Fall Cleanup week of Oct. 21
By Hannah Heishman
The Moorefield Town Council committed $60,000 to help cover extensive work required to renovate and resurface the school running track at Moorefield Middle School.
The track is used by all Moorefield schools, including the Moorefield High School varsity track team, all local law enforcement agencies and the Army National Guard for training and fitness testing, and the public. The Town’s commitment triggers the County matching the $60,000, which should cover the rest of the required work.
The discussion and decision occurred at the Council’s regular meeting on Oct. 1.
Logan Moyers, Moorefield Athletic Boosters president, requested the financial aid after track issues were found to run much deeper than just resurfacing. Initially the track, already only six lanes instead of eight, became problematic when the outer lane became unusable from disintegration; the track is almost 30 years old, with minimal upkeep and frequent use, and is worn to the dirt beneath it in spots. When other counties refused to attend meets due to the track’s condition, public outcry resulted in the Boosters’ effort to fund repairs.
Hardy County Schools committed $100,000 after Pendleton Community Bank agreed to a 0% loan, and the Boosters agreed to match, dollar for dollar, any amount donated by the public.
Moyers said the public’s donations came in smaller amounts of $20 to $50, and many were in memory of Moorefield High student and track athlete Gary Foster, who died last spring in a car accident after a track meet. The public donated $50,000; so did the Boosters, exhausting their funds.
State senators Randy Smith and Jay Taylor helped, and representative Bryan Ward has requested funding.
Once work started, the situation proved to be worse than expected when milling equipment, used to grind up the existing track, immediately sank into deep mud. The subsurface failed because the drainage system failed, causing water to back up under the track, even in a drought, and creating an unstable foundation.
Full-depth reclamation, a process that mixes cement with the milled track and creates a solid, 8-10-inch thick foundation, increases the price to $330,000. That meant the Boosters were $120,000 short of their goal.
Moyers approached the County Commission Tuesday morning. They offered $50,000, but said they’d increase their donation to $60,000 if the Town would match it.
The project cannot move forward until it is fully funded.
The goal is to get the track milled down, foundation complete, and track repaved before Thanksgiving, which is typically when paving operations stop until spring. Hardy County Schools has already bid out rubberizing and painting the track, with the goal of completing it before track season.
Moorefield Mayor Carol Zuber expressed some hesitation, although she was quick to also support school sports. She pointed out the Town, through the Town Park, already provides both the tennis courts and softball fields for Moorefield teams, has just finished the same process of full-depth reclamation and paving for the Park parking lot, and is completely rebuilding the tennis courts.
“And the Boosters are completely appreciative of that,” Moyers said.
Zuber added she wanted to ensure the public is aware of that, “because the (softball and tennis) teams can’t charge entry, like other sports do,” as there is no gate at the Park.
Moyers noted the same is true for the track team, as there is no fence or gate around the track.
Moyers responded to concerns about track maintenance and upkeep, telling the Council that Hardy County Schools already has a plan in place that includes redoing the rubberization every 10 years, and that the Boosters have purchased rubber mats for the two places football teams cross the track.
Track cleats do not damage the track’s surface, but football cleats do. The mats will protect the track, extending its life.
Moyers also said a surveyor is rechecking measurements both for the track’s surface, and drainage purposes.
The Town’s discussion later in the meeting included their interest in furthering former, late track coach Bill Hunt’s legacy, as well as concerns about the precedent set by donating such a large amount. They also noted that Moorefield track, the largest sports team in Hardy County, helps keep youth out of trouble and that the track helps the public.
“We can make it work,” Rick Freeman, city clerk, said.
The Council voted unanimously to support the track with a $60,000 donation using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, also known colloquially as COVID funds.
In other business, the Council approved the minutes from the last meeting. Zoning Officer Amy Greenwalt announced that Fall Cleanup is the week of Oct. 21, with dates for specific parts of Town listed online and in the Moorefield Examiner.
Public Works director Lucas Gagnon said the Town will continue to water the hanging baskets until the first freeze, and noted the flowers have been changed in the Town’s raised beds. He also said the ice skating rink at the Park should open on schedule in November.
Gagnon and Park director Juwana Bridger Titus sought Council guidance on the Town Pool’s future. The pool never actually earns money; despite every day this past summer being sponsored, including Wednesday night swims, paying staff, maintenance and chemicals still cost more.
They talked about Wednesday nights starting slow, but as word traveled they became more popular for families, because generally teens typically didn’t attend. Titus plans to continue those next summer, if approved.
Payroll is the ultimate expense: Sponsoring a day is $400; paying the lifeguards is $560. Titus is hesitant to hire one less guard, because that’s ultimately fewer eyes on swimmers.
She’s also thought about only paying one Snack Shack employee, but that’s a job younger teens can hold. They also keep an eye on children, and make sure they get water and a snack if they don’t seem to have money.
She said she’s debated closing the Snack Shack entirely and switching to snack machines, but contents are often more expensive. Zuber recalled when $.50 could buy a Pepsi and a bag of peanuts from snack machines in the pool area.
Council members decided to keep the pool going, but “we’ve still got work to do,” said council member Luke Kesner.
Council members voted to donate $1500 to Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, which is partnering with the Celebrate Moorefield committee for a family day Oct. 19.
They paid invoices, and following an executive session, hired five employees for the ice skating rink.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. The next meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Council’s chambers. The public is encouraged to attend.
