We don't think much about clocks until
they're not hanging on a wall when we need em. That's been the case in
the County Commission room for months. No Clock. Then, Wed morning, Oct
9th, there it was and working properly. We're now ready for an hour plus
County Commission meeting. Upwards of 16 were perched in t he peanut
gallery for the fun fest.
Here's four kernels from that assembly.
Michael Moore
Michael Moore made a presentation to
grow tourism in the county by advertising on a shiny slick tourism map
he is pedaling. That map catches the eye of motorcyclists and encourages
them of opportunities for them if they come to Clayberry. Ads are costly,
up to $1500 each. Mr Moore's impressed on the elected folks, bikers spend
upwards of $90 / day and if you attract a whole gaggle of em, that can
turn into real money for the county. Moore is hawking the map and it might
be a good thing but there's no guarantee or organized attempt to gather
together a slew of the bikers at one time on various weekends. Translation,
Moore does not organize group rides.
Mayor Drennen, standing
In attendance, Mayor Chris Dreenen from
Richwood explained the benefits they had already experienced by investing
$6000 in advertising on the map. Two weeks ago, there were over 70 bikes
on hand in Richwood for one day of fun.
Also on hand for the CCC meeting
was Mayor Josh Shamblin (seated on the left above) who asked about promoting
our two new ATV trail opportunities and maybe organizing fundraising rides.
While Moore didn't poo-poo the ATV promotion idea, he explained, for bikers,
it's all paved road "loops" and preferably in scenic areas.
Beginning in 2020, County Clay roads will
be included on the new map with directions around our hamlet. We will be
on the "yellow" trail which heads over into Gauley Bridge
The colorful map might be a good marketing
tool but there's one big problem. the County Commission is cash strapped.
They have zero extra funds for such a much needed marketing push. Commissioner
Fran King felt, the BDA received a marketing grant and maybe they could
pay for the ad campaign. The Richwood Mayor explained, their municipality
received a grant which covered the cost of advertising on the map.
Deadline for advertising on the 2020 map
is the end of this year. Moore told the three up front, 150,000 maps will
be handed out in early 2020.
No decisions made by the elected
folks.
Mr Suit
Clayberry is eat up with drug use and from
the fallout of stoned to the max, in need of a fix ,druggy zombies.
As most have been hearing, big settlements (pay outs by the drug makers)
may be coming to Appalachia, ground central for the opiod epidemic. The
Suit representing County Clay was on hand for the CCC assembly. He explained
this is a very complex, multi state, multi Court, deal in the works. Right
now, a tentative of settlement is on the table. The Suit did not recommend
participation in the settlement. Reason being: For every billion in settlement
funds, County Clay would receive somewhere are $25,000. Translation: that
ain't much $$$.
During question and answer time, one fellow
was alarmed over settlement dollars heading back to hospitals, doctors,
clinics, pharmacies... the very groups that created the opiod problem to
begin with. Note: If you're a druggy and think you might be receiving settlement
pay outs, forget it, not going to happen
There's another problem and darn good
reason for opting out of the current settlement offer. According to Mr
Suit, currently , the settlement offer is no more than $18 billion total
for all the states affected by the drug epidemic. Keep in mind, years ago,
when tobacco companies settled on the cancer causing cigs, Big Tobacco
settled for $265 billion.
In today's dollars, $18 Billion ain't
much of a pay out penalty.
County Commission voted unanimously to
follow their attorney's advice and opt out of the current settlement offer.
Commissioner Connie Kinder
How controversial could Trick or Treat get?
Answer, here in Clayberry, a bunch. Last week, the Town of Clay voted to
hold official Halloween Night fun on Saturday Oct 26th instead of on a
school night, Oct 31. Seemed like a good idea by Council since that Oct
26th date coincides with day long Fall Festival activities organized by
the Deliciously Vivid group.
Based on comments by all three Commissioners
and Mayor Shamblin, there's been a bunch of fallout and criticism from
locals who want trick or treat held on the traditional last night of Oct.
Since no one is forcing anyone to go out
trick or treating, County Commission voted unanimously, to hold countywide
Trick or Treat night also on Oct 26th.
Up above, we mentioned the CCC was too
poor to do much of anything... Here's another example of county shortcomings.
Circuit Clerk Mike Asbury asked the CCC
to fund $4800 to purchase a new color copier for his office. According
to the Asbury fellow, the State is demanding such a copier with all
the bells and whistles for each Circuit Clerk office in the State. Ahhhh,
note, the State is NOT footing the bill for the copier purchases.
How poor are we? During discussions, King
asked if they could make the purchase on a payment plan, installments.
As for coughing up the $4800, there is no $$$ available in the County Commission
budget. Fran King, "We don't have that much money."
When told to use $$$ out of his own Clerk
budget, Asbury objected. Didn't help much. County Commission voted
down the purchase. Asbury is on his own if he wants a color copier.
Note: The County Commission already pays
the cost of maintenance and repairs on all copiers in the Courthouse
Here's a load of crap clickers.
Commissioner Fran King said she "refused"
to attend last week's CAEZ meeting because, are you ready... the CAEZ did
not have an agenda posted and she didn't want any part of such a transgression.
What a load of whooy. Bet you she didn't even remember there was a CAEZ
meeting last Tuesday.
The Parks and Rec Committee operates
the swimming pool each Summer. According to the Franster, at the end of
operations this time around, after expenses, Parks and Rec realized $1000
left in the budget. King, "It's broke!"
What ta Do What Ta Do... Parks and Rec
is organizing bus tours to raise some $$$. No details provided but
the usual trips include an Amish Country and Christmas Tour in New York
City.. New York City???
OK those with their hands out and once
again according to the King lady, the National Guard is coming to the Courthouse
(19th) and offering to tear down homes, sheds, trailers and the like. After
questioning, NO the buildings do NOT have to be messed up by the Great
Wash Out of 2016. Got a shack you want torn down, show up on the 19th and
fill out some paperwork. Probably sometime in the next 100 years, the Govt
will get around to doing something.
Sometime shortly after 11am, the dust
settled and the fun time was over for another two weeks.
AW
