July 10th, 2023 – 9 a.m.
The Calhoun County Commission held it’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting on July 10th, 2023 in the little courtroom of the Calhoun County Courthouse. All three Commissioners were present as well as County Clerk, Jean Simers. But prior to the meeting on the steps oft he front courthouse entrance, several citizens gathered for a peaceful protest on the lack of water to areas of Calhoun County. Even children attended in support of the protest with speaking by Businessman Eric Lupardus, Commissioner Craig Arthur and Pastor Steve Boggs.
Calhoun Citizens for Accountability continues to drive home the message that locally elected officials will be held accountable for their decisions and the support of community efforts that need proper attention for citizens to have a better quality of living in an often unserved county. Areas with little or no water for their homes has been the primary focus.
The Commission meeting opened up with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by delegations. Melissa West, Reporter for the Calhoun Chronicle read a letter to County Clerk Jean Simers detailing a Freedom of Information Act request for all correspondence related to the ARPA and Covid funding that had been sent to the Calhoun County Commission on funding received, allocation protocol and how the funding was spent from 2020 to 2023. She informed the Commission that the people of Calhoun County deserve to know how the county is taking care of funding. She informed the Commissioners that Minnie Hamilton doesn’t need the current ARPA funds if they have money of their own to put bids in for Calhoun properties, they have they don’t need this money.” In her opening she asked the Commission, “Do you know what Calhoun and the people in Hell have in common?” With the answer being, “They’re both begging for water and can’t have it.”
Eric Lupardus requested that the Commission strongly consider the need for water in Calhoun County when determining where the ARPA funding should be spent. Lupardus has been a very outspoken and active advocate for the Community.
Terra Badgett of Minnora opened her delegation topic directed to Kevin Helmick, stating, “Commissioner Helmick, you promised me water.” She elaborated on what she considered to be ignored requests or being told there was no money for water in her area. She described living with little to no water pressure and having to send her children to her daughter’s house to take baths, having to decide between laundry and showers in the same day and the hardship of taking seven children to the laundromat and spending four hours there. As a foster care provider she informed the Commission that she is one of very few foster parents in the county and requested that the county commission give funding to help.
Charlotte Blair of the Annamoriah area of the County spoke once again, reminding the Commissioners of their failed promises to the residents of Norman Ridge and Broomstick. She requested to know if the paper work had been completed for the current water projects that have been held up. Commissioner Helmick stated that all three Commissioners had been in contact with Delegate Roger Hanshaw and believe they’ll be putting in for funding for the upper West Fork, Annamoriah and Munday Road projects. Hanshaw informed the Commissioners that funding could be received faster for the pump station that had gone down at Pleasant Hill PSD. Helmick stated that it was not a “4 to 1” match as had been reported by Crystal Mersh, but was as needed with questionable amounts of available funding.
Crystal Mersh addressed the audience stating that what she could see was good news. “You have a county commission that said if broad band didn’t go they’d honor water second,” she reminded, and said that she too had spoken with Roger Hanshaw who recommended the County move forward and quit dragging their feet. Regarding their 4-1 match, she said that it has to do with the paperwork filed, but there is certainly going to be a match. “We will never have another opportunity like this. I trust that the commission will do the right thing,” she said. She also went on to say that the other thing we need to consider is a local recovery service. “The Calhoun FRN is wanting to do a project at the Red Devil Inn, the County “coffers have $300,000, $400,000 and $500,000 in the various funds and it’s not supposed to just sit there,” she concluded.
Commissioner Walker continued with the meeting following the delegations, giving an update on the Animal Shelter property at Mt. Zion. He announced that the property inspection had been done, a deed was being prepared and the County would likely close on the property in a few weeks.
