By Stephen Smoot
County commissioners last week had voted to advance an ordinance banning all electric vehicle use on county rail trails, but this week elected to travel a different path on the issue.
Commissioner Patsy Trecost shared that “it wasn’t 10 seconds after I left the meeting that I realized what we had voted on.”
On Jan 31, commissioners examined a set of proposed vehicle use ordinances on county rail trails. Commissioner David Hinkle advocated to allow electric vehicles, such as e bikes, scooters, and electric skateboards, but was outvoted. At the time, the commission decided to ban all vehicles.
“We don’t want anyone to think that we are excluding anyone from our taxpayer built facility,” Trecost added. He also said that “we’ve always allowed electric wheelchairs.” Banning those could trigger an Americans With Disability Act issue if attempted.
Commissioners agreed that scooters and electric skateboards should be allowed, but further discussed whether to allow or ban bikes capable of higher speeds. They concluded that enforcement of types of e bike classes represented too high of a burden to force upon anyone in a position to do so.
Commissioner David Hinkle suggested that speed limit signs inform users of the legal limits, although all agreed that the 20 mile per hour speed limit agreed to would also present enforcement problems. Hinkle joked to Trecost that “when you’re running on it, we’ll make sure you don’t exceed 20 miles per hour.”
Earlier in the meeting, Hinkle inquired about regional jail bill rates that just started fluctuating between $45.97 to $68.95. Laura Pysz-Laulis, Harrison County administrator, explained that the State of West Virginia allotted Harrison County 12,000 “days” in a year for the lowest rate. “After that, the per diem rate is $57.46.” Going farther over could result in the $68.95 rate.”
She stated that state officials want to “encourage another route” in corrections “rather than just sending everyone to jail.”
“This fiscal year was the first time we’ve had different rates,” Pysz-Laulis concluded.
Commissioners also heard from two Harrison County citizens concerned about sewage issues and stream pollution. Don Myers rose to speak first, asking what the county plans to do about sewage issues apparently bedeviling several county municipalities.
Myers said “In Salem, we’ve had perfectly good yards turned to sludge. In Lumberport, we literally have raw (excrement) running down the streets.” He then mentioned Shinnston as also having experienced recent issues.
“Our streams are being destroyed,” Myers implored, adding “what’s your solution?”
Generally sewage and water issues are administered by municipal governments and public service districts. West Virginia communities usually try to tap into US Department of Agriculture, other federal, or certain state grants to pay for major public works improvements, such as water and sewer.
Bill Bartley came to express concerns about the deterioration of Tenmile Creek, sometimes also referred to as Coal Bank Creek. He described himself as “a significant owner of land on Tenmile Creek” and stated that for 30 years he had planned to use his water frontage to construct a park and campground for the region.
He then alleged that a West Virginia University research project using shredded paper marked the initial decline of the creek. Bartley stated “I can remember a day when there were freshwater mussels in that creek,” then added “in the wintertime, it looks like antifreeze.”
County commissioners cannot legally respond to public statements during the comment period, so neither concern could bring a response from anyone.
Finally, commissioners unanimously voted to honor the memory of William and Thelma DeFazio by naming a walking bridge between Nutter Fort and Stonewood for them. “Hot Dog Bill,” as he was often known, and his wife owned Thelma’s Restaurant for more than four decades. She also participated in a number of religious, social, and community groups.
