Limited Time Offer. Become a Founder Member Now!

Commission requests proof of willing sellers before supporting National Park Service land acquisitions

October 01, 2025 | Fayette County, West Virginia


This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »

Commission requests proof of willing sellers before supporting National Park Service land acquisitions
A National Park Service (NPS) representative, Andrew Steele, briefed the commission on two proposed property transfers in Fayette County: a 10‑acre parcel with an existing parking lot near the Endless Wall Trail and a separate 148‑acre forested tract near the confluence of the Gauley and Meadow rivers.

Steele said the NPS’s acquisitions would preserve forested land and potentially provide trail connections, parking expansion and interpretive signage near historic sites. Commissioners pressed the NPS for written documentation that each property is a willing sale and asked whether the federal government would compensate the county for any lost property tax revenue. The NPS representative said the purchases involve willing sellers for at least some parcels but that the federal government does not pay county tax revenue on acquired parcels.

Because the commission did not find a willing‑seller statement in the meeting packet, commissioners declined to endorse the proposed transfers at the meeting and asked NPS staff to return with clear seller documentation and additional materials. The NPS agreed to follow up and to meet with county administration for further discussions.

Ending: The commission requested willing‑seller letters and additional documentation; no county endorsement or support letter for acquisition was approved during the meeting.

View full meeting

This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.

View full meeting