By Stephen Smoot
Last week’s Harrison County Commission meeting saw the body approve a number of community funding requests while also questioning the hiring of a process server for the Sheriff’s office.
After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and hearing the invocation, Commissioners started the proceedings.
Jason Young, a founding member of the Cultural Foundation of Harrison County, came to offer some words during the public comment period. He suggested that the Commission partner with the Foundation to make decisions on funds distributions supporting the arts. He said they wanted “an active and ongoing relationship . . . to leverage resources . . . to make cool stuff happen.”
John Elko of the West Milform Volunteer Fire Department rose next to discuss a recent “catastrophic accident” on Interstate 79. The response time took longer than anticipated because of a lack of available personnel.
“I’ve told you before we need help,” Elko told the Commission, adding “people don’t volunteer anymore. We need to get more people out there.”
It’s important to know that Commissioners by law cannot respond to comments during this period. The point of this lies in giving the public a chance to speak freely without interruption or harassment, should their comments provoke response.
Next, Commissioners read proclamations for three fields recognized in the month of April. The first went to Hope Inc. This organization, according to its website, “is committed to providing resources and services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.”
As part of its mission, Hope Inc also serves victims of child abuse, all too often a byproduct of domestic violence. “We couldn’t do our services without community,” a representative stated.
The organization also helped to found the Harrison County Child Abuse Task Force and other efforts to protect children.
Commissioners then read a proclamation expressing the Commission and community’s appreciation and respect for 911 telecommunicators. County Commission President Susan Thomas noted that “telecommunicators serve 24 hours a day, seven days a week” and experience trauma from their work just as other first responders.
“They “make similar sacrifices to ensure the safety of our community,” said Thomas.
Finally, Commissioners read a proclamation for National Animal Control Officer week. Representatives from the office stated appreciation for “the Commissioners and Laura (Pysz-Laulis, Harrison County administrator)” They added that “they have our back always. We wouldn’t be as successful as we are without them.”
Pysz-Laulis responded by describing how recent efforts to get animals placed and adopted have led to zero euthanasia for the past four months.
“It’s been a huge turnaround in the past year,” noted Pysz-Laulis.
Todd Tricket next rose to speak to the Commission, representing the American Junior Golf Association. The AJGA has scheduled their first matches in the state for over a decade and a half. Almost 80 golfers will come to West Virginia, along with just under 80 more invited from in state. Those from the Mountain State usually must undertake a five or six hour drive or an airline flight to reach AJGA events.
This will serve as a massive tournament with a potential economic impact on the area of $200,000, according to Trickett. They requested and received $3,000.
Sue Hurst, Treasurer for the Sardis Community Council, came to request funds to help with maintenance on the local Building and Community Center. She shared details of the importance of the building to the community and its events.
Volunteers used to perform all maintenance themselves with donated materials, but needed to pay contractors as members aged. In 2023, the organization paid out $37,750 for repairs, but the building now needs a new roof.
Commissioner David Hinkle moved to fund $10,000 toward roof replacement and asked the Center to get the work done and then come back for reimbursements.
The Wallace Volunteer fire Department also received $3,000 to help to defer some of the costs of their two day fundraising and community event. Marcus Shaw said this year they would “try to add a couple more events’ and that “the $3,000 has helped a lot.”
Shaw described the event as “our gift back to the county.”
Commissioners declined, at least for the moment, to fund “inflatables” requested by Parks and recreation. They wished to get more information on costs and bidding before approving the purchase.
They also discussed a Sheriff’s office request to replace a recently retired process server. Commissioners stated that the budget would make it difficult to cover this personnel request, but also provide law enforcement raises at the same time, but agreed to meet with the Sheriff to discuss further.
