By Stephen Smoot
The initial December meeting of the Harrison County Commission came with a little extra Christmas cheer as the front of the room was bedecked with lights, red bunting, and ornaments announcing the advent of the season.
Patsy Trecost, Harrison County Commissioner, delivered the invocation, which included “Father thank You for this day, I thank You for this time of year. What a true God You are to give us the seasons.”
Proceedings opened with a proclamation honoring 50 years of service from the Clarksburg Public Library. It recognized the five decades of strong community service, starting on December 9, 1975 in a “distinctly modern building” with its “enduring space dedicated to education.”
It also called the institution “a symbol of opportunity and progress.”
Next, Commissioners joined with Arc of Harrison County to commemorate the “International Day of Persons With Disabilities.” This proclamation celebrated the “dignity of work for all persons.”
After a discussion with the Town of Lumberport concerning their sewer needs, the Harrison County Senior Center’s William O’Field came to discuss the county levy.
He stated “I humbly request that there be an increase in our funding” because the rise in cost of many goods and services “impacts the senior center the same” as everyone.
O’Field shared that the Senior Center would focus on its transportation program with added funding and brought data to back his case. First, they would use funding to “speak with older residents about driving.” he added that from 2019 to 2023 329 fatal crashes had taken the lives of West Virginians 65 or older.
He then asked “what happens when seniors get their keys taken away? That’s where the senior center steps in.” Harrison County Senior Center has a fleet of seven vans, which O’Field noted “go way up into the hollers” as well as to all the towns in the county to help seniors get to their doctor appointments, shop for groceries, and remain independent.
The levy, he said, has helped the senior center to provide services over the years.
Next, Commissioners voted to table discussion of how to distribute more than $300,000 in opioid lawsuit funds to various community agencies. They wished to look at information further before making decisions.
After that, Commissioners held discussions on dilapidated properties. First, they approved a list to be officially addressed. Harrison County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis noted that in the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year “we have a total of 102 houses we’ve taken down.”
Hinkle then added that “we have a lot of reports from the road frontage” about unsightly and unsafe properties “but we need to take a hard look at backyards . . . visible from the trail.” Also related to tourism and aesthetics, Hinkle criticized “so-called campground, RV, whatever word you want to use” facilities that he asserted are “out of control, but I don’t know what you can do as a Commission to set up rules.”
Trey Simmerman, County Attorney, said “they pop up just outside of towns because that’s a convenient place for them to be.” Hinkle added “that’s because of water and sewer” hook ups with municipal systems, “that’s what they’re doing.” Hinkle stated that “I’ve seen a lot of it over the last five years” and said Harrison needed to see how other counties had addressed the problem.
Commissioners then agreed to look into adopting a standard of maintenance for the rail trails in the county.
