The Calhoun County Commission met for the first official meeting with newly appointed Commissioner Lee Rush.
The first point of business was the special recognition of the Calhoun Middle High School Girls Volleyball Ball Team who won the LKC Volleyball Conference Championship. The commissioners Congratulated to Coaches Charlie Starcher, Samantha Miles and Jennifer Hoskins and the entire CMS Volleyball team on an outstanding season with only one loss. A Hometown Heroes certificate from the Commission was given to the team by the Commission. The girls were also awarded the Sportsman award from the Mid Ohio Valley officials.
Under delegations Hortz Motz spoke concerning the letter recently ran on the Ridgeview News from Sheriff Graham Knight regarding the failure to hire a School Resource Officer that had been promised and funded by the 2024 School Levy Passing. Mr. Motz commented that although the Sheriff said it was not his job because the person will be a school employee, he did not personally think that was the case. His reasoning was that the School Resource officer will fall under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff and for that reason the Sheriff should take owner ship of the hire. He further reasoned that if the school did the hiring the SRO would be nothing more than a securing guard and might possibly be inadequately trained to hand the situation where a law enforcement officer is already trained. “That money that is budgeted is tax dollars,” Mr. Motz said “They wouldn’t just work for the school. “I would advise the community to look at it and ask why we don’t have a resource officer, because we can’t get along. Let’s not dilly dally on this, it’s an important item.”
Mr. Motz also commented about some apparent comments that had been made by a Commissioner regarding the School Board not doing their job. Motz told them, “Don’t tell us we’re not doing our job. We are restricted to what we can and don’t have control over hiring. As commissioners how much due diligence do you do for your job. I voted for Jacob McCumbers because as far as his background, I had no idea. How can I know any of this unless people come to our meetings and talk about it. Don’t go out and just tell things on facebook. I can come in here and present my case, but I don’t expect a response. Give me a break. Your’e holding me responsible for something that happened ten years ago. I’ve attended more meeting than anyone here. I’m happy to see people come out and express themselves. But please give us a break. Don’t slander us by saying we are incapable of doing our job. Until you sit at our desk, you can not tell us what we’re not doing. We’re not there to hire and fire. The only person we can hire and fire is the superintendent. I can have questions. We are open to participation.”
Commissioner Eric Lupardus suggested that M. Motz speak to Sheriff Graham Knight about the Resource Officer hire. “Regarding your animosity toward the Commission,” Commissioner Lupardus said, “I answer to the people, not to the School Board. And the people have asked that we look into the School Board on recent incidents regarding the nine federal violations on the bus incident.”
At that time Mr. Motz ended the conversation stating that he did not expect a response from the Commission, nor should they provide one, that he had come to discuss the School Resource Officer.
The Calhoun Board of Education Violations have now been added to the next Calhoun County Commission Meeting on November 10th, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Sheriff Graham Knight was unable to attend last night’s Commission meeting due to surgery.
Under unfinished business a motion was made by Commissioner Rush and Seconded by Commissioner Lupardus to purchase a lawn mower for the County Park. The Lawnmower purchase was approved in a previous meeting but after the original approval, the price of the mower increased by $500.00. The Commission approved the purchase increase which was still below the two other bids that had been presented before.
In the matter of consideration of updating the Calhoun County Flood Plain Ordinance, 911 Director Kelli Barr informed the Commission that the ordinance does not require an update at this time.
Placed on the agenda following last month’s meeting, former Tax Deputy Trevia Fulks requested to be paid her vacation pay following retirement and had not received it. A letter from the Commission attorney stated that the Attorney had reviewed the process of Sheriff Graham Knight’s handling of the matter and the Attorney believed the Sheriff had acted appropriately. Mrs. Fulks however argued that the letter from the attorney stated that she had quit, when in actuality she had retired on August 29th.
Commissioner Lupardus informed Mrs. Fulks that their handling of the matter had been done in accordance with the employee handbook. He also gave commentary that the courthouse staff had been given the opportunity to participate in the revision of a staff handbook, but every office had refused.
Calhoun 911 Director Kelli Barr, requested and received the approval of the hiring of Eliza Burch as dispatcher.
A motion was made and passed for the Calhoun County Commission’s giving the Mt. Zion PSD $29,000 to fund a preliminary engineering study by Potesta Engineering. Clay County has already began laying the lines to connect to Calhoun County.
Commissioner Rush stated that as someone who had grown up in the West Fork area, and was all to aware of the issues of having water, he would would be very proactive in seeing this project come to fruition.
Commissioner Lupardus thanked resident Mickey Moore who was instrumental in the getting of signatures which moved the project forward.
A work session has been scheduled for December 4th, 2025 at the Calhoun County Park, prior to the Calhoun County Park Board meeting to discuss the Overlander’s Project. The Commission will meet with Board President Donnie Pitts and Overlander Jerry Bain to look at potential camp ground property.
WVAH, Channel 13 interviewed Commissioner Lupardus on the project. That interview can be viewed here.
The Commission and the Town of Grantsville will be cooperating in a Halloween Block part on November 1st, 2025.
Under Commissioner Reports, Commissioner Lupardus had been in contact with Charles Thomas regarding the Upper West Fork Park whose building was lost to a fire. Mr. Thomas informed the Commissioner that they continue to negotiate with the insurance and it’s looking as if the park will receive a new building. The are currently renting the Sycamore Room on the park for meetings and events.
Regarding the new phone system which will save the county thousands each year on expenses, the offices of Shelia Garretson, Circuit Clerk and Jason Nettles, Assessor declined to participate, choosing to continue to have their own separate lines. When the new phone system is installed, all offices can be reached under one number, except the two declining to participate. EDIT: AS of this morning the other offices have now chosen to participate in the phone system.
The Commissioners and County Administrator Jennifer Randolph have been working toward the installation of a much needed elevator for the courthouse. In their effort they requested letters of support from each office for the project. Sheriff Graham Knight was the only elected official in support of the project.
An audience member requested to know why elected officials had the right to determine whether the citizens were provided access to the courthouse or whether they could spend more money than necessary for a phone service. Ridgeview News would like the answer to that question as well.
The meeting was adjourned following the payment of bills and other general business matters
