CAEZ Meets Dec 5 2022
Bd Chair Mickey Boggs leads Coup
One person
has darkened the future of County Clay. The disaster happened
during the Dec 5th CAEZ Board meeting held over at the Dundon
Campground.
Back in Nov., the CAEZ voted 7 to 3 to "gift" give their Dundon Campground to the Elk River Trail Foundation if if if the Foundation receives promised grant $$$ to develop the campground. One of those in favor of giving away the campground was Amanda Shelton. One of those against that decision was CAEZ Chair Mickey Boggs. So hot was the meeting, longest serving Boardster Linda Rhodes said she would resign, that she didn't like all the controversy. That statement came after Ms Rhodes voted to gift away the campground.
That decision was made during a lawful, properly posted, emergency meeting held just after the regular meeting. Why have an emergency meeting? Glad you asked. The Foundation Rep, a Ken Tawney, informed the CAEZ, the free money will be handed out quickly, it's now or never. The grant request has to be turned in ASAP.
Fast Forward to Dec 5th over at the campground and for the CAEZ Dec meeting. For this meeting there were 20 in attendance. During the past many years, there are often just a handful at public meetings. Things got so bad five years ago, the by laws had to be changed to read: a quorum of the Board is just 3 boardsters present instead of the tried and try 51% of the serving Boardsters.
As the Dec meeting opened, it was clear real quick, there was tension among leadership administration, Chair Boggs and Office Manager Michell Bodkins. Sparks flew as barbs were traded back and forth.
For the first time in months and months, Chair Boggs actually ran the meeting instead of looking bored and sitting over in a corner.
When it came time for the Board to approve that Nov emergency meeting, Boggs said she was declaring the meeting null and void. Reason: According to Boggs, the Chair is the only person allowed by by-laws to call such a meeting and she had not called the meeting. She added that there was no reason for holding an emergency meeting. We guess, trying to garner $1.25 million is not a good reason for immediate action.
During each regular meeting the CAEZ talks about what's going on the five county service area of the CAEZ. It's usually just blah blah blah. Often there's not even a county report made.
Discussion turned to dissolving the CAEZ as was talked about during the Nov gathering. Someone suggested that a "plan" be developed for the CAEZ.
The Elk Foundation's Ken Tawney was present for this meeting. He was there when Chair Boggs staged her coup of the Nov emergency meeting which made the agreed upon by a majority of the Board decision null.
Tawney: the grant application has to be turned in; we have about everything ready to that and then you voted not to donate the campground; after reviewing your financials, turns out the CAEZ has earned a grand total of just $88 in income from campground operation (after paying expenses); don't wait for the W Va DNR to develop this place; you are losing a great opportunity; "Do what's best for Clay County"...
As Tawney went thru his presentation, people kept interrupting. The jest of the interruptions amounted to: that trail ain't never going to be built, the State Park ain't never going to happen, and those property owners are bringing suit over the use of the rights of way between Hartland and Queen Shoals.
Tawney made it clear, th ERTS State Park and the trail will happen.
The resisters were not listening.
The dimly-lit naysayers must not know most of the trail is already in operation, the State is already hiring people (jobs); a contract for the railroad tourism vehicles (rides) will be signed in April 2023; and, the CAEZ has no real money to develop the campground nor have they applied for ANY grants for free money.
In a nutshell, truth is, the CAEZ has been dead in the wawa for many years and have accomplished zero during those same years. They are dead in the wawa.
And then the killer of the meeting. The decision to kill County Clay's future growth. Something that will kill tourism growth dead in its tracks.
After several Boardsters had to leave the room for other commitments (7:30) the question went to the Chair: Will you put on the next agenda to vote on giving away the campground? She did not answer. More side chatter came. Boggs was asked again, will you allow a vote on gifting the campground to the Foundation? Still she would not give an answer.
On the third try, Chair Mickey Boggs replied, she will NOT allow a vote not allow it to be put on a meeting agenda, a chance for the full Board to make a decision. She said no to democracy and the future of Clayberry. One person!
Let's see now, it was Boggs who proclaimed that the Nov vote was unlawful according to the by-laws but there are problems. Committee chairs can NOT vote unless its a tie but, it was Boggs who voted NOT to gift away the campground. She voted!
As for democracy, it's Boggs now saying, she will NOT let her duly elected Board to add stuff to a public meeting agenda. That, not letting it on the agenda. remember, four weeks earlier, in November, seven of her Boardsters voted to give away the campground. Now, she won't allow any of those seven to put something on an agenda.
From a wittle ball headed guy to Mr Tawney, "You have your answer Mr Tawney and the County will suffer."
Ken Tawney made one last try at mind changing. Didn't work. Discussions continued until Clay County Commissioner and CAEZ Bd rep Connie Kinder : I motion we adjourn. They did.
Poof it was all done. Our tourism future just went black.
One person, Mickey Boggs, put the kaboosh on our future. One person and without a vote of her Board.
For those still reading (and crying), we'd like to offer Ken Tawney and Foundation some advice: Forget County Clay; build around us; take the millions and develop something nice ANYWHERE other than this stick in the mud county. De don't serve anything more.
We have never had a bright future or glorious past. Thanks to Ms Boggs and her team of naysayers, our future, any future, just died. Long live the Land of Little.
