The Shadow
LOW MOOR - Alleghany County will be getting less federal money than anticipated for funding additional phases of the Jackson River Scenic Trail.
Tuesday night, the board of supervisors learned the county will receive $475,000 – substantially less than the $1.25 million tentatively awarded in April.
The money will come from the federal Transportation Enhancement Program, which in Virginia, is administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
In April, Del. Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, announced that the General Assembly’s House Appropriations Committee approved a $1.25 million provision in the Commonwealth
Transportation Board’s draft six-year improvement plan for fiscal years 2013-2019.
The county was planning to use the money to complete work on the 14.2-mile Jackson River Scenic Trail. The trail is under construction north of Covington along the former C&O railroad bed that parallels the Jackson River.
When completed, the trail will stretch from Covington to the Bath County line and be open to pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrian users.
County officials will now turn to other funding sources since the $1.25 million they expected to receive has been substantially reduced. The money was reduced by the state secretary of transportation, according to County Administrator John Strutner.
“I have never been so disappointed to receive $475,000 in all my life,” said Chad Williams, the county’s director of parks and recreation.
Williams, who is overseeing development of the trail, said “we thought that we had the money in hand to complete the project next year.”
Now, the county will turn to the private Alleghany Foundation and seek approximately $1 million in grant money for the trail. Williams said the foundation has provided previous grants for the trail’s construction.
The trail is being built in four phases. The county is currently working on the second phase of the trail. The 5.28-mile section is scheduled for completion later this year. The third phase of the project will run from Smith Bridge/Route 721 along the former railroad bed and end near the Bath County line. The final phase of the trail will connect the city of Covington and complete the full 14.2-mile length.
Williams said the third phase of the project will be costly because it will involve rehabilitating or replacing railroad trestles. Available money on hand will get the county about half-way through the third phase, he said.
The Alleghany Foundation will award its next round of grants in November.
In other action Tuesday, supervisors approved a zoning request that may pave the way for the opening of a small business in the Selma area.
Supervisors approved a request by Phillip Bowen to rezone 1.1 acres at 1190 Selma-Low Moor Rd. from Industrial M-1 to Business B-2. Bowen plans to open a small restaurant or convenience store on the property, which was once the site of a Texaco service station.
Bowen had reached a tentative agreement to purchase the property from Jack Kimberlin of Clifton Forge for $82,000.
Kimblerlin died July 28 at the age of 90.
Supervisors approved a resolution of respect for Kimberlin Tuesday night in recognition of his service to the county and the town of Clifton Forge. He served on the Alleghany County Water and Sewer Commission for 10 years and was a past member of Clifton Forge Town Council. He also served as a city councilman prior to Clifton Forge’s reversion to a town.
Supervisors acted Tuesday night to appoint Donna Kimberlin to fill Kimberlin’s seat on the Water and Sewer Commission.
She will represent the Clifton Forge East District.
