Dear Citizens of Calhoun County,
I am writing to discuss current community matters and how we desperately need to work together to be more effective.
Regarding the recent unsafe structures ordinance, we held two public hearings before its passage. Only one citizen attended our meeting and raised concerns during that time, and we considered his recommendations before proceeding and worked with him to change the language. This ordinance was passed unanimously by all three commissioners believing we had worked with all who was not satisfied. However, I believe it’s crucial to revisit this ordinance, I now see we did not provide enough time to properly allow citizens time to review it in its entirety. By revisiting this it will help ensure our actions truly serve the best interests of Calhoun County citizens. I am committed to protecting what individuals have worked their entire lives to build, and I have submitted a revised working draft of the unsafe structures ordinance, which will be available at our next meeting. I want to thank Mr. Lott and Mr. Krack for their open concerns to the ordinance, which helped me identify loopholes that future commissions could potentially abuse. Mr. Krack brought up a very valid point on the importance of accessing your government and attending meetings. We must work together to improve and by circling back around to this hopefully proves we are listening and want to work with you.
I strongly encourage everyone to attend our commission meetings. We hold two meetings a month, with one evening session specifically scheduled to accommodate those who cannot attend during the day. We understand some of you are upset, and we want to provide every opportunity for you to express your concerns directly to us where we can work together on a solution. As commissioners, our decisions must reflect the majority of the county. We offer more accessibility than ever before through our two monthly meetings, an office with an administrator (who can be reached at 304-354-0044), and you can also email me at elupardus@prime-energyllc.com, message me on social media, or leave a message if I am not in the office.
Moving forward requires us to work together. It’s natural to have differing opinions, and in the past, people would resolve issues collaboratively. We must stop belittling one another on social media and instead focus on cooperation. Please give this new commission an opportunity to work for you. We can be our own worst enemy. For instance, when our agenda item “Consider Upper West Fork Station for Ambulance/Sheriff” was posted on Facebook, what appeared to be a recognized need for law enforcement to be present and reduce response times in emergencies on the southern end of the county unfortunately became an opportunity to disparage our officers with negativity. We currently have only one full-time deputy and one part-time deputy; just two years ago, we only had our sheriff. We have 6,000 citizens to protect with the small staff we have. I am very thankful to them for all the hard work they put in. Starting July 1st our Sheriff’s Office will now has the largest budget in history which includes salaries for additional officers. We are making progress, and it is challenging to encourage deputies to move here when they encounter such negativity and feel unwanted or appreciated. I fully support the hard work our Sheriff’s Office is doing. This issue alone has more far-reaching effects than one might realize.
Early in the year I made a statement during a commission meeting how I felt it may be beneficial for an emergency services building or station be located on the Upper West Fork to also house the fire department in addition to being an emergency shelter, EMS station and Sheriffs satellite office due to the flooding in that area affecting accessibility to the building. I was informed that the fire department was satisfied with their existing fire house and I respect that decision as it was theirs to make. At no time has it been discussed to combine or close any fire departments, as some rumors have suggested.
The project talks came to a halt for the EMS/Sheriff/Shelter when the person at the time working to find a funding source was instructed to cease further volunteer efforts to help this particular project. Myself and Commissioner Arthur feel it deserves to be on the agenda and back up for consideration.
Calhoun will recieve an almost heaven swing! Something we should be excited about but no it has to be used to divide the citizens. The 1982 Foundation applied for the swing three years ago when they first become available. I was asked to check on the status since I have been working in the same circles at the state level for a trail system that will run through the county. At that time no other application for a swing had been submitted and to my knowledge no other organizations have submitted an official application in the county. Mr. Pitts, park president, called one day stating the park is interested in a swing, I informed him the 1982 Foundation submitted a proposal and it was being considered by the state. I never advised him to not pursue a swing or that I would not write a letter of support which I most definitely would had if this was something they wished to pursue. At that time Mr. Pitts said to me that “as long as the county gets one I am happy” and that they would no longer pursue it. I believe he understands the importance Avalon will have on attracting people to our region. I have enjoyed working with Mr. Pitts and look forward to continuing in the future as our park is absolutely amazing. In addition to the Dark Skies a first of its kind overland adventure park is being discussed which will compliment the trail system very nicely.
When the division of tourism visited calhoun to determine a location for the swing they stated how the Avalon Campus is exactly what they are looking for due to the economic hub and amount of traffic flow it is already generating from the pool. They received a tour of the school which seemed to leave them excited to be a part of history as the Division of Tourism will soon make a venture announcement that will easily help others to understand their decision in choosing this historical site. The state committee selected the site themselves. In order to recieve a swing an application must be submitted and the decision is solely with the committee at the state level. The swing location was never a decision in which the county commission could had made.
We have had opportunities for growth in the past, such as the prison and the Little Kanawha Parkway, but these opportunities seem to have been missed. I love living in the country and enjoying its seclusion, but it’s disheartening to see our children graduate and be forced to move away, causing our population to continuously decline year after year. We need jobs, and that means we need industry. I’ve stated this many times: we may never be a metropolis, but we can provide better jobs for our families. While the oil and gas industry supports the majority of our county, many have to leave home to work in it. This creates shortages of coaches, volunteers, and community leaders. Let’s support business growth and give parents the opportunity to coach their kids’ T-ball teams.
Finally, regarding working together, let’s keep national politics at the national level. For years, this county voted strictly one way, and now it has flipped to the opposite majority. Let’s stop the gossip and political drama from the courthouse and throughout the county and give the voters the changes they voted for. If we fail, the naysayers will be happy; if we succeed, we all win! The commission will never vote on matters like Roe v. Wade, same sex marriage, immigration, or whether you can have a pop while receiving benefits, so Democrats, Independents, and Republicans in our county should be able to look past those differences we often see on the main stream media and work together for the betterment of Calhoun County. What are we teaching our children? The true beauty of Calhoun are the people so lets try and do better because we are much better than what the world is seeing from the outside looking in.
We are making tons of progress. I can reach our senators and delegate to discuss projects, commissioners are attending trainings and networking with other county’s, Calhoun is now actively participating in an LEPC (emergency planning) committee, and honestly so much more. We are not trying necessarily so much to change but instead sustain and evolve.
We truly do have the best people willing to step up and help anyone in need from bingos to church fundraising events. When traveling I brag on this fact often. While we all need to stand our ground firmly but we can do it respectfully! We can no longer be a county divided.
Sincerely,
Eric J. Lupardus
Calhoun County Commissioner
304-354-0044
All county officials are welcome to submit letters and notifications to Ridgeview News for the purpose of keeping the citizens advised of matters you’re concerned with. Open, non-derogatory conversations are healthy for a community and will keep us growing.
Shari Johnson, Publisher
Cautiously impressed!
I personally appreciate the effort of Councilman Eric Lupardus to reach out to us the people of Calhoun.
I myself will make an effort to attend the council’s next meeting. I know many people do not know about the ordinance or about its consequence.
Again thank you Councilman Lupardus.
For anyone reading this with skepticism , I worked closely with the commissioners on both ordinances recently adopted as well as the law office utilized by the county for revisions and I can state categorically I found no ill intent to the residents of Calhoun . Moving here from the city , for me to say the government showed no signs of ill intent means ” NONE WAS FOUND “! Now then , I still have my reservations centered on application of the ordinances and the potential weaponization of them by future commissioners but i do not have that concern with Our fine current commissioners . Keep up the Great job gentleman .