November Commission Meeting – Funding Miss Daisy

The information to follow is not opinion, but the facts recorded from the Calhoun County Commission’s November Meeting. The headline refers to the continued bail outs without the consideration of the cause and effect of County finances. I’ll leave you to make your own opinion of their decisions.

Prior to the Calhoun County Commission meeting the Board of canvassing began with the ordering of a $300 bond. The precinct chosen for canvassing was Precinct 6.

Shortly after 9 a.m. the Calhoun County Commission meeting was called to order. The minutes of the October 15, 2024 and November 1, 2024 (Emergency Meeting) were approved.

Speaking first under delegations was Julie Posey of the Little Kanawha Area Community Foundation providing a report on their contributions to the Counties of Calhoun, Wirt and Gilmer. Ms. Posey provided a list of seven of the contributing factors of LKACF that they wanted to bring awareness of:

Building endowment funds having given 1.8 million dollars given thus far.
LKACF is growing, having awarded $67,000 in grants and scholarships including those to the Arnoldsburg VFD, Grantsville City park and the Calhoun county park.
Funded by multiple individuals, managing 17 different funds
Super resourceful, partnering with the PACF
Local with deep roots in the community
They are here for you
They need your help to grow, share our work with your colleagues, get involved and donate if possible.

Also speaking under delegations was Crystal Mersh on behalf of the American Medicines Company. Mrs. Mersh told the Commission that “We have traction. The project (American Medicine Company) is moving with great speed and the company has been very busy. With the incoming administration this is not new territory. The Trump administration has been involved earlier with the company Phlow. A meeting is being scheduled at the state level, having requested meetings with incoming Senator Justice, Governor Morrisey and Delgate Roger Hanshaw to prepare to put our final offer on the table.” She believes the manufacturing opportunity will come and she’s hoping it’s coming to Calhoun County, West Virginia. Mersh closed saying that “With this there is no margin for error and we have to do it right, well, and ‘all-in’ or we’ll do a great dis-service to our county and state.”

President of the Commission Craig Arthur told Mrs. Mersh that this was exciting news, and he was looking forward to updates.

Calhoun 911 reported that the October dispatches included, Arnoldsburg VFD – 4, WVDNR – 2, Calhoun 911 – 63, Calhoun Sheriff – 137, Grantsville VFD – 18, Minnie Hamilton EMS – 80.

Jason Wilson, director of the Minnie Hamilton EMS reported their activity which included 22 ALS transports, 19 BLS transports, 5 runs canceled in route, 2 Dead on arrival, 10 runs refused, and 2 standbys.

Staff member Jordan will finish medic class, and will take her medic test December 7, followed by orientation to get her on the road as a paramedic. They also have 2 other staff members in class to become paramedics and hired a new driver who is in EMT class.

Minnie Hamilton will be providing a class on auto extrication and patient care – at the Arnoldsburg Clinic with the cost covered by Minnie Hamilton on Saturday, November 16th, 2024.

Following Mr. Wilson’s Minnie Hamilton report, he made a statement regarding the County Emergency Services as a whole, saying that he (on his own behalf) wanted to address the matter with the commission. “We have an issue in this county tearing down our house from within. Emergency services are fighting within and we need to figure out a way to stop it. Agency and individual information is being spoken about including slander. Any elected or non-profit who cannot put aside their personal agenda is not a leader, you’re a playground bully,” He said. Saying further that he would like the County Commission to help. Commissioner Craig Arthur responded saying, they’d get back to him on it soon.

Tina Hamrick, Director of the Calhoun FRN reported that 120 families had applied for Christmas gifts with 256 kids involved. The FRN secured grant funding and do not need to do angel trees having received a FSC grant.

17 grand families to apply for Thanksgiving dinners. These are grandparents helping or raising their grandchildren.
FRN continues their work on the handbook for the opioid funding. Limitless was chosen for the name of the recovery program housing. On December 5th they’ll have another certification meeting for their housing units. The issue with their website has now been resolved.
Jason Wilson offered to send Minnie Hamilton staff for volunteering for FRN. Anyone can volunteer to greet, provide coffee and help pack out when Christmas shopping.
49 families received fresh produce last week from FRN. Watch their Facebook page for more community events.

Sheriff Graham Knight reported that the new Home Confinement Officer Zack Yeager was in the process of being trained by Deputy Stephens and that all officers were current on inservice training.

