By Stephen Smoot
Some public and local government meetings are sprints, with important issues discussed and disposed of quickly.
Others are marathons that cover extensive ground and try the stamina of all involved.
Last week, the Harrison County Commission held their regular meeting. Officially it took two hours, three minutes, and a handful of seconds, but that did not cover executive session action. Every minute involved issues important to the county carefully deliberated upon between the county’s three elected commissioners who displayed on each topic a command of the issue down to the details. This included discussions on tax increment funding bonds, a topic which most taxpayers would find too arcane to know in detail.
“My watch says 9:50, but my computer says ten o’ clock,” said Susan Thomas, Harrison County Commission President as she opened the meeting.
Next, Commissioners honored God, then country. Commissioner Patsy Trecost supplied the invocation, in which he prayed “please bestow us peace in our time,” then all stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
After quickly running through preliminaries, such as the consent agenda, the Commission took up “Consideration of Approval of a Project Fund Requisition for the payment of cost associated with the project to be financed from proceeds of the Series 2019 Bonds . . . and Series 2008 A.”
From the former would come “8,301, 398.40, from the latter $427.50.
Thomas called for ayes, and received them from herself and Trecost, but had not noticed that Commissioner David Hinkle remained silent. He stated “I vote no on seven,” then requested to “make sure the record reflects that I voted no.”
Next, the County Commission took time to honor Shinnston’s James Jarrett with a proclamation honoring his life of service to local, county, and state fire fighting, fire protection, and emergency management.
The lone funding request came from an organization that excited Commisisoners about its impact and mission. Ed Waske, C. O. O. of Engine and Air Frame Solutions Worldwide, came with his wife to make a request for their youth aviation education event called the Carl Hopkins Youth Aviation Expo.
He started his pitch by reminding commissioners about the great need – and opportunity – in aviation employment positions across the board at North Central Regional Airport in Bridgeport. Almost 1,500 work there in technician positions alone with the need growing. The airport and its tenant and support businesses add $1.2 billion into the economy and also support education programs at Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community and Technical College.
The origin of the expo, put on by a group called “The Flying Wing Nutz,” came in the link between model airplanes and generating the interest of young people in aviation careers. In 1928, Clarksburg native Carl Hopkins started the first model airplane club in the United States and used it to encourage young people to learn more and get involved in the field as they grew older.
Later, “Carl’s boys,” as Waske stated went on to contribute to America’s efforts in World War II, serving as pilots, technicians, and some even joined NASA in the 50s and after.
The event, which will take place on Aug 8 and 9, bears Hopkins’ name because he once said, in regards to his club “the future of aviation is in our youth” – an attitude shared by almost all affiliated with the industry in North Central West Virginia today.
Over 2,000 youth have attended since the establishment of the event. Waske requested and got $6,000 for assistance. Trecost praised Waske, then expressed appreciation for Hinkle’s consistent support for the airport and all affiliated with its promotion, use, and progress.
“It’s good for the county,” Thomas heartily agreed.
Commissioners then held a lengthy discussion surrounding the development of land recently purchased by the County. First, Hinkle asked if the Commission had a budget for the project. Harrison County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis stated that the original budget was $2.9 million for the animal control center project, but “we have not reviewed it since we’re changing location.”
With a list of various projects on the agenda for the county going out to bid, Trecost opened a discussion. He stated that the county should get an “on call engineering firm” for county projects from the animal control center to the replacement of courthouse elevators. He shortly after added that “we need an all-encompassing team to do all of these things.”
Trecost suggested that this could save the County time and money in the future, but that, if the County should follow his suggestion, the Commission reserves the right to refuse the individual or team’s suggestions or plans.
Hinkle agreed in principle and supported Trecost’s motion. Thomas stated some reservations, but the idea passed unanimously and applied to a “master plan for the US 19 property,” an “architect to do a Spaced Utilization of Courthouse,” “firm to Demo Jail Building,” and “McKinley’s proposal for Master Plan for Route 19 property for Animal Control.”
Trecost, who had stated his case with some passion, said after the passage that “I’m sorry I was difficult, guys. I just want to do it right.”
Next, Commissioners held differing opinions on discussing employee surveys from Harrison 911 staff. Thomas shared that she had reviewed the results and expressed that “there was no plan” and “it took forever” to get the materials.
Hinkle supported a discussion and stated that he saw it as “a look at how 911’s operating and if we need to make any changes.” He added “it was pretty eye-opening.”
Thomas said “the whole problem out there is promotions and supervisors,” as well as “they’re missing people . . . we always need someone to work.” Overall, Thomas expressed “no one understands what those people do.”
Pysz-Laulis noted that her office had been examining issues there, saying “we’re looking hard at the pay structure too.”
Hinkle and Thomas differed in how to approach the problems. Thomas suggested that Pysz-Laulis should take the lead – and that the two had examined and discussed the problems – while Hinkle would prefer that the Commissioners attack the problem directly. Discussion ended with no decision announced on how to proceed.
He next topic involved the addition of two properties to Farmland Protection, a program in which landowners receive compensation for placing their land under a permanent farmland easement. Hinkle thanked Commissioners for supporting the program and Thomas added “I agree with you David. This is a great program.”
Commissioners also heard details of the grant funded acquisition of ATVs for maintenance use on the Rail Trails and also a deal to connect Lumberport to Clarksburg for water service.
“I’m tickled to hear it,” shared Hinkle.
