Public meetings in small town America are often ho hum affairs with little discussed. For many meetings, the elected or appointed officials appear to be just going thru their paces and then heading home. Those few and far between  good meetings are worth the wait.
   Clay Town Council convened their monthly meeting one week later than normal. The March 9th gathering was one of the good ones. Now with both jabs in her arm, Senior Councilperson Joyce Gibson made it to this meeting, her first one in months. With all mask wearing Council members present and with Mayor Josh Shamblin at the head of the table with Town Recorder Cindy Mullins at his side, the proceedings got underway at 5:30 sharp.
   Here are some of the tidbits.
    A couple months ago, Council was presented with the need to replace their hard used dump truck due to the engine "knocking". Last month they discussed buying a good used one with a budget set around $20K. For this meeting, the vote was cast to keep the current dumper and replace the motor with a brand new $7K engine. Installation cost goes on top of the $7K.
  Financially, Town finances went down $2600, balance on hand $62,300; the Wawa account went up $15k, balance on hand $129K; and, the Log Factory account added $300, balance on hand #36,700
   Back in the early 90's, the municipality caught in big trouble with the W Va EPA over dumping raw floaters in the Elk. Translation: the existing log factory was not working.
  During the administration of Mayor Joyce Gibson ( of maybe her son's, (Tim), time in office) funding was granted for a slam bam, high dollar, high tech, sewer plant. The place would last for decades and operate with just one operator according to engineer reports. We immediately named the place the Town Log Factory when it opened in 1996.
  From the very beginning, there were problems with the factory. Stuff like, much of the high tech monitoring / operation equipment was never installed (cost over runs) and the place was built with twice the needed capacity thus increasing operation costs. Also, right after completion, the big tanks started falling over the river bank. We were be neglegent if we didn't report about the bad odors emitting from the place and and and... the Town built the Log Factory on property they didn't own!
  On the second part, it was Town Council's responsibility to read the fine print and make sure the factory met the needs of the small hamlet. They didn't! Back then the engineer's idea was to double the number of customers by running new sewer service to the Maysel area.  When the effort was made to do the extension, there were mass protests. If our memory serves us correctly, only one person spoke in favor of the extension during tense public hearings.  After nearly getting hung, those plans to expand were put aside.
  Now 20 + years later, the Log Factory is in need of repairs. They call the new grant funded project an upgrade. Lot's of more efficient equipment will be installed but in the end, the total capacity  for log slopping will be reduced. With only 300 customers to pay for the Factory, the smaller capacity should help make ends meet.
  A big Suit was on hand to guide the elected folks thru the paperwork process. In the official wording comes mention of "sewer line extensions". For us that have been watching from the peanut gallery for decades, it sure sounds like history repeating itself.
   During the public hearing, questions on that extension passage and whether rates will have to be increased, came up. Nope to the rate increase and ditto for extending the line anywhere. It was resounding, no way, no extension will come to pass no matter what the wording reads.
  All but one. Mayor Shamblin, I can't say what happens down the road.
  Gulp! Bend over Clayberry!
  Town Council supports the local public library buy paying the wawa bill, cutting the grass, and paying for garbage service. This year after the Library Manager spoke on tons of new ideas and projects no one had ever heard of, Council voted to cough up an additional $1000 for the coming year.
  Back to that new stuff going on at the Library, the stuff no one had heard of, that begs a question. While the new ideas, some already in operation, sound great, why does the county not know about em? Why no public announcements? None! Zero! Ninguno!
  Mitch DeBoard from the BDA was on hand for the meeting. That guy was in attendance last month seeking use of a piece of land owned by the Town for ERTS. Last month, that riverside property was desired by the ERTS Foundation based in Clendenin.
  On hand this month, plans had all changed for the Town land. Now, instead of the ERTS Foundation wanting the land, it's now W Va State Parks with the interest, they are willing to pay for the land, and by the end of this year, there will be a ERTS office and 3 or 4 bay garage built there... near the Pisgah bridge.
  DeBoard said the spot will be the State Park headquarters complete with a Superintendent, Asst Superintendent and  up to 4 seasonal workers.
  Having the ERTS Headquarters in this county, gaining a few jobs, gosh, that sounds great!
  There are a couple problems readers. Flat land there is scant. Parking for visitors is even less. Ideally, the headquarters should be at Dundon where the main trail convenes with the Buffalo Trail and there's tons of parking possibilities. But, there's a problem there. There is no sewer service across the Elk. With many needing restroom services and maybe a chance of some kind of diner there, sewer service is mandatory.
  OK, back to the meeting.
  We've got some people on Council that have been around the horn a time or two. One of those is 6000 year old Jack Brown. Nothing  is as important as experience. Brown had concerns over letting the State have the property and then those folks sit on their thumbs and do nothing with the Town asset. With land hard to come by, especially river side land, another notion cropped up, what happens to the land when the State is done with it?
  Darn good questions!
  Discussion turned to having a "reverter" clause in the contract. Although DeBoard told em, the State wants a quick decision, it didn't happen. Instead, and smartly so, Council and Mayor Shamblin asked to have a State Rep come to a meeting and explain what was going on and to see the sale contract ahead of a vote. That was the message Mitch DeBoard was to take away from the meeting. No, Council is not poo pooing the idea, they just want to know much more before voting to go forward.
  Finally, DeBoard told Council, State Parks are now advertising for an ERTS Superintendent. Interested in a job? Now might be the time to call Charleston.

AW