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WELLSBURG -- The Brooke County Commission on Tuesday gave its blessing to state-issued bonds for the development of dock and wharf facilities in the north end of the county.
The move comes at the request of the West Virginia Development Office, which has approved a resolution noting the issue of an undisclosed value of bonds for the "acquisition, construction, reconstruction and equipping of dock and wharf facilities" by Empire Diversified Energy Inc.
According to the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company's website, Empire Diversified Energy specializes in the storage containment, supply and transportation of liquid natural gas and petrochemical products as well as scrap iron and minerals, such as coal and limestone.
The commissioners said they have little information about the development but are hopeful it will have a positive impact on the local economy.
"We're excited to have potential economic development and the creation of jobs, but we don't have any information at this time," said Commissioner Stacey Wise.
The commissioners said because the bonds could be issued through the state, the county has no financial obligation to the project.
The state Development Office couldn't be reached for comment.
In other business, the commission:
¯ Announced crews have completed paving of Mac Barnes Drive, the access road to the county's animal shelter and the solid waste authority's recycling center. Parking areas adjacent to the buildings also were paved through a $252,338 contract with Alex Paris Contracting of Atlasburg, Pa. Wise said there also are plans to paint the shelter's exterior and replace a sunroom addition used for its cats that has deteriorated.
¯ Said it will meet in the main courtroom of the county courthouse while exploring other meeting sites in and around the building after in-person court hearings resume. The commission's regular meeting room has been filled with voting machines for the June 9 primary election. In the past, the machines were kept in an area of the courthouse that has since become the new home to the county's magistrate court.