Town Council August 9th 2022
There's a
bunch of Clayonians that don't understand, know, how this 342
square miles is governed. Many, maybe most, do not understand,
the Clay County Commission and Clay Town Council, those are
two separate entities. One has no authority over the other.
Both are run by people you voted for.
Our only municipality is governed by a five member Council, a Town Recorder and a Mayor. Those elections are held in June and are non partisan. Councilpersons, Recorder, and Mayor are all paid to be in charge. Currently the Mayor is Josh Shamblin, Recorder Cindy Mullins, and Councilpersons are Rene Moore, Jerry Stover, Joyce Gibson, Jason Hubbard, Barry Peyton.
For a bunch of local yocals, they don't give a hoot about ANYTHING except: When's my check coming again??? A close second is: What, another hand out is coming? Where? How do I sign up? As for anything else, they don't give a rat's patuudy!
OK. With that background, Clay Town Council convened a public meeting Aug 9th in the WaWa Plant building, AKA Town Hall. Four Councilperson were present with senior Council Rep Joyce Gibson participating via a tele hook up. Around the room, there were maybe a dozen in the peanut gallery. Over in the corner was House of Delegates rep, Roger Hanshaw. That guy hasn't been around for a long time.
We're going to report on a couple of the big ticket items covered on the 9th.
Above all else, first thing up, the call for the log factory rate increase was read followed by invites for the public to waste their breath.
Our only municipality is governed by a five member Council, a Town Recorder and a Mayor. Those elections are held in June and are non partisan. Councilpersons, Recorder, and Mayor are all paid to be in charge. Currently the Mayor is Josh Shamblin, Recorder Cindy Mullins, and Councilpersons are Rene Moore, Jerry Stover, Joyce Gibson, Jason Hubbard, Barry Peyton.
For a bunch of local yocals, they don't give a hoot about ANYTHING except: When's my check coming again??? A close second is: What, another hand out is coming? Where? How do I sign up? As for anything else, they don't give a rat's patuudy!
OK. With that background, Clay Town Council convened a public meeting Aug 9th in the WaWa Plant building, AKA Town Hall. Four Councilperson were present with senior Council Rep Joyce Gibson participating via a tele hook up. Around the room, there were maybe a dozen in the peanut gallery. Over in the corner was House of Delegates rep, Roger Hanshaw. That guy hasn't been around for a long time.
We're going to report on a couple of the big ticket items covered on the 9th.
Above all else, first thing up, the call for the log factory rate increase was read followed by invites for the public to waste their breath.
See that guy standing? That's one of those %%$$!!! lawyers from Charleston that guided Council thru the rate increase process minus any Crisco.
Here's the
deal....
Council has been limping along for many years barely making the numbers work for the Log Factory operation that they own and operate. During some monthly financial reports, the numbers don't work and the operation drops into the red. Those months in the red, there's more of them than break even or coming out in the black months.
The log factory rate paperwork lists much of the stuff that's painful for Clayonians. In addition to raising log prices by almost 30%, get this: a new reserve account will be set up; this rate increase is required before the Town can receive the free $$$ to rebuild, upgrade the current operation: the new average fee will be around $55 per month; there will be a flat rate charge even if you don't flush one time; if you pay by credit card, add another 4.5% to your monthly bill; and, just for good measure there's new leak adjustment fee.
All the crapola up charges goes into effect Oct 24th.
When someone asked if the increase could be increased a small amount over time, Nope was the answer.
From one lady, is it possible for rates to go back down if the operation starts making money? Answer: Realistically, Nope
Does that sound painful? You ain't heard all of it . When the upgrade is complete, there's suppose to some new rimmed out pipes and the elimination of rain wawa running thru the sewer lines. That's stuff like rain gutters and Town flood drains to be disconnected from the sewer lines.
Those changes on private property, guess who covers that expense? You got it, you.
Of course we've heard about those improper connections for decades. We've also seen town leadership, and the ones before them, ans the ones before those folks doing "smoke testing" and telling land owners, building owners, you got to correct the situation and right now. For the most part, those changes were NEVER made.
But, this is a new and improved world, and this time around, everyone will be singing happy songs as our wallets are fleeced.
Of the 8000+ in the county, only one guy spoke out against the rate increase.
His comments included: This will be a boat anchor for the entire County; this increase is to get free money, that means it ain't free money; this increase can only kill more businesses in Town; and there's little potential for more customers to be added (more income). On that last part, the round lad was talking about "economies of scale", more customers means cheaper rates. Note: the 2016 Great Wash reduced the log factory customers by 40%.
Add: you can forget a car wash or laundromat coming to this Town. Finally, We can't afford this free money [grant].
Mayor Hubbard: No one wants this 30% increase. Councilperson Moore:... I understand the need..
