenbrier River Trail bridges.

Hampshire County
The Town of Capon Bridge secured $50,000 for new and replacement sidewalks throughout the Town of Capon Bridge and connecting to Main Street.

Harrison County
The City of Clarksburg has been awarded $100,000 for Glen Elk Streetscape and Green Infrastructure—Phase I, which will fund new and replacement sidewalks throughout the Glen Elk area of the City.

Jefferson County
The City of Charles Town has received $382,217.50 for the Charles Town Liberty Street Sidewalk upgrade on Liberty Street from George Street to Samuel Street.

Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission has been awarded $66,000 for Duffield’s Depot Rehabilitation. The funding for the rehabilitation of Duffield’s Depot includes:

Paint analysis.
Repairing/replastering the interior walls.
Trimming carpentry.
Painting the interior and exterior trim.
Installing a handicapped-accessible ramp.

Kanawha County
The City of Charleston has secured $150,000 for Smith Street and Leon Sullivan Way for new and replacement sidewalks and new street lighting from Morris Street to Leon Sullivan Way along Smith Street.

The town of Marmet has received $650,000 for Marmet Lens Creek Road Pedestrian Safety Improvements, including new and replacement sidewalks along West Virginia Route 61.

Monongalia County
Monongahela River Trails Conservancy has been awarded $300,000 for Deckers Creek Rail Trail Restoration. The funding will be used to restore the drainage and surface of approximately five miles of the Trail.

The City of Morgantown has secured $945,000 for the Morgantown Municipal Airport Streetscape Project. The funding will be used to build a new sidewalk and add pedestrian lighting along Hart Field Road, from the Mileground to the terminal.

The City of Westover has received $125,000 for Westover Fairmont Road Sidewalks, which will fund new sidewalks on the north side of Fairmont Road (Route 19) from Dupont Road to Dent’s Run Road.

Morgan County
The Town of Bath has been awarded $70,000 for Bath/Berkeley Springs Streetscape—Phase IV for new and replacement sidewalks on Congress Street, North Washington Street, Union Street, Fairfax Street, and Mercer Street.

The town of Paw Paw has secured $62,500 for the Paw Paw Sidewalk Improvement Project, which will install new and replacement sidewalks along Winchester Street and Moser Avenue for approximately 0.47 miles south from Town Hall to the intersection of Winchester Street and Moser Avenue and west to the library.

Nicholas County
The City of Summersville has received $675,000 for Summersville Webster Road Sidewalk Construction Improvements—Phase II, which will be for new sidewalks on the west side of Webster Road from Gladwell Drive to just past the United Bank building at the corner of West Webster Road and Route 41.

Ohio County
The City of Wheeling has been awarded $1,700,000 for Wheeling Robrecht Riverfront Park Pedestrian Improvements, which will construct pedestrian/bicycle walkways and trails in the Robrecht Riverfront Park area of Wheeling Creek and the Ohio River.

Pocahontas County
USDA Forest Service has secured $1,250,000 to reconstruct Cranberry Glades Boardwalk.

The town of Marlinton has received $100,000.00 for new and replacement sidewalks in the central business district and residential area.

Putnam County
The town of Eleanor has been awarded $350,000 for Eleanor Park Sidewalk—Phase I. The funding will be used to build new sidewalks from the Eleanor Park entrance through the woods to the existing footbridge.

The town of Poca has secured $460,000 for the Poca Laurel Avenue Sidewalk Extension—Phase II, which will add a new sidewalk and complete the pedestrian connection between Route 63 and the Subdivision.

The City of Winfield has received $350,000 for the Winfield Sidewalk System—Phase I, which will include a sidewalk on the east side of Route 817 (Winfield Road) from Hawthorn Drive to Waterside Drive.

Randolph County
Randolph County Commission has been awarded $50,000 for Randolph County Courthouse ADA Compliant Entrance and Sidewalks. The funding will be utilized for the reconstruction of the main entrance sidewalk and stairs of the courthouse to bring them into ADA compliance and for a new sidewalk connection to make a continuous walking path around the courthouse complex.

Summers County
The city of Hinton has been awarded $710,803.75 for new and replacement sidewalks along Pleasant Street.

Tucker County
The Town of Davis has secured $100,000 to be used for approximately 3,000 feet of new and replacement sidewalks along Main Street.

Upshur County
The City of Buckhannon has received $75,000 for the Buckhannon Morton Avenue & North Locust Street Sidewalk & Lighting Project. The funding will be used to install new sidewalks and lighting along North Locust Street and Morton Avenue.

Webster County
The town of Cowen has been awarded $90,000 for new and replacement sidewalks along Erbacon Road and Webster Road.

