PARKERSBURG - As the Fort Boreman armory project picks up steam, county leaders are seeking better communication and insight from officials.

City officials have been working with the Wood County Economic Development Authority to secure a new National Guard armory/civic arena complex on Fort Boreman. Some county officials say they have been left out of the project.

Wood County commissioners Rick Modesitt and Blair Couch would like to be better informed as the project moves along.

"To be perfectly honest, we have been left in the dark," Modesitt said.

"We don't know where they are at or how we can be a part of this," Couch added.

The development authority recently obtained an option to purchase 200 acres near Fort Boreman Historic Park from the McDonough Corp. Boreman is inside city limits. Officials believe the armory project will also attract millions in business, retail and recreation development in the area.

Officials have been trying to put the project in play for several years, accompanying U.S. National Guard officials and U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va., to a similar project in Summersville and making a few trips to Washington, D.C., for face-to-face meetings.

"You have everybody rowing in the same direction," Modesitt said. "With the exception of the commission, who wasn't in the boat."

WCEDA President Keith Burdette said until recently there wasn't much information to provide.

"I don't want anybody to feel they weren't included," he said. "There wasn't a lot to include, but that is about to change."

More than $3.2 million has been appropriated by Mollohan for the engineering and design of a new National Guard armory. The money includes planning and design for a readiness center and field maintenance shop. Burdette said the money could be available to the Guard as early as January.

Meanwhile, the authority is working feverishly to knit a deal together that will allow the development to proceed.

In the coming weeks, Burdette said local government officials will have to make some decisions on the project.

"When the president signs the appropriations (bill) the money becomes available to the Guard and we will have a pretty short window in which to make some decision as to how, or who, participates," he said.

He noted the city of Parkersburg has yet to make any official decision.

"The members of the county commission know just as much as members of the city council," Burdette said. "Nobody should get bent out of shape yet."

In the coming days Burdette plans to make a presentation to the commission on the project. Mayor Bob Newell said he will send commissioners a letter on the project.

"There needs to be an overture to the county," Burdette said. "Not so much for money, but to see if the county wants to participate in the process."

Couch said he understand the need for Burdette and city officials to be the lead on this project.

"If they need our assistance, they will reach out," he said. "I trust Newell and the city and Keith. I am assuming at some point they will come forward and say 'Here's our plan and here's what we need from you.'"