By Stephen Smoot
To open the final Harrison County Commission meeting of July, Commissioner Patsy Trecost gave an invocation highlighting God’s succor for those in pain.
The full Harrison County Commission then set to work on the business of the day.
First came a question concerning the list of vendors’ invoices to be paid. Commission President Susan Thomas asked about a delivery from one trucking company that submitted an invoice. Harrison County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis shared that she did not have the details in front of her, but would provide them to the commission.
Commissioners then voted two to one to pay the invoices with Commissioner David Hinkle stating “no.”
Next, James Griffin came before the Commission to speak on a special funding request. He serves as Board Chairman for the West Virginia Black Heritage Festival and requested $3,500 to defer some of the estimated $68,000 that it will cost.
Festivities will take place on Sept 5. Griffin concluded with “I’d like to extend the invitation again for someone from the County Commission to take part in the opening ceremony.” Commissioners voted unanimously to fund the request.
Pysz-Laulis then went to the next item on the agenda, concerning budget revisions. She requested a special session of the County Commission on July 29 at 10 a.m. to help address budget revisions. “The Commission needs to talk and decide some things,” so that she can have proper guidance on the proper way to perform the revisions. They voted two to one, with Hinkle opposed, to hold the meeting.
After an explosive discussion centering on the County operating a flea market on the former Sunset Ellis property near Shinnston, Commissioners heard a special funding request from Stars and Strides, a non-profit that runs equine therapy.
Stars and Strides treats certain conditions, such as difficulties in speech development, with a directed horseback riding experience. They requested $4,000 to help fund a scholarship program to benefit those studying speech and therapy.
Rebecca Flanigan, representing the organization, described their work, saying that they often work with “children who don’t have coverage to do mounted speech therapy.” She went on to explain that “It’s a specific type of therapy they can do on horseback. It strengthens the diaphragm and helps them force the air more effectively.”
Commissioners heard the description of the project and approved the request unanimously.
“I appreciate you guys,” responded Flanigan.
Commissioners next discussed amendments to the proposed fireworks ordinance, which led to more fireworks between the Commissioners themselves. This is covered elsewhere in this edition.
A representative from District Four of the West Virginia Department of Highways provided an update on $$55 million in work planned for Harrison County. One of the major highlights lay in discussion a $30 million project to repair Interstate 79 between exits 117 and 124, between Anmoore and Jerry Dove Drive. This seven miles stretch represents one of the most traveled stretches of roads in the state and parts have degraded significantly over the years.
Another project will see paving of streets in Clarksburg. The representative included mention of the Parkersburg to Pittsburgh trail, saying they were “making progress with that.”
Trecost then made a suggestion to change the official employment handbook for the County. He suggested that it overtly state that the County will not automatically follow the Governor’s lead when it comes to declaring days off for State of West Virginia employees. “We need to be here at work. It’s ridiculous,” said the Commissioner. He made a motion to that effect, but it failed one to two.
Commissioners did agree to discuss further a proposal by Trecost for the County to hire a specific official for grant writing and administration. He noted that sharing a contracted grant writer with other government entities was tantamount to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox relying on the same talent scout. Hinkle said that he did not disagree with Trecost on this, but “I would like to discuss it more.”
They did not agree on the proposal to put out to bid a bridge for the Rail Trail. Trecost supported the motion, but Thomas questioned the wisdom of constructing a Rail Trail bridge in an area not yet connected to the Rail Trail. She added that getting the trail itself in shape will cost much more than originally anticipated.
