CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The Harrison County Commission will move forward with the purchase of a 20-foot, commercial-grade, reusable Christmas tree.
The purchase was approved in a 2-1 vote as part of the commission’s regular meeting last week with the use of gambling funds raised at local hot spots. Harrison County Commissioner Patsy Trecost was among those who voted in favor of the purchase, which he considered a long-term community purchase that will be placed at the Clarksburg courthouse square in time for the start of Christmas.
“When you’re elected to an office such as a commission, you represent everybody, and our county is one of the bigger counties in the state,” Trecost said. “Sixty-five thousand people are going to be able to enjoy this tree.”
Trecost viewed the purchase of the reusable Christmas tree by the Harrison County Commission as part of a long-term benefit to residents. The $18,000 purchase will not only include the 20-foot commercial-grade Christmas tree and its shipping from Minnesota, but it will also include a full Christmas light set installation as well as the traditional star placed on the top of the tree. With the tree being located at the county seat, Trecost feels it will be able to be enjoyed by the entire community every holiday season.
“We’re going to be able to buy a cheap Christmas tree and get twenty years out of it, so when you pro-rate it, this is something that we’re going to put up annually,” said Trecost on WAJR’s Talk of the Town. “Our administrator asked me what I wanted, and I said I wanted something beautiful, we want to make sure that everyone is included, and you know, we want to support our Christmas season as we go into Advent.”
Despite the 2-1 approval of the purchase, Trecost also addressed criticisms of the purchase, which used a portion of $200,000 entitled to the county as part of state-distributed gambling funds. Not only was their concern issued by Harrison County Commission President Susan Thomas, but also residents who expressed a desire to use the funds towards social services or other community needs. In response, Trecost mentioned that hundreds of thousands of dollars are allocated on an annual basis with the support of levy funds and other revenue sources.
“Some people complained about it and said that the money could’ve been spent on something else, but you know, the citizens of Monongalia County, Marion County, Harrison County, we all have levies,” said Trecost. “And our taxes go to feeding people, cleaning children’s teeth, and making sure they have eyewear,” he said.
The 20-foot commercial-grade Christmas tree is expected to arrive in Clarksburg this week from Bloomington, Minnesota, where it will be placed on the city courthouse square shortly after. This will be followed by an official lighting ceremony that will take place before Christmas and will take place around the same time as the popular Bridgeport event Light Up Night. With the ultimate goal of attempting to spread happiness and joy during the holiday season, Trecost supports the decision to purchase the reusable tree and hopes all of Harrison County’s over 65,000 residents will get to enjoy it.
“This is for everyone to enjoy and feel the spirit of Christmas as our advent season starts and hopefully feel good about themselves as they come to the Christmas Parade, come see our lights and what Christmas means to us,” Trecost.
The official date for the lighting of the new Christmas tree has yet to be announced.
Story by Mike Nolting, WAJR