In Dec 2020, The Communicator
provided little coverage on the goins on of the Clay County
Commission. Now with a new year now in progress, we're
correcting our ways and providing a little on their efforts
plus the one biggy fro the public meetings.
During this year of disaster, Clay County Commission held their public meetings on the second and fourth Wed of each month beginning at 10am.
Greg Fitzwater is the outgoing Commissioner. His replacement will be an absolute newcomer, David Schoolcraft.
Courthouse workers are some of the poorest paid employees in the Nation. For many years, new hires were told, you don't get paid much but the time off, retirement and free insurance, those make up for the low pay. Everything has changed including having to pay much of their own health care but not wages.
During the last month of the calendar year and after several discussions, it was decided, Clay Ambulance drivers will now earn $9.50 / hr; EMT's $11/ hr; and Paramedics will begin at $13 /hr. The Director received a $2 an hour increase.
Fran King felt that was adequate wages. Long time part time Ambulance Director Bev King annoucned her retirement effective Jan 12th
As has been the case for decades, the many shortcomings of the Clay Ambulance Service was brought front and cente. Gary Stuber who lives in the Elkhearst community on Swinging Bridge Lane, brought serious shortcomings: When his son died in April, it took the Ambulance 2 hours to show up on scene. Stuber's question was: IS anybody trained on road names? One answer came from Fitz: People steal the metal road signs.
Discussion turned to reopening the old Swinging Bridge which would make travel times shorter.
On that topic, there were no decisions made.
COVID is kicking butt at the Courthouse. The Commission seemed hesitant to discuss any of their contingency plans. What they were not saying was, they're waiting on test results from several Courthouse employees to come back.
Months ago, after much fanfare by the Governor, Clayberry received $100,000 in COVID grant dollars. To date very little of the money has been spent. Reason? The State will not allow it's use.
The biggy for the Dec was a presentation made by Elk River Foundation Chair Ken Tawney. County Commission requested Elk River Railroad Prez, Frank Jorgensen to come to a meeting back in Oct. Jorgensen refused according to Connie Kinder. A couple weeks later, Mr Tawney agreed to answer questions from the public.
With 10 or so in the peanut gallery and all Commissioners present Tawney provided a bunch of back ground on the Elk River Foundation including:
The Foundation works with the W Va DNR and the State Park System to oversee the Elk River Trail System (ERTS) and Elk River Water Trail.
Tawney is the Prez of the non profit and Mitch DeBoard is the VP with Debora Saulsigver the Secretary. There are a total of 15 members on the Board.
When completed, ERTS will be 54 miles long from Duck to Clendenin. Some day, ERTS will be completed from Braxton County to Charleston. From Dundon to Widen, that section will be a rails with trails section.
On Jan 16 2021, ERTS will be turned over to the West Virginia Park System. The State will take over ownership complete with a Park Superintendent on site.
Trail heads for ERTS will be Duck, Ivydale, Dundon, and Hartland. More trail heads are planned in the future. In the future, they hope to have ERTS complete to Gilmer County.
The Foundation purchased the old Newt Bragg property at Dundon and had the Queen Shoals Church donated to the group as well as a smaller parcel (Crawford homestead) just South of Ivydale. DNR has agreed to rent a portion of the Dundon property to be used as maintenance area. Other plans for the Bragg place include a river access point
According to Mr Tawney, the whole idea is to grow business in County Clay and increase the tax base.
Clendenin has already received and used an $187,500 grant to plan out the future for that river town. More trail town studies are planned.
Armed with new information, it was time for questions and answers.
For many, the big question is, how will people access their property, homes, camps, after the trail is complete. Gary Stuber tried to open up questions on that topic but was stopped dead in his tracks by Commission Greg Fitzwater. Fitz felt Ken Tawney was not the person with answers.
So who is the correct person. Answer Frank Jorgensen with Elk River RR.
The Communicator newspaper has been called the trail "ERTS". So... what will the name be after the State takes ownership. Tawney could not provide an answer. We can. Sucking up to the Governor, our best guess, Jim Justice State Park. Just a guess but that's how politics work in West Virginia.
Concrete outdoor jons will be added.
Can users camp anywhere along ERTS? Answer: No, that is private property along the rights of way.
Applications are now being accepted for the new ERTS Superintendent.
We think Joe Jelich would make a great Superintendent. When we asked if he's in the running, he responded, no one has talked to him. Another good choice would be DNR Brown Shirt Badge Stuart Sims or Jeremy Quinn. Both know the locals well and the lay of the land.
