Briscoe settling in as Oak Hill mayor

Sep. 30—oak hill — Charles Briscoe is still maneuvering through a learning curve as he adjusts to the mayor's seat in Fayette County's largest municipality.

In June, Briscoe unseated incumbent Danny Wright in the mayoral race, becoming the city's first Black mayor in the process.

Born and raised in nearby Fayetteville, Briscoe, 57, now an Oak Hill resident, said recently he's "learning a lot" as his first term in office advances. To do so, he's accepting advice from council elders and city administrators.

"I'm not a politician," he said recently. "I kinda got into this because I wanted to help the community a little bit."

Briscoe said he had earlier approached council about some flooding issues on Riner Avenue and it took him a while to get satisfaction.

Eventually, he said he saw that Wright was running unopposed and thought, "I'll run and see what happens."

Looking ahead, Briscoe says, "We've definitely got to work on flooding, which we are doing. A retaining pond is going in now over by Solid Rock (Worship Center). We're working on that with the drainage issues. The effort they've put in has been wonderful."

Also, the city has been addressing sewer rates in recent weeks. "That's been a hot-button issue for a lot of folks."

"When I ran, I said I wanted to make sure the voices of the people are heard," Briscoe said. "I know we have a city manager (Damita Johnson), and she does a great job.

"(Besides offering input) I'm here to kiss the babies, do the proclamations, you know, be the face. And moderate the meetings.

"I know there may be a time when I have to make a vote or something (to break a council tie in the city's city manager-strong scenario). I just want the people to know that, when that does happen, it will be well thought out.

"I'm not going to say that I'm going to make all the right decisions on things, but I'm going to do my very best, and I'm going to learn and listen, especially listen, and try to make informed decisions."

For Oak Hill, a city of about 8,000 residents, to move forward, Briscoe said, "I would like to see some higher-paying positions like manufacturing. We have a little bit of space left (to perhaps locate a facility)."

And, he said that can be done without marring the beauty of the city. "It's nice to keep it Mayberry, but I'd like a nice little little mix of Mayberry and Pittsburgh."

The city can retain its small-town charm, including murals already in place and others being discussed, but "we can still have good jobs here."

Having some type of factory with better-paying jobs might keep more residents or their family members closer to home, he said. When asked if there are concrete opportunities for manufacturing, he said, "Not officially."

"If you want people here, they're going to have to have something," he said. "They can come and they can visit and they can leave, and that's what's been happening. I'd like to see people come, stay for a while and maybe live here, make a life here. It's a great place to live."

He says he'd also like to see the current business roster remain, and be expanded upon.

"We have a lot of entrepreneurs here, so I'd like to see that continue. A lot of good businesses," Briscoe added. He said he'd like to branch out from what includes a large number of restaurants and expand the offerings in the business base.

Briscoe said city employee Alison Ibarra is spearheading some economic development initiatives.

Along the parks and recreation, tourism and community front, Briscoe said he "would love to see a public pool somewhere in the area."

The city is also working on a veterans memorial, for which it is still seeking a location. "I wouldn't mind personally seeing it going in the bank building (bought by the city earlier this year with the plan to move city hall there, a move which has since been nixed)," he said. "I figure that would be a good use for that building." There have been no concrete discussions to that end, he said.

The city should take advantage of its numerous trails, and areas such as Needleseye Park and Concho "are going to be quite popular." The city's dog park is a solid resource, too, he said.

Briscoe is an avid photographer who focuses in part on capturing images of older architecture and some landscapes. He is employed by Raleigh County Community Corrections.

"Folks have welcomed me, and I think they've welcomed the change," he said.

Email: skeenan@register-herald.com;

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