The Town of Grantsville met Monday, November 4th, 2024 at the Town Hall.
Minutes were approved for October 7th, 14th and the 24th meetings.
Under citizens concerns, Robert Marks mentioned an issue with a storm drain on River Street to which the Mayor assured him they’d take a look at it.
With regard to the “Mayors Communication” the consolidation of the Town and two local Public Service Districts was discussed. Mayor Petrovsky stated for the update on the O&M that one truck was purchased and they were waiting to pick up a second. Ari White, President of the Mt. Zion PSD had broken the necessary purchases down to agency responsibility so that each would know what they were responsible for. The Mayor stated that a good ledger would need to be kept to present to the County Commission along with the invoices of items purchased.
Melissa Keener, stated that she had given a reimbursement to the Pleasant Hill PSD for their share of the truck.
The Mayor thanked outgoing recorder Judy Powell for her contributions to the town, and congratulated her on her retirement.
Regarding the appointment of Emily Collins for recorder, the Mayor stated that following an advertisement in the Chronicle to hire a recorder, Mrs. Collins was the only letter submitted for the position and was hired. The Mayor also said that there had been some mention of the hiring on the web(social media), “The usual blah, blah, blah’s; but the fact of the matter is, everything was done the way we do it, accordingly, the agenda was posted, we had one letter, we had the meeting, and there you have it.”
He also stated that anyone who “sits up here is a community servant, no one’s getting rich,” saying also that there was no agency more audited and scrutinized than theirs. He gave kudos to the work that had been done on the park that was being used by the community, that they managed to get accomplished in the “power struggle.”
A discussion was made as to what signage would be done at the Park. Councilwoman Cheryl Sturm suggested that the Career Center be considered and agreed to look into the specifics and costs for a 4×4 foot sign.
No New business.
Committee Reports: The Halloween party was considered a success.
Judy Powell reported on finances, stating that the Town had “dipped into the water,” for which the Mayor clarified that he had been told that they were using the money that had been set aside to pay back the 60% water rate increase should the WV PSC rule against them and they be required to pay back the money that customers are paying for the emergency increase that the Town put into effect. The Mayor said that they had to dip into that fund in order to pay their bills. He then asked how much they’d used of those funds to which Emily Collins responded, “Over seven thousand dollars.”
Judy Powell stated that when they did payroll the morning of November 4th there was $755 dollars in the water account. Emily Collins then said it was close $8,000 without the 60%. Ms. Powell added that they were keeping two registers, one with the rate increase and one without. But they had dipped into the money set aside for the 60% by almost $8,000, Mrs. Collins said again.
Mayor Petrovsky said “So we’ve dipped into it and we’ll have to see what happens but I’d like that documented in the minutes so that when we brush over it and talk about it we’ll all understand that we have these issues and the WVPSC will be able to see it.” He noted his frustration saying that if people don’t want him and the council in office, that’s fine but who’s going to do it?
Mrs. Collins added that the problem would be there regardless of who’s in office.
The Mayor added in a partly garbled statement that an article appeared by either Shari Johnson or The 1982 Foundation saying something about a rate increase, but that was misunderstood because the only rate increase they’d recently had was one that was incorporated into the water project. This was not a statement by the Ridgeview or The 1982 Foundation but rather it appeared in a guest writer column by a College Student who took it upon herself to investigate the antics of the City Government. The Mayor stated that the increase was not for expenses but rather it was for the bond repayment on what the town owes for that project. He accusingly said that “Miss Page (the Ridgeview News guest writer) was on the agenda with that group,” complaining that all other utilities could raise their rates but not the town and nobody was petitioning the gas and electric company or saying it was a social injustice for those on a fixed income. He added that it “was personal when you don’t do what they want,” for which he has said from the beginning.
Emily Collins made additional financial reporting providing a statement to the council showing invoices of unpaid bills. The water bills which are $18,290.00 combined, were listed individually by the Mayor including the Pleasant Hill PSD tank fee of $250., U.S.A Bluebooks – $243.00, Frontier – $482.57, Phoenix Solutions for Chemicals – $4,298.00, Pace Testing $207.00, Waste Management – $69.02, Robinson and McElwee – $1,000; which Emily stated was a minimum payment required, but was corrected by Ms. Powell, saying that it was not a minimum payment required, but it was all the Town could afford to pay of the $12,159.00 owed to that company.
There seemed to be some confusion at the table when Emilee Morgan (on behalf of Linda Staton as well) asked a question on how the document was listing a payment. Emily Collins said that those bills had not been paid. Linda Staton then asked if Emily Collins had deducted the $1,000 from the $12,159.00, at which time Judy Powell stated they’d paid $2,000 on that bill. The Mayor chimed in saying that the $12,000 was factored into the $18,000 that the water plant owed, and that “just because we can’t pay the $12,000.00 doesn’t mean it goes away.”
Linda Staton continued to question the theory of how Mrs. Collins listed the financials. Emily said this was just to give them an idea of what the bills looked like and what they’d like to pay but that they’d not actually been paid so therefore they couldn’t be deducted.
The Mayor attempted to clear the confusion up with the council, but didn’t seem to accomplish that.
A motion was then made to pay the bills and the meeting ended.
Commentary: I attempted to report this meeting without comment, but because the Mayor, once again, brought The Ridgeview News into his meeting with the complaint that my reporting was personal, I felt the need to clarify.
I have yet to meet in person college student Makahla Page who is the person referred to by the Mayor. She messaged me stating that she had been following (on her own) the issues with the Town Council, and asked if I would print an article with the findings of her investigative reporting. I was thrilled that a young person had taken it upon themselves to have an interest in local government, so of course I agreed. Makahla does not have any affiliation with myself or The 1982 Foundation, other than she is a fan of the project.
The Mayor accused Makahla of being a “mole for The 1982 Foundation,” which was unwarranted and beyond excusable from a government official.
As for any reporting being personal. That accusation is as unprofessional as his statement to the young reporter. Nothing on the Ridgeview is false or fabricated, but rather reporting what they say, and leaving the community to sort out whether it’s to their benefit or not. No agendas or official notifications are provided to the Ridgeview News or The Calhoun Chronicle which could encourage attendance, but rather than allow the citizens to know what’s happening within the walls of city government, they chose to blame agencies who want nothing more than to know how they’re handling public funds. As for the gas and electric companies not being questioned, that’s not true either. But those agencies followed state procedures.
