It Ain't So
County Commission Meets
July 10 2023
   Other than when our officials propose something radically dumb, taxpayer participation  during public meetings, well, it's meager at best. For the July 10th Clay County Commission  meeting held at the Courthouse, just a sprinkling were on hand to watch govt at work. Commissioner David Schoolcraft participated via a telephone connection.
   You know how stories get started in Clayberry. A bunch of those utterings are just bunk and disappear quickly. Others have legs and after traveling thru a few versions, they start to sound more possible in this Land of Little.
   Because Commissioner Schoolcraft has a propensity to operate in secret and tippy toeing over the line... here's one of those stories circling the county via various channels.
  A couple weeks back, after a couple phone calls and emails, the rumor: With the magic of back door dealings, Schoolcraft awarded a construction contract to one of his buddies minus any mandatory bidding process. At issue was the construction of a new 911 tower in Pisgah. After the third call was received, growth: invoices for the costly project were being forwarded in just under the $10,000 threshold to avoid bookkeeping scrutiny.
  Sounds pretty bad and unlawful in a couple respects. That part about submitting several small invoices for the same job, that's called "stringing invoices" and is unlawful. Or at least that's how we read the law.
  This rumor came after earlier exchanges where Schoolcraft artfully worded the purchase of the old Coon Hunters property, the actual purchase of the 911 site from Joe Paxton of School System fame, and Commissioner Johnson's By God, we got to have the check today for the purchase of the old RT Sizemore store parking lot.
   That dynamic duo really knows how to build voter trust!
  During the July 10th CCC gathering the question on stringing invoices and not bidding the $260,000+ 911 tower construction was put forth.
  Via his phone connection, Commissioner Dave Schoolcraft: Nope, the rumor is bologna.... the CCC voted [Jan 9th] to use the same construction contract (Premier Contracting) used in Mercer County and use the same contractor too. Under that scenario, no bidding was mandated.
  It's not that we don't trust Schoolcraft and his often coy wordings... we checked with new County Clerk Sheila Stone who confirmed  Schoolcraft's official statements.
  So much for a darn good nasty dealings article!
   In other Commission stuff...
  With glee in her eyes, Assessor Davis announced that a deep mine coal operation has opened on the old Fola Co Company site with a prospect for a couple more mine facings coming our way.
  Oh happy days are here again. What? The only people that benefit from carbon extraction are govts that benefit from additional collections known as coal severance taxes. Davis, "It's a plus for Clay County."
  Yes there are a few starvation wage jobs generated but if history rings true again, a couple weeks after the new operators go belly up, the workers start handing back their new trucks, four wheelers, trailers, etc to area banks that took the risk and loaned out $$$$.  
  Why is coal severance $$$ so lucrative for Govt? Those funds can be used for about anything imaginable. At one point the CCC was paying salaries out of those funds. That's OK until mines leave. That has happened before here in Clayberry and  Courthouse workers were laid off as well as expense reductions.


Commissioner Connie Kinder


Entrepreneur Duane Legg
   Mr Legg owns and operates the Legacy Foods food service and catering business over in Lizemores. The guy was on hand asking to use the Courthouse for some kind of Farm to Table Federal govt program. According to Govt records there are five West Virginia grown Clay County producers. No vote was taken but consensus, no problem on our end. Look for the Farm to Table event and some Farmers' Markets to pop up in early Fall.
   CCC gave the thumbs up to hiring Stacy King  full time for the County Clerk's office. Currently, King works in emergency services. Also hired was Judy Scott for part time work.
  Amanda Moore was hired as a 911 dispatcher. Ditto for returning to duty at the 911 Center, Isiah Spencer.
  Here's something the Health Dept has been working on for a couple years. Director Angela Brown presented that a new soccer field is under construction at Clay County Park. Last year the field was slated for the old Filcon Industrial site now owned by non profit Clay County Services Unlimited. Most of us call that operation, the sheltered workshop. Heck maybe we're getting two soccer fields!
  All the important business was completed in just 14 minutes.
AW