County grants another 60-day extension for Holly Apartments cleanup due to contractor’s lagging pace

Monica Zalaznik
September 17, 2023

BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Commission on Thursday gave the owners of the Holly Apartments property 60 more days to clean up the property after they told commissioners they had run into problems with their contractor.

The Holly Apartments were considered a total loss after a May 2021 fire spread throughout the now-dilapidated building, which is visible along Route 20 South in Adrian.

Linda Hughes, a representative from the Randall Hughes Ministry, appeared at the commission’s Sept. 14 meeting to say there has not been much progress on the project since the July meeting because the contractor has been working very slowly.

“We don’t know anything about contracting, so we got the contractor – he was recommended, he is working – but it’s very slow, and we’re at a loss as to what to do,” Hughes told county officials.

Although there was initially some confusion about who owned the land, the deed to the property was officially transferred to the Randall Hughes Ministry in January 2023, and the commission initially allotted the ministry 90 days to clean up the area.

Most recently, the commission gave the Randall Hughes Ministries a 60-day extension during their July 13 meeting. The extension granted at the commission’s Sept. 14 meeting marks the third 60-day extension the county has allowed the owners; they also granted an initial 60-day extension in April 2023.

Upshur County Commissioner Sam Nolte said it seemed like the ministry may need to hire a new contractor.

“We have an issue with the property not being finished, and unfortunately, you may have to possibly hire somebody else to do it,” Nolte said. “You may have to talk to a magistrate; it sounds to me like there’s been a breach of contract.”

Nolte said he believed the Randall Hughes Ministry wants to get the project done, but the actual cleanup of the debris must be completed soon.

“You seem to want to get this project done, and as far as the actual cleanup goes, we really need it done in 60 days, so I’m willing to propose a 60-day extension,” Nolte said. “Regardless of what you build there, it just needs to be cleaned up.”

“I think 60 days would be good enough – that would allow you September through November – and with some half-decent weather, that should be plenty of time to get ahold of someone to do the work.”

The Upshur County Commission agreed to grant another 60-day extension to clean up the debris.

In other Upshur County Commission news:

The commission signed an electronic grant award contract to accept funds in the amount of $1,838 for FY 24 from the Wes-Mon-Ty Resource Conservation & Development Grant Program for the placement of pollinator gardens at the Pringle Tree and Upshur County Recreational Parks.

The commission approved and signed the FY 24 Court Security Grant Contract Agreement, Resolution, Standard Conditions & Assurances, Certification Forms, and Schedule of Payments for the awarded amount of $42,412 for upgrades to improve the security of the court facilities in the County granted by the Division of Administrative Services, Justice and Community Services Section.

The commission approved the SMIC renewal quote in the amount of $235.50 for volunteer accident medical insurance for the period of Oct. 20, 2023, to Oct. 20, 2024.

The commission approved correspondence from Circuit Clerk Brian Gaudet, requesting approval to hire Amy B. Tenney as full-time Deputy Circuit Clerk, effective September 25, 2023, pending a background check.