Commissioners introduce tourism director at meeting
WAYNESBURG – After what has been a difficult time in its parks and recreation department, Greene County now has someone who will spend his day connecting people with the local recreational activities and facilities available. At their agenda meeting Wednesday, the county commissioners took a few moments to introduce the newly hired county tourism director, Jeff Gernert.
A native of Waynesburg, Gernert lives in Morgantown, W.Va., but said he plans to move back to Greene County for his new job. Gernert was hired last month.
In fact, the county commissioners suggested that Gernert and his wife rent the apartment in what is known locally as the Maletic House near Greensboro. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers renovated the vacant, county-owned home, Commissioner Farley Toothman said.
The home also has several rooms at ground level that are compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act and could be used as meeting rooms.
Toothman said part of Gernert’s job will be to promote the recreational opportunities along the Monongahela River.
Gernert said he would like to help form a canoe and kayak club as well as a cycling club.
“I’m an avid cyclist myself,” he said.
Gernert had been general manager of a motor coach company in Beckley, W.Va., for about six years, and he feels that experience will be helpful in his new position.
These days, he is busy redesigning cycling maps and working with the new Greene County Visitors’ Guide. He said he also is looking forward to promoting the equine trails proposed for the Greene County side of Mason-Dixon Park.
For now, Gernert said, he will work closely with Jake Blaker, county parks and recreation director, to promote whatever facilities and events the county sponsors.
Gernert is seeking comments and suggestions regarding tourism in the county. He is available at 724-627-8687.
The commissioners also are expected to do the following at today’s regular meeting:
– Proclaim April as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month.
– Appoint five members to the Greene County Library System board.
– Approve a contract between the county and Resource Technologies Corp. to provide mineral assessment services, at $650 per month.
– Renew a lease with PA CleanWays.
– Approve the county’s policy regarding Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act regulations.
– Approve a $5,000 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant agreement for the probation office.
– Approve two grants for the county Emergency Management Agency, including a $4,800 Citizens Emergency Response Team grant contract for training classes for another six months and a $1,970 CERT planning grant to develop a Citizens Corps strategic plan.
– Renewed the 2003-2004 state grant application for the Family Center in Greensboro.
– Renewed a six-month contract with Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging for the Senior Outreach and Referral program.
The commissioners’ office also received the following announcements:
– The state Department of Transportation has awarded a $398,119 contract to Mountaineer Contractors Inc. of Kingwood, W. Va. for rehabilitation of a section of Interstate 79 in Franklin Township.
– A “Communities That Care” celebration will be held at 5:30 p.m. April 8 and 9 in Carmichaels. For more information, call Steve Barrett at 724-852-5388.
– The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will prepare an assessment of the environmental impacts of the mid-Atlantic expansion and Dominion expansion projects involving construction and operation of facilities by Dominion Transmission Inc. and Texas Eastern Transmission. The project in Greene County will include upgrading compressor stations and replacing 14 miles of 36-inch pipeline, beginning just east of Waynesburg and running to the county line near Masontown.