It was a banner December for retailers and restaurants at the Highlands in Ohio County. County commissioners say Christmas sales for the new economic development were better than anticipated.

According to Ohio County Commissioners, it was a very, merry Christmas for businesses at the Highlands for 2009. With the high amount of traffic, commissioners say sales exceeded expectations.

Ohio County Commission President Randy Wharton says, "it was very busy shopping. Restaurants were busy with the addition of the car lots, as well as West Liberty University. It was really gratifying to see people that live here and work here can now spend here and stay here and do all their Christmas shopping so that's something that everyone's happy about. We've had a lot of positive comments in the community about that and we look forward to that continued into 2010, also."

Speaking of 2010, Wharton says a private developer is now eying the Highlands for a new hotel. He says the construction of one is certain, if not more.

"I think that there's definitely a need to look at a second one if that would be able to present itself. It will probably be done in the private sector."

As for other projects for the upcoming year, Wharton says they will continue to work on leases for the first floor of the West Liberty University building and begin building other stores to open in the spring.

But for now, it's focusing on what needs to be done with the current construction projects.

"Just mainly finishing everything we've started. Try to get everything under control up there and then come back out the latter part of 2010 a lot stronger and take a look at what we need to do to diversify the site a little more and make it economically strong as we move into the next two years."