CHARLESTON -- Gov. Bob Wise and state legislators are moving ahead on a Veteran's Administration nursing home slated for Clarksburg.
The project has already received legislative approval. It stalled in 2001 after it was discovered language authorizing a bond issue was not included in the bill, according to Sen. Joseph Minard, D-Harrison and a Senate bill sponsor.
The bond sale is needed to provide initial funding for the $7 million-$10 million project, which will be refunded by state scratch-off lottery ticket proceeds, he said.
The resolution may pass from the Senate to the House or may be concurrently introduced by a North Central delegate. Del. Frank "Chunki" Angotti, D-Harrison, said area delegates are eager to work with Minard in getting the legislation passed and the project started.
Wise has additionally begun the bidding process for construction, which will take place near the current VA Medical Center in southwestern Clarksburg, according to Amy Shuler Goodwin, his spokeswoman. She said construction could begin by late this year.
In other legislation of interest to the area, the state Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would clarify service jurisdiction for a state-run youth corrections facility located on the Harrison-Doddridge county border.
The bill would allow Harrison County Circuit Court and law enforcement to handle all civil action related to the Industrial Home for Youth, located just outside Salem. Sen. Joseph Minard, D-Harrison, and Sen. Jeffrey Kessler, a Democrat whose district includes Doddridge County, jointly introduced the legislation.
Jurisdiction problems arose in the last two years after it was discovered part of the complex, which had previously been served by Harrison County entities, was actually in Doddridge County.
Staff writer Nora Edinger can be reached at 626-1447 or by e-mail at nedinger@exponent-telegram.com