Knight informed the Commission that their Departments method of fingerprinting was outdated and often not usable when the paper card fingerprints cannot be submitted for evidence. When they can they use the WV State Police’s finger print scanner, but it is in a location that requires a WVSP officer to be present. Rather than trying to buy his own department scanner at a cost of $50-60 thousand dollars, Sheriff Knight requested that the Commission consider helping to install a separate entrance into the WVSP finger printing area that would only cost a few thousand dollars and allow them access.

Commissioners Propst and Helmick believed it was a good idea but no action was taken. Clerk Jean Simers asked if they’d need a contract with the WV State Police, which Sheriff Knight believed they would.

Little Kanawha Area Development Corporation Director Shelia Burch reported to Commission hat in the last months, Calhoun County has had 7 new businesses begin which she continues to assist.

Under New Business the Commissioners approved a request for the Town of Grantsville Christmas parade Committee for $1,600 to cover event costs, decorations and a new Merry Christmas sign.

A Letter had been received from the organization “Ride for Charity”, requesting a $500 donation for youth. Jason Wilson informed the Commission that the group buys Christmas gifts for children of military deployed parents. The three Commissioners approved the request.

A monthly request by the Solid Waste Authority Request to help meet expenses was approved in the amount of $9,429.49.

Commissioner Kevin Helmick addressed the Water companies consolidation efforts by stating that the County has now increased the general fund by over one million dollars and the stabilization fund has $809,000 in it with the expectation of more funds coming in March. Helmick believed that if the County paid $317,471.21 for the bonds owed by the three water companies (Mt. Zion and Pleasant Hill PSDs and the Town of. Grantsville) it could speed up the consolidation process and free up their funds for other things.

Commissioner Propst interjected that this is a very large expenditure request and believed that the two new incoming commissioners should have input. Incoming Commissioner Eric Lupardus stated that he was not against the idea, but he would like the Commission to revisit the idea after the first of the year and give them time to do due diligence with County finances.

Commissioner Helmick said that he was not trying to leave the county in a bad place, which is why he spoke about the amount of money in the County funds.

Mt. Zion PSD President Ari White brought up concerns regarding the sewer bonds, current incomplete projects and what the effect this would have on future funding.

Questions were then raised with Commissioner Arthur about the Norman Ridge water project that has been over ten years in the making with little to show for the efforts and finances put into it. Arthur said that he had spoken with the Pleasant Hill PSD and requested Hildreth answer for why this project is taking so long.

Town Recorder Emily Collins informed the Commission that the Town has now “dipped into the 60% Water Increase funds to the tune of $8,000.” She added that they (the Town) pay $12,000 in water and sewer bonds monthly that were auto withdrawals whether or not the money was there. Which it hadn’t been.

Commissioner Helmick made a motion to pay the $317,471.21 that was later revised to paying the monthly bond payments for each PSD and the Town of Grantsville which was passed by all three Commissioners.

A motion was approved by all three Commissioners to pay Dakota Laughlin for the County Web Site Contract in the amounts of $1,000 for the previous work done and $1,000 for his annual updating.

Commissioner Arthur presented a fact sheet from Hope Gas following a meeting with the Hope CEO a few weeks ago. Hope Gas created quite the stir in West Virginia when they announced that more than 600 “farm-tap” gas customers in 22 West Virginia counties could be forced to convert to propane or electric heat. Ridgeview News had requested a copy of the fact sheet, but Commissioner Arthur was informed by Hope that he was not to make it public until Hope had checked a few of the “facts” out. We will run the sheet when it’s made available on the Ridgeview.

Larry Whited asked Commissioner Arthur about the legality of their meeting with Hope Gas and whether or not it was a public meeting. Commissioner Propst stated that they were meeting with Hope Employees and that it wasn’t an organized meeting, it was only to clarify the points listed. A public meeting with the Hope organization has been suggested by Commissioner Arthur adding that neither of Hope’s filings have been approved by the PSC. The PSC hearing date is December 9th, 2024.

Commissioner Helmick wanted them to be aware that he had a conflict of interest with the Hope matter and would not be involved.

The following appointments and resignations were approved

Resignation of Judy Powell to the Building Commission
Appointment of Robin Hughes to the animal shelter board
Resignation of Jacob McCumbers from the Civil Service Board
Pleasant Hill PSD Board – no applicants eligible filed

Under Grants, Contracts, Applications and Resolution the Local Economic Development (LED) Grant Program Resolution of Participation and Cooperation Designation of Lead Economic Development Agency was approved.

Financial Items approved are as follows:

Budget Revision #4 and Resolution