By Stephen Smoot
As the May 20 meeting of the Harrison County Commission got underway, Commissioner Patsy Trecost delivered the opening invocation.
He prayed “Thank you for the blessings here at Harrison County and all our surroundings that we can support our local fire department so we can support our local authorities, that we have the means to do so so that we can touch those who don’t have and be able to share with those who wanna participate in community, Lord.”
Harrison County Commission President Susan Thomas, after the consent agenda and other housekeeping items, recognized the Wallace Volunteer Fire Department. Their spokesman came to describe the need as they request $3,000 toward their Wallace Day at the Park Festival Fair.
Lieutenant Betsy Shaw, who also serves as Secretary and Treasurer, explained that they had decided to condense the activities from the previous three days down to Saturday. It will start at 9 a.m. and attendees can enjoy live free music all day long. “It’s really the same thing we normally do,” he stated.
“We’re gonna do the kids rodeo, the firefighter rodeo with the obstacle course, the water battle, the concessions from the ladies, the, like I said, three vans, the vendors that we bring in, we usually try to get in the walk walk climbing wall, the bounce house that we can bring in.”
Shaw added that it’s a perfect opportunity for people who do not normally get to use the park to enjoy “a really good day for the kids to come here and experience what Parks and Rec has done lately to improve the park.”
Commissioners also voted to provide $1,500 for the Clarksburg-Harrison Regional Housing Authority’s Back to School Bash. Children get to celebrate the return to school, but also receive needed supplies and other items to help them return equipped to learn.
Orpha Swiger, Vice President of the Harrison County Solid Waste Authority Board, was unanimously reappointed.
Then came the central discussion of the meeting, how to monitor and enforce applicable laws on the Rail Trail.
For years, reports have come to the County Commission concerning unlawful activities on the Rail Trail, including, but not limited to trespassing, vandalism, and theft on adjoining private property. Illegal vehicle use has also created issues for those trying to legally enjoy the trail.
Commission President Thomas opened by saying “I think t. . . it’s past time to get something on the rail trail, whether it be a park ranger, it be law enforcement . . . I would prefer law enforcement.”
Options include appointing a Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputy or the creation of a Park Ranger role, the main difference being that a Park Ranger is not law enforcement. Commissioner Thomas quipped “My question would be, what can the park ranger do? Say that somebody’s speeding down the trail?”
Trey Simmerman, Harrison County Counsel, explained that authority to enforce the law derives from the Commission ordinance establishing laws and rules for the trail. On the question of whether a Park Ranger can also have arrest powers, he said “we hoped that Charleston might give us some teeth in the last legislative session. They did not.”
He also noted that it may be easier to find grant funding for rangers, as opposed to deputies.
Sheriff Robert Matheny came to the meeting to answer questions and discuss the role of deputies on the trail. He shared that two deputies had been assigned to cover the trail, but that “the trail’s very large, as you guys know.” The Sheriff stated that his department would work with the commission to coordinate coverage.
Commissioner David Hinkle raised questions about the specifics of organization and coordination with Commissioner Trecost and Sheriff Matheny. He asked “So who would be the, person in charge of what they do each day? Would that be assigned by you, or would that be assigned by Parks and Rec?”
After the Sheriff responded that the agencies would coordinate, Commissioner Hinkle stated “I need a little more than working together, Robert.” adding “Because I don’t wanna find out the people we’ve hired are covering for vacation or working somewhere else instead of working . . . on the trail or working on something that we’re doing that they’re truly assigned to us.”
Commissioner Hinkle noted that he did not think that the budget for this issue was prepared with the costs of civil service employees in mind.
Simmerman, in response to a question, stated that he could not create an ordinance to bind future commissions to the arrangement. He explained that the coordination would work in that the Commission would set up a “patrol period” and then decide “what resources you’re going to give.”
Commissioner Hinkle asked if “we can afford to do this now,” to which Commission President Thomas answered in the affirmative. Hinkle responded by expressing concern over the rising cost of the regional jail bill that all counties pay to the state to cover the cost of incarceration there. “Well this is the first I’ve heard you bring it up, or anybody bring it up,” noted Commission President Thomas.
She added “we need to find the money, or we’ve got to do something with these trails.”
Simmerman called the jail bill issue “a vicious cycle” of a financial cost because better enforcement of the law results in a higher bill. He suggested putting more into alternative sentencing programs.
Kim Malejko, director of Harrison County Parks and Recreation was then asked for her perspective. She stated that “we would want somebody who can enforce our laws, but also be approachable to the public . . . I’m happy to collaborate and work with the sheriff’s office is that if that’s the direction the commission wants to go.”
“I want us to do something, whether it is a Park Ranger or the Sheriff’s Department,” Commission President Thomas weighed in. Simmerman stated that “it’s kind of like patrolling a highway . . . you’re not going to stop it all,” but that when residents see that lawbreakers are held accountable, it will dampen the enthusiasm of others to break the law.
Malejko urged that law enforcement officers on the trail have the same “ambassador” approach that school resource officers use in providing security, being “eyes and ears” of the trail, but also able to engage the law abiding users with the ability to answer a range of questions about the trail and its surroundings.
Commissioner Hinkle argued that equipping a sheriff’s deputy comes at a higher cost that that of a Park Ranger, with “shotguns, and pistols, and armored vests and all we buy.” He suggested hiring four rangers who can call in when they see lawbreaking.
Commission President Thomas moved to hire two deputies and Commissioner Hinkle moved to hire four park rangers. Voting resulted in the approval of deputies and not for rangers. Commissioner Trecost noted that the extensive hiring process for law enforcement may mean that hiring may not occur until next year.
Simmerman recommended the creation of certain enforcement zones on the trail, sparking a comment of frustration from Commissioner Trecost. He stated that the Commission would “talk about this for six years like I talk about animal control, like I talk about bridges, like I talk about rail trail.” He then said to Simmerman “I appreciate your comment and I thank you for that. That’s just another thorn in my side that nothing ever gets done.”
Simmerman responded that “if we are going to put officers out there” it needed to get done.
At the conclusion of the meeting during comments, Commissioner Trecost noted that he wished to see the demolition of the movie screen at Sunset Ellis on the agenda. Commissioner Hinkle thanked the voters of Harrison County for passing two countywide levies, saying “That was a very important thing for Harrison County, and I appreciate it.”
He also thanked the County Clerk’s office for an efficient canvas of voting. Commission President Thomas.
