Clay County's Business Development Authority (BDA) convened their monthly gathering on March 9 at 6:30pm. Their office space in the old State Road garage was packed. In the way of $$$, in their general account, after spending $651.96 to keep their doors open, they have $2802.82. Their general account is the only one ever mentioned in public. They do have others.
  Last week, the BDa selected an engineer to handle trail and trestle design duty.
  A fundraising committee was formed a couple months ago. The idea was, put their heads together and come up with ways to bring in revenue for the the squeezed group. Fundraisers in the past have included gun raffles and festivals. For this meeting, none of the fundraiser people were present.
  In the way of an ERTS State Park Update. There will be three ribbon cutting ceremonies when the hiking, biking, horseback riding trail is ready to open. Not sure of the actual date but it's suppose to happen around May 1st. The ceremony sites will be at Duck, Ivydale, and Clay.
  Does anybody think we're going to get the Gov. up here for that amount of time? Bet, down the road, it will be consolidated into one festive time for the whole enchilada. Hopefully, for the Gov.'s visit, this time around, someone will think ahead and provide a canopy for the guy to escape the sunshine or rain.
  According to the Chair:   Duck to Ivydale is all but complete with the finish coat (crusher run gravel) in place down to just behind Cunningham Motors;  pavement has been requested for some sections of the trail; on opening day, the section on down to Hartland will also be ready to use; gravel will be added to the pedal car spur line  heading up to the Little League Ballfield; and, a parking lot / turnaround area is being added to the project in the Dundon neighborhood.
  There was no mention of the State purchasing the red house known as the Newt Bragg place. Located right on the river bank, it is an ideal location for inclusion in the ERTS plan. Although not mentioned, we think the State and property owner have agreed on a purchase price of around $66,000.00. That is way down from the $99K asking price but... it is in a flood prone area. During the 2016 Great Wash Out, we remember flood water at least to the floor of the old company home. Whether the State keeps the place for historical purposes or tears it down to make room for the Park Superintendent's home, it's a toss up readers as far as we know.
  Three years ago, the BDA purchased nice looking , white river access signs. Those 29 placards were suppose to have been erected along  the Elk River  bank and along the paved roads. Such signs could be very helpful when one of the boaters or fishermen, get in trouble and need emergency assistance. To date, the signs remain in their boxes and unused.
   This year, a new face and Committee is coming together to get the signs, albeit tardy, erected.  The State Road will supply the needed sign posts.
   Steve Grau with Elk River Get A Way kayak service was present and told the group, everything is going gangbusters this year.
  As for the new ERTS Foundation group, from the Chair: the group has their 501-3-C certificate; elected officers include Mitch and Debora Saulsgiver; anybody can join the group for $20 per year;  the foundation is working on a $30K grant from the Kanawha County Commission; and, as far as the Chair knew, there has been no mention of the ERTS Welcome Center being placed in the Town of Clendenin.
  FYI: If you don't know, that Welcome Center, Park Office, needs to be located in this County. The location is critical for a few fresh new jobs and to help us keep track of what's happening and future plans.
  What about those four wheelers using ERTS? DeBoard says that's OK until the Park opens. Once opened, DNR Brown Shirt Badges will be  patrolling the  40 some miles of trail.
  Listening as best we can, we think DeBoard said , a Park Superintendent and Rangers will be hired right away and in place for the Opening Day.

  Here comes the interesting part. Something smells stinky!
  Volunteer boards are not allowed to receive ANY benefit from serving the county. W Va Ethics Commission decision after decision have backed that up for decades.  Transgressions and transgressors often end up in the Charleston newspaper when one appointed leader or another gets caught and have to pay back what they managed to stuff in their pockets. Most recent examples include the Mayor and some elected officials in Richwood which were indicted for lining their pockets. Jail time is included in the rules for offenders.
  Before you  start scratching your head, State Code provides an exception or two.
  One of those is local Public Service District Boardsters who are compensated.
  Another exception comes when there's only one business in the county, King's Wrecker Service for instance, and with special Ethics permission, an  "opinion", leaders can accept payment for services rendered. Owner Fran King has such permission both when she served on the School Board and now as a County Commissioner. That permission has to be in writing and formal.
  From history, Clay Roane PSD Boardsters, during a particularly poor time, did not accept payment for their work. The W Va Public Service Commission smacked them on the hands and during their next rate increase, forced them to take the back pay with interest.
   So, for about 99% of the time, volunteers have to remain volunteers. That includes the BDA.
  During this March 9th meeting, something slipped. That slipping person was Dustin Fitzwater. During FEMA discussion, Dustin blurted out something like, "So we can be paid!" The Chair immediately retorted, Remember, we have to say reimbursed!!
  The reason this eyebrow raiser came out in any way, is because FEMA officials are demanding corrections "clarifications" in the way paperwork has been submitted to them.  The practice of paying BDA Boardsters for their efforts along the flooded Buffalo Creek, its been going on for nearly four years.   DeBoard also made public, in addition to getting paid for working, the once volunteer board members receive $$$ for travel mileage.
   Folks, we think there are dark clouds coming.
  Before closing, before the March 11th County Commission meeting, the topic of BDA members receiving paychecks from FEMA. Their eyebrows also raised up a bit.
  Also, just after the flood, and reported on the 11th, Commissioner Greg Fitzwater and County Clerk Connie Workman said they received FEMA checks for their extra duty flood work. With both shaking their heads in agreement, both said, they gave those FEMA funds right back.
  From Frederick William Faber: Every moment of resistance to temptation is a victory
  AW