Big Talks
Nov 10 2021, Posted Nov 19th
We've said it before but it's worth repeating, many public meetings are down right boring. Not because of the subject matter but because anything of value, interest, those items are kept hidden from the taxpayers.
For the most part, County Commission meetings are little different. Those meetings are open to the public and those in the peanut gallery are allowed to bring up issues and comment. Some of those comments provide great info and are a good indicator of the pulse of Clayonians.
Commission Prez Fran King is the ring leader for CCC meetings and often is the person responding to the public. She has about 8 years of experience on the job and has been referred to as the Mouth of the South.
Commissioner Connie Kinder has held her seat for nearly 3 years and her chief issue is the lack of speedy DSL service in this county. To date, little DSL advancement has been made during her term on the govt agency.
The newbee on the bench is David Schoolcraft who is rounding out his first year on the elected body. David comes up with great ideas / needs and takes em up as the pivot man. Stuff like fixing Courthouse Square, the Judicial Annex, and the old Nutrition Site in Two Run. Under questioning a couple weeks back, he admitted, there has been little in the way of progress made. There is an exception. Commissioner Schoolcraft has no reservations over spending tax dollars. He's often the front man on spending.
County
Commission convened a public meeting on Nov 10th. All
three Commissioners were present with around 20 taxpayers
in the peanut gallery. With an election just around the
corner, State Senate candidate and college student Joshua
Higginbotham was on hand to shake babies and hug hands.
The Republican is from Cabell county and if elected, will
represent us in the newly gerrymandered, 8th Senatorial
District. We noticed that his campaign card did not
include his party affiliation.
Joshua
Here's a few
highlights from that gathering.
With every govt agency loaded down with excess COVID free money, Crystal Adkins and David Grigsby from Clay Roane PSD showed up with their hands out. Crystal served as spokesperson and was seeking free COVID funds for new equipment for the County's largest wawa provider. Stuff like generators at various booster stations, fencing, concrete pads and fire hydrants were main items. After discussion, Fran thought the pay outs should be divided between this County and Roane.
Look for a vote on the PSD's request during an upcoming assembly. Best guess right now, the request will be for $20,000.00 more or less.
County Commission went thru the normal blah blah blah of settling estates and such.
From the peanut gallery...
As for hiring a new Black Shirt and based on the Top Badge saying he had a good candidate during the last public meeting, ain't going to happen. According Ms King, the background stuff had not been completed and that lad, nope, he's out.
How about Randy Holcomb who has been back on the force for about 2 weeks. From up front, yelp, he's back, he's our only certified Black Shirt and Yes, he got his requested $20 per hour.
Something not mentioned during the meeting but sort of related, there's a new law on the books that requires Home Confinement Officers to be certified as a Badge. That new requirement most likely will affect Bailiff, Home Confinement Officer, Gary King... an not in a positive way.
How about a ERTS update.
Dave Grigsby who lives in the Camp Creek area (along the trail) raised questions on the new tourist draw and getting a State Park Superintendent. Bernie Howe (pic below) responded that he had talked to someone with DNR and, the last candidate for Superintendent bailed out. According to Mr Howe, the hiring process is once again, in progress.
Note: It's our understanding, two Superintendent candidates have skedaddled. One, the last one, was up here doing a little trail work and left... never to be seen again.
Commissioner King (also lives near ERTS but in the Ivydale area) brought all up to date on the pee poor conditions on the pathway. King mentioned , just recently, three loads of horse back riders were in her neighborhood wanting to take a ride and couldn't because of the poor maintenance of the trail. She added: from Hartland to Strange Creek, repairs are needed.
That Bernie Howe was in the running this time last year to be the Park Superintendent. That guy is a Clayberry resident, educated, doesn't stink, has teeth, talks very well, had a brain, and most important, has a strong interest in ERTS and the success in County Clay. During this meeting , County Commissioner Fran King was asked to fire out a letter of recommendation for Howe. Commissioner King agreed to make that request to WVa DNR.
With all work completed in 31 minutes, the meeting adjourned.
AW
With every govt agency loaded down with excess COVID free money, Crystal Adkins and David Grigsby from Clay Roane PSD showed up with their hands out. Crystal served as spokesperson and was seeking free COVID funds for new equipment for the County's largest wawa provider. Stuff like generators at various booster stations, fencing, concrete pads and fire hydrants were main items. After discussion, Fran thought the pay outs should be divided between this County and Roane.
Look for a vote on the PSD's request during an upcoming assembly. Best guess right now, the request will be for $20,000.00 more or less.
County Commission went thru the normal blah blah blah of settling estates and such.
From the peanut gallery...
As for hiring a new Black Shirt and based on the Top Badge saying he had a good candidate during the last public meeting, ain't going to happen. According Ms King, the background stuff had not been completed and that lad, nope, he's out.
How about Randy Holcomb who has been back on the force for about 2 weeks. From up front, yelp, he's back, he's our only certified Black Shirt and Yes, he got his requested $20 per hour.
Something not mentioned during the meeting but sort of related, there's a new law on the books that requires Home Confinement Officers to be certified as a Badge. That new requirement most likely will affect Bailiff, Home Confinement Officer, Gary King... an not in a positive way.
How about a ERTS update.
Dave Grigsby who lives in the Camp Creek area (along the trail) raised questions on the new tourist draw and getting a State Park Superintendent. Bernie Howe (pic below) responded that he had talked to someone with DNR and, the last candidate for Superintendent bailed out. According to Mr Howe, the hiring process is once again, in progress.
Note: It's our understanding, two Superintendent candidates have skedaddled. One, the last one, was up here doing a little trail work and left... never to be seen again.
Commissioner King (also lives near ERTS but in the Ivydale area) brought all up to date on the pee poor conditions on the pathway. King mentioned , just recently, three loads of horse back riders were in her neighborhood wanting to take a ride and couldn't because of the poor maintenance of the trail. She added: from Hartland to Strange Creek, repairs are needed.
That Bernie Howe was in the running this time last year to be the Park Superintendent. That guy is a Clayberry resident, educated, doesn't stink, has teeth, talks very well, had a brain, and most important, has a strong interest in ERTS and the success in County Clay. During this meeting , County Commissioner Fran King was asked to fire out a letter of recommendation for Howe. Commissioner King agreed to make that request to WVa DNR.
With all work completed in 31 minutes, the meeting adjourned.
AW
Bernie Howe