Wetzel County
The Town of Hundred has secured $100,000 for Hundred Sidewalk—Phase III. The funding will be utilized for new and replacement sidewalks along the right side of US Route 69/Pennsylvania Avenue and Route 250 North to Hamilton Street.

Wood County
The City of Parkersburg has received $850,000 for Parkersburg St. Mary’s Avenue—Phase I for new and replacement sidewalks along St. Mary’s Avenue.

Federal and State-Funded Recreational Trails Program Projects:

(Projects with total funding, including Federal funding, State funding, and sponsor match):

Berkeley County
The City of Martinsburg has been awarded $750,000 for Martinsburg Creekside Trail. The funding will be used to construct a connector trail of approximately 0.6 miles that will connect downtown Martinsburg (Queen Street) to Oatesdale Park and Frog Hollow Trail.

Cabell County
Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District has secured $100,000 for Memorial Park Pathway GHPRD. The funding will be used to repair approximately 7,500 linear feet of path in multiple areas along the Memorial Park Pathway, including pavement and edge boards.

Fayette County
West Virginia DNR Babcock State Park has received $350,000 for extended repair of the damaged portion of the Narrow Gauge Trail in Babcock State Park.

The City of Montgomery has been awarded $60,000 to redevelop and repair 1.5 miles of the Montgomery Tech Trails, which were formerly owned by West Virginia Tech Trails.

Greenbrier County
Greenbrier River Trail Foundation has secured $1,250,000 to construct bridge decking replacement on 37 Greenbrier River Rail Trail bridges.

Hardy County
The Hardy County Commission has received $300,000 for the construction of approximately 2.8 miles of the single-track Jay Moglia Beginner Trail in Lost River State Park.

Harrison County
The City of Clarksburg has been awarded $300,000 for Clarksburg Hub Urban Rail-Trail Connection—Phase I to construct trail segments to close a rail-trail gap within the City.

The City of Clarksburg has secured $284,970 for the Lowndes Park Trail System and Bike Park. The funding will be used to construct nine trails totaling approximately 4.5 miles, including a jump trail, a pump track, and two trailheads in Lowndes Hill.

Kanawha County
West Virginia DNR Kanawha State Forest has received $100,000 for Davis Creek Trail—Phase I, which will involve long-term rehabilitation and future extension of the Trail and bridges.

The Mary Ingles Trail Blazer Chapter of the WV Scenic Trails Association has been awarded $265,540 for Marmet Locks: Mary Ingles Memorial Trail. The funding constructs approximately 3,700 linear feet of pedestrian primitive trail around Mt. Holly Lawn on the Marmet Locks and Dam.

Lewis County
The Lewis County Commission has secured $152,731 for the Lewis County Park Trail Extension, which will add approximately 1,000 feet of new trails and upgrade the current 2,000 feet of walking paths at Lewis County Park.

Lincoln County
The National Coal Heritage Area Authority has received $250,000 for Guyandotte Water Trail Access to construct a river access point and boat launch along the Guyandotte River near Ranger.

Logan County
Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority has been awarded $125,000.00 for the Bearwallow Trail System. Hatfield McCoy will perform all maintenance functions on the existing 125 miles of the Bearwallow Trail System.

Rural Health Access Corporation, dba Coalfield Health Center, has secured $103,000 for Chapmanville Community Greenspace. The construction of a Logan County Greenspace will provide residents with a path and nature walk that can be used for walking, jogging, and bicycles to increase physical activity.

Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority has received $125,000 for Logan County Trail System Maintenance. Hatfield McCoy will perform all maintenance functions on 50 to 75 miles of the Logan County Trail System.

Mercer County
Mercer County Commission has been awarded $187,500 for the Bluestone River Trail, which will provide 15 miles of hiking trails along Camp Creek from Camp Creek State Park to the Bluestone National Scenic River, along the Bluestone National Scenic River to Pipestem Resort State Park, and a separate branch extending along Brush Creek to the community of Gardner.

Mingo County
Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority has secured $125,000 for the Buffalo Mountain Trail System. Hatfield McCoy will perform all maintenance functions on the system’s 100 miles of Existing Trail.

Hatfield McCoy Regional Recreation Authority has received $125,000 for Devil Anse Trail System Maintenance. Hatfield McCoy will perform all maintenance functions on 56 miles of the Devil Anse Trail System.

Friends of the Tug Fork River has been awarded $53,000 for Tug Fork River Water Trail Boat Ramps. The funding will be utilized for a boat ramp and related amenities along the 60-mile-long Bloody Mingo Tug Fork River Water Trail, which will allow access to the river for both motorized and non-motorized watercraft.

Monongalia County
Sally Taylor, West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., has secured $50,000 for trail improvements and rehab of approximately three-quarters of a mile of the Garden’s main trail, the Reservoir Loop Trail (RLT), which encircles the central features of the Garden.

