By Stephen Smoot
Last week’s special meeting of the Harrison County Commission examined two issues important to Shinnston and the surrounding area. Commissioner Patsy Trecost opened with the customary invocation in which he prayed “Lord we thank You for all that’s been done at this courthouse.”
Susan Thomas, Harrison County Commission President, then joined Trecost and attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Thomas noted that “again, for the record, Commissioner Hinkle is out.”
During the public comment period, Hayden Miller from the office of United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito greeted the Commission and introduced staff assistant Shay Morgan. Miller stated “we appreciate being here . . . I know there are a lot of things going on in Harrison County. We try to touch base as much as we can.”
During the meeting Harrison County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis provided an update on the combined efforts to clear Hood Avenue of the danger posed by the collapsed Royal Chrysler building. “We have been working diligently to try to (clear) this structure that has collapsed in Shinnston,” she began. Pysz-Laulis then explained that McKinley had just recently received the scope of work “so we can move forward on that.” She also emphasized the importance of “getting all of our T’s crossed and our I’s dotted” in going through the legal process.
This week, she has continued to keep the West Virginia Department of Highways involved in discussions and also took the memorandum of understanding approved last week to the City of Shinnston for the proper signatures. “We’re working very hard on getting this completed,” she said. That also includes getting the proper paperwork from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.
In the meeting last Wednesday, she stated that she expected that they could invite bidders for the work to come on site Saturday, reveal their bids, and then “move on it as soon as we can.”
Thomas again expressed sympathy for the neighborhood whose quiet side streets now feel the rumble of 18 wheelers and traffic accustomed to using US Route 19. “I drove through that neighborhood. It’s horrible,” she said. In a previous meeting, she expressed concern for children living there with the unusual amount and type of traffic having to traverse the area.
She added “this needs done yesterday,” but also added that “I don’t want to see us stuck,” meaning the County assuming too much of a share of the cost and responsibility. “All parties need to be ponying up,” Thomas concluded.
Commissioners and the County Administrator also discussed budget revisions on coal severance tax revenues for the new fiscal year. Pysz-Laulis explained that “in March when we had our budget meetings, the Commission approved a carryover of $450,000 for the assigned fund balance.”
The carryover eventually totaled $749,767, an increase of almost $300,000.
Pysz-Laulis explained that the Commission had allocated part of the carryover for the livestock facility slated to go onto the recently acquired Sunset Ellis property on US Route 19 near Shinnston. After a question from Commissioner Trecost, she shared that the livestock facility would have received just under $150,000. Now the extra $300,000 would also go to that project.
Trecost answered “so now we’re sitting on half a million to get that project started.”
Pysz-Laulis also said that the remaining portion of that money not allocated for the livestock facility, about $146,000, “is in rail trail.” Other line items include $87,000 for the development authority and $100,000 for the airport.
Trecost said “we do have it on record exactly where this money is going.” He then apologized, saying “I’m sorry to do this, but this is how it’s going to have to be done from now on.” After approval of the motion, Thomas concurred with Trecost, noting “I’m with him. We need to make things clear.”
Commissioners then heard from the Bridgeport Future Farmers of America Alumni and Supporters organization. They had issued a special funding request to help defer costs for the First Annual Bridgeport High School FFA Cattle Battle.
That organization’s treasurer, Jamie Cox, spoke on the request. She shared that “the Harrison County Schools budget is not able to provide what they need to make this project a success.” McCrea Cattle will be partnering with the FFA alumni to put on the Cattle Battle as a fundraiser with 75 percent of the proceeds donated. That money will help FFA students have what they need for travel, projects, and will even help to cover costs of the iconic blue corduroy jackets that cost $60 or more.
The $3,000 funding requested will cover the cost of stands for seating. Cox explained that they had considered asking attendees to bring chairs, they noticed that other such events had prepared seats in place.
Commissioners approved the request.
