The Calhoun County Commission met at Tuesday, September 26, 2024 for four matters of business followed by Commissioner interviews and possible appointment.
Prior to the interviews a motion for a budget transfer from the stabilization fund to the general fund in the amount of $100,000 was passed without discussion.
Motions were made and carried by the Commissioners to give $17,000 to cover recent flood damages to the Upper West Fork Community Park. Items included a new sound system, storage units, commercial ice maker, 3 refrigerators, stove, chairs, carpet, pop cooler and replacement of lost food. When Steve Boggs questioned why the county was putting money into the park again that was still in a floodplain, Commissioner Helmick quipped back “You want to close the park?”
Steve Boggs responded he too lived in that area, but that it was his concern for putting money into the park when something else could be done.
Anita West, Upper West Fork Park board member, informed Mr. Boggs that the park had put $89,000 (provided by the Calhoun County Commission) into the park to build a retaining wall, dredging the river and bank work in hopes of preventing the flooding. She also stated that this was a “one in a million” flood that wouldn’t likely occur again. They had considered moving the park but there is not enough room on the property for both the community building and the fire department. They’re now planning to meet with FEMA, Mid Ohio Valley Regional Commission and Calhoun Emergency Services to see if anything can be done. “Withholding the money would be a crime,” she concluded.
Steve Boggs asked if the Commission would again give $17,000 to the park if there was future flooding, to which Helmick responded. “We probably will.”
When Crystal Mersh asked how many families on the West Fork were effected or displaced on the West Fork because of flooding, no county official could provide the information.
Helmick remarked that “The County couldn’t hand out money to individuals.” This was not the information Mrs. Mersh had requested, she only wanted to know if the county officials were aware that individuals had suffered loss as well, and wondered if the county had reached out to them in any way.
A second request was for CRI for $5,000 for community provision of food, hygiene items and help with utility bills. Commissioner Helmick said it was a very worthy cause, the motion was made, seconded and passed by both Commissioners.
A third request was made by the Calhoun County Livestock Program in Arnoldsburg for assistance in building repairs. The amount request of $7348 would cover cabinets, plumbing, tables and chairs. The motion was made, secondeded and passed by both Commissioners without discussion.
Crystal Mersh directed a question to Craig Arthur as to why the County had not requested a financial statement to prove need and due diligence of financial accountability as previously mentioned in another meeting would be done. Commissioner Helmick took great offense to the question, saying that the Livestock Program didn’t have any money and they (the Commission) had never asked for that before. So it causes one to question, how does Mr. Helmick know that the Livestock organization or any other organization needs money without knowing the condition of their finances? In less than a half hour the Calhoun County Commission had handed out $29,348 without so much as a question as to the validity of the requests and within the next half hour, Sheriff Graham Knight was seeking grant money to fund a necessary expenditure of air conditioning in the Circuit Court because the county didn’t have that money in their budget or were not willing to use it for that. It wasn’t said as to why they had to seek grant funding, only that they were, because this is how they paid for $65,000+ in concrete steps.
The subject also arose regarding the fiscal responsibility of any agency that would allow Minnie Hamilton to use the Livestock Property rent free. Property for which they had purchased for $100.00. Although there was nobody off hand who could remember seeing the property go up for sale. And if it did it was buried somewhere in the legal section of a newspaper and unseen. Else, surely a few acres and a commercial building would have gone for far more than $100.
This is the continued frustration of the County Citizens to know that not only is money spent haphazardly, its’s awarded without regard for accountability or with the understanding that the County should be taking care of itself before others.
A resolution to apply for grant funding for the expense of the Air Conditioner was passed, but unread.
The final part of the Commission meeting was the interviews, done in executive session, a return from executive session and consideration of appointment for a Commissioner to replace the exited Matt Walker.
Commissioner Helmick made motions, which all died, without Commissioner Arthur to second or the appointment of 1) Carl Collins, 2) Alice Holmes, 3) Ralph Cunningham and 4) Ari White.
Commissioner Craig Arthur twice made a motion for the hiring of Eric Lupardus, but the motion died without a second from Commissioner Helmick.
With this stalemate the Calhoun Republican Executive Committee will now present three names for consideration. Once presented, Commissioner Helmick will make the first strike from the list, the second strike will be made by Commissioner Arthur and the last person standing will be the appointed Commissioner. However, the Calhoun County Commission are still within their right to appoint a Commissioner within the 30 days from the vacancy if an agreement can be reached.
3-10-7. If a quorum of the county commission fails to make an appointment within 30 days, the county executive committee of the same political party with which the person holding the office preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred, shall submit a list of three legally qualified persons to fill the vacancy. Within 15 days from the date on which the list is received, the county commission shall appoint a candidate from the list to fill the vacancy. If the county commission fails to make the appointment within the specified time, then the county commissioner with the longest tenure shall eliminate one name from the submitted list, followed by the county commissioner with the second-longest tenure then eliminating one name from the submitted list. The name remaining after those two names have been eliminated shall be deemed to be appointed by the county commission to fill the vacancy.
The next Commission meeting will be set for the 10th of October, 2023 at 9 a.m.
