At Monday’s Wood County Commission meeting, officials discussed the growing need for repairs at local community centers—and how to pay for them.
Leaders from the Waverly Activity Center, located in the former Waverly Elementary School, recently asked the county for help funding a $100,000 roof replacement. While they’re not asking one group to foot the entire bill, they’ve been actively fundraising to cover the cost.
So far, the Waverly Activity Center has raised more than $8,000, according to Chip Umstot, who leads both the Activity Center and the Waverly Volunteer Fire Department.
“We’re constantly applying for grants,” Umstot said in a phone interview after the meeting. “But a lot of those have specific purposes and deadlines.”
He emphasized that the roof repair is urgent and can’t be done in phases. “With a roof project, it’s all or nothing,” he said.
Why the Urgency?
The center’s insurance provider has made it clear: replace the roof or lose coverage. The deadline is late August.
Beyond serving as a gathering space, the Waverly center is used by SWAT teams and K-9 units for training, offering a unique school-like environment that can’t easily be replicated elsewhere.
“Everyone utilizes this facility because it’s a school environment,” Umstot noted.
County Leaders Urge Broader Solutions
While commissioners expressed support, Commission President Blair Couch cautioned against setting a precedent.
“If we help Waverly, the others will follow, and we’ll have a line at the door,” Couch said, pointing to other community centers in Williamstown, Vienna, Kanawha, Boaz, Washington Bottom, Lubeck, and Mineral Wells, which also need repairs.
Instead of relying solely on county funding, Couch encouraged community centers to explore grants and external resources.
One promising option may be funding through the West Virginia First Foundation, which is tasked with distributing the majority of the state’s $1 billion opioid settlement funds. Because many of these centers provide education, training, and wellness services, they could qualify for support.
Questions About the Funding Pipeline
Couch raised concerns about transparency in the West Virginia First Foundation’s funding process.
The foundation is supposed to be guided by regional panels offering recommendations to their representatives. Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce was elected as the District 3 representative, which includes Wood, Tyler, Pleasants, Ritchie, Wirt, Calhoun, Roane, and Jackson counties.
Couch said he wasn’t sure if the advisory panel had met or what recommendations had been made.
In previous statements, Joyce said he has been gathering feedback from leaders across the region. However, he did not return a phone message on Monday seeking comment.
What’s Next for Waverly?
With a deadline looming, Umstot says the Waverly Activity Center will continue fundraising and applying for any available grants. He acknowledges the challenge ahead but remains hopeful.
“There are a lot of groups out there in need of funding,” he said. “It’s not easy, but we’re doing everything we can to make it happen.”
As more community centers face aging infrastructure, county leaders and residents alike may need to get creative—and united—about finding funding solutions that keep these important public spaces open and safe.
