The Town of Grantsville called an Emergency meeting for Monday, August 25th, 2025. According to Mayor Villines the utility company needs to purchase an additional truck to replace an aging dump truck that is in need of many repairs. The City will remove the dump bed from the old truck and install it to a 2008 Ford Truck with 120,000 miles on it. The purchase price is $8,900. Mayor Villines informed the council that the well maintained vehicle has a good engine, frame and does not use any oil. A motion was made by Councilwoman Emilee Morgan, seconded by Rissa Staples, with the motion being approved by all Council.
In addition to the Truck purchase Mayor Villines requested the hire of an additional sewer operator. With one certified Operator, and an Operator in Training, the Mayor requested the hire of an additional operator to cover when someone else is off or additional help is needed. Councilwoman Jess Metz made the motion to run an advertisement for the hire of a sewer operator, it was seconded by Councilwoman Tanya Cunningham and approved by all council.
Michael Zacharowitz, a relatively new Calhoun resident, addressed the council about his desire to serve the Grantsville Community as a Code Enforcer and eventually as an police officer. Having moved from New York, the 24 year old told the council and Mayor that he loved the community, is an extremely confident person and because he has no experience or biases with Calhoun, he believes he can be molded into what Grantsville needs.
The council will discuss his hire at the September 2nd, 2025 meeting and look over the resumes that will hopefully be submitted for the position of Town Recorder.
As the meeting came to a close, Grantsville resident Garnet Husk addressed the council regarding a letter she had received from the WV Attorney General that accused her of election fraud. “I’m pretty mad,” she said, “I did not have access to the ballots and I’ve been accused of opening the box to sign the ballots where there were four other workers present.” Ms. Husk said the person responsible for making this complaint needs to make a public apology.
Mayor Villines told Ridgeview News after the meeting that Garnet Husk and Emily Collins had both received letters from the Attorney General, but that the Town had video evidence that these accusations were unsubstantiated. Mrs. Collins was accused of having damaged the ballot box key and destroying ballots. An unnamed election worker was said to have confessed to opening the ballot box to sign ballots that were (in error) not signed at the time they were placed in the box by voters.
Mayor Villines apologized to Ms. Husk that she was going through this action.
I am glad the council approved getting a dump truck to replace the old one. The city workers have always had to use their equipment to the fullest because they have hardly had any time to give their machinery a rest because they were always trying to get things back into operation – As far as the code enforcer position- that is a good thing if the plan for metro government is where everyone wants to go-(Those of us who have lived thru that might have a different take- but as one very person told me- “What do you know” – Okay- But just know we lived it- and can do so again- so if you want to be NYC on a Calhoun budget- just let the citizens know what to expect before they vote on it-). My question is, after 6 or 7 audits were done because some citizens made the argument that Calhoun residents personal finances could not afford a water rate hike after not having one in 18 years- I think that was the number- then formed an O&M , which took internet funds (That were quite possibly going away anyway for lack of progress) and after spending that money on an O&M- we are told the O&M may be off the table because some are trying to get Hope Gas to buy it- ( Lets see your water rates after 12-18 months after- if they purchase) And could not afford a penny tax for the same reason- How can the citizens afford to pay a code enforcer and expect the citizens who could not afford a penny tax, no less, to comply with the oncoming violations and associated fines- Put liens on their properties? Garner social security checks? Or will our new county manager and political leadership devise a way to get them the funds and help those who are struggling financially to satisfy the code violaters violations. Are these codes standard all across West Virginia? Or will they be county specific? I am sure no civic leader would ever even think of encroaching on a private citizens property rights- without such a plan- Sounds like the town may possibly be getting an HOA whether they like it or not- without the monthly fees- yet- sadly, this was one of the reasons people left L.A., NYC and Chicago and Philly, and N.J. – just to name a few- Be careful what you wish for – someone may give it to you anyway- like it or not. Also- is there any word when the people who have been asking to get water service and internet will get it. We cannot get text messages at our house because of lack of service-When verification to our phone is required we cannot do it unless we are in town- We are also forced to have a landline because of limited cell service. Will the code enforcer fix that? God Bless! Please be sure to make your voices known- Our political leaders decisions affect everyone.