By Stephen Smoot
“We are Your people. You are our God,” prayed Patsy Trecost in his customary invocation as the Harrison County Commission commenced its first meeting in September
Bill O’Field rose for the public comment period to express appreciation to the Commissioners as well as Harrison County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis. He said “it’s good to see you all here” and thanked the Commission for assistance rendered in the past. “Thank you all for what you came up with,” he shared, adding that it held off a significant rate increase. In response, Commissioners credited Trecost and Pysz-Laulis for the work done.
O’Feild also thanked Commissioners for supporting efforts to end and also raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. He shared that the theme this year is “Let’s make Alzheimer’s like dinosaurs” in that it follows them into extinction.
Pastor Harley Jeffries of Lighthouse Chapel in Summit Park came to comment in relation to the agenda item concerning a lawsuit against Purdue Pharmaceuticals and the Sackler family who owns the company. He urged Commissioners to consider that “we have teenagers on the streets and we need housing . . . on Route 19 you’ll see people walking. I don’t remember growing up here and seeing that.”
That agenda item concerned authorization for Pysz-Laulis to proceed with a settlement letter with the company and family. No other details were available.
Commissioners then held a discussion with a representative of Thrasher over options related to the acquisition of property from United International for the rail trail. It concerned a decision to be made over different ways to create a right of way to the trail near the power plant.
Commissioner David Hinkle suggested a possible route that would provide enough room for parking and river access as well. The Thrasher representative suggested a route that would also serve as ‘the path of least resistance.”
“Is that the best path for us to complete the trail,” Hinkle queried, to which the Thrasher official replied “I think it is, yeah.”
Commission President Susan Thomas asked if the decision must come during that meeting. Trey Simmerman, Harrison County Counsel, replied “it doesn’t need to be decided today, but needs to be decided in the near future.”
After more productive discussion, Commissioners chose to select the original plan as regards that piece of land.
Hinkle brought up the issue of connecting the trail to Shinnston during the rail trail conversation. He said while referring to a map in the conference room, “getting from here to Shinnston, that’s what I don’t see.”
Thrasher’s representative responded “there are good plans in place.”
“When are we going to see those plans,” asked Hinkle.
The representative answered “when the time is right,” to which Hinkle responded with a chuckle and a good natured “okay.”
Next, Commissioners heard that the fiber optic installation company working along the trail in the southern part of Harrison County had continued repairing trail damage done by their work as they go. Hinkle asked about the slide damaged section near the Shinnston sewage plant and about progress between the Veterans Administration hospital and Lost Creek.
“I’m excited. Let’s get it done,” said Hinkle.
He later shared concerns about the County’s ongoing role after the cleanup of the Royal Chrysler building collapse near Shinnston, worrying that “the more I dig into it, I think there were mistakes made on our part. I think we hired the wrong company to tear it down.”
He added “I think a lot of burden is being placed on the County for something that happened in the city and I’m scared we’re going to get stuck with the bill” and also referred to the incident as “an ongoing fiasco.”
