HomeNews Bluefield officials: City's outlook promising
Bluefield officials: City's outlook promising
By CHARLES OWENS
Bluefield Daily
Telegraph
March 27, 2007
BLUEFIELD — The future is looking much
brighter for Bluefield,
officials said Tuesday during their annual “state of the city” address.
“It pleases me tremendously to see the regeneration of interest in the various
areas of regrowing our city,” City Manager Mark Henne said. “This is what it is
going to take. We can’t do it without the people getting involved. It is
teamwork. We hope to continue to grow.”
The city Board of Directors also approved a first reading Tuesday of a proposed
ordinance restricting the operation of skateboards on public property. The
policy — if adopted as a second reading — would attempt to identify appropriate
locations for youth to skateboard in the city, and would mandate fines for
parents of youngsters found in violation of the proposed policy.
The board isn’t attempting to keep children from having fun, board member Jim
Bailey said.
“We do want them to have fun, but we want them to have safe fun,” City
Solicitor John Feuchtenberger said.
Feuchtenberger said fines would start at $5 and extend to $50 and beyond
following repeated violations of the proposed policy. Feuchtenberger said the
city must protect its property. Feuchtenberger said officials recently spent “a
tremendous amount of money” on Chicory
Square, which he said is now being damaged by
skateboarders.
Tuesday’s meeting began with the annual state of the city address, which
included presentations from various commissions and board members.
A letter was read by Feuchtenberger for Mayor Rev. Gary Moore, who was unable
to attend Tuesday’s meeting. Moore
said the city is beginning to turn the curve — although he warned that rainy
days are still ahead.
“The good news is the rain is about to stop, and I only see rainbows in our
future,” Moore
said.
Bailey said the city has been busy “horsing around” in hopes of making Bluefield, Princeton and all of Mercer County
a regional destination for visitors.
“What we want to do is make Mercer County a destination for people to come and visit,”
Bailey, who touted the multi-use equestrian park project being pursued by the
cities of Bluefield and Princeton,
said. “All we are asking for is the opportunity to become a destination. We are
the southern gateway to West Virginia
from the south.”
With the multi-purpose equestrian project, Bailey said other developments will
follow, including new hotels and restaurants.
Vice Mayor Linda Whalen said participation from concerned citizens in the
various city boards and commissions is making an important difference for Bluefield.
Gayle Satterfield, chair of the city’s beautification commission, said exciting
things are on tap for 2007, including the addition of a proposed city clock
which has been ordered and will be placed near the Greater Bluefield Chamber of
Commerce, as well as the new banners advertising timeworn “Nature’s Air
Conditioned City” slogan that will be placed at several entrances to Bluefield.
She said the planting of new flower beds and hanging baskets also are planned
across the city.
“While I know flowers aren’t the answer to everything, I know it makes a big
difference to a community,” Satterfield said. “I think we can work in all areas
where we can have some more beauty and some new beauty. But it’s going to take
everyone working together.”
Skip Crane, with the city’s fine art’s commission, said the popular First
Friday’s concert series will return on Friday, June 8, and continue on the
first Friday of each month through the summer.
Tim Probert, with the city’s tree board, said the board continues to work with
Appalachian Power Company when it comes to trimming trees close to power lines
in the city limits. Betty Bailey, with the city’s cemetery commission, said
officials continue to work on the restoration of six historic cemeteries in Bluefield.
“They are these old cemeteries that have been forgotten and neglected,” Bailey
said.