One feller asked about regular public relations pieces from the Foundation and the need to keep people informed. No commitments were heard.
That's about it for answers from Ken Tawney.
AW
During this year of disaster, Clay County Commission held their public meetings on the second and fourth Wed of each month beginning at 10am.
Greg Fitzwater is the outgoing Commissioner. His replacement will be an absolute newcomer, David Schoolcraft.
Courthouse workers are some of the poorest paid employees in the Nation. For many years, new hires were told, you don't get paid much but the time off, retirement and free insurance, those make up for the low pay. Everything has changed including having to pay much of their own health care but not wages.
During the last month of the calendar year and after several discussions, it was decided, Clay Ambulance drivers will now earn $9.50 / hr; EMT's $11/ hr; and Paramedics will begin at $13 /hr. The Director received a $2 an hour increase.
Fran King felt that was adequate wages. Long time part time Ambulance Director Bev King annoucned her retirement effective Jan 12th
As has been the case for decades, the many shortcomings of the Clay Ambulance Service was brought front and cente. Gary Stuber who lives in the Elkhearst community on Swinging Bridge Lane, brought serious shortcomings: When his son died in April, it took the Ambulance 2 hours to show up on scene. Stuber's question was: IS anybody trained on road names? One answer came from Fitz: People steal the metal road signs.
Discussion turned to reopening the old Swinging Bridge which would make travel times shorter.
On that topic, there were no decisions made.
COVID is kicking butt at the Courthouse. The Commission seemed hesitant to discuss any of their contingency plans. What they were not saying was, they're waiting on test results from several Courthouse employees to come back.
Months ago, after much fanfare by the Governor, Clayberry received $100,000 in COVID grant dollars. To date very little of the money has been spent. Reason? The State will not allow it's use.
The biggy for the Dec was a presentation made by Elk River Foundation Chair Ken Tawney. County Commission requested Elk River Railroad Prez, Frank Jorgensen to come to a meeting back in Oct. Jorgensen refused according to Connie Kinder. A couple weeks later, Mr Tawney agreed to answer questions from the public.
With 10 or so in the peanut gallery and all Commissioners present Tawney provided a bunch of back ground on the Elk River Foundation including:
The Foundation works with the W Va DNR and the State Park System to oversee the Elk River Trail System (ERTS) and Elk River Water Trail.
Tawney is the Prez of the non profit and Mitch DeBoard is the VP with Debora Saulsigver the Secretary. There are a total of 15 members on the Board.
When completed, ERTS will be 54 miles long from Duck to Clendenin. Some day, ERTS will be completed from Braxton County to Charleston. From Dundon to Widen, that section will be a rails with trails section.
On Jan 16 2021, ERTS will be turned over to the West Virginia Park System. The State will take over ownership complete with a Park Superintendent on site.
Trail heads for ERTS will be Duck, Ivydale, Dundon, and Hartland. More trail heads are planned in the future. In the future, they hope to have ERTS complete to Gilmer County.
The Foundation purchased the old Newt Bragg property at Dundon and had the Queen Shoals Church donated to the group as well as a smaller parcel (Crawford homestead) just South of Ivydale. DNR has agreed to rent a portion of the Dundon property to be used as maintenance area. Other plans for the Bragg place include a river access point
According to Mr Tawney, the whole idea is to grow business in County Clay and increase the tax base.
Clendenin has already received and used an $187,500 grant to plan out the future for that river town. More trail town studies are planned.
Armed with new information, it was time for questions and answers.
For many, the big question is, how will people access their property, homes, camps, after the trail is complete. Gary Stuber tried to open up questions on that topic but was stopped dead in his tracks by Commission Greg Fitzwater. Fitz felt Ken Tawney was not the person with answers.
So who is the correct person. Answer Frank Jorgensen with Elk River RR.
The Communicator newspaper has been called the trail "ERTS". So... what will the name be after the State takes ownership. Tawney could not provide an answer. We can. Sucking up to the Governor, our best guess, Jim Justice State Park. Just a guess but that's how politics work in West Virginia.
Concrete outdoor jons will be added.
Can users camp anywhere along ERTS? Answer: No, that is private property along the rights of way.
Applications are now being accepted for the new ERTS Superintendent.
We think Joe Jelich would make a great Superintendent. When we asked if he's in the running, he responded, no one has talked to him. Another good choice would be DNR Brown Shirt Badge Stuart Sims or Jeremy Quinn. Both know the locals well and the lay of the land.
One feller asked about regular public relations pieces from the Foundation and the need to keep people informed. No commitments were heard.
That's about it for answers from Ken Tawney.
AW