Strong leadership is often lacking in Clayberry. Often we question the intentions of those seeking office. \
   Back in the 11th grade, teachers demanded everyone read The Republic of Plato. Did you? Or, did you just look over your classmates' shoulders and copy the answers?
  About the only thing the Ace Cub Reporter remembers from Plato was the part about picking leaders. According to that ancient work, when selecting leaders, you should line up everyone wanting the position and then shoot em. Follow that up with a second set of  applicants. When that bunch is assembled in a straight line, shoot them as well. With all those out of the way, according to Plato, find the person that absolutely refuses to be the boss and put that guy in charge.  Sort of makes sense and maybe something we should consider for this nation.
  Here on the local front, an example.  Dave Mullins has been elected to the Sch Bd numerous times. Not sure the reason but we have a guess or two. The only thing Mr Mullins cares or knows anything about, centers around bus drivers. Anything else involving a working school system, Dave is at a loss. But, that school service personnel group is a large voting block, actually larger than those in the teaching profession, and makes sure their "boy" remains in power.
  Here's a second example. Mitch DeBoard runs the Business Development Authority (BDA). On more than a few occasions, this newspaper and others have asked DeBoard to stop spraying cancer causing chemicals on the Buffalo Creek railroad rights of way. Defiantly, and with much pride, DeBoard  promised to continue the glyphosate applications this past Spring. When the guy hitches up his britches, leadership falls out the bottom.
  We're suppose to be talking about CAEZ coverage but can't help think about their dubious history. One aspect comes from day one of the CAEZ when the Clay Sch Bd swiped  over a million of those dollars to set up a pre school baby-sitting service in the county. By cutting Govt sanctions on the $$$, Clinton forgot to remember the many sticky fingers in local leadership positions. With much of their pot of gold gone, many of the original ideas for improvement, they stayed on the shelf thru today.
  With all that being said, here's some Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) meeting coverage from Oct 1st.
  CAEZ came about during the Clinton administration where they decided, give the common peasants a small pot of gold to work with and let them create the new world. Clinton /Gore's idea was, locals on the ground know what's needed and they can do a better job than the govt. Of all the empowerment zones and enterprise areas created, about the only one left in operation is our CAEZ. We use the "in operation" wording cautiously.
  CAEZ is organized around a committee system where the peasants were suppose to make decisions. With one exception, that decision making committee role, it ain't happening, it never really happened period. That one committee, the economic development committee, does meet regularly and sets the stage for a full blown Board meeting. The Eco / Dev group is the same group that forms the Board About 99% of the time, decisions of all types are made by the one committee and then voted into force by the full Board an hour later.
  We attended that lone committee meeting on Oct 1st. With just three or so Boardsters in attendance, Director Connie Lupardus (some refer to Lupardus as Big Lup) ran the show. Mentions included:
  The Dundon Campground is doing great according to Lup. Heck the Lodge and camping areas were plum full all of Sept! Sounded wonderful! Her Board did not ask for any documentation on that boast. Nor was there any mention of a profit or loss statement in the eco / dev packet.
  CAEZ organized a song fest, dinner, exhibit deal on Sept 28th over a the Campground. According to Big Lup, everything was decorated nicely, looked good, but few, very few, showed up for the event.
  Lup is often big on talking but with little follow thru. Here's a for instance.
  For months and months, Big Lup has been explaining, there's a great learning opportunity coming to their Valley Fork office building. Over the months, she has mentioned opportunities  for CDL licenses, linemen courses, and heavy equipment operator classes compliments a community college program SOON to be on the scene.
  The August 2019 CAEZ meeting minutes read, Lineman, Heavy Equipment, and CDL classes should begin next month. Mitch DeBoard was approached to be the CDL instructor. Classes will be held over in Dundon, Clay, and Montgomery.
  Lup made it sound  pretty good don't your think.   Lup apprised her Board of that upbeat opportunity just four weeks ago. With the smoke clearing, fast forward to this Oct 1st meeting, and low and behold, it's a whole new landscape.
  According to the Director, all those plans may  be on the weighside...no contract has been signed... telephone calls are not being returned... and "Hopefully, it's not a dead issue."
  We've been done this road before. Most of the time when leadership says stuff like, hopefully its not a dead issue, it is.
  For at least four years, Lup has been the county rep for an ATV riding trail network coming to Clayberry and five neighboring counties.  Hot diggity dog! What a compliment for the planned ERTS State Park coming in 2020.
  Truthfully and spoken many times, such a Hatfield / McCoy style program, will take years to develop.
  During the Oct 1st Eco / Dev meeting, Big Lup  told the assembled, Fayette County may get the first section of that trail and not us. "May get" probably means, it's a certainty.
  Gary Stuber (pictures below and on the left) informed all, the Swinging Bridge has been saved from deconstruction, the State Road has no intentions on tearing it down, and if anybody wants the structure, it's available for $1 plus, the new owner has to maintain insurance forever.
  County Commissioner Connie Kinder, also a member of the CAEZ, updated the tiny group on a planned and soon to be funded ($1.8 million) broad band initiative coming to Clayberry. For this update, Ms Kinder provided, the group is seeking electric providers to actually provide the DSL service.
  A short wittle guy spoke on two ATV trails in the county are now up and running.
  Here's the keeper from the Oct 1st meeting.
  The Ace Cub Reporter noticed, there was no posted agenda for the full Board meeting slated to begin at 6pm. That's something required by State Open Meeting Laws and something the CAEZ normally adheres to.  During a recent skirmish on following the Law of the Land, CAEZ Boardsters were all in agreement, they must follow Open meeting law and it says as much in their By-laws.
  With the Eco /Dev meeting ending, the question was asked, how are you going to have a Board meeting without posting an agenda?
  Quickly, without thinking or giving the question consideration, Big Lup, "You're just going to have to write us up!!!!"
  Not thinking is often practiced by Lup but brazenly abandoning law, that's down right dumb. Reminds us of that Orange Headed guy in DC. Her arrogance exemplifies the lack of leadership in the CAEZ and the county as a whole.
AW
 
 

CAEZ Chair Michael Martin, Center