By Stephen Smoot
“Heavenly Father,” began Commissioner Patsy Trecost in his invocation to open the Harrison County Commission meeting, “only through you can our hearts and minds be open to the Holy Spirit.”
After the Pledge of Allegiance, Commissioners and other officials commenced the business of the day.
During the public comment period, residents again came to share their experiences with the explosion of fireworks use during the night and early in the morning. David Schull of Enterprise shared that “I lived there all my life. These fireworks are really getting out of hand.” He described the problems faced by a senior citizen “who was in the military and this stuff scares him and brings back flashbacks.”
He also connected the fireworks issue to larger concerns about the behavior of transient “backpackers” and others roaming through the area. “Ninety percent of that is that we have a major drug problem in the area . . . all there is is backpacking and these two major houses . . . they know about them.”
Schull went on to add that “they’re the ones doing this stuff. They’re out all times of night, stealing, even getting in your garbage . . . stuff you throw away, you see on their porch.”
“It’s a shame,” he concluded, “this used to be a nice community.”
Commissioners then recognized the efforts of two Harrison County EMS officials whose quick reactions saved a life. Commission President Susan Thomas stated that on May 21, a driver was suffering a medical emergency. Harrison County EMS Deputy Director Jeffrey Way and Assistant Chief Eddie Jenkins witnessed the developing issue and, even though not called upon or dispatched, rendered critical assistance to save a life.
Dr. James Scheidler from WVU Medicine shared that despite the fact that they were “not necessarily dispatched on this call,” their assistance ensured that “the patient had a much better outcome because of their efforts.
Next, Thomas concluded the first reading of the proposed fireworks ordinance. In a previous meeting, Thomas and Commissioner David Hinkle discussed concerns about effective enforcement of the ordinance, but started the process of adoption through the first reading.
Commissioners Thomas and Trecost discussed with County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis issues related to operation of parking lots on Washington Street. Pysz-Laulis explained that Commissioner Hinkle, who had to be absent from this meeting, had requested to put the item on the agenda.
“I don’t know all the details of what he was going to say,” said the County Administrator, who then added that Hinkle mentioned reserving two of the three lots for county employees and the third for the general public. “He had several ideas,” she noted.
Discussions revealed two issues concerning Commissioners. The first lay in enforcement of payment for parking. Pysz-Laulis revealed that the responsibility for enforcement somehow got turned around to be the county’s responsibility. That involves county employees taking time to snap photographs of license plates of non payers, track down through the Division of Motor Vehicles who the offenders are, then issue bills.
The county having a primary role in enforcement was “not my understanding of what we had envisioned,” shared Pysz-Laulis.
Methods of payment also served as a problem. Many, especially older citizens, did not feel comfortable paying through a phone app, but preferred using an on-site kiosk. Commissioner Trecost stated that he felt West Virginia citizens of any age should not have problems with using that technology.
Commissioner Thomas expressed “I’d like to know more about the kiosk.” Pysz-Laulis stated that she would look into it. No action was taken on the item.
Next, they examined a special funding request from the Lost Creek Community Festival. They asked for $4,000 for the event, which will transpire on Sept 19 and 20. Commissioner Trecost moved for $3,000 because of Harrison County Commission guidelines on the limits of financial support of fairs and festivals. It was approved.
Generally a single day warrants up to $1,500 and two days $3,000.
Commissioners also reviewed a possible space utilization study for the Harrison County Courthouse by McKinley A and E. Commissioner Thomas was cited by Pysz-Laulis, who stated that the Commission President had pushed for such a study even before election to the Commission. She added that the study should also examine the courthouse annex.
McKinley A and E had proposed a $50,000 price, but later revised it down by $176.
Commissioner Thomas also stated that the West Virginia State Supreme Court of Appeals may have to be consulted. Counties have to adhere to an intricate set of rules and regulations imposed on construction and use of space that can often eat up significant amounts of time and administrative work. For example, Pendleton County recently broke ground on constructing a courthouse annex after over a decade of working with State officials.
Discussion then moved to building maintenance, with Commissioner Thomas pointing out that “I’d say there’s never been a preventative maintenance plan” for the county government structures and implying that having one is a necessity.