County Commission Meets
Aug 25 2021
W Va Supreme Court Justice Evan Jenkins was on hand for the Aug 25th Commission meeting
You know something's up when Charleston TV stations show up for a local meeting. TV-3 was on hand for the most recent County Commission. Somewhere upwards of 20 people were in the peanut gallery. Not a record but a darn good showing.
Clay County
Commission held a public meeting on Aug 25th. Commissioner
David Schoolcraft participated via the tele due to him
quarantining with Corona Virus variant.
You got to pay special attention, listen closing when an elected official speaks. Sometimes their wordsmithing is worthy of note.
Many in this county have and listen to 911 scanners. Those are known as analog scanners. During the Aug 25th Commission meeting, the elected folks voted to purchase $359,123.00 worth of new digital radio equipment. Digital radios can not be picked up on all the scanners now being used by taxpayers. Digital radios don't do any better than analog ones, they only make listening to fire, Badge, and ambulance transmissions next to impossible to hear.
Over the years, citizens listening to their scanner has come in handy. One time a Badge went down in the Blue Knob area. His sugar dropped low and he asked for help via the radio. Within minutes, residents in the county came out to help find him.
Often, when Badges are on the look out or giving chase, scanner listeners call 911 and provide much needed details.
Both are good reasons to stay analog but there's a bigger reason. During emergency runs, ambulances often get lost on our poorly marked roads. Scanner listeners on many occasions call 911 Dispatch and say something like, tell that driver he went too far.. or he's on the wrong road... or back up, he's at the wrong blue house.
No matter what, the Clay County Commission is hell bent on spending tax dollars and keep us in the dark
Stretching the Truth: A couple weeks back the CCC voted to purchase land up on Triplett Ridge to house a new 911 Dispatch Center ( Yelp spending more tax dollars). No price was provided the public during the meeting but questions did come.
One question was, where will the new center be located. From Commissioner Schoolcraft, response, out near the new State Road garage.
The costly build is not necessary... it's actually a real waste of tax dollars. We commented on that lack of research in our earlier CCC write up. For this meeting, Dave Mullins with the Clay County Coon hunters Club was on hand. Mullins rarely comes to a CCC gathering.
Dave asked for details on where the new 911 Center would be located.
After some prying, turns out the new facility will not be located near the State Road garage but rather, it will be located across from First Baptist Church where the Coon Hunters Club has leased property for 40 plus years.
Commissioner Fran King told the Mullins lad, she hadn't heard ANYTHING about any of that.
Schoolcraft finally confined, confessed, they are taking the Coon Hunters place.
We guess, technically, 3 miles away is near the State Road garage but but but, Schoolcraft was avoiding the truth. He was attempting to avoid the controversy until it was too late for citizens to do anything about it. He was stretching the truth.
Mullins was peed big time. According to Mullins: the Coon Hunters have maintained the property and building, they have painted, roofed it, put in sewer and more.
You got to pay special attention, listen closing when an elected official speaks. Sometimes their wordsmithing is worthy of note.
Many in this county have and listen to 911 scanners. Those are known as analog scanners. During the Aug 25th Commission meeting, the elected folks voted to purchase $359,123.00 worth of new digital radio equipment. Digital radios can not be picked up on all the scanners now being used by taxpayers. Digital radios don't do any better than analog ones, they only make listening to fire, Badge, and ambulance transmissions next to impossible to hear.
Over the years, citizens listening to their scanner has come in handy. One time a Badge went down in the Blue Knob area. His sugar dropped low and he asked for help via the radio. Within minutes, residents in the county came out to help find him.
Often, when Badges are on the look out or giving chase, scanner listeners call 911 and provide much needed details.
Both are good reasons to stay analog but there's a bigger reason. During emergency runs, ambulances often get lost on our poorly marked roads. Scanner listeners on many occasions call 911 Dispatch and say something like, tell that driver he went too far.. or he's on the wrong road... or back up, he's at the wrong blue house.
No matter what, the Clay County Commission is hell bent on spending tax dollars and keep us in the dark
Stretching the Truth: A couple weeks back the CCC voted to purchase land up on Triplett Ridge to house a new 911 Dispatch Center ( Yelp spending more tax dollars). No price was provided the public during the meeting but questions did come.