West Virginia University Research Corporation has received $375,000 for WVU’s West Run Trails Enhancement Project. The funding will be used to develop over 10 miles of new shared-use and single-use trails and upgrade 10 miles of existing trails and forest roads to modern standards for natural surface trail sustainability.

Morgan County
West Virginia DNR has been awarded $200,000 for Cacapon Resort State Park Trails. The funding will be utilized for the Appalachian Conservation Corps request to refurbish the old CCC trails.

Ohio County
Ohio Valley Trail Partners has secured $40,000 for the Wheeling Heritage Trail Connector, which will fill the gap between existing trails in the City of Wheeling by painting bike lanes and adding signage to guide cyclists to each trail.

Randolph County
Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission has received $485,000 for Glendale Park Skills Area, a recreation complex with athletic fields, an inclusive playground, hiking and mountain biking trails, and other amenities.

Monongahela National Forest Greenbrier RD has been awarded $375,000 for Mower Tract North—Phase IV, which will construct 8.2 miles of the new trail at Mower Tract, Cheat Mountain, and connect it with the existing loops (Phase 1-3) on the Monongahela National Forest Mower basin.

Raleigh County
Raleigh County Recreation Authority has secured $240,000 for Clear Fork Rail-Trail II, which will construct approximately 10 miles of trail, a new 185-foot pedestrian bridge, renovate the existing 245-foot McDowell Hollow Trestle, and demolish the Wolfpen Trestle.

Ritchie County
North Bend Rails-To-Trails Foundation, Inc., has received $100,000 for North Bend Rail Trail — Phase II, which includes surveying and ditching the Trail.

Summers County
Summers County Commission has been awarded $250,000 for The Great Eastern Trail and the Mary Ingles Trail, which will include 25 miles of Trail for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in Summers County and access to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Bluestone National Scenic River, and Bluestone and Pipestem State Parks.

Tucker County
The Nature Conservancy has secured $300,000 for Brown Mountain to A-Frame Connector, which includes the construction of trails that provide access to additional trails at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

The City of Parsons has received $110,000 for Corrick’s Ford Battlefield Dev Project — Phase II, which will install approximately 38 lights and fixtures along the previously constructed and paved Corrick’s Ford Trail within the City.

The West Virginia Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Programs are administered by the WV Division of Highways and funded by the Federal Highway Administration. This year’s federal funding was supplemented with $5 million of state funds appropriated to the West Virginia Department of Tourism.

Suggestion On Improving Secondary Roads Gets Gov. Jim Justice Attention

A suggestion was made during the Joint Committee on Technology and Infrastructure interim meeting this week to create something similar to a Blue Ribbon Commission, focused on improving the state’s secondary roads.

That suggestion came from Del. Jim Butler, R-Mason, who said the state’s Roads to Prosperity $2.8 billion bonding project has obviously not worked for maintaining secondary roads, especially in his area.

“We’ve got Route 35 down here in Mason County, which was a big thing,” Butler said, “But that was already in construction or in the works before the Roads for Prosperity Bond was passed. And it hasn’t done anything good I’ve seen for our secondary roads. Many county routes in the vicinity of the NUCOR plant are among the areas that are really bad that I get complaints about.”

Butler said his suggestion is not about another Blue Ribbon Road Commisson on HIghways like the one set up in 2012. He said improvements won’t just come with funding, but an organized plan that is specific to secondary road maintenance.

“It needs to be our Technology and Infrastructure Committee to begin this process,” Butler said. “Get the Department of Highways into our normal meeting and spend some time and figure out what the problems are and not make it just a big spending proposal.”

During his Wednesday media briefing, WVPB asked Justice about Butler’s suggestion and comments. He began by saying state road conditions and the overall Department of Highways have undergone a positive transformation during his time in office.

“When I walked in the door, we needed money so badly that we sold our own equipment in order to generate some dollars,” Justice said. “Today, we have an abundance of top level, brand new maintenance equipment, and we’re doing stuff all over the place.”

Justice then noted that Butler’s home district concerns were being addressed.

“My staff met yesterday with people in Mason County on the condition of roads there,” he said.

Justice called the Roads to Prosperity program “absolutely successful,” but added that it is a work in progress.

“We’re going to keep on doing everything we can,” Justice said. “And we’re going to keep on making every improvement that we can make. But we’re not going to do that by just creating a situation where we create a tax burden on our people to just do more and more and more and more instantaneously and everything.”

Butler said road maintenance funding doesn’t necessarily need to be increased but prioritized in a different way.

“I want it to be something where we get down in the weeds and figure out how we can better finance our roads,” Butler said, “And how can we make sure that that money is well spent and we get good results.”