Town Council Update Too
July 31 2023
It has been a
while since we last articled up stuff going on with Town
Council and the Town in general. Town Council meetings are
held the same evening as Central Appalachia Empowerment Zone
Board meetings. With all the outrageous crap rolling month
after month by CAEZ, we chose to attend those meetings
over Town Council meetings.
For July, the CAEZ decided not to have a by-law required meeting. That opened the window for sitting in on Council stuff held July 11th in Town Hall, AKA : the WaWa Plant on Main Street
For July, the CAEZ decided not to have a by-law required meeting. That opened the window for sitting in on Council stuff held July 11th in Town Hall, AKA : the WaWa Plant on Main Street
July 11th
was the first meeting for three newly elected Council persons.
Pictures above are new Council persons, from left, Marlene
Lewis, Ron Starcher, and Megan Starcher. That June election
amounted to a coup. Now, all members of Council are connected
to the Clayberry School system. They have a majority vote on
anything they decide to go after. Also Ron and Megan are a
married couple. With those two votes, all they need is one
more like minded person to float anything they desire.
Completing the coup, the new Town Recorder is Melody Hubbard, pictures above.
As for the
meeting itself, a bunch is going on. Here's a few of the
nuggets.
Financially, each of the three checking accounts went South last month. The WaWa plant ent down $15000 last month; Log Factory went down $1000; and the Town's general operation account lost $5000.
Farm Store Manager Marsha Cottrell was on hand to bring to their attention a maintenance dept mess left beside her store. Cottrell explained that a recent wawa line break was fixed but left a three foot deep crater in the alley which is making deliveries impossible. See picture below. Especially tough is the delivery of those 50 pound bags of feed which are stored on the main floor. The Manager was not a happy camper.
Based on the conversations: the line changes were necessary to get the wet stuff plumbed in for the new Splash Park next door.
The Splash Park is a nice addition for the Town especially the rug rats. It is well used. But, there's always a but.... anytime the Splash features are used, customers on Back Street have zip wawa pressure. With hot weather here, those outages are frequent.
Sounds like the park got hooked up on a 6 inch main line instead of a 2" service line.
As for fixes and getting the Farm Store back in business, we didn't hear any solutions.
Financially, each of the three checking accounts went South last month. The WaWa plant ent down $15000 last month; Log Factory went down $1000; and the Town's general operation account lost $5000.
Farm Store Manager Marsha Cottrell was on hand to bring to their attention a maintenance dept mess left beside her store. Cottrell explained that a recent wawa line break was fixed but left a three foot deep crater in the alley which is making deliveries impossible. See picture below. Especially tough is the delivery of those 50 pound bags of feed which are stored on the main floor. The Manager was not a happy camper.
Based on the conversations: the line changes were necessary to get the wet stuff plumbed in for the new Splash Park next door.
The Splash Park is a nice addition for the Town especially the rug rats. It is well used. But, there's always a but.... anytime the Splash features are used, customers on Back Street have zip wawa pressure. With hot weather here, those outages are frequent.
Sounds like the park got hooked up on a 6 inch main line instead of a 2" service line.
As for fixes and getting the Farm Store back in business, we didn't hear any solutions.
The Crater
Drema Thomas has been
the WaWa Plant Manager for many years. As a matter of fact,
she's planning to retire out in a year or so. Ms Thomas gave
each Council person a typed two page letter that explained all
her duties and indicated how important her responsibilities
are for all. Thomas, " It's not an easy job."
Here's the skinny. Thomas is seeking another pay increase. Most know, Social Security retirement checks are based on your income earned. If she can get another increase, retirement is looking much nicer. Last year Drema Thomas earned over $69,000.
Communications has always been issue with each iteration of Council. Over the years it has been the case, a problem comes up, it's discussed and then nothing ever gets corrected. Often Council just sits there on their thumbs waiting the Mayor to go out and get the problem corrected.
Council person Barry Payton presented an idea. Payton wants a three ring binder with all votes, decisions, directions, minutes, placed in Town Hall so they can all see, in writing, what's suppose to be getting accomplished. With most heads nodding in agreement, sounded like that notion may become a reality. Mayor Shamblin said he would appreciate any help he can get!
Sometime during the COVID years, Council voted to purchase a high dollar water counting machine for "haul" customers. Remember that? Back then, they felt those that haul wawa from the plant, some are driving away without paying.
With security cameras watching all that thievery, sure seems like the Town would just take those bad people to Magistrate Court. Nope, they wanted a $10K machine.
Well, they got the costly machine over a year ago and it's still setting in a box.
For this meeting, Council voted to cough up $2000 to get it installed (cut a hole in the brick wall).
For many low budget wawa hauling customers, staying in the west stuff gets tight near the end of each month. Under the current system, the honor system is used. The customer comes in, fills up his plastic tank and then writes down the amount hauled. Because potable wawa is so important, at the end of each month, all of em come in and settle up. Been working that way for decades. Sure seems like Council is trying to fix a problem that never existed.
Newbee Marlene Lewis wanted answers for all the Kudzo growing, taking over, the Town. Ms Lewis, "It looks awful!"
Truth is, there is no way to eliminate the pesky stuff. Mayor Shamblin told em, the viney growth has been a problem for years and at one point, the WVU Extension office suggested bringing in a bunch of goats to control the stuff.