Thank you Ms Boggs
From Ralph Waldo Emerson: Progress is the activity of today and the assurance of tomorrow.
AW
Back in Nov., the CAEZ voted 7 to 3 to "gift" give their Dundon Campground to the Elk River Trail Foundation if if if the Foundation receives promised grant $$$ to develop the campground. One of those in favor of giving away the campground was Amanda Shelton. One of those against that decision was CAEZ Chair Mickey Boggs. So hot was the meeting, longest serving Boardster Linda Rhodes said she would resign, that she didn't like all the controversy. That statement came after Ms Rhodes voted to gift away the campground.
That decision was made during a lawful, properly posted, emergency meeting held just after the regular meeting. Why have an emergency meeting? Glad you asked. The Foundation Rep, a Ken Tawney, informed the CAEZ, the free money will be handed out quickly, it's now or never. The grant request has to be turned in ASAP.
Fast Forward to Dec 5th over at the campground and for the CAEZ Dec meeting. For this meeting there were 20 in attendance. During the past many years, there are often just a handful at public meetings. Things got so bad five years ago, the by laws had to be changed to read: a quorum of the Board is just 3 boardsters present instead of the tried and try 51% of the serving Boardsters.
As the Dec meeting opened, it was clear real quick, there was tension among leadership administration, Chair Boggs and Office Manager Michell Bodkins. Sparks flew as barbs were traded back and forth.
For the first time in months and months, Chair Boggs actually ran the meeting instead of looking bored and sitting over in a corner.
When it came time for the Board to approve that Nov emergency meeting, Boggs said she was declaring the meeting null and void. Reason: According to Boggs, the Chair is the only person allowed by by-laws to call such a meeting and she had not called the meeting. She added that there was no reason for holding an emergency meeting. We guess, trying to garner $1.25 million is not a good reason for immediate action.
During each regular meeting the CAEZ talks about what's going on the five county service area of the CAEZ. It's usually just blah blah blah. Often there's not even a county report made.
Discussion turned to dissolving the CAEZ as was talked about during the Nov gathering. Someone suggested that a "plan" be developed for the CAEZ.
The Elk Foundation's Ken Tawney was present for this meeting. He was there when Chair Boggs staged her coup of the Nov emergency meeting which made the agreed upon by a majority of the Board decision null.
Tawney: the grant application has to be turned in; we have about everything ready to that and then you voted not to donate the campground; after reviewing your financials, turns out the CAEZ has earned a grand total of just $88 in income from campground operation (after paying expenses); don't wait for the W Va DNR to develop this place; you are losing a great opportunity; "Do what's best for Clay County"...
As Tawney went thru his presentation, people kept interrupting. The jest of the interruptions amounted to: that trail ain't never going to be built, the State Park ain't never going to happen, and those property owners are bringing suit over the use of the rights of way between Hartland and Queen Shoals.
Tawney made it clear, th ERTS State Park and the trail will happen.
The resisters were not listening.
The dimly-lit naysayers must not know most of the trail is already in operation, the State is already hiring people (jobs); a contract for the railroad tourism vehicles (rides) will be signed in April 2023; and, the CAEZ has no real money to develop the campground nor have they applied for ANY grants for free money.
In a nutshell, truth is, the CAEZ has been dead in the wawa for many years and have accomplished zero during those same years. They are dead in the wawa.
And then the killer of the meeting. The decision to kill County Clay's future growth. Something that will kill tourism growth dead in its tracks.
After several Boardsters had to leave the room for other commitments (7:30) the question went to the Chair: Will you put on the next agenda to vote on giving away the campground? She did not answer. More side chatter came. Boggs was asked again, will you allow a vote on gifting the campground to the Foundation? Still she would not give an answer.
On the third try, Chair Mickey Boggs replied, she will NOT allow a vote not allow it to be put on a meeting agenda, a chance for the full Board to make a decision. She said no to democracy and the future of Clayberry. One person!
Let's see now, it was Boggs who proclaimed that the Nov vote was unlawful according to the by-laws but there are problems. Committee chairs can NOT vote unless its a tie but, it was Boggs who voted NOT to gift away the campground. She voted!
As for democracy, it's Boggs now saying, she will NOT let her duly elected Board to add stuff to a public meeting agenda. That, not letting it on the agenda. remember, four weeks earlier, in November, seven of her Boardsters voted to give away the campground. Now, she won't allow any of those seven to put something on an agenda.
From a wittle ball headed guy to Mr Tawney, "You have your answer Mr Tawney and the County will suffer."
Ken Tawney made one last try at mind changing. Didn't work. Discussions continued until Clay County Commissioner and CAEZ Bd rep Connie Kinder : I motion we adjourn. They did.
Poof it was all done. Our tourism future just went black.
One person, Mickey Boggs, put the kaboosh on our future. One person and without a vote of her Board.
For those still reading (and crying), we'd like to offer Ken Tawney and Foundation some advice: Forget County Clay; build around us; take the millions and develop something nice ANYWHERE other than this stick in the mud county. De don't serve anything more.
We have never had a bright future or glorious past. Thanks to Ms Boggs and her team of naysayers, our future, any future, just died. Long live the Land of Little.
Thank you Ms Boggs
From Ralph Waldo Emerson: Progress is the activity of today and the assurance of tomorrow.
AW