The Calhoun County Commission met for their second February meeting on Wednesday, February 26th, 2025. Commissioners Craig Arthur, Jacob McCumbers and Eric Lupardus were present.
A long awaited answer from Jim Hildreth, Engineer, regarding the status of the ten plus year Norman Ridge Water project brought no new information. The citizens in that area of the county have waited far more patiently than warranted for the project to begin, only to be told they’ll still be waiting.
Calhoun resident Martha Harris spoke on her need and lack of water.
The Commission has began working on the dilapidated structure issues in Calhoun County by beginning discussions on creating a county ordinance. The County powers (Commission, businesses, FINEX, etc) have determined to make Calhoun a sought for location for business, industry and new residents.
Another property value reducing issue in Calhoun County is that of non-business Salvage/junkyards. The Commissioners will reach out to the proper agency responsible for enforcement of those areas. Commissioner Eric Lupardus has spoken with an agency that will be reaching out next week with a plan to move forward on working to get those matters cleaned up.
During a previous Commission meeting the Commissioners discussed a discrepancy in Deputy C.R. Stephens pay that occurred when Sheriff Graham Knight requested and approved that he be paid time and a half for a holiday worked. The County Clerk, Jean Simers, paid Stephens regular pay, having determined that it was proper. All three Commissioners voted to approve back pay for holiday pay in which Deputy Stephens had been shorted. (This was corrected by Commissioner McCumbers where I had previously stated only two voted to approve). State code states that law enforcement is to receive time and a half for holidays.
During the discussion on that topic, Commissioner McCumbers told the Sheriff he did not see why he (the Sheriff) didn’t work holidays himself to save the budget. Commissioner Lupardus stated that the Commissioners cannot determine the Sheriff’s schedule, as he is an elected official.
Commissioner McCumbers then said “Yes, but we can control his budget.” The rather contentious conversation does not address the fact that West Virginia had the fourth lowest annual wages for police in the nation, partly reflective of the low cost of living in the state. Altogether, West Virginia spent less per capita on police than every state but Kentucky in 2017. Calhoun County would likely rank in the lowest of the low for County budgets for a Sheriff’s department. Calhoun has struggled in keeping qualified deputies in the past due to low salaries. Any cuts in the Sheriff’s Department budget could be critical to that branch of law enforcement.
The hiring of a County Administrator is one step closer with the interviewing of six applicants. Seven applications were filed with several highly skilled individuals with masters degrees seeking the position. Following the interviews the Commissioners offered the position to one applicant and is awaiting their acceptance before announcing the hire.
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