| By Bob Weaver
The battle over a new convenience store in Grantsville has taken several turns,
backward and forward, up and down.
Who's on first is unclear, Morris or Satterfield.
The recent effort by Grantsville businessman Steve Satterfield to obtain town hall property was halted by an
injunction obtained by the Morris family interests.
The injunction gave numerous reasons why the Satterfield deal was a bad
trade.
Satterfield proposed building a new municipal headquarters on Main Street in
exchange for the current town hall, which is in disrepair, some say unsafe. He
would then use the town property for his store.
Town Council voted to move ahead with auctioning the old hall
At last weeks town council meeting, four of five members of council voted to
move ahead with plans to sell the town hall property, legally and fairly.
Satterfield has backed out of his last deal, saying "I've been trying to do this for
seven years."
Meanwhile, Jim Morris and Calhoun Properties, LCC, are trying to move ahead with their own
convenience store project on property they own across the street from the town
hall, known locally as Smith's Service Center.
They are attempting to obtain West Virginia state right-of-way
to allow for enough space for construction.
In letters obtained through the Freedom of Information Act by the Hur Herald, the
Morris interests asked State Senators Larry Edgell and Jeff Kessler to assist in
obtaining state right-of-way on State Route 16 and 5, plus land located behind the
service center in an area known as Simon's Run.
Morris' proposal would likely fill Simons Run behind Smith Service Center, provided they obtain the state property
The senators asked Highway Commissioner Fred VanKirk in December, 2002 to
consider the Morris proposal, saying "As you know this is an area that can
certainly use a few more jobs."
VanKirk said the "District Three Right of Way office has been working with the
property owner since July 8, 2002 regarding this request."
Satterfield told the town council last April he would spend about $750,000 on his
store, which would have included a Subway outlet. He said the store, which would have been built on town hall real estate, would create
about seven jobs, increase business traffic in the town and help the tax base.
Morris contended the Satterfield deal was a "pig in a poke," with no guarantees.
Judge David Nibert ruled the Satterfield trade deal approved by the Grantsville
town council was illegal.
Nibert said the property should be auctioned to the highest bidder. Morris offered
to trade two houses he owns on the flood plain for the town hall property, saying
he wanted to create more options and build a professional office building on the
town property.
At the same time, the Morris interests, are surveying to use their own property and trying to secure needed land.
A letter to Commissioner VanKirk from William C. Morris says the project will
provide six to 12 jobs in an area that desperately needs jobs. He said his company
plans to add a gas, convenience, food and restaurant business to the property.
The Morris proposal says "The Route 16 right-of-way of 72 feet from centerline
comes right up to the existing building. We have requested the outside 44 feet of
that right-of-way."
Commissioner VanKirk advised the Morris interests in January, 2003, a final
decision on the Route 16 right-of-way has been made, saying it is needed for
further maintenance along the bridge, and is not for sale.
VanKirk says the DOH however agrees to sell the Route 5 right-of-way to Morris,
which is 82 feet from the centerline and "also comes right up to the building." The
Morris' are requesting 55 feet of that right-of-way.
No price was given, nor was there any indication the land was to be sold at
auction.
Simon's Run, which is behind the current Morris business, would be utilized for the
project.
"Simon Street right of way is 50 feet. The opposite side of Simon's Street has a
Senior Citizen Center at the edge," says the document, which requests the
right-of-way to be reduced to 25 feet.
"There is a small run-off stream that runs through a culvert under Route 16...What
we propose is to extend the culvert toward the river and fill the ravine..." The
document says there is a small abandoned bridge which is owned by the state
which needs to be "officially abandoned and torn down as it poses a liability
risk."
At last weeks Grantsville Council meeting, an agenda item concerning Simon's Run
was not discussed.
Copies of the letters regarding the project, according to the FOIA, were sent to William
Stemple, a member of the House of Delegates, who is employed by the Morris
family.
If the town would now auction their property, and Satterfield became the highest
bidder, he would not be obligated to construct a new town hall.
The council would have to purchase a building for city business.
Morris' injunction contained appraisal information which indicated the town
property was worth about $160,000, although several people attending council
meeting last week said it was highly inflated.
The Calhoun Chronicle, owned by the Morris family, neglected to report any information regarding the town property deal,
which took up considerable time at last weeks meeting. Their reporter, Lisa Minney, while the vote over the sale of town property was
underway, made comments and passed notes to officials containing suggestions.
The council had long, and what appeared to be uncomfortable silences during the deliberation.
Quoting First Amendment rights and her journalism textbook, Minney advised her readers "Questioning and involvement
is not only my right, but my responsibility
as a reporter," saying it was to challenge and question those in power.
"Since becoming a reporter, I have tried not only to observe Calhoun events and developments, but also participate and
become involved," she wrote, which includes injecting suggestions, opinions and questions while official business is being
conducted.
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