By Stephen Smoot
“Lord, we ask You to open our eyes, to open our ears to see the goodness You bring to us . . . and all God’s people said Amen.” Commissioner Patsy Trecost thus opened the October 1 regular meeting of the Harrison County Commission.
After God came Country, first through recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, then with approved support for a Veterans’ Day event.
Paul Howe came before the Commission with a special funding request for VFW Post #573. The Post requested $2,500 to help to defer some of the costs of a Veterans Day event. That will include a ceremony at Jackson Square that includes a noontime prayer, a soup bean and cornbread luncheon, and also assistance for the day’s parade.
Howe informed Commissioners that they had invited Lt. General Robert Caslen, former Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, to serve as Grand Marshal.
Caslen currently serves on the Board of Directors for Salem University.
Greg Dale then approached to bring up the tax status of Hillside Christian Academy, connected with Horizons Church. Dale was familiar to the Commissioners, having spent almost three decades in the County’s employment.
Dale came to rectify a tax issue that had arisen despite the organization’s federally recognized tax-exempt status. He reminded the Commission that they had taken action to help the Academy last year, but the issue had come up again.
“I don’t know what the hangup is,” he stated. Dale also shared that other non profits had run into the same issue in Harrison County.
Since Dale brought up the matter for public comment, Commissioners’ ability to respond or act on the comment at the time is restricted by law.
Next spoke Bill O’Brien, who serves with the Harrison County Senior Center as well as area Alzheimer’s Disease related causes. He expressed concern with an agenda item for the Oct 1 meeting that would restrict public comment to email only.
O’Brien explained that many older residents in the region had less familiarity and comfort with digital communications and would feel more comfortable having an option to address the Comission face to face. He also shared that he knew residents in Wallace who lack access to the internet.
“We like to see you and we like to share with you,” O’Brien stated, then he expressed appreciation for Commission support in the past.
Another special request came from Bill Coffindaffer with the West Fork Conservation District. Harrison County Commission President Susan Thomas introduced the item. Before Coffindaffer could speak. Commissioner David Hinkle moved to fill the request for $8,000 for small watershed flood control dam maintenance.
In the 1950s and 60s the Natural Resources Conservation Service constructed a multitude of dams across the United States, many in West Virginia. These dams create water storage up smaller streams, reducing the mass of potential floodwaters that would flow otherwise. Many of these dams have reached or exceeded their expected life span with less than recommended maintenance.
The flooding that has occurred with heavy rains in recent years would have been more consequential without the presence of these dams and how they hold back the stormwater.
Commissioners then considered an agenda item placed by Hinkle to instruct County staff to reach out to the incorporated towns and cities in Harrison County. This would happen in expectation of municipal contributions to the construction of the new animal control facility slated for the former Ellis property near Shinnston.
“The County handles animals for all of the cities,” he explained, then added that they should be “helping to fund our animal control.” Though Thomas confessed to “mixed emotions” after the discussion revealed that all municipal governments collect a dog tax, the Commission voted unanimously to proceed.
Commissioners also approved a Thrasher plan to complete a rail trail segment to Mount Clare Fire Department. Hinkle made the motion, saying “Chad and Thrasher did a really great job” and stated “this is a step that helps that part of the county.”
Since the $656,912 in expected cost already has the funding allocated, Hinkle said “”I’d like to get that project started.”
Commissioners approved the motion unanimously.
Trecost, a long-time advocate and user of the trail system, said in excitement “I want to get up and do jumping jacks or something!”