talented and popular acts, to Ferguson Memorial
Park. Admission is free.
By Stephen Smoot
As according to custom, the Harrison County Commission opened with an invocation by Commissioner Patsy Trecost. He prayed “we do know that we don’t hold tightly to You, Father; You cling tightly to us.”
After the prayer came the Pledge of Allegiance and then the business of the County commenced.
Public comment opened the session. Multiple residents traveled from Enterprise to share stories of obnoxious exploding noises creating a nuisance for seniors, retired combat veterans, pets, and citizens wanting quiet at reasonable times of the day and night. This story is featured elsewhere.
After the public comment period, during which elected and appointed officials cannot interrupt or engage those speaking, Commissioners welcomed representatives advocating for those suffering from Alzheimers and other brain conditions for their official month. Commissioners read and signed the proclamation, which also was passed by the city councils of Clarksburg and Bridgeport.
Bernard Gallagher, representing the Shinnston Economic Development Authority, rose to address the Commission, requesting $1,000 for the Shindy Music Festival this coming summer. Previously, between 2016 and 2018, the City of Shinnston had requested $2,000 for the Frontier Days Festival.
“Shinnston has been very progressive in promoting the arts and culture of West Virginia,” noted Gallagher. This will be the third year that Shinnston has hosted the festival. This and other events, such as Wind Down Wednesdays during the summer months, has transformed Shinnston into a popular stop for West Virginia native singer-songwriters seeking to express their part of the Mountain State experience for residents and tourists alike.
“People don’t realize the quality of music coming out of West Virginia,” Gallagher shared.
Nine acts will grace the Ferguson Memorial Park stage on Aug 2nd, headlined by Kindred Valley and Corduroy Brown. The City of Shinnston and its EDA put on the show at no cost to attendees, for the general enjoyment of all.
Gallagher shared that the $1,000 will “help offset some of the costs and help to promote it better.” Commissioners must have seen that as insufficient and approved a grant of $1,500 instead of the $1,000 requested. Other partners supporting the event include the Harrison County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Cultural Foundation.
Application documents revealed that the festival requested no grants last year to help with the near $15,000 in costs.
Another Shinnston related issue came before the Commission. Since Commissioners made a determination to avoid committing to the expense of restoring the structural integrity of the massive screen used by the former drive in theater. Complicating the issue is the presence of an apartment on the ground floor that the selling parties wished to retain.
After coming out of an executive session on the topic, Commissioner Patsy Trecost said he wanted to “move to cease negotiations with the Ellis property,” citing “sellers remorse” expressed on Facebook social media to Commissioner David Hinkle’s request for clarification.
Harrison County Commission President Susan Thomas chipped in that “I’m trying to wrap my head around the motion.” County Attorney Trey Simmerman suggested that “I’d like to see negotiations continue and finalize the purchase.”
Hinkle and Thomas voted down Trecost’s motion, but Commissioners approved a motion to pursue Simmerman’s suggestion, empowering Simmerman and County Administrator Laura Pysz-Laulis to continue as they have been.
Commissioners envision the 40 acres as a solid location to construct both an animal control center and also a livestock barn for events such as 4H and Future Farmers of America competitions.
Another hot topic came up for discussion, future funding and implementation of emergency services. Commissioner Hinkle added an item to the agenda to seek out an outside firm to examine fire and ambulance service in Harrison County to chart out a path that financially sustains both that also maintains the current high levels of service.
Pysz-Laulis voiced support to bring in a group to “find out exactly where we need help,” while Commissioner Thomas added it should also look at “the best way to fund this.” Hinkle then added to her statement “and the funding it will take or whether we need to do a countywide fire fee.”
Unless current trends reverse, the lack of citizen participation in volunteer fire and ambulance services will cause their end in West Virginia and around the nation. Local governments across the Mountain State have seen rescue and fire squad organizations close for lack of volunteers in the past several years.
Trecost questioned the need to spend on an outside firm to study the issue, stating “that study is something we have to pay for” and suggested that the County “has enough in-house expertise ” to provide the right information.
Thomas responded that she did not agree with that statement and added “we’ve tried to do this on our own and here we are. We need to know as a Commission, what are our options?” Thomas’s goal for the study is “I’d like somebody to tell me how we pay for what’s already in place.”