By Stephen Smoot
Last week, the Harrison County Commission struggled with a contentious and packed agenda Proceedings opened with a prayer by Patsy Trecost, saying “we come to serve and not be served . . . In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”
The first matter of business after the Pledge of Allegiance lay in recognizing the late Rosemary Dewitt, an employee in the Circuit Clerk’s office. The commission recognized a moment of silence on her behalf.
Next, the commission held a lengthy debate over an ordinance concerning use of electric bicycles on the county’s trail system. (See “Harrison County Commission Moves Toward Banning Motorized Vehicles On Trails”)
Commissioners then heard from Martin Broderick, president of Operation Firm Handshake. He explained that “it’s been six years since we started this and the Harrison County Commission has been there since day one.” The organization requested support for the holding of their annual day of recognition, which has expanded from one to four days and involves supporters from across the nation.
Since 2021, the Harrison County Commission has granted $2,000 and did the same for 2024.
Susan Thomas, Harrison County Commission president, said “thank you for what you do.”
Andy Lang, Mayor of Bridgeport, was invited up to speak on the impact of extending the tax increment financing district. He explained his opposition to that measure, saying “I’m concerned about the property tax TIF. It’s our mainline source of revenue.”
The TIF in operation has a 30 year lifespan, with a recent proposal to extend it another 15 years. “Adding 15 years is just too long,” Lang stated, adding a list of basic services supported by local taxes. He also said that he supported TIF in principle, but requested that the commission table the idea until it could be discussed in greater detail.
Commissioner David Hinkle said in a later discussion on the issue that the TIF program diverts funds needed for local governments to pay for improvements in infrastructure. This came as part of a long and sometimes sharply worded debate on the issue. During the debate, it was brought forward that there are no fixed plans of what to do during the 15 year proposed extension.
Commissioners turned next to an issue of late payment of utility bills by the county, resulting in late fees. Hinkle suggested that “a breakdown in the accounting system” may be to blame. Thomas suggested that a “blanket requisition” purchase order be allowed so that the county did not have to go through a process that she said takes “a few days” between receiving a bill and making payment.
Laura Pysz-Laulis then shared the latest issues with the General Services Building, saying that “we’re still working through the heating and air issues” as well as other concerning problems.
“I got stuck in the elevator this morning, so we’re still having elevator issues,” she related.
Pysz-Laulis turned next to discussing a proposed resolution to oppose changing the Voluntary Farmland Protection Act that allows farmers to place a perpetual easement on agricultural property to prevent its use in other forms of development. The proposed change would place a 25 year limit on the easement. Pysz-Laulis explained that “if a farmer chooses to put his land in an easement, that is taken away or changed.”
According to West Virginia Farmland Protection, the easements “protect agricultural land and woodland as open space land” and “curb the spread of urban blight and deterioration.” Farmers looking to join the program will receive compensation. They must make an initial offer, which may or may not be accepted to place the easement.
The proposal has not made it into bill form at the State Legislature yet, but commissioners heard concerns that placing limits would violate Internal Revenue Service rules and, essentially, “gut the program.”
When asked which rules, Hinkle replied “I’d have to get the state director to clear that up. She told me it violates their rules.” He then made the motion for the commission to all approve and sign the resolution. It did pass.
Tensions flared again over the question of obtaining updated appraisals for county owned properties. Hinkle questioned the purpose of the appraisals, saying “is it the intention to . . . sell everything off?” Pysz-Laulis asserted that the point lay in getting accurate assessments for insurance purposes.
Hinkle suggested that the commission agree to “have all county buildings appraised and the appraisal to be used for insurance purposes and not to be for selling the properties.”
As the commission turned toward the final items of the agenda, it took up the issue of purchasing new cameras for the Parks and Recreation Department with a quote of nearly $17,000. The purpose, Pysz- Laulis commented, was to “keep an eye on equipment, facilities and the playground.”
Thomas said “I agree. That’s a lot of money for cameras.”
Pysz-Laulis said that the cameras were the same as in the General Services building and that those in place were too obsolete to be effective,
In the administrator’s report, she shared that the county received approval from FEMA for a flooding disaster designation requested due to last summer’s flooding.
Hinkle, during commissioner comment time, stated that “it bothers me that we hold meetings like this and pass stuff without discussion or any plans about what to do. We went out and hired attorneys and we have no idea what these developers are going to do.”
Thomas closed discussion with “I choose to make no comment.” The meeting then adjourned.