GLEN DALE - State Delegates Scott Varner and Mike Ferro said Tuesday they will try to arrange a town hall meeting to discuss residents' concerns related to natural gas drilling.
Whether their concerns involve damaged roads or employment with gas companies, the Marshall County Citizens for Better Government want Varner and Ferro to address the problems.
"I am looking for jobs for my kids, my grandkids and the kids after that," group organizer John Toth told Varner and Ferro during a Tuesday group meeting at Young's Cafeteria in Glen Dale.
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Photo by Casey Junkins
Delegate Scott Varner, D-Marshall, left, speaks during a Tuesday meeting of the Marshall County Citizens for Better Government as Glen Easton resident Jim Thomas looks on.
Varner and Ferro, both Marshall County Democrats, said they are considering the meeting, but would like to have representatives from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Transportation on hand to also hear from residents.
"We will see what we can do," Varner said.
Among the hot topics during the discussion that residents' want addressed at a formal town hall meeting was the state Legislature's failure during its recent regular session to pass any new drilling regulations. During the session, the Senate passed a bill out of chamber, but the House did not vote on it. A slightly different bill originating in the House never reached a final vote.
"We were poised and ready, the last day of the session, to pass this bill," Varner said. "The speaker and the majority leader did not advance the bill for the full house to vote on it."
West Virginia's Speaker of the House is Richard Thompson of Wayne County, and the Majority Leader is Brent Boggs from Braxton County.
Noting one of the pitfalls local legislators face with the natural gas issues is that most of the activity is confined to northern West Virginia, Varner added, "Not every region of this state is impacted by Marcellus Shale."
The delegates may be called to a special session to address the Marcellus Shale matters, as acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin recently said he would call such a session "as soon as we can get an agreement reached."
Varner later said of the road problem, "We have done a horrible job, as a state, in making sure our secondary roads are addressed."
As for the jobs issue, Varner emphasized West Virginia Northern Community College is now offering training for workers seeking employment on gas drilling sites.