Cabins to be built at Tomlinson Run

By EMILY SCOTT (escott@reviewonline.com)
NEW CUMBERLAND — Six cabins are to be built at Tomlinson Run State Park over the next year.

The Hancock County Commission voted at their meeting Thursday to enter into an agreement with the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources to develop the property the cabins will be built on, as well as advertise for bids on the cabins’ materials and construction.

The six cabins, two two-bedroom, two three-bedroom, and two four-bedroom, will be built by the entrance across from the pool. Hancock County Administrator Chuck Svokas said that as few trees as possible will be removed during construction to ensure privacy between the cabins. Additional trees may be planted between the cabins and Route 8 to provide additional seclusion.

“These are high-end cabins,” said Commissioner Mike Swartzmiller. “These are not your grandfather’s log cabins.”

The cabins will include such amenities as flat screen televisions, cable, and internet, and will come with dishes and appliances. Large decks in the back of the cabins will overlook a 30 to 40 foot cliff with a creek at the bottom. “It’s absolutely beautiful on the back end of these...just a perfect location,” said Swartzmiller.

“It’s like being transported out of Hancock County into the great north woods,” Svokas said. “It’s a beautiful layout.”

Swartzmiller said the corners will be dovetailed, but the interior walls will be flat and will muffle sound well. The cabins will also be energy efficient to keep the cost of utilities down. There will also be a crawl space underneath to allow for maintenance.

The proposal for the cabins must still be approved by the DNR. The commission will also negotiate a contract with the DNR for the cabins’ maintenance and day to day operations.

Svokas said it is the county’s goal to have the revenue from the cabins’ rental to revert back to the park to undertake other improvements. Svokas added that ownership of the cabins will revert back to the state after 25 years.

Swartzmiller said that the funds for the cabins will come from the county’s Hotel/Motel Tax, which the commission raised from three percent to six percent last year, and therefore the cabins will not cost the county’s taxpayers anything.

Commissioner Dan Greathouse said the tax was raised with the cabins in mind.

Svokas said the bidding process for the cabins will take place in two steps, first for the materials and second for the actual construction.

“I’m thrilled about it,” said Commissioner Jeff Davis. “I think it’s going to be a great addition to Tomlinson Run.”

In other business, the Hancock County Commission:

Approved a request to re-appoint Connie Gittinger and Jeff Davis to two-year terms to the Northern Panhandle Home Consortium Council as commission representatives.

Approved a request from Hancock County Parks and Recreation Board for $14,000 for the soccer fields at the Sports Complex at Gas Valley Road.

Accepted the resignation of Roy Boring from the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission and the Civil Service Commission.

Approved a request of $14,500 from the Hancock County Health Department for liability insurance and general expenses.

Approved a contract bid of $8,020.55 for the pavilion at Tomlinson Run State Park.

Approved the payment of an invoice of $14,452 for equipment and labor at the Kennedy Marina.

Approved overtime not to exceed $20,000 in the next six months for field verifying work associated with the Citywide Addressing Verification Project.

Approved an adjustment to the pay rate for all full-time dispatchers, making it a three-step process that will include a new starting rate, an increase after an 180-day period and all certifications, and a final rate increase beginning with the third year of full-time employment.