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Marshall County Commissioner Gets D.C. Meeting on I-68 Expansion

White House Official Expresses Interest in Miller’s Proposal

Marshall County Commissioner Bob Miller, right, stands with Billy Kirkland, deputy director of intergovernmental affairs for the Trump administration, after their meeting in Washington, D.C. Friday morning. Photo Provided

WHEELING — Officials with the Trump administration are taking an interest in an Interstate 68 expansion project, and Marshall County Commissioner Bob Miller went to Washington this week for what was termed the first in a series of meetings on the issue.

Miller said he met for about an hour with Billy Kirkland, deputy director of intergovernmental affairs for the Trump administration, in Kirkland’s office at the Eisenhower Office Building adjacent to the White House.

They examined and discussed various means by which to fund the project.

Kirkland seemed “very interested, and very engaged,” according to Miller.

Miller said Kirkland wants to schedule a follow-up meeting soon, and Kirkland asked Miller to bring with him other state officials.

Miller previously met Kirkland when West Virginia officials visited the White House in October. At that time, Miller handed him a packet explaining the I-68 project, offering funding ideas and how the White House could be of assistance.

A month later, Kirkland called Miller to set up the one-on-one meeting. Miller told him he would be attending the State Energy Policy Summit during the first week of December in Washington, and a meeting for Friday was set to correspond with his visit.

Miller said much of the meeting centered on his idea to allow county governments to take on road projects in partnership with state highway agencies, which would maintain ownership and upkeep on the road.

Legislation to enact Miller’s idea in West Virginia has been introduced in the Legislature each of the last four years with some support, but it has failed to get a vote for passage amid time constraints in each session.

“People are afraid counties would be getting into maintaining roads, but this legislation is only for building roads,” Miller said. “It allows us to enter into agreement with the (Division) of Highways after it is completed.”

Miller said Kirkland liked some of the alternate funding tools for the project that Miller suggested in his report.

“He said he thinks they could integrate some of these ideas into other projects,” Miller said.

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