Published: November 05, 2009 09:57 pm      

Turnpike saves $100,000 with new policy on vehicles

CHARLESTON — Manager Greg Barr figures the West Virginia Turnpike has saved upward of $100,000 a year by ending its old policy of letting employees take state-owned vehicles home after a work shift.

In another matter Thursday before the state Parkways Authority, the executive director of the Tamarack Foundation urged the turnpike’s governing board to retain its annual $250,000 donation.

Barr advised the board the turnpike has a “zero” policy when it comes to allowing employees to drive to and from work in state vehicles.

That issue arose last month during legislative interims when an audit showed widespread use of state workers in other agencies using public vehicles.

Barr said the turnpike’s policy was imposed more than two years ago after Gov. Joe Manchin revised its mission by limiting it to merely maintenance of the toll road and putting it out of the business of economic development and tourism.

“We had about 22 maintenance employees that were on call and drove vehicles to and from their homes,” he recalled. “We did away with that.”

At the outset, there were some complaints about levels of service since some workers felt the use of state vehicles enabled them to reach accident scenes and road emergencies quicker.

“We’ve not seen that big a drop-off in the level of service,” Barr told reporters afterward.

Under the policy, workers must drive to a maintenance shop to get a truck before heading out to a crisis.

“Sometimes they may be driving by the accident on the way to get their truck to come back, but we have State Police on the scene to maintain safety and the emergency vehicles, ambulances, fire.”

Barr said some workers filed grievances, but the grievance board upheld the authority in all such challenges.

“And this has saved us about $65,000 to $100,000 a year,” he said.

Moreover, there has been no compromise of safety, he said, adding troopers maintain a 24/7 patrol so any problem can be dealt with quickly.

“We just looked at issues involved with the personal use of vehicles and decided it was best not to continue to do that,” he said.

Sally Barton, executive director of the Tamarack Foundation, appealed to the board to maintain its $250,000 outlay, but no immediate action was taken.

Barton said the money enables the foundation to leverage $2 million from other businesses and groups to help West Virginian artisans through a resource center in Beckley.

In one success story, she told of Coleen Hurley of Daniels, who concocted a unique men’s fragrance known as Gentleman’s Quarter and has successfully marketed it in foreign countries.

Barton referred to a recent Marshall University economic study showing Tamarack has had an $18.6 million impact on West Virginia’s economy, including a $400,000 boost in tax revenues.

“Tamarack is so much more than a store,” she added.

“Tamarack contributes significantly to our tourism industry and enhances our image.”

General counsel A. David Abrams said he is working in tandem with the secretary of state’s office on a policy for allowing groups to install kiosks on the turnpike.

One has been proposed at Tamarack by the Paint Creek Scenic Trail Association.

“I know there’s one other waiting in the wings,” Abrams said.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com