Ken
Tawney Update
Dec 31 2020
Although ERTS is open for
business between Duck and Hartland Bridge, the number of
tourists has gone way down due to cold weather. For the Mel
Gibson look alike, he's been on ERTS and found no major problems
along the way other than chilly air temps. One thing has he did
learn, when riding over those fallen icicles, they are slick as
wet owl snot and busting your butt is common. Don't
forget, if we get a heavy snow, ERTS would be a great place for
cross country skiing
In Dec 2020, Elk River Foundation made a presentation
before the Clay County Commission and answered questions from
the peanut gallery. The following is an excerpt from the
Communicator newspaper article of that public meeting.
The biggy for Dec was a
presentation made by Elk River Foundation Chair Ken Tawney.
County Commission requested Elk River Railroad Prez, Frank
Jorgensen to come to a meeting back in Oct. Jorgensen refused
according to Connie Kinder. A couple weeks later, Mr Tawney
agreed to answer questions from the public.
With 10 or so in the peanut gallery and all Commissioners
present Tawney provided a bunch of back ground on the Elk River
Foundation including:
The Foundation works with the W Va DNR and the State Park
System to oversee the Elk River Trail System (ERTS) and Elk
River Water Trail.
Tawney is the Prez of the non profit and Mitch
DeBoard is the VP with Debora Saulsigver the Secretary. There
are a total of 15 members on the Board.
When completed, ERTS will be 54 miles long from Duck to
Clendenin. Some day, ERTS will be completed from Braxton County
to Charleston. From Dundon to Widen, that section will be a
rails with trails section.
On Jan 16 2021, ERTS will be turned over to the West
Virginia Park System. The State will take over ownership
complete with a Park Superintendent on site.
Trail heads for ERTS will be Duck, Ivydale, Dundon, and
Hartland. More trail heads are planned in the future. In the
future, they hope to have ERTS complete to Gilmer County.
The Foundation purchased the old Newt Bragg property at
Dundon and had the Queen Shoals Church donated to the group as
well as a smaller parcel (Crawford homestead) just South of
Ivydale. DNR has agreed to rent a portion of the Dundon property
to be used as maintenance area. Other plans for the Bragg place
include a river access point
According to Mr Tawney, the whole idea is to grow
business in County Clay and increase the tax base.
Clendenin has already received and used an $187,500 grant
to plan out the future for that river town. More trail town
studies are planned.
Armed with new information, it was time for questions and
answers.
For many, the big question is, how will people access
their property, homes, camps, after the trail is complete. Gary
Stuber tried to open up questions on that topic but was stopped
dead in his tracks by Commission Greg Fitzwater. Fitz felt Ken
Tawney was not the person with answers.
So who is the correct person. Answer Frank Jorgensen with
Elk River RR.
The Communicator newspaper has been called the trail
"ERTS". So... what will the name be after the State takes
ownership. Tawney could not provide an answer. We can. Sucking
up to the Governor, our best guess, Jim Justice State Park. Just
a guess but that's how politics work in West Virginia.
Concrete outdoor jons will be added.
Can users camp anywhere along ERTS? Answer: No, that is
private property along the rights of way.
Applications are now being accepted for the new ERTS
Superintendent.
We think Joe Jelich would make a great Superintendent.
When we asked if he's in the running, he responded, no one has
talked to him. Another good choice would be DNR Brown Shirt
Badge Stuart Sims or Jeremy Quinn. Both know the locals well and
the lay of the land.
One feller asked about regular public relations pieces
from the Foundation and the need to keep people informed. No
commitments were heard.
That's about it for answers from Ken Tawney.
AW