The Charleston Daily Mail provides some answers to my South Charleston Tech Park questions.

• Dow Chemical Co. pays $10 million annually ($7.8 million net) for upkeep, but the State’s going to manage to reduce that amount to $1.8-$1.9 million?  Who says the government isn’t more efficient than the private sector?!?  Still a deficit mind you, but a pretty amazing proposed accomplishment by the agile and efficient public sector.
• The State is going to tear down an old building.  Who’s paying for that?
• Dow is throwing in $10 million to get rid of the property?!?  Because they’re such strong supporters of the State of West Virginia and the Kanawha Valley?  Someone might want to check with the Valley’s many former Dow employees.
• The State will use federal stimulus money to convert one building into a “green” building and save $1 million in heating costs?  How much will that cost?  How long will it take to accomplish?
• “I still think it could serve as a catalyst for West Virginia University and Marshall University.”  Just like the West Virginia University Research Park and Huntington’s Kinetic Park?
• “He said it is projected that by the end of 2012 the park will be home to 300 jobs with an average salary of $100,000 a year.”  I’d love to see the basis for those projections.
• “The governor said he’s asked stakeholders to come back Monday with recommendations on what should be torn down, renovated or otherwise changed.  He promised that all of the figures will be made public … WHEN THE STATE HAS A FINAL PLAN.”  (Emphasis mine, of course.)

I think we have our answer.  The Governor did not need to use the word “FINAL.”  I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.  I hope everyone can come up with a plan before next Tuesday.