From the inception of the Ridgeview News, one of the primary goals has been to keep the community aware of what’s happening with our local government and keep them accountable. We’ve suffered long enough at the hands of politicians who control the government for their own benefit without regard for the consequences to the citizens or whether or not it’s in the best interest of the County at all. Oppression and concealment have been their tactics of choice.
In two county offices Ridgeview News was forced to get agendas and court dockets through other officials because clerks flat out refused to provide them. The County and City both used the state code (which should be changed) saying that agenda’s are only required to be posted on a public bulletin board at their office, which very few people see. That tactic was always successful in keeping the public away from meetings and unaware of how county and city affairs were being handled. Praise God for other officials who stepped up and make sure I have agendas.
The Town of Grantsville still does not provide an agenda to the Ridgeview News and I am not always in town, or remember to look at their office door. I also believe I should not have to. If they cared about their citizens, they’d make sure the news was aware of their meeting times and agendas. But, they’d evidently prefer the community doesn’t know.
Add to that, the fact that every time there’s any questioning of the City’s finances, or the way they conduct business, the Mayor screams foul, and throws accusations against the requesters. Case in point a letter received by The 1982 Foundation the morning of August 22nd, 2024.
The Mayor clearly needs to do a little more research on what Crystal Mersh is permitted to do.
“Lobbyist” means any individual employed by a lobbying firm or who is otherwise employed or contracts for economic consideration, other than reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses, to communicate directly or through his or her agents with any elective state official, agency official or legislative official for the purpose of promoting, advocating, opposing or otherwise attempting to influence: (i) The passage or defeat or the executive approval or veto of any legislation which may be considered by the Legislature of this state; or (ii) The adoption or rejection of any rule, legislative rule, standard, rate, fee or other delegated legislative or quasi-legislative action to be taken or withheld by any executive department. W. Va. Code Ann. § 6B-3-1.
Mrs. Mersh owns property and businesses in the Town of Grantsville that are greatly effected by the decisions the Mayor and Council make. Should she, or anyone else not have the right to question the decision makers elected on her behalf?
The Mayor, who should have embraced The 1982 Foundation and their $9.9 Million personal investment and efforts in his town, as most every other city would have, has made it very clear that he will prevent any involvement of the Foundation with City Government. Every question of their expenditures leads to personal attack and threats. This behavior gives rise to concern of what’s going on behind the scenes of the Town of Grantsville.
Crystal Mersh responded with the following:
Government is to be held accountable to the citizens who elect them or are affected by their decisions. Businesses are to be held accountable by their stakeholders and boards. If a government is working to increase economic opportunity for those they serve, behavior such as that of Mayor Petrovsky would not have happened.