Michele Toman, A State and National suicide prevention advocate spoke to Commissioners and to the audience saying that “We’re doing a lot of things right, but we have a long way to go in Calhoun County of how we talk, think and speak about mental health. I feel bad about asking for funding with all that’s going on, but it’s needed. In the last 10 years Calhoun has lost two people each year to suicide and five youth.” She’ll be working with Calhoun County Schools on a peer/youth program once a month. “Multiple people in the room are family members of suicide victims. We have to do better at reaching people before it’s too late. When we know better we do better,” she said. Jeannie Bennett Yoak and Roger Propst both shared their stories of loss and encouraged everyone to be more aware of the symptoms and dangers of suicide. Toman will also be focusing on training Emergency Services and civic organization on how to prevent and deal with suicide. Commissioner Walker told Ms. Toman that he would have no problem supporting the effort for mental health education, but Helmick, even though he said he agreed, informed her that because the current funding was down in the county accounts he would like to wait until the money was rebuilt before contributing to her efforts.
Kelly Barr of Calhoun 911 provided an update of 911 calls and informed the commission that they are struggling with Frontier Phone Company lines and needed to return to the 911 Center.
Speaking on behalf of the Town of Grantsville, Mayor Petrovsky sought assistance for the city park saying that both the City and the County have a vested interest with the water access. The Town Tennis Courts and soon to be Pickle Ball Courts as well, need need paved to the tune of $37,601. All of the labor will be provided by the city with the exception of paving for the park makeover. The Town will be redoing the basketball backboards, sealing the basetball court, installing new nets and rims. They’ll be installing new volleyball nets and 8 foot fencing around the area. A discussion between commissioners for the funding to come from the general fund/parks and recreation lead to a commitment of the $37,601.
County Clerk Jean Simers thanked the Mayor for painting the lines on the courthouse parking lot.
Several spoke on behalf of a request from Calhoun FRN for the County to fund the purchase of the Red Devil Inn in Grantsville for the purpose of a creating a Women’s Recovery Center.
Autumn McGraw of the WV Alliance of Recovery told her story about being a young woman from Braxton County where she was a very sick drug user who when to prison in both New Jersey and West Virginia. Altering getting out of prison there were no recovery services available in the Burnsville area but she found her way to a recovery house through the judicial system learning how to speak to government officials and becoming an advocate for Recovery.
Kristin Tiedeman with Fletcher Group, also a person of recovery described the need for recovery housing. “It’s not treatment or clinical,” she said, “ it is peers helping peers for support.” A recovery home is a safe and sober place to be for those coming out of the life of addiction to be where they can get the support to stay clean and sober. According to recent statistics, in the last year the call in Calhoun for overdose were 100% female of the ages 30-39. Also, in the past year the over dose calls have doubled compared to the previous year in Calhoun. Tiedeman said of the FRN, that they do provide support but the recovery house can offer so much more to help them become employed. Another benefit is a decrease of health costs and an increase of employable people. The return is $47 for $1 spent on Recovery.
Tina Persinger, Director of the FRN described how FRN became so actively involved in treatment. After a listening session, the FRN group decided to do a Drop in Center at their office. A place for people to drop in and get help. No judgement. Basic needs and recovery support that can look different for every person. No appointment. No explanation of why or questions ask, nor is there paper work to be filled out. “We don’t want to re-hurt people over and over again,” she said. They encourage and promote recovery programs and hire recovery people with 4 currently employed by her agency. Two of their board members are people of long term recovery.
Lori Fleagle of the STOP team which aids sexual assault victims through the Sheriff’s Department, works with the Opiod group QRT and provides services to battered women spoke as a supporter of the Women’s Recovery Center. She explained that as recent as this weekend there was a heroin addict arrested who could not be placed in a women’s shelter because of there being children there. If there was programs put into place in Calhoun she could be hooked up on home confinement and monitored by Sheriff Graham Knight, but unfortunately she is in jail on the County’s bill and can’t get the help she needs. The only recovery assistance Calhoun receives is from St. Joe who has a Mobile Unit that comes into the county. In an emergency they can get a person into treatment possibly within five days, but if it’s not an emergency the wait is much longer. Calhoun currently has addicts sleeping on the Courthouse annex porch, the FRN bench and under the bridge in town.
Commissioner Walker asked why this was only a women’s facility for which Tina Persinger answered, that Gilmer County has a men’s facility, and although Calhoun hopes to expand theirs into a men’s and women’s facility, they are currently focusing on what is most needed from the statistics provided.