We heard no answers for Ms Leiws' concern.
Speaking of spinning their wheels for no good reason. Council leaders have want to put in place a Municipal Court. During each mention at each Council meeting, everyone was sure to add, thei ain't going to be a money fleecing deal like so many other Towns (Gauley Bridge, Summersville), Nope ain't going to happen here!!
Something for this Municipal Court discussion from Barry Payton. For this meeting something on the subject of setting up speed traps and other injustices, Payton,"We're just keeping community standards."
Of course that's BS but spelled out.
Leaders including Mayor Shamblin have said in the past, they got to have a Court before law and order can be had. BS once again. Speaking of justice, do you know how much training is required to be a Municipal Judge in Clayberry? It take a grand total of just four hours! Now that's fairness.
Payton suggested using COVID funds to set up the Court which would convene once a month or so.
Oh by the way, the Town has had Randy Holcomb serving as a Blue Shirt for several months. Those tickets have run right thru the Magistrate Court system without a hitch according to the Mayor. The main issue with using the current Magistrate Court system is, the Town receives NONE of the proceeds. No matter whatever they say, Town leadership wants to set up a speed trap to serve as a new revenue source. Put that on your frig door, it's coming.
Here's the skinny. Thomas is seeking another pay increase. Most know, Social Security retirement checks are based on your income earned. If she can get another increase, retirement is looking much nicer. Last year Drema Thomas earned over $69,000.
Communications has always been issue with each iteration of Council. Over the years it has been the case, a problem comes up, it's discussed and then nothing ever gets corrected. Often Council just sits there on their thumbs waiting the Mayor to go out and get the problem corrected.
Council person Barry Payton presented an idea. Payton wants a three ring binder with all votes, decisions, directions, minutes, placed in Town Hall so they can all see, in writing, what's suppose to be getting accomplished. With most heads nodding in agreement, sounded like that notion may become a reality. Mayor Shamblin said he would appreciate any help he can get!
Sometime during the COVID years, Council voted to purchase a high dollar water counting machine for "haul" customers. Remember that? Back then, they felt those that haul wawa from the plant, some are driving away without paying.
With security cameras watching all that thievery, sure seems like the Town would just take those bad people to Magistrate Court. Nope, they wanted a $10K machine.
Well, they got the costly machine over a year ago and it's still setting in a box.
For this meeting, Council voted to cough up $2000 to get it installed (cut a hole in the brick wall).
For many low budget wawa hauling customers, staying in the west stuff gets tight near the end of each month. Under the current system, the honor system is used. The customer comes in, fills up his plastic tank and then writes down the amount hauled. Because potable wawa is so important, at the end of each month, all of em come in and settle up. Been working that way for decades. Sure seems like Council is trying to fix a problem that never existed.
Newbee Marlene Lewis wanted answers for all the Kudzo growing, taking over, the Town. Ms Lewis, "It looks awful!"
Truth is, there is no way to eliminate the pesky stuff. Mayor Shamblin told em, the viney growth has been a problem for years and at one point, the WVU Extension office suggested bringing in a bunch of goats to control the stuff.
We heard no answers for Ms Leiws' concern.
Speaking of spinning their wheels for no good reason. Council leaders have want to put in place a Municipal Court. During each mention at each Council meeting, everyone was sure to add, thei ain't going to be a money fleecing deal like so many other Towns (Gauley Bridge, Summersville), Nope ain't going to happen here!!
Something for this Municipal Court discussion from Barry Payton. For this meeting something on the subject of setting up speed traps and other injustices, Payton,"We're just keeping community standards."
Of course that's BS but spelled out.
Leaders including Mayor Shamblin have said in the past, they got to have a Court before law and order can be had. BS once again. Speaking of justice, do you know how much training is required to be a Municipal Judge in Clayberry? It take a grand total of just four hours! Now that's fairness.
Payton suggested using COVID funds to set up the Court which would convene once a month or so.
Oh by the way, the Town has had Randy Holcomb serving as a Blue Shirt for several months. Those tickets have run right thru the Magistrate Court system without a hitch according to the Mayor. The main issue with using the current Magistrate Court system is, the Town receives NONE of the proceeds. No matter whatever they say, Town leadership wants to set up a speed trap to serve as a new revenue source. Put that on your frig door, it's coming.
Two Run Eye Catcher
Two Run is part
of the municipality. Over there is a burned down building that
once housed a church followed by low income apartments.
Several years ago it burned. The remains have been a blight on
the Town since then. The place is owned by Morgan and Joyce
Gibson. Over the years some effort has been made to getting
rid of the place which is owned by one time Council person
Joyce Gibson.
Ms Gibson just left elected office June 30th of this year.
Now the Town has sent a demand letter set to go into action in 30 days.
One last word on that Splash Park. It is a hit. It is about the only accomplishment in these parts for decades. Once again, that accomplishment is being hindered by pee poor infrastructure.
AW
Ms Gibson just left elected office June 30th of this year.
Now the Town has sent a demand letter set to go into action in 30 days.
One last word on that Splash Park. It is a hit. It is about the only accomplishment in these parts for decades. Once again, that accomplishment is being hindered by pee poor infrastructure.
AW