|
Posted: 12:11 AM Feb 19, 2010
State Senate Passes Bill to Help with Dow Tech Park Deal
As the deadline approaches, a bill to help the state take over the Dow Technology park is on the fast track. The bill was passed unanimously by the full senate, one day after being introduced.
Reporter: Kallie Cart Email Address: kallie.cart@wsaz.com |
Courtesy: West Virginia Legislature
|
2 Comments 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- As the deadline approaches, a bill to help the state take over the Dow Technology park is on the fast track. The bill was passed unanimously by the full senate, one day after being introduced.
Dow has said it will close the technology park in South Charleston on March 1. If that happens, hundreds of jobs will likely be lost.
The West Virginia Senate bill changes state code to allow the Higher Education Policy Commission and the state office for community and technical colleges to be located outside of the capitol city and in the tech park.
Senator Brooks McCabe, a Democrat from Kanawha County, introduced the legislation in the senate finance committee at the governor's request Wednesday.
Governor Joe Manchin said in a statement said the bill will make it possible to move forward on, "a plan to keep the South Charleston Technology Park and the jobs that go with it."
"We needed swift action before Dow's announced park shutdown date," he said.
The hope is to create a research park.
"It presents an opportunity for the state to attract business and industry that doesn't exist," Brian Noland with the W.Va. Education Policy Commission said. "These labs are unique not only within the state but on the east coast, so this has ripple effects not only across Charleston, the Kanawha Valley but the state as a whole."
But the City of Charleston is still questioning if the move is legal. Charleston Mayor Danny Jones says his legal staff believes the two agencies are state agencies. State agencies fall under the state constitution, not state code. The Constitution says state agencies must be located in the capitol city.
Lawmakers disagree and say the two boards are ruled by state code.
Mayor Jones says the city is still trying to decide where to go from here.
"They've made a case that this helps them keep the South Charleston tech park going, if that's true then maybe it's okay to let them go," Mayor Jones said. "But if it's the beginning of moving a good portion of state government out of Charleston, then that's an issue we're going to have to watch out for very closely and we may be ready to fight."
The Senate's bill only tackles one issue facing the state. Dow is giving the tech park, its land and $10 million dollars to be used at the park to the state, but it costs several million dollars a year to maintain the park. Now the state is trying to come up with a solution to make the park worth the price.
The deal must be worked out by March 1.
Latest Comments
Charleston will do anything within their power to keep all state offices their even at the expense of the jobs that will be lost if they are successful. Not sure how or if the state constitution can be changed but if it can the state needs to get started changing it.
Poor Mayor Danny Jones is afraid of loosing his user fee money. Poor thing.
|
|
|
Popular Searches Powered by Local.com |
- UPDATE: Two More Arrests in Parking Lot Armed Robbery
- Three Aging W.Va. Power Plants Closing
- IRS Warns to Expect Some Refund Delays
- NASCAR Racer Visits Charleston
- Business Destroyed by Fire in Logan County
- UPDATE: Man Charged in Violent Armed Robbery at Huntington Bar
- St. Albans Man Arrested in Large Drug Bust
- Convicted Sex Offender Wanted
- Metheny Still Missing
- Residents Hopeful Dunbar Police Will Move to New Neighborhood
- UPDATE: Vigil for Missing 3-Year-Old Girl
430 Comments - UPDATE: New Chief Deputy in Mason County Releases Department Mission Statement
148 Comments - UPDATE: Mother Awaiting Sentence Faces More Trouble
61 Comments - UPDATE: Some Questions Remain Unanswered in Deadly CO Leak
48 Comments - UPDATE: Man Accused of Victimizing Elderly Found Guilty of Kidnapping; Victim Dies
40 Comments - UPDATE: Two More Arrests in Parking Lot Armed Robbery
24 Comments
- Same-sex marriage OK'd in Washington
- 10 states freed from 'No Child Left Behind'
- Embattled LA school reopens
- Mississippi pardons to be challenged at court hearing
- Authorites probe 911 response to Josh Powell's home
- Hotel workers in New York to get panic button
- Resolution to N. Dakota school nickname dispute still seems far off
- The deadly path to legal status
- Birth control by vending machine
- Sound recordings amend history
- Deep freeze puts strain on Ukrainian EMS
- Spy agency called before Pakistani high court
- Court suspends Spain's most famous judge
- Deposed president faces arrest in the Maldives
- Greek leaders ready to back austerity deal
- More than 700 suffer food poisoning after Mexico rally
- Officials: Drone strike kills 4 in Pakistan
- Asylum or 'medical leave' for Chinese crime buster?
- UK: 'No negotiations' on Falklands
- Who is Anonymous?
- Band camp, other clubs suspended
- Champion remembered at event
- More members accused of hazing
- Sandusky urged to stay inside
- Words matter in Penn State case
- Out-of-county jury for Sandusky?
- 4th accuser drops abuse allegations
- Accuser pleads guilty to child sex
- Attorney: Victims to sue university
- Miss. high court considers pardons
- Live Blog: Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach Pro-AM
- Pebble Beach Pro-Am Round 1 scores
- Don Banks: Biggest offseason questions in the NFL
- Seth Davis: Eustachy's second chance could lead Southern Miss to NCAAs
- Rivers, Duke sink Tar Heels at buzzer
- Leafs, Wings set for '13 Winter Classic
- Report: Manning still unable to make most throws
- Syracuse earns OT win vs. Hoyas
- Memphis joining Big East in 2013
- Lin dazzles again as Knicks win
 |
SOMC
Very good things are happening here. Click here to learn more |
 |
Click here for school closings and delays |
 |
Watch the Lottery Live Monday - Saturday @ 6:59pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. Need to check your numbers? Click here. |
 |
Watch the Ohio Lottery Drawings weeknights @ 7:29pm and Cash Explosion Saturday @ 7:30pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. |
 |
Click here to donate and help WSAZ help children at risk in our region. Thank you. |
 |
Click here to see how our partners are making Moms and women's lives easier. |