One question was, where will the new center be located. From Commissioner Schoolcraft, response, out near the new State Road garage.
The costly build is not necessary... it's actually a real waste of tax dollars. We commented on that lack of research in our earlier CCC write up. For this meeting, Dave Mullins with the Clay County Coon hunters Club was on hand. Mullins rarely comes to a CCC gathering.
Dave asked for details on where the new 911 Center would be located.
After some prying, turns out the new facility will not be located near the State Road garage but rather, it will be located across from First Baptist Church where the Coon Hunters Club has leased property for 40 plus years.
Commissioner Fran King told the Mullins lad, she hadn't heard ANYTHING about any of that.
Schoolcraft finally confined, confessed, they are taking the Coon Hunters place.
We guess, technically, 3 miles away is near the State Road garage but but but, Schoolcraft was avoiding the truth. He was attempting to avoid the controversy until it was too late for citizens to do anything about it. He was stretching the truth.
Mullins was peed big time. According to Mullins: the Coon Hunters have maintained the property and building, they have painted, roofed it, put in sewer and more.
Dave Mullins
Mullins continued:
the Coon Hunters asked to purchase the building over a year
ago but they wouldn't sell it; and, it's no problem for them
to end the lease.
Additionally, the Coon Hunters have been there 47 years; have spent $8,000 on it; and and and, when Schoolcraft approached the land owner, they told him, the Coon Hunters have a lease on the property.
Hear that, Mullins was documenting, Schoolcraft was trying to work a backroom deal to the disadvantage of the long time active, Clay County Coon Hunter's Club.
Commissioner David Schoolcraft disputed the part about him knowing about the Coon Hunters holding a lease there. Schoolcraft added, the land owner plans to sell the small chunk of land no matter what.
Going back to the part about Schoolcraft not knowing the Coon Hunters held the lease.... Since the building sets within 100 feet or so of the main road to Summersville, does anybody believe Schoolcraft? Let's see now.... we're still looking for a hand to go up... Nope no hands in the air.
Knowing which way the wind was blowing, Fran King: Mullins should get first dibs on buying the place.
We think, Dave Mullins put a wrench in the fast moving plans to spend a million dollars (or more). Good!
One other note not really related but it's a great place to get in a good dig.....
Mullins is on the School Bd where he recently told the world, they could not speak during a Sch Bd meeting unless they got his blessings ahead of time. For this CCC meeting, Mullins witnessed how taxpayer participation is handled at public meetings. We hope he used that gray stuff between his ears and wised up his leadership skills.
Additionally, the Coon Hunters have been there 47 years; have spent $8,000 on it; and and and, when Schoolcraft approached the land owner, they told him, the Coon Hunters have a lease on the property.
Hear that, Mullins was documenting, Schoolcraft was trying to work a backroom deal to the disadvantage of the long time active, Clay County Coon Hunter's Club.
Commissioner David Schoolcraft disputed the part about him knowing about the Coon Hunters holding a lease there. Schoolcraft added, the land owner plans to sell the small chunk of land no matter what.
Going back to the part about Schoolcraft not knowing the Coon Hunters held the lease.... Since the building sets within 100 feet or so of the main road to Summersville, does anybody believe Schoolcraft? Let's see now.... we're still looking for a hand to go up... Nope no hands in the air.
Knowing which way the wind was blowing, Fran King: Mullins should get first dibs on buying the place.
We think, Dave Mullins put a wrench in the fast moving plans to spend a million dollars (or more). Good!
One other note not really related but it's a great place to get in a good dig.....
Mullins is on the School Bd where he recently told the world, they could not speak during a Sch Bd meeting unless they got his blessings ahead of time. For this CCC meeting, Mullins witnessed how taxpayer participation is handled at public meetings. We hope he used that gray stuff between his ears and wised up his leadership skills.
David Morgan standing
Now for our
feature presentation
There were a bunch of peed off taxpayers (voters too) in the peanut gallery for this Aug 25th assembly. The
dozen or so were homeowners, land owners, in the Camp Creek
to Queen Shoals section of the ERTS State Park along the Elk
River.