Dick Whitberg who formerly served as the Calhoun County Health Department Director spoke saying that in “Calhoun he has met some of the most extraordinary individuals. There is potential in every addict and we lose as a society if we do not offer them the support to be beneficial to the community. He Praised the commission their consideration for doing it.
FRN is requesting that the County buy the Red Devil Inn for $150,000, at which time the Calhoun FRN would use their support avenues to cover the expenses of the facility so as not to burden the County.
Shelia Burch of the Little Kanawha Economic Area Development Corp. told the Commission that one of the facilities that she deals with in Wirt County is recognized by their Commission as an asset for what it saves them on the Jail bill and serve their community both emotionally and financially.
The Commission determined that while they cannot commit $150,000 at the July meeting it is something that they’re seriously considering.
Vivian Parsons of the WV community risk pool provided information on the insurance benefits available through the plan the County currently carries with her agency.
Donnie Pitts, Calhoun County Park Board President questioned one of Ms. Parsons comments about insurance available for renters who used the park? While the park is covered under the liability policy of the County, through WV Community risk, park renters who are having an event can purchase an event policy through their agency to cover their personal liability.
Mr. Pitts went on to report that the Park completed the 4th of July celebration which was very successful. Other productive events on the park were reported with the playgrounds donated from Sandfork, one is completed, and they hope to have the second done by the end of this week. He Thanked Eric Lupardus who encouraged a call from Jerry Bain of the Overlanders, a Jeep group which has put the park on their August tour. The group will be spending a night at the park with 23 jeeps already scheduled for the event. It will likely expand and move forward. The park met with Nancy Gaul who provided resources for grants and information to possibly build additional structures and the park is now getting ready to do some promotion through the department of tourism. This Saturday is a bingo fund raiser for wag and Roane animal shelter beginning at 4 p.m.
Sheriff Graham Knight reported to the Commission that the home-confinement previous budget was low and was needing to be increased with the addition and participants assigned by the courts. The Prosecutor is allowing more people to be placed on home confinement. The Cruiser recently purchased has now been detailed with for Calhoun but they’re waiting on a government transfer for the radios to be programmed. It may be this week that the new car is received and on the road in Calhoun. The second car will have equipment installed by Tanner’s Communication.
Sheriff Knight closed his report by saying that the tax statements were mailed and if not received by the 30th of July, please notify the Sheriff’s department. He also commended his staff for a job well done saying that the annual mailing of tax statements is quite the undertaking.
Shelia Burch of the LKADC reported that we’ve lost two business in the last month from the area including Dick’s Market in Wirt County. Supply chain issues continue to be an issue and she plans to do a promotion for people to “love local” and stop shopping online locations Such as Amazon, which are killing business locally.
Under New business the County Commission accepted the Arnoldsburg volunteer fire dept Audit for fiscal year 2022
A list of surplus property from the Sheriff’s was approved for listing on the State site. Sheriff Graham Knight is attempting to rid the community of excess property and create revenue if possible.
The county had hoped to have the interior walls painted of the Courthouse but after submitting a proposal for bids in the Calhoun Chronicle and Parkersburg papers, (of course not the Ridgeview News) there was only one bid that came in. A bid of $89,000 for painting the hallway walls was declined.
REALLOCATION OF ARPA FUNDS –
Commissioner Matt Walker commented that he had heard that some believed Minnie Hamilton Health System didn’t deserve any of the money. After much discussion he said he believes that Minnie Hamilton is a cornerstone of our community and he believes they have tried, and were unable to find the resources for help. The final decision by the Commission was to divide the funding by giving Minnie Hamilton $200,000, Mt. Zion PSD $13,500 for their audits, Pleasant Hill PSD $36,000 for their audits, leaving the balance of $1,092,000 for water and sewer projects.
He also stated that he feels that there are people of the opinion that the County Commission doesn’t do anything, but there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes.
Crystal Mersh announced that she is helping Minnie Hamilton work to receive new market tax credits which should help them financially.
Hannah Johnson of the 911 center was given a salary increase $14.00 and hour following her recent certifications.
Commission meeting was adjourned at approximately 11 a.m.