From the peanut gallery. Mitch DeBoard felt that higher rates may bring in more businesses! In other words of wisdom from DeBoard and not related to the rate increase: add more taxes to building owners... add an ordinance against people that don't cut their grass ... add another law against people that don't paint their homes... "Grow Some Balls and make changes"; and, here's the ringer, add Badges and a Municipal Court Judge.
It was a unanimous vote with Councilperson Jason Hubbard making the motion to proceed. For those that want to write a letter of protest, you have 30 days to do so.
Council has been limping along for many years barely making the numbers work for the Log Factory operation that they own and operate. During some monthly financial reports, the numbers don't work and the operation drops into the red. Those months in the red, there's more of them than break even or coming out in the black months.
The log factory rate paperwork lists much of the stuff that's painful for Clayonians. In addition to raising log prices by almost 30%, get this: a new reserve account will be set up; this rate increase is required before the Town can receive the free $$$ to rebuild, upgrade the current operation: the new average fee will be around $55 per month; there will be a flat rate charge even if you don't flush one time; if you pay by credit card, add another 4.5% to your monthly bill; and, just for good measure there's new leak adjustment fee.
All the crapola up charges goes into effect Oct 24th.
When someone asked if the increase could be increased a small amount over time, Nope was the answer.
From one lady, is it possible for rates to go back down if the operation starts making money? Answer: Realistically, Nope
Does that sound painful? You ain't heard all of it . When the upgrade is complete, there's suppose to some new rimmed out pipes and the elimination of rain wawa running thru the sewer lines. That's stuff like rain gutters and Town flood drains to be disconnected from the sewer lines.
Those changes on private property, guess who covers that expense? You got it, you.
Of course we've heard about those improper connections for decades. We've also seen town leadership, and the ones before them, ans the ones before those folks doing "smoke testing" and telling land owners, building owners, you got to correct the situation and right now. For the most part, those changes were NEVER made.
But, this is a new and improved world, and this time around, everyone will be singing happy songs as our wallets are fleeced.
Of the 8000+ in the county, only one guy spoke out against the rate increase.
His comments included: This will be a boat anchor for the entire County; this increase is to get free money, that means it ain't free money; this increase can only kill more businesses in Town; and there's little potential for more customers to be added (more income). On that last part, the round lad was talking about "economies of scale", more customers means cheaper rates. Note: the 2016 Great Wash reduced the log factory customers by 40%.
Add: you can forget a car wash or laundromat coming to this Town. Finally, We can't afford this free money [grant].
Mayor Hubbard: No one wants this 30% increase. Councilperson Moore:... I understand the need..
From the peanut gallery. Mitch DeBoard felt that higher rates may bring in more businesses! In other words of wisdom from DeBoard and not related to the rate increase: add more taxes to building owners... add an ordinance against people that don't cut their grass ... add another law against people that don't paint their homes... "Grow Some Balls and make changes"; and, here's the ringer, add Badges and a Municipal Court Judge.
It was a unanimous vote with Councilperson Jason Hubbard making the motion to proceed. For those that want to write a letter of protest, you have 30 days to do so.
Mitch DeBoard, seated on Desk, was on hand to support lots of new laws, increasing sewer rates out the wazoo, and telling the group, prosperity is just around the corner.
Number two on
important stuff.... According to House of Delegate Rep Roger
Hanshaw , there's a new pot of 250 million dollars of free
money now available to County Commissions, Towns, other govt
agencies, and some non profits. The requirements to get the
grant loot are much less stringent than other grants that take
years to secure and the services of five engineers, and a
Philadelphia lawyer; there will be small "match $$"
requirements for the free stuff; and the door is already open
for applications, "Time is of the essence..", according to
Hanshaw.
Doesn't that sound great? DeBoard asked about using a grant to purchase a steam engine, related equipment and the campground at Dundon? From Hanshaw: Yes.
From Jerry Stover, how about restoring the old Courthouse into a Welcome Center.? Hanshaw: Yes.
In a nutshell, there's a bundle of free money currently available for a wide range of projects. It's up to our leadership to apply. Make your guesses now readers. How many applications will be submitted? The clock is ticking.
We left the Council meeting before it ended. Not sure how bad things got nor what other disastrous decisions were made.
Sorry, but we got sleepy.
AW
Doesn't that sound great? DeBoard asked about using a grant to purchase a steam engine, related equipment and the campground at Dundon? From Hanshaw: Yes.
From Jerry Stover, how about restoring the old Courthouse into a Welcome Center.? Hanshaw: Yes.
In a nutshell, there's a bundle of free money currently available for a wide range of projects. It's up to our leadership to apply. Make your guesses now readers. How many applications will be submitted? The clock is ticking.
We left the Council meeting before it ended. Not sure how bad things got nor what other disastrous decisions were made.
Sorry, but we got sleepy.
AW