Aug 12 2020
Anytime more
than a handful of people show up for a County Commission
meeting, something's up. Such was the case for the Aug 12th
CCC meeting and hearing. Considering those coming and going,
around 15 were on hand including reps from two fire
departments and the Clay Ambulance Service. Way over in the
corner in the maroon shirt is Sheriff candidate Allen King who
has attended many of the recent public gatherings.
Terry Martin
We often call Terry
Martin, Mr Money Bags. Martin is the guy that handles most of
the grants that come to Clayberry. His job is to take our hand
and pull us thru the slog of Govt bureaucracy. On Aug 12th
Martin was there for a public hearing to garner support for
various wawa and sewer projects in need of funding. For this
cycle, $1.5 million is available. The long stalled Nebo wawa
line extension came up as did an extension in the Ovapa
neighborhood. From way out in the sticks of Harrison, BIll
Carr spoke up on extending the existing service.
Adding reality to the talks, Mr Martin explained, that Harrison idea would take millions and millions to complete due to the terrain and distance between homes.
Our CCC will make the final decision on which project Martin will seek. There will be one more public hearing before such a decision is made.
Do you know Daniel Tanner from the Nebo end of the county? Tanner is the guy that is building, built, a new upscale campground on Nebo / Walker Road and is in need of potable wawa to make it happen. The 261 acre complex is already in place with several nice rental units and lakes. He's in a holding pattern for the onsite restaurant due to no municipal wawa service. His plan is to open a scaled down version of his campground minus the eatery Sept 1st. Reason? No wawa. Currently he is hauling drinkable wet stuff to each cabin. That hauling part is what's keeping the restaurant from opening.
There's an example of a business man trying hard to grow something in Clayberry and is held back by lacking infrastructure.
Want your project to be considered? Better talk with a Commissioner or show up for the next meeting
Commissioner King turned in a separate grant application to fund re-roofing the old Courthouse. IF approved, those grant dollars would be used to fund a mandatory 20% local match requirement for a larger Historic structure grant, also in the works.
Adding reality to the talks, Mr Martin explained, that Harrison idea would take millions and millions to complete due to the terrain and distance between homes.
Our CCC will make the final decision on which project Martin will seek. There will be one more public hearing before such a decision is made.
Do you know Daniel Tanner from the Nebo end of the county? Tanner is the guy that is building, built, a new upscale campground on Nebo / Walker Road and is in need of potable wawa to make it happen. The 261 acre complex is already in place with several nice rental units and lakes. He's in a holding pattern for the onsite restaurant due to no municipal wawa service. His plan is to open a scaled down version of his campground minus the eatery Sept 1st. Reason? No wawa. Currently he is hauling drinkable wet stuff to each cabin. That hauling part is what's keeping the restaurant from opening.
There's an example of a business man trying hard to grow something in Clayberry and is held back by lacking infrastructure.
Want your project to be considered? Better talk with a Commissioner or show up for the next meeting
Commissioner King turned in a separate grant application to fund re-roofing the old Courthouse. IF approved, those grant dollars would be used to fund a mandatory 20% local match requirement for a larger Historic structure grant, also in the works.
Ms Bev King, left
Now for the
main event. The reason most of the attendees were present.
Ambulance Director Bev King spoke up on the need for more $$$
to keep her operation afloat. According to Bev, there's really
only 7 employees available to work the 24 hour a day
operation. She told the Commissioners, the employees are
burned out after many working 150 hours during a 2 week shift.
"Something has to be done!.... They are getting tired", said
Ms King.
She explained, as of this meeting, the Clay Ambulance Service has received no Covid stimulus dollars.
To attract more employees, King advanced the idea of raising compensation from $9.75 per hour to $13 / hour. When questioned about funding the rate increase and does she have the $$ in her budget, King felt, the $13 per hour level would actually be cheaper than paying OT for the current employees. King, "We've got to try something.."
We think Bev's ciphering is a little off. It's always cheaper to pay OT than all the tag along benefits that comes with a hire.
What ta do What ta do? Here comes the increased taxation part of the meeting.
Questions came on just giving the ambulance employees a one time bonus but calling it some other name. Long time readers of this newspaper know, govt workers can not receive a "bonus". Period. It's illegal. Even when the Sheriff hands out what's called, one time increases, that's BS and unlawful or at least breaks the spirit of the law
Remember four months ago when the Gov proudly handed out $100K checks to each county to help with Corony Bug expenses? Our CCC received the grants but has been unable to spend the money. According to the Franster, most other counties are in the same boat , unable to spend the loot.
She explained, as of this meeting, the Clay Ambulance Service has received no Covid stimulus dollars.
To attract more employees, King advanced the idea of raising compensation from $9.75 per hour to $13 / hour. When questioned about funding the rate increase and does she have the $$ in her budget, King felt, the $13 per hour level would actually be cheaper than paying OT for the current employees. King, "We've got to try something.."
We think Bev's ciphering is a little off. It's always cheaper to pay OT than all the tag along benefits that comes with a hire.
What ta do What ta do? Here comes the increased taxation part of the meeting.
Questions came on just giving the ambulance employees a one time bonus but calling it some other name. Long time readers of this newspaper know, govt workers can not receive a "bonus". Period. It's illegal. Even when the Sheriff hands out what's called, one time increases, that's BS and unlawful or at least breaks the spirit of the law
Remember four months ago when the Gov proudly handed out $100K checks to each county to help with Corony Bug expenses? Our CCC received the grants but has been unable to spend the money. According to the Franster, most other counties are in the same boat , unable to spend the loot.
Behind the scenes,
a game plan had been hatched to include an Excess Levy vote on
the Nov General Election to fund Clay Ambulance and the three
county fire departments. A similar ballot measure has been
tried on at least two prior occasions. Both failed. One
of those last Levy attempts failed because the Lizemore end of
the county felt left out of the money handouts. Those voters
voted no because the Levy $$$ could not be given to their
ambulance service.
Someone in the crowd, maybe George Workman, advanced, all three fire departments are now supportive of an Excess Levy vote.
After much much discussion, the Clay County Commission voted to place an Excess Levy vote on the Nov ballot.
Note: that vote, decision, was not listed on the meeting agenda as an action item.
Around 10:45, the CCC went into secret time with Prosecutor Jim Samples to discuss "personnel items." Open meetings law regs nor W Va Ethics Commission opinions allow such a reason for going secret.
Secret time is becoming more and more common during Commission meeting. We didn't stick around to see if any votes were taken after the secret time. Sorry, we got antsy and skedaddled.
AW
Someone in the crowd, maybe George Workman, advanced, all three fire departments are now supportive of an Excess Levy vote.
After much much discussion, the Clay County Commission voted to place an Excess Levy vote on the Nov ballot.
Note: that vote, decision, was not listed on the meeting agenda as an action item.
Around 10:45, the CCC went into secret time with Prosecutor Jim Samples to discuss "personnel items." Open meetings law regs nor W Va Ethics Commission opinions allow such a reason for going secret.
Secret time is becoming more and more common during Commission meeting. We didn't stick around to see if any votes were taken after the secret time. Sorry, we got antsy and skedaddled.
AW