At issue is vehicle access for those camps and homes along ERTS. For the last many decades, those folks have used the RR rights of way for access to their property. That access also boosts property values.
Lead speaker for the ad hoc group was Dave Morgan who told the Commission: property owners have kept up the rights of way; they are for ATV's using the semi road; ATV use is good for this county; there are grants available to grow an ATV trail; and they didn't appreciate it when RR's Frank Jorgenson told em to just use a boat to get to their properties. Mr Morgan went on with a lengthy spiel.
After hearing from the guy and seeing nearly a dozen more speakers, Commissioner Fran King: County Commission doesn't own that rights of way, Bill Bright does!; Federal law prevents ATV's and vehicles to use the RR rights of way; the trail when completed, may bring in $$$; and, each tourist brings in on average $10 per day per visit.
Fran was trying to tell em but in nicer terms, folks, we don't have a say in this fight.
Dave Morgan came back with: we leased that RR property and paved it; the gas company plant is along that rights of way; there are 740 property owners affected if vehicles are prevented from using it; and , once the Elk River Foundation takes over, no vehicles will be allowed on the old rail bed.
We don't know where that last part came from. The Foundation has zero power with the State Park nor the RR rights' of way. None.
A few weeks back Frank Jorgenson with the RR told, there will be vehicular access in that section for property owners. About as soon as those words were uttered, many saw thru em. Jorgenson is with the railroad. Once the State takes over ownership, anything that Frank said in the past, it doesn't matter.
County Assessor Teresa Davis mentioned, when the property is turned over to the State, this county will lose property tax income. Note: Ms Davis is also a property owner along the trail.
Mitch DeBoard, BDA Chair and now a paid contractor for FEMA was standing in the back of the Commission room. All eyes turned his direction. From DeBoard: I wanted an ATV trail too but Federal Law from 1983 prevents such travel on abandoned tracks; and, Frank Jorgenson did say property owners can drive on the trail but he later added, but no one knows how that will be accomplished.
Some in the delegation spoke up with: we didn't need another bike trail, they never work out!
Well of course, that's a load of BS.
One lady stood and referenced a deed from the early 1800's that specifically read, once the RR leaves, that property will revert back to the original owner. She added, the RR (Bright) doesn't own that rights of way, and "It's been a boondoggle !"
Another lady told the CCC that her old deed states, the property can only be used for railroad purposes.
Other spoke. Some sounded pretty convincing but then, what everybody starts with, they're bringing a lawsuit to keep use of someone else's property for their personal gain.
One lady pointed at the Mel Gibson Look Alike and said she didn't like being called a "whiner."
30 minutes into the opening discussion, a younger lady stood up and mentioned something about wanting to build a campground along ERTS and without vehicular access, that wouldn't be possible.
Still there, Dave Mullins: this is discrimination. Old people can't use the trail!
Oh Boy!
On and on they went
Commissioner Connie Kinder: We understand the issue.... trail is already busy with side by sides...
Fran: It's not wise to have little kids and side by sides on the same trail...
That drew a unanimous shout out with "Put In Separate Trails!"
Trying to close down the 40 minute discussion, Fran King , who also owns property along ERTS, "I don't know what the answer is... We wish you the best.."
Before we start calling em a bunch of whiners again, there was one point that stood out and worth a mention. One Lady commented, since Bright RR never actually fixed up the rails and used them, that strip of ballast has already been abandoned. Abandoned land doesn't fall under all the hocus pocus Federal law. She might have something to stand on with that angle.
Now for the whining.
One. Don't go around threatening a lawsuit. Either do it or shut up
Two. Check your history books. How well did it go for the Indians when the railroad came thru their land out West? The Indians got screwed 170 years ago because railroads are given special powers and authority. Was back then and it remains that way today.
Three. Every lease EVER entered into with the railroad, it's very clear, that lease can be broken at any time with a 30 day notice.
Four. Money grubbing lawyers are eager to take a rights of way case. Some might have good intentions but at the end of the day, lawyers are the only winners. They go home and enjoy a nice thick steak and just smile.
Five, that part about a separate trail.. dumb dumb dumb. The two will never meet.
Six. How could anyone buy a piece of property without a deed search? Why would anyone purchase a place without