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New facility manager has plans for center

ELKINS — The Phil Gainer Community Center’s new facility manager is “really excited” about the position as he takes over during the center’s busiest time of the year.

Owen Peet, who has been facility manager for about three weeks now, said currently most of his new role is “getting everything set and working on the foundation.” Between the center’s high school basketball league and winter time rentals, he said there’s a lot going on right now.

“Right now we’re in such a busy time of the year just because it’s winter time and everybody is using the indoor space,” Peet told The Inter-Mountain Monday. “Right now I’m just trying to get used to running the building and getting through everything at this point.”

Having been with the Elkins Parks and Recreation Department for around four years as the youth development coordinator, Peet said he became very familiar with the facility manager position as he used to fill in for Chris Lee, the previous manager, from time to time.

Peet takes over for Lee, the center’s first facility manager, who, after almost nine years in the position, left in December to become the greater Elkins area program coordinator for Ascend West Virginia.

“I would like to thank everybody who gave me the opportunity to work in a job that had such awesome, positive community impact,” Lee told The Inter-Mountain in November. “I’m really looking forward  to continuing to work with these awesome people in the community.”

Peet said the transition between Lee’s departure and his taking over the position was “smooth.” Peet admitted, however, that the position isn’t exactly the same as it was under Lee, as Peet will still be assisting with responsibilities of the youth development coordinator position.

When asked if he had any plans or projects in the works as the new facility manager, Peet said his focus right now is on the building itself.

“I have some ideas, for sure,” Peet said. “A lot of it is just me trying to get some of the building projects done, just like maintenance and stuff like that. (Getting) all those things caught up is my main focus, really, at this point.”

Peet said some events planned at the center in the coming months include the Tygart Valley Lions Club Rifle Rally on Feb. 28 and March 1, the Randolph County Humane Society’s “Spayghetti” Dinner on March 8, and a new Our Town event featuring cars on March 29.

Starting at $3.92/week.

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