Clay County Commission met in regular session Jan 22, 2020. Absent from duty was Connie Kinder. CCC Prez Fitzwater said , Kinder will be away til Feb 2nd. In the peanut gallery, around 15 peasants including elected folks Dave Mullins, Jim Samples, Cheryl White, and Mike Asbury.
  Normal business included hiring  David Schoolcraft and John Carol as drivers for the Clay County Ambulance Service at $8.75 per hour.
  CCC voted to allow the W Va Tax Dept to handle all mineral assessments during the annual Board of Review for taxes. Prez Fitz said that doesn't preclude them from voting against Tax Dept decisions. Sometime back, maybe 15 years ago, the County Commission voted against those big boy recommendations. The Tax Dept objected but the CCC did it anyway. That local decision provided an additional $12 million back into the local coffers.
  We had a couple nuggets on the agenda of note.
  One was the placing on the ballot raising property taxes via an Excess Levy. Excess means more than they need and more than allowed by current law. For this wallet robbing initiative, additional taxes would be raised for the Sheriff Dept's use. When asked, how much did the Sheriff need, no one had an answer. Later one of the Commissioners told the assembled, they want to use the new funds to hire two new Black Shirts for evening duty.
  The vote to add the Excess Levy on the May 12th ballot was tabled. Prez Fitzwater said they had to wait on State auditors to provide them some info.
  Up until 20 years ago, this county never accepted excess levies. After about three trys, the Pentagon successfully approved their additional taxes drive. Since then, several other attempts failed. Those failed attempts included funding fire departments and one ambulance service. In addition to the Pentagon Excess Levy, voters said OK to funding the county's only public library.
  Look for the Sheriff's Excess Levy motion to be on the next County Commission  agenda.
  The second big nugget for this meeting was approving our 342 square miles to be a "sanctuary county".
  That Sanctuary  status is a trendy thing these days. It's referring to a bogus notion of the Govt being unable to remove guns. In this state, compliments a Constitutional change several years ago, most West Virginians have an absolute right to possess firearms.
  This is a trendy thing brought on by the dimly lit Jerry Springer crowd, AKA Trumpites. To keep locals in order, in line, the gem was advanced like a carrot on a string in front of a mule. Those that drank the Kool Aid might be feeling more empowered now.
  Little does that crowd know, sanctuary status does NOT over ride ANY Federal or State law. Nor does it have ANY affect on the local Black Shirts from coming after you and your guns.
  We know that because, when asked, both Commissioners on hand during this meeting, agreed, this vote means nothing, ninguno, zip.
  Other counties witht he new feel good order on the books include: Nicholas and Putnam Counties.
  Aligning with public sentiment here in the outback, the motion for sanctuary status was passed unanimously. Commissioner Fran King admitted that she wanted it the vote on the agenda.
  Down below is the compliment bill. If you take the time to read the garble, it has no teeth, merit, nor substance.
  Another fine morning watching the Clay County Commission handling the irksome tasks of life in the Land of Little. Placate em!
AW