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ELKINS -- Four local legislators discussed tourism issues during the annual Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon this week at The Arts Center.
Delegate Ty Nestor, R-District 66; Delegate Elias Coop-Gonzalez, R-District 67; state Sen. Robert Karnes, R-11th District; and state Sen. Bill Hamilton, R-11 District, attended the event. Sidney Megna, who was the 2021 American Legion Auxiliary Rhododendron Girls State governor, served as moderator.
Megna asked the legislators if they had any specific bills or ideas about promoting recreation in the Mountain State.
Nestor said he has backed several bills in an attempt to bring more visitors to the state.
"Obviously we have a lot of attractive things in this state," said Nestor. "We have developed many bills to try to make West Virginia more attractive. Whether it's opening up sectors of state-owned properties for recreational use for things such as being able to ride e-bikes on trails. Or another thing is opening trails for things such as ATVs and UTVs in the hopes of getting people to come to West Virginia for recreation.
"We would like them to come here, spend their money and see what we do have to offer. Let them recognize our beauty and decide if they want to build a business here or otherwise retire and reside here."
Coop-Gonzalez said he wanted to come at the subject from a different angle.
"I think the way you ask your question suggests that not having tourism is a reason we don't have economic growth in West Virginia," Coop-Gonzalez said. "That is true to an extent, but really when it comes down to it, I see people move to where the jobs are. And the way to create jobs is to have a competitive tax structure...
"Business owners here in the area tell me they have other businesses in Pennsylvania, Virginia and other places, and West Virginia is the hardest to deal with. The HB 2526 tax package was a huge, huge step in the right direction and we are not only going to be a lot more competitive with states in the immediate area, but across the United States."
Bill 2526 reduces tax this year by an average of 21 percent and also provides for a number of refundable tax credits for payment of property taxes.
Karnes spoke specifically about broadband in the Mountain State.
"I don't know if people are aware but in the last couple of years we've had several different things related to broadband and bringing more broadband into the area," he said. "It's a pretty important topic to me both personally and professionally.
"I've always put up with slow internet in West Virginia because I was determined to live here…The infrastructure just isn't there... We are working on solving the problems from an infrastructure perspective.
"I do think it's important, but I don't think it's stopping businesses from coming to West Virginia necessarily, because we do have pockets of high speed internet," Karnes said. "But we are working at it and we're going to keep at it."
Hamilton talked about how he has shunned several bills that go against preserving certain areas in West Virginia.
"As the chair of Natural Resources and Agriculture, the biggest thing I have to tell delegates and senators, is no, can't run that," Hamilton said.
"As far as recreational activities, we've had bills the last four or five years where they want to put ATVs, UTVs and Jeeps on the Appalachian Trail, and they want to put them in our state parks. And I stopped the bill right where it began...
"Those state parks and the state forests were set aside for a purpose," Hamilton said. "And you don't want to get out there and, say you're hunting like I do, and hear an ATV or UTV coming."
All proceeds from the luncheon will go to support the tuition costs for two local students who will attend American Legion Auxiliary West Virginia Rhododendron Girls State.