By Stephen Smoot
Last week, the Harrison County Commission opened its proceedings with an invocation in which Commissioner Patsy Trecost prayed for “a productive day, a safe day, a joyful day.” Commissioned and attendees alike then recited the Pledge of Allegiance before the meeting turned to business at hand.
One of the first items for consideration lay in a funding request from the Harrison County Humane Society. Frankie Dennison, executive director, came to ask for $30,000 to help fund vouchers for spay and neuter services for low income individuals.
The organization asked for $25,000 in 2022, $20,000 in 2019, and the same amount six years prior. In submitted documents, the Harrison County Humane Society stated that “this grant allowsHSHC to distribute low income vouchers to residents of Harrison County to afford spaying and neutering of their pets.”
Applicants must meet guidelines to receive the assistance. If approved, pet owners would have $75 of their local veterinarian bill taken care of by the voucher.
Dennison explained that “the last time, funding lasted us a year and a half” but that local animal issues remained “in crisis from COVID.” Commissioners approved $40,000 for the Humane Society, distributing $10,000 per quarter. Additionally, the county will move $10,000 within the budget to help Harrison County Animal Control to provide the same service.
Also requesting funding support was the Stonewood Volunteer Fire Department. Randy Glaspell, President, and Patrick E. Folio, associate member, submitted the application. The Department requested $5,000 to help fund the more than $58,000 in costs to put on the event.
Stonewood VFD will hold the festival between August 2 and 4. “Last year was the first year we had it,” their representative at the meeting explained, adding “which you so graciously funded.” The Commission provided $2,500 last year. Proceeds exceeding $28,000 from last year’s event helped the department to purchase new “jaws of life” equipment, which fire fighters will demonstrate this year.
The festival will include a carnival and inflatable games, a craft fair, train rides, performances by local musicians, a chili cook off, military appreciation, a “community ecumenical service and potluck,” and much more. Sponsors helped to provide much of the money used to make the festival a great community event.
Doug Comer, director of Clarksburg City Parks, brought to the Commission a request fro $1,500 to help fund the city’s Independence Day fireworks with musical accompaniment by the Wheeling Symphony. Comer said “it’s a collaboration with the Wheeling Symphony . . . we might be the only game in the county as far as fireworks are concerned.”
The city and private donors contributed $7,500 and Comer requested the remainder from the Commission, which was approved.
Commissioners then reviewed proposed budget revisions for the Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The office wished to take 10 budget items and move $58, 250 from them into funding categories for travel, materials and supplies, and new equipment. Approximately $34,000 from the original 10 items came from the employee salary budget and $905 from overtime.
Susan Thomas, Harrison County Commission President, and David Hinkle, Harrison County Commissioner, posed questions about the proposed salary budget transfer. They worried that the Prosecuting Attorney’s office did not follow proper procedure in keeping salary overage funds.
Hinkle pointed out that salary overages by policy must be returned to the county and Thomas concurred.
Commissioners also returned to the oft-discussed subject of rail trails. First, Harrison County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis introduced a discussion on “creating a Harrison County Recreation Map which will include Mountain Biking Trails, Canoe/Kayak Launching Areas, and Rail Trails.” She stated that one of the goals lay in creating a rail trail map that could be easily adapted to include future rail trail routes and features.
The entire recreation map would cost approximately $7,500 to produce. Hinkle asked why it was not a full agenda item, to which Pysz-Laulis replied that it was simply to get the thoughts of the Commissioners on the potential project. Thomas stated “I think it’s a great idea.”
Shortly afterward, the Commission took up a proposed agreement between the City of Shinnston and the Harrison County Commission. Shinnston obtained a grant to pay for paving and other improvements on an area of the rail trail owned by the county.
Trecost made a motion to approve, but Hinkle questioned the agreement, saying “so they’re going to take over what we own and grade it and ditch it, and run back and forth on it.” He asked if Shinnston would take over maintenance of that stretch going forward, the answer being no.
Hinkle then asked if the county could “deed it over” to the City of Shinnston permanently, which would give to the City the obligation of maintenance. Thomas replied “I’m not saying that’s a bad idea,” but “we need to get this work done.” The vote approving the agreement was unanimous.
Commissioners also discussed two other Shinnston related issues. First, Pysz-Laulis recommended that the Commission approve Tori Drainer, City of Shinnston City Manager, as the replacement for former Shinnston City Manager Chad Edwards on the Harrison County Economic Development Authority Board. After questions from Hinkle, the Commission approved Drainer’s appointment by two to one.
The county also set the City of Shinnston’s reimbursement costs for the joint election in May at $2,771.92. Both Shinnston and Clarksburg synced their municipal elections with the state and county primaries this year.
Hinkle congratulated the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department on hiring two new deputies, Kaleigh Wetzel and Roger King. He called Wetzel “a very special hire” and added “I’m excited to welcome her on board.”
Thomas echoed Hinkle, saying “I concur.”