Hatfield-McCoy Trail Connectors Committee Forms

A group of local officials gathered at the County Commission Monday to determine how to expedite McDowell County 's inclusion in the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system.

Hatfield-McCoy Trails Executive Director Jeff Lusk and Board Member Normal Clark answered questions from the group, who included Commissioners Gordon Lambert and Judy Cortellesi, War mayor Tom Hatcher, and Anawalt Mayor Eva Rash.

Lusk, who recently became director of the trails, stressed that he was committed to extending the trail through McDowell County as soon as it is feasible to do so.

Until now, Lusk explained that the location of trails was determined mostly by the executive director. The piecemeal approach wasn't satisfactory, so Lusk said he is in the process of creating an application process that will be fairer to the applicants. The application will be ready by June. Then, in the fall, the Hatfield-McCoy Board will decide, based on the merits of the submitted applications, where the next branch of the trail will be located. Applicants will be able to meet with the board during the decision making process to promote their application, he said.

No trails were added to the Hatfield-McCoy Trails system last year, Lusk said, noting that maintaining existing trails is much more expensive than adding a new trail to the system. Lusk said that he has created a work plan to insure proper maintenance of the trails.

A segment of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail is scheduled to open soon in the Ashland area, but Commissioner Lambert stressed that the Ashland segment will benefit Mercer County more than it will McDowell.

“The Ashland trail won't help us. We want the trail to extend down through the county, not stop there,” Lambert said.

“If we can connect the McDowell and Wyoming County systems, together, they would create one of the largest trail systems in the nation with over 120 miles,” Lusk said.

Commissioner Lambert stressed that to be fair that the applications should be scored by points. If it is, Lambert said he was sure no other applicants could surpass the application that McDowell County will submit.

Lambert requested that Lusk provide the group with the specifications for the trails and vowed that the county would provide both man power and equipment to assist in the trail building process.

“We will have our application ready in the fall, and try to connect to as many municipalities as possible,” Mayor Hatcher added.

Prompted by a suggestion from Hatcher, the group agreed to name themselves the “Hatfield-McCoy Trails Connections Committee.” In addition to attending all future Hatfield-McCoy Trails Board Meetings in Holden, the committee will meet in the County Commission Conference Room, 4 p.m., the first and third Mondays of each month. The meetings are opened to the public, and public participation is welcome.

--Cathy Patton (Welch News)