June 13,2022
A big crowd was in the peanut gallery for the June 13th Commission meeting
Clay County
Commission gathered for the June 13th public meeting at the
Courthouse. Close to 20 sat in the peanut gallery to see govt
at work. That included all the Black Shirts and Top Badge.
Something was up!
First some background...
Commissioner Fran King got tromped during the May 10th Primary Election by Joyce Johnson. After licking her wounds, she picked herself up and went back to work. Her term will end Dec 31st. Fran is a person that speaks her mind albeit sometimes before her brain fully engages. That speaking out is probably what got her beat last month.
Now, not worrying about voters getting mad or playing the politics game, Ms King can truly let the cat out of the bag and those backroom deals, most likely, during her last 6 months in office, those dark dealings will come out.
In addition to voting in new elected officials on May 10th, there was the 911 Excess Levy vote. It failed in no small part to a brand new, shiny silver, high dollar, Ford Expedition SUV showing up behind the Courthouse. Although it was paid for by grant funds, taxpayers saw it and got peeeeturbed big time. Something about being a very poor county and buying a new ride for elected and appointed officials to tool around the state, that did not set too well for those actually paying the bill. Voting to raise property taxes a minimum of 10% on every property owner in the Land of Little, that didn't help either.
Here's what we're getting to.
Back on May 23rd, Fran brought up usage of the new Ford. She asked about keeping a log book to record every time someone takes off on a joy ride. You could see she touched on a sore spot. Everything got quiet. She pushed hard to make sure records are kept.
That's the sort of thing that needs to come out and King is just the person to make such happen.
And secondly in background...
Every county in the State has three Commissioners except for one, Jefferson County, they have five.
For this June 13th meeting Joyce Johnson, the winner in May, was on hand. Since there's no Republicrap contender in Nov., that means, Johnson will take her perch Jan 1st. Until then, she's just another spectator in the peanut gallery like the rest of us.
But but, already she's starting to speak up more. Her best political bud is Commissioner David Schoolcraft who guided her thru the election process. We can expect the dynamic duo (a majority) to team approach whatever they want in life, like out of control spending on trinkets. That leaves Commissioner Connie Kinder out on the limb without a chance to make life better in County Clay.
So much for the background....
The nearly three page agenda included funding for the CCC building in Two Run, the old nutritional center.They have a renter (WorkForce W Va) at the ready but the place is in serious need of electrical, sewer and other plumbing upgrades before use. The plan was to use COVID bucks for the needed repairs but there's been a slow down, foot dragging of recent. WorkForce wanted the place to be ready back in January but alas a lak, nothing has happened.
Commissioner King pushed hard to get the project back on the front burner. King: It's our building that needs to be fixed, let's do it, stop dragging your feet. Didn't work readers, the motion to do the repairs was tabled once again.
We've got a new Black Shirt on the job. National Legg was hired May 31st and has been on the prowl since. He is paid $14 / hour which is less than what McDonald's pay their hamburger flippers. King said Taco Bell pays that amount and openly wondered who would take a job that you could get you shot.
There's usually a reason for the entire law enforcement force to attend a meeting. They want something or they're peed about something. We could feel something in the air.
Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) Boardsters are elected from the community. CCC approved the election of Leslie Osburn and Amanda Shelton to serve the CAEZ and represent the Southern end of Clayberry.
Note: this CCC meeting was held on Monday June 13th. The CAEZ Bd met on Wed June 15th. Neither of the two newbees attended the CAEZ gathering on June 15th.
Item 21 on the meeting agenda called for the Commission to purchase a used ambulance from the now defunct Lizemore Ambulance Service. The pay off amount on the unit is $45K. That's a good price for a working four wheel drive ambulance but there was a hitch. In their infinite wisdom, the Lizemore Ambulance group used a Lizemore Fire Truck as collateral when they purchased the new ambulance.
Get it? That ambulance can't be sold until the lien is removed.
And and and, it was the Franster that let it out of the bag, the CCC just received notice that there is an outstanding debt, lien, against that group from the W Va Unemployment Commission for unpaid debts. King felt other debts may soon come in and those liens will add other problems for the troubled Lizemore Fire Dept / Ambulance service.
And now, the main event, a nice peeing contest!
Workers at the 911 center mailed over a letter seeking pay increases and telling the CCC, the Clay 911 center has the lowest paid employees in the State. That letter seems to have opened a can of worms.
Turns out, once the records were looked at , problems surfaced. Employees need to be certified to do their jobs and that ain't been happening. The Asst Director (JD Johnson) is one of the non certified employees still on the job. Operating without needed credentials, that's a serious matter, a real no no.
The letter explained, they want bottom wages to come up to $16 per hour. Keep in mind, their real $$ comes from built into 12 hour shifts, overtime wages. There seems to be a shortage of dispatchers. That could be planned so the current workers can suck in more overtime.
All of that kind of stuff was made public during this meeting.
And, as for all the Badges on hand... they were peed because someone, someones else, were seeking higher wages. There was the usual: Badges don't get paid enough, they could get shot at, and so forth.
Let's talk Bull Shirt for a second or two
The Courthouse is divided into different departments with an elected leader running each department.That elected official is given a budget by the CCC at the beginning of each fiscal year. It's up to that Official to stay within the budget and makes ends meet. What one department makes, spends, and how much those employees make, it has nothing to to with what some other department does. The only people guaranteed to be paid anything are the elected officials. Those wages are set by State Code
Raising crap about other departments' wages, that's bologna
But, enter the slush funds.
The Assessor and the Sheriff receive budgets each July 1st just like County Clerks, Prosecutors, and Circuit Clerks. But, the Assessor and Sheriff have separate slush funds that they can use pretty much as they darn well please. That also allows them to dole out Christmas bonuses while others go without. The Sheriff's office has been notorious with bonuses. Heck with one of the slush funds (concealed weapons permit for instance) , the Top Badge had enough extra $$$ to purchase a new cruiser. Those other departments have no extra funds and thus, those employees are paid starvation wages.
With Republicrap thinking alive and well in Courthouse leadership, don't expect those dispatchers to get anywhere near a living wage, $16/hour. Oh by the way, the 911 Center receives tons of extra loot from fees on each cell phone and land line in West Virginia. Tons!
First some background...
Commissioner Fran King got tromped during the May 10th Primary Election by Joyce Johnson. After licking her wounds, she picked herself up and went back to work. Her term will end Dec 31st. Fran is a person that speaks her mind albeit sometimes before her brain fully engages. That speaking out is probably what got her beat last month.
Now, not worrying about voters getting mad or playing the politics game, Ms King can truly let the cat out of the bag and those backroom deals, most likely, during her last 6 months in office, those dark dealings will come out.
In addition to voting in new elected officials on May 10th, there was the 911 Excess Levy vote. It failed in no small part to a brand new, shiny silver, high dollar, Ford Expedition SUV showing up behind the Courthouse. Although it was paid for by grant funds, taxpayers saw it and got peeeeturbed big time. Something about being a very poor county and buying a new ride for elected and appointed officials to tool around the state, that did not set too well for those actually paying the bill. Voting to raise property taxes a minimum of 10% on every property owner in the Land of Little, that didn't help either.
Here's what we're getting to.
Back on May 23rd, Fran brought up usage of the new Ford. She asked about keeping a log book to record every time someone takes off on a joy ride. You could see she touched on a sore spot. Everything got quiet. She pushed hard to make sure records are kept.
That's the sort of thing that needs to come out and King is just the person to make such happen.
And secondly in background...
Every county in the State has three Commissioners except for one, Jefferson County, they have five.
For this June 13th meeting Joyce Johnson, the winner in May, was on hand. Since there's no Republicrap contender in Nov., that means, Johnson will take her perch Jan 1st. Until then, she's just another spectator in the peanut gallery like the rest of us.
But but, already she's starting to speak up more. Her best political bud is Commissioner David Schoolcraft who guided her thru the election process. We can expect the dynamic duo (a majority) to team approach whatever they want in life, like out of control spending on trinkets. That leaves Commissioner Connie Kinder out on the limb without a chance to make life better in County Clay.
So much for the background....
The nearly three page agenda included funding for the CCC building in Two Run, the old nutritional center.They have a renter (WorkForce W Va) at the ready but the place is in serious need of electrical, sewer and other plumbing upgrades before use. The plan was to use COVID bucks for the needed repairs but there's been a slow down, foot dragging of recent. WorkForce wanted the place to be ready back in January but alas a lak, nothing has happened.
Commissioner King pushed hard to get the project back on the front burner. King: It's our building that needs to be fixed, let's do it, stop dragging your feet. Didn't work readers, the motion to do the repairs was tabled once again.
We've got a new Black Shirt on the job. National Legg was hired May 31st and has been on the prowl since. He is paid $14 / hour which is less than what McDonald's pay their hamburger flippers. King said Taco Bell pays that amount and openly wondered who would take a job that you could get you shot.
There's usually a reason for the entire law enforcement force to attend a meeting. They want something or they're peed about something. We could feel something in the air.
Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone (CAEZ) Boardsters are elected from the community. CCC approved the election of Leslie Osburn and Amanda Shelton to serve the CAEZ and represent the Southern end of Clayberry.
Note: this CCC meeting was held on Monday June 13th. The CAEZ Bd met on Wed June 15th. Neither of the two newbees attended the CAEZ gathering on June 15th.
Item 21 on the meeting agenda called for the Commission to purchase a used ambulance from the now defunct Lizemore Ambulance Service. The pay off amount on the unit is $45K. That's a good price for a working four wheel drive ambulance but there was a hitch. In their infinite wisdom, the Lizemore Ambulance group used a Lizemore Fire Truck as collateral when they purchased the new ambulance.
Get it? That ambulance can't be sold until the lien is removed.
And and and, it was the Franster that let it out of the bag, the CCC just received notice that there is an outstanding debt, lien, against that group from the W Va Unemployment Commission for unpaid debts. King felt other debts may soon come in and those liens will add other problems for the troubled Lizemore Fire Dept / Ambulance service.
And now, the main event, a nice peeing contest!
Workers at the 911 center mailed over a letter seeking pay increases and telling the CCC, the Clay 911 center has the lowest paid employees in the State. That letter seems to have opened a can of worms.
Turns out, once the records were looked at , problems surfaced. Employees need to be certified to do their jobs and that ain't been happening. The Asst Director (JD Johnson) is one of the non certified employees still on the job. Operating without needed credentials, that's a serious matter, a real no no.
The letter explained, they want bottom wages to come up to $16 per hour. Keep in mind, their real $$ comes from built into 12 hour shifts, overtime wages. There seems to be a shortage of dispatchers. That could be planned so the current workers can suck in more overtime.
All of that kind of stuff was made public during this meeting.
And, as for all the Badges on hand... they were peed because someone, someones else, were seeking higher wages. There was the usual: Badges don't get paid enough, they could get shot at, and so forth.
Let's talk Bull Shirt for a second or two
The Courthouse is divided into different departments with an elected leader running each department.That elected official is given a budget by the CCC at the beginning of each fiscal year. It's up to that Official to stay within the budget and makes ends meet. What one department makes, spends, and how much those employees make, it has nothing to to with what some other department does. The only people guaranteed to be paid anything are the elected officials. Those wages are set by State Code
Raising crap about other departments' wages, that's bologna
But, enter the slush funds.
The Assessor and the Sheriff receive budgets each July 1st just like County Clerks, Prosecutors, and Circuit Clerks. But, the Assessor and Sheriff have separate slush funds that they can use pretty much as they darn well please. That also allows them to dole out Christmas bonuses while others go without. The Sheriff's office has been notorious with bonuses. Heck with one of the slush funds (concealed weapons permit for instance) , the Top Badge had enough extra $$$ to purchase a new cruiser. Those other departments have no extra funds and thus, those employees are paid starvation wages.
With Republicrap thinking alive and well in Courthouse leadership, don't expect those dispatchers to get anywhere near a living wage, $16/hour. Oh by the way, the 911 Center receives tons of extra loot from fees on each cell phone and land line in West Virginia. Tons!
Mark Holstein from W Va Solid Waste Board
37 minutes
into the meeting Fran changed the subject to trash, litter,
garbage, junk cars sprinkled around the county. There's
nothing new about the problem and every time the subject comes
up, here it comes readers, Yelp, the CCC wants zoning to be
put in place so they can have more control over what you do
with your property. They call it an "ordinance" they want
implemented but that's the code word for zoning,
Zoning amounts to restricting you on your own property, on the property that you have to pay high taxes on.
There is another problem.
Our local Solid Waster Authority receives $$$ from the State. What they do with those dollars, they have sole discretion. For years the CCC has tried to get those thousands but without luck. Set by State Code, the CCC can't touch those funds.
For many years, the Solid Wasters have maintained an office and part time secretary. That really pees off the Commission.
During this discussion, led by Fran, the burned down church in Two Run (owned by Morgan and Joyce Gibson) remains a burned out carcass and big time eye sore.
Mark Holstien from W Va Solid Water Office was on hand, was requested to be at the meeting, to firm up support for the implementation of zoning and the hiring of a litter control officer. More control, more tickets, more fines, that's what it amounts to readers.
If truth was to be told and related to that burned out church, without ANY need for zoning, local Health Dept law allows any building creating a health hazard to be demolished and the cost to be paid by the landowner.
Watch out readers, after raising taxes by at least 10%, local govt is starting the process to restrict what you can and can't do with your own parcel of Earth.
AW
Zoning amounts to restricting you on your own property, on the property that you have to pay high taxes on.
There is another problem.
Our local Solid Waster Authority receives $$$ from the State. What they do with those dollars, they have sole discretion. For years the CCC has tried to get those thousands but without luck. Set by State Code, the CCC can't touch those funds.
For many years, the Solid Wasters have maintained an office and part time secretary. That really pees off the Commission.
During this discussion, led by Fran, the burned down church in Two Run (owned by Morgan and Joyce Gibson) remains a burned out carcass and big time eye sore.
Mark Holstien from W Va Solid Water Office was on hand, was requested to be at the meeting, to firm up support for the implementation of zoning and the hiring of a litter control officer. More control, more tickets, more fines, that's what it amounts to readers.
If truth was to be told and related to that burned out church, without ANY need for zoning, local Health Dept law allows any building creating a health hazard to be demolished and the cost to be paid by the landowner.
Watch out readers, after raising taxes by at least 10%, local govt is starting the process to restrict what you can and can't do with your own parcel of Earth.
AW