County grants 60-day extension to group charged with cleaning up the old Holly Apartments property

Monica Zalaznik
April 27, 2023

BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Commission voted to allow the Randall Hughes Ministry 60 more days to clean up the old Holly Apartments building and property located near the railroad tracks in Adrian.

The Holly Apartments were considered a total loss after a fire spread throughout the whole now-dilapidated building in May 2021. The deed to the property was transferred to the Randall Hughes Ministry in January 2023.

The top floor of the Holly Apartments appears to have been demolished in this photo from April 27.

The Upshur County Commission evaluated the progress on the property during their April 27 meeting.

“Greg Harris (county maintenance and facilities director) took photographs of the site yesterday, and it looks like the top floor has been demolished,” Upshur County Administrator Tabatha Perry said. “There’s a lot of debris that needs to be cleaned out, so they’re going to clean up the debris and then put together a kitchen, and it’s basically going to be like a little community center, but it’s going to also entail an open-air pavilion, so it’s a work in progress.”

Perry said Randall Hughes Ministry has contracted with an individual who has an excavator on site. Still, the group asked the commission for a 30-day extension to finish cleaning up the property.

“They do still need to brush hog also, but they are making progress — it’s just not as quick as we anticipated,” Perry said.

Upshur County Commission President Kristie Tenney asked if the group could have the debris removed and get everything cleaned up within 30 days.

“Realistically, I think it would be very difficult unless you have a lot of time on your hands or motivated individuals that don’t have other obligations; I think 60 days would be doable,” Perry said.

Upshur County Commission President Kristie Tenney and Commissioner Sam Nolte discuss the status of the Holly Apartments in Adrian at the commission’s April 27 meeting.

The commission voted to give the Randall Hughes Ministry 60 days to clean up the property.

In other Upshur County Commission news:

The commission approved the appointment of Patrick H. Shea, as community representative to the Enhanced Emergency Telephone Advisory Board. Upon approval, the term will be effective immediately and will expire on June 30, 2023.

The commission approved correspondence from Virginia Croaff, requesting reappointment to the Upshur County Youth Camp Board. Upon approval, Ms. Croaff’s term will run from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2029.

The commission approved correspondence from Tabatha R. Perry, County Administrator, requesting the reappointment of Debra Hull to the Upshur County Youth Camp Board. Upon approval, Ms. Hull’s term will run from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2029.

The commission approved and signed an agreement by and between the Upshur County Commission (owner) and KB’s Contracting, LLC (contractor) on the basis of a stipulated price for the James W. Curry Pavilion Repair Project.

The commission approved and signed the Change Order #1 for the Upshur County Recreation Complex Project. This Change Order reflects costs related to additional services throughout the first phase of the development of a multi-sports campus. These services will begin immediately and run concurrent with existing services as outlined in the initial proposal.

The commission approved a resolution to become a participating employer in the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Retirement System. Upon approval, this would include all new employees hired after adoption and further supports allowing existing employees to participate should Legislature pass the same.