Only weeks after the election, the Town of Pine Grove is seeking nominees to fill the council seat of newly-elected Buck Leek. Leek submitted a letter of resignation to the council due to family health concerns. The council accepted his resignation at their meeting held July 11 and are moving toward filling the seat. Persons interested must submit their full name and phone number along with a letter of intent stating they why they wish to fill the council seat to Recorder Kimberly Bates by Aug. 5 at 2:30 p.m.

A special council meeting is scheduled for July 18 at 7 p.m., primarily to consider bids regarding the upgrades to the doors and windows of the upstairs level of the Byrd Center. Other matters to be discussed during this meeting include: uniforms for town employees, decals for town trucks, and the replacement of a stove at the Byrd Center.

In another matter, as the Pine Grove Town Council appointed newly elected councilman Brian Price to the Streets and Lights Committee, it was learned the council has added a Park Committee following requests from community members for an organized group focused on such matters. More on this will be discussed at the special meeting set for next Monday night.

During the meeting Dave Williams, Kimberly Bates, and Eva Adams were commended on the outstanding job they did planning and executing the town’s Fourth of July celebration. The council has also planned additional events for the remainder of the season including a town-wide yard sale event scheduled for Sept. 2-3 at the Byrd Center. Tables will be supplied free of charge to anyone interested in participating in this sale. Relatedly, the town will offer another large garbage pick-up event at the end of the summer. This additional clean-up event will be held Sept. 13-14.

In another matter, the council plans to perform black-topping this week and will also look into taking down the Christmas lights still hung around town.

Lastly, the council adopted two resolutions during their meeting Monday night. The first resolution adopted regarded supporting jobs and economic security by fixing the coal mine permitting system. The resolution is as follows:

Be it known, the Town of Pine Grove is a strong supporter of coal mines in West Virginia and throughout Appalachia and calls upon our Congress and President to support jobs and economic opportunity in coal communities across our region; and

Whereas, the links between coal production, economic growth, prosperity, and energy security are unbreakable; and

Whereas, coal is a main source of energy throughout the world, provides half the electricity used in the United States and as much as 98 percent of the electricity generated in the region; and

Whereas, coal mining is responsible for more than 90,000 jobs in West Virginia alone; provides coal mining jobs that pay 100 percent higher wages than the average wage in the state; and generates nearly $15 billion in economic output in the state; and

Whereas, coal mining in West Virginia is balancing the economic needs and environmental expectations of its citizens; and

Whereas, coal mine lands are being restored, as part of the reclamation process, to meet ongoing economic, recreational, educational, transportation, and housing needs of local communities and the state; and

Whereas, the ongoing backlog in permit approvals, the lack of transparency in the federal permitting process, and ongoing court challenges to permit applications are jeopardizing jobs, economic opportunity, and coal production throughout West Virginia and the region.

Now, therefore be it resolved, that the Town of Pine Grove calls upon the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the President’s Council on Environmental Quality, the West Virginia congressional delegation, and other congressional delegations in the region, and state and local government officials to support coal production and the jobs, economic growth, and energy security provided by coal mining by fixing a regulatory system that is frustrating these vital objectives.

Lastly, the council agreed to back the Wheeling City Council’s opinion regarding redistricting of the First Congressional District. Wheeling Mayor Andy McKenzie asked for support from local government entities regarding the matter as reinforcement to his letter sent to the Honorable Richard Thompson requesting the First Congressional District “remain as close to its current geographic make-up as possible.” The Wheeling City Council unanimously voted on this request at their June 7 meeting.

In the Wheeling City Council’s opinion, keeping the district as close to its existing borders will “maintain the least disruption and promote continuity for the residents of the First Congressional District.” According to the letter, the Wheeling council strongly believes radical geographic changes to the district would change the positive dynamics of the current district.