By Stephen Smoot
One of the most popular recent traditions held by the former owners of the Sunset Ellis Drive In and restaurant lay in allowing a weekend flea market on the property just outside of Shinnston.
The decision did not come without detailed, and often biting, discussion on how it would operate under the aegis of the County.
Harrison County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis brought the matter to the County Commission’s attention during the last regular meeting in July. She stated “we wanted to discuss opening up the flea market at the Sunset Ellis property on August 2nd. When that date was picked, we originally thought the building was coming down this week.”
She referred to the partially burned restaurant structure facing US Route 19.
“The building is coming down next week,” Pysz-Laulis explained, saying she wanted to get a timeline together for what needed to be done. She also asked “would August 16 be okay?” to hold the first weekend flea market. If that date did not work, she welcomed the Commission’s opinion.
“I think it needs to be moved just a hair,” agreed Harrison County Commission President Susan Thomas.
Commissioner David Hinkle then posed the question “who put this on the agenda?” Pysz Laulis responded “Commissioner Trecost put this on the agenda.” She referred to Commissioner Patsy Trecost.
“I’m just curious,” remarked Hinkle, “the flea market, who is paying for it?”
Trecost answered “Actually, nobody pays for it because we would collect an entrance fee for a spot.”
“Who’s ‘we?’” Hinkle shot back, to which Trecost answered “the County.”
Hinkle then asked if County employees would man the flea market, to which Trecost replied in the affirmative. Shortly after, Hinkle requested to know to where the money collected would go. Trecost shared “That’s up to us. I was thinking it would go into the animal control facility, but if you want to make it different, I am okay with that.”
Trecost referred to the animal control facility that the County plans to construct, along with a livestock barn and event center, at the former Sunset Ellis property.
Later in the meeting, Pysz-Laulis stated that she did not think that the money could go to animal control since Parks and Recreation would likely be the ones collecting it. Legalities surrounding the levy could prevent that kind of transfer. Commissioners voted three to zero at that point to let Parks and Recreation keep the proceeds.
“Are we going to pay overtime for this?” asked Hinkle, to which Thomas interjected “I believe that all of that can be worked out.” Hinkle responded with “I don’t want to approve something if we don’t know how much we’re paying” personnel.
Thomas started to say “I don’t know that we’re approving at this time,” then caught herself and stated “I guess we are.” as Hinkle said “you’re picking a date to approve.” Thomas then replied “you don’t know that we’re doing that,” to which Hinkle fired back “I’m just saying that’s what the agenda item says.”
Trecost then labored to explain that “To be honest with you David, if you’ve never been in Shinnston, what they do it they just have a person in a box. You just pass by him and then you ‘orange cone’ it. Then you give them the money.” Trecost went on to explain that “last meeting, we decided we wouldn’t contract . . . out” property maintenance. The landscaping and other work would be performed by County employees “and then we allocate spots for people to set up at.”
He stated that they would run it from August through October.
Discussion over how much to charge led to the suggestion of the former rate of $15 per spot. Answering a Hinkle question about the intentions behind the flea market agenda item, Trecost said “To be honest with you, Sir, the purpose of this discussion is for us to make our decision. If you want me to say that I think it should be $15 and you agree with it, I’m cool with that.”
“How about I make it easier,” replied Hinkle, “I just make a motion that we don’t do a flea market.”
Trecost responded “And I’ll make a motion that we do a flea market, clean up the property, make it presentable, and . . .” Hinkle interjected, saying “I’ve already made my motion, so . . .”
Once again, Trecost stated “And I want to make my motion that we do what the citizens want, not just here in Harrison County . . .” Hinkle shot back “So the citizens want us to use taxpayer dollars . . .” to which Trecost said “the citizens want a flea market, Sir.” To which Hinkle raised his next point that “if it’s so popular, why isn’t anybody doing it? Why is it the County’s responsibility to start a flea market?”
Thomas shut down discussion to call for a vote on Hinkle’s motion, which failed one to two. Hinkle protested that he had not heard Trecost’s voice vote. Thomas stated “I want to make it clear for the record, Mr. Trecost did say no.”
Thomas, Trecost, and Pysz-Laulis then continued discussion on the timing of holding the initial flea market day and the use of personnel. After Trecost laid down some of his thoughts, he said “This is not hard. This is someone standing out front.”
“I never said it was hard,” responded Hinkle.
Trecost ignored Hinkle and went on to request a motion to direct proceeds from the flea market to support the animal control facility. Hinkle asked if that meant that Trecost was combining the next agenda item, which referred to sending the proceeds to the animal control facility, in the current item under discussion.
Trecost insisted that he was following Hinkle’s direction, Hinkle replying “I was just asking where the money was going.”
Agitated, Trecost fired back “Okay then, I’ll follow your lead, David, it really doesn’t matter how small you are in this meeting . . . “
“Patsy, Patsy, we’re going to start throwing barbs?” asked Hinkle. “Is that what we’re going to do today?”
“”We’re not doing this!” announced Thomas, “please guys . . . you guys take it up outside of the meeting” while extending her arms wide and holding her palms up as a gesture of separating the two Commissioners in contention. Thomas customarily sits between Trecost and Hinkle in Commission meetings.
“Let’s discuss it here,” said Hinkle, to which Thomas said “no, we’re discussing the flea market.” Hinkle then called the initiative “this genius idea,” which prompted Trecost’s reply that “it is a good idea.”
Commissioners continued to discuss personnel needs for the flea market for the next few minutes. Hinkle, exasperated, shared “so if it costs $2 or 3,000 to put a flea market and you’re okay with that and a return for a couple or four hundred bucks, that’s what’s important? You’re not even worried about cost?”
Thomas replied “I could touch that, but I’m not going to.” Hinkle fired back “well go ahead, Susan.” She fired back “I’m not! Because that’s not what we need to do up here! We’re here for the people, to provide a service to the taxpayers.”
“Man I’d like to get a vote from a county that wants us to spend thousands of dollars for a flea market.” said Hinkle, prompting Thomas to reply “thousands of dollars?”
Hinkle pointed out costs related to overtime, to which Thomas said “it will be a few hours on one day.” Further discussion took place that also involved the County Administrator, at the conclusion of which, Hinkle said “this is all part of the big plan you guys supposedly worked out for this flea market.”
“No David, we actually brought it to the Commission to have a good conversation and you ruined it.” said Trecost. Hinkle’s response was “Aww, I ruined it? Maybe if you’d been better prepared to answer my questions, you wouldn’t have gotten it ruined, Patsy. But I’m just the kind of guy who keeps – what was the fancy word you used for me?”
“Small” replied Trecost.
“Small,” repeated Hinkle, who added “and I’m glad I’m not big like you.”
Thomas, Trecost, and Pysz-Laulis continued the discussion on how to operate the event. Hours will run on Saturday alone from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. with costs to vendors of $15 and no fee to enter. Facebook was seen as the most cost-effective way to spread the word of its opening.
August 9th was set as the opening date, but that could be contingent on whether the site is ready by then or not.