BUCKHANNON – You know him as a small businessman, maybe even as a hobby farmer and certainly as an active community member.
But do you know much about the top priorities of Upshur County’s newest county commissioner after he clinched his victory running unopposed in last Tuesday’s General Election?
Patrick Lane garnered 4,689 votes last week, but the story was very different when a down-to-the-wire race between incumbent commissioner Doug Bush and Lane saw the newcomer win by just 13 votes on Primary Election Day in May.
Lane will take office in January 2027, succeeding Bush, who said he would complete his term through 2026.
In an interview following last Tuesday’s election, Lane shared some thoughts about his upcoming post. For instance, his top three priorities when he officially takes office?
“Probably the three most important things that come to my mind right off the bat would be, first of all, economic development; we need to concentrate on that,” Lane said. “Anything we can do to improve Upshur County and make things better. And the second thing I think is very important is collaboration. All the different groups, whether it’s the city, the county, everybody needs to be working together. If we’re not working together, we’re not going to gain anything.”
“And the third thing is accountability,” he said. “I think everyone needs to be accountable for what they do, whatever department it is. Those would be probably my three basics.”
Lane also talked about the future of the John C. Allen Regional Hub, a planned $40 million to $50 million sports and recreation complex located along Corridor H on land donated by the J.F. Allen Company.
“We’re going to have to work with our higher-up authorities, whether it’s House or Senators, to try to get whatever grants might be available,” he said of funding.
About $12 million in federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization funding was announced for its first two phases May 21, with lodging included alongside athletic fields, trails and a Snowflex sled hill in the $8.63 million first phase.
Lane said the commission should focus on the meat-and-potatoes of the project, i.e., the main draw of the Hub, such as athletic fields.
“One of the big things I think needs to be done is to concentrate more on putting the facilities in — like athletic fields — that will bring activities, rather than the housing,” Lane said. “I just think the county’s going to be getting into more debt trying to manage [housing facilities]. If you’re going to do housing, why not let some hotel or motel company try to do that, and then concentrate on the facility itself for the county?”
Lane pointed to Bridgeport’s facility, the Bridge, as an example.
“They’ve got a beautiful facility, but even Bridgeport has a hard time maintaining their facility every year,” he said. “You can get too big too quick, and then you can’t maintain it. I just don’t want to see us create something that can’t be maintained. Build a section at a time that’s usable and then add to it, and see what you can maintain. It’s a great thing, and it’s a great idea, but you’ve got to be able to make it work. We just don’t want to see it go up for a couple of years and then go away.”
As far as countywide facility improvements go, Lane wants the commission to get on board with the Rotary Club of Buckhannon-Upshur’s “Recycle Beyond the Bag” program, which turns plastics into durable composite community benches and even playground equipment. The program’s main goal is to keep soft plastics out of landfills.
“[Through Rotary], we’re going to get some playground equipment for handicapped-accessible children, as well as non-handicapped people,” Lane said. “It’s something that’ll last forever. There are benches; the company makes so many things. So, I’m hoping to try to get the county engaged with that and maybe put some of those things into the parks as well.”
Asked what he wanted Upshur County residents to know about him, Lane said he was an avid outdoorsman.
“I’m an avid outdoorsman and a hobby farmer. I take care of a dozen cows, bale 150 rolls of hay or something a summer,” he said. “I enjoy hunting and fishing, bowling and golfing.
“I just mainly want to thank all the voters for their support because if people didn’t vote for me, [I] wouldn’t be there. I also want to thank all my opponents for a good, clean, respectful election; that’s a big thing,” Lane said. “I don’t like to see places where they dig up untrue things. I think that just takes away from it.”
He expressed deep gratitude to his family and his significant other, Paula Cutright.
“She’s my biggest supporter,” Lane said. “I couldn’t do it without her.”
Community Bulletin
For more than 120 years, the Elkins hospital now known as Davis Medical Center has been where the Potomac Highlands turns for care. Today that includes expert kidney care close to home — sparing many patients a drive out of the region. Read more →
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