All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Courthouse dome cleaning and pigeon prevention project likely to begin in three weeks

A pigeon cruises through the air high above the Upshur County Courthouse dome.

BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Commission is ready to put an end to the plight of pigeons plaguing the Upshur County Courthouse dome.

Commissioners on Thursday approved a bid from Buckhannon-based TKS Contracting in the amount of $45,000; those funds will pay for the cleaning of the Upshur County Courthouse dome and the installation of pigeon-deterring spikes.

A group of pigeons who regularly perch on the dome – simply look skyward when you’re walking between the courthouse annex and main courthouse on Main Street – have taken up residence on the dome, soiling it with their excrement, which can eventually eat away at the dome, commissioners said.

Commission president Sam Nolte said the spikes won’t kill the pigeons – they’ll simply dissuade them from returning.

“We’re putting the spikes in because once we clean the dome, we’re trying to prevent them from coming back,” Nolte said. “That’s why we had to put in the price for [additional spikes] more because down the road because more than likely, they’re going to try to find other ledges, and we may have to continue.”

While the commission is directing the contractor to install 1,200 linear feet of NIXILATE Model S four-foot pigeon spikes, it also asked for on price tag on installing an additional 500 feet of spikes in the future.

“We requested that they provide us with how much it would cost per foot in excess of the 1,200 for the additional 500,” assistant county administrator Tabatha Perry explained.

That amount turned out to be $32 per foot.

So, why order extra spikes?

The commission worries the pigeons could find a home nearby.

“Right now, they don’t seem to be hanging on the annex building, but my worry is, once we do the dome, they’re going to go some place,” Nolte said.

Perry reminded commissioners they’d opened three bids for the courthouse dome cleaning and spike installation project at their Feb. 14 meeting, but all three bids had been lacking information.

“Greg Harris (director of the county maintenance department) advised to contact Steeplejacks and see if they could provide us with their contractor’s license, and they do not have a contractor’s license in the state of West Virginia,” Perry told commissioners at the outset of the meeting. “They work out of Ohio, which does not require a contractor’s license.”

Perry said according to the Contractor’s Licensing Act in West Virginia, any project totaling more than $2,500 must be completed by a contractor with a contractor’s license.

She said the next lowest bid was submitted by TKS.

“They have provided everything required,” Perry said.

Perry said the difference in price between TKS Contracting and Steeplejack was $6,000.

Commissioner Terry Cutright made a motion to award the project to TKS Contracting, which was seconded by commissioner Kristie Tenney before passing unanimously.

The project is expected to begin in about three weeks, Perry said.

“That’ll be nice to get that started,” Nolte said.

Tenney said the county has opted to invest in the project now so they wouldn’t have to spend more money later.

Completely redoing the dome of the courthouse would cost at least $173,000 compared to the $45,000 the county is spending to clean the dome and have the spikes installed.

Nolte noted the county isn’t alone in dealing with a pigeon problem.

“It’s not just Upshur County. Some people have asked us about the spikes,” Nolte said.

Cutright said Lewis County commissioners had consulted him about it the previous day.

Before adjourning, the commission also:
-Approved and signed a Federal Aviation Administration request in the amount of $64,265 to fund the airport improvement program project at the Upshur County Regional Airport.

“I’d like to point out that this is for a grant that the airport’s running through the county, so it is grant-funded,” Cutright said.

-Learned applications for the state Court Security Fund program are due April 3.

The regularly scheduled commission meeting on Thursday, Feb. 28 has been canceled, with the next meeting slated to take place at 9 a.m. March 7 in the Upshur County Courthouse Annex.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Former Buckhannon mayor sentenced to decade in prison for child pornography offense

David Walter McCauley, former Buckhannon mayor, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and 10 years supervised release for child pornography involving a 17-year-old boy, following an FBI-led investigation.

American Legion Post 7 cancels Flag Retirement Ceremony due to rain

The American Legion Post 7 has canceled its June 14 Flag Retirement Ceremony because of expected rain and thunderstorms, and will reschedule the event for a later date.

Sandra Louise Collins Garrison

Sandra Louise Collins Garrison, a longtime educator in Buckhannon, is remembered by family and former students following her death at age 73, with funeral services set for June 18 at Way of Holiness Church.
LUCAS Truck

LUCAS to offer lung cancer screening in Rock Cave, Weston, and Buckhannon

LUCAS, WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer screening unit, will offer low-dose CT scans in Rock Cave, Weston, and Buckhannon in July for insured and eligible uninsured patients by appointment.

Man arrested for allegedly attempting to cash unauthorized check at BC Bank in Buckhannon

Christian Lyons, 47, of Ashford, was arrested on a felony charge after allegedly attempting to cash a check without authorization at a Buckhannon bank, with surveillance and account details helping police identify him.
Summer basketball

Summer Basketball League continues to grow under UCRC director Mitchell Shaw

The Upshur County Summer Basketball League, overseen by UCRC director Mitchell Shaw, is thriving and expanding with 18 teams and 183 players, offering organized, community-focused competition and new sponsorship-driven prizes in Buckhannon.

Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for June 11, 2025

Local highlights include a June 28 Glow Stick Party at James Curry Library, Upshur Schools’ virtual learning signups, BUHS rescheduled Alumni Soccer Game and a debut novel by Chantelle Kerr.

Upshur Update: Catch up on the latest local news in our June 11, 2025 podcast

The Upshur Update highlights the return of the Almost Heaven BBQ Bash, pool openings with new inclusive programs, community achievements in literacy and sports, student honors, local recognitions, and upcoming summer events in Buckhannon and Upshur County.

‘It’s the Small Things that Count’ – Lively pens book about daughter Megan

Alisa Mauk Lively has written “It’s the Small Things that Count,” a book celebrating the life and impact of her late daughter Megan, with proceeds benefiting Upshur County Special Olympics.