Legislative Leaders Support Ballot Issue That Could Increase Visitors to West Virginia

Both Parties Favor Constitutional Amendment

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Oct 24, 2014, 05:30 ET

CHARLESTON, W.Va., Oct. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The West Virginia Legislature's top Democratic and Republican leaders are urging voters to support a constitutional amendment on the November ballot. Senate President Jeff Kessler, Senate Minority Leader Mike Hall, House of Delegates Speaker Tim Miley, and House Minority Leader Tim Armstead have endorsed passage of the amendment to allow the Boy Scouts of America to let other organizations use the Summit Bechtel Reserve (SBR) in Fayette County for major events.

"We are coming together on this issue because it would bring more visitors to West Virginia and boost tourism," Kessler, D-Marshall, said. "We need to think outside the box and diversify our economy."

Hall, R-Putnam, said, "The facility sits empty except in the summer. This amendment would allow us to take advantage of the Scouts' investment in our state to generate and attract economic activity."

The SBR features many world-class facilities for mountain biking, BMX biking, skateboarding, archery, shooting, rock climbing, kayaking and swimming that go unused when the Boy Scouts don't have events scheduled. The Boy Scouts would like to allow others to use the reserve for major events but the amendment is needed to ensure that doing so would not jeopardize the SBR's property tax status.

"The Boy Scouts have invested more than $350 million to build the Summit Bechtel Reserve's facilities, so it only makes sense to leverage that investment to boost West Virginia tourism and jobs," Miley, D-Harrison, said. "The effects of this facility could be felt statewide."

Armstead, R-Kanawha, said, "The Boy Scout facility has a tremendous potential to showcase our state and bring visitors here from throughout the country. Opening it up to year-round use will not only allow more people to discover what a wonderful state we have but will also provide much needed economic opportunities for existing small businesses."

If voters approve the amendment, it would take effect only after the West Virginia Legislature adopts rules to ensure that the activities at the Summit Bechtel Reserve would not cause any harm to businesses in the area and define the permitted types of third-party activities that would be allowed under the provision of the amendment.

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SOURCE Boy Scouts of America