Capitol Building Commission approves renovation projects for Holly Grove, other projects
By Steven Allen Adams, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia agency that approves improvements to the State Capitol Building and other properties on the Capitol grounds signed off on renovations to the historic Holly Grove mansion and upgrades to Capitol bathrooms and conference rooms.
However, there was no talk at Wednesday’s meeting of the Capitol Building Commission regarding the historic and allegorical mural project in the upper rotunda of the State Capitol Building after it was revealed that the commission had no role in the project since a 2010 vote.
The commission was also not involved in the inclusion at the 11th hour of Babydog, Gov. Jim Justice’s English bulldog companion, in one of the first four murals that were dedicated on West Virginia Day last month. But a Kanawha County attorney and his client were in attendance at Wednesday morning’s meeting as they consider bringing a lawsuit over the project.
Attorney Harvey Peyton of the Nitro-based Peyton Law Firm is representing Gregory S. Morris of Huntington. Peyton said his client is considering a lawsuit against the state Department of Arts, Culture and History, the Capitol Building Commission, and other state agencies involved in the mural project and the lack of followed processes under state law.
Peyton said he has filed a 30-day notice to WVDACH and other state agencies of his intentions to sue. State law requires a 30-day notice before filing suit against the state, with all state agency lawsuits filed in the Kanawha County Circuit Court. However, Peyton said he is still gathering information and documents to determine if a lawsuit is worth pursuing.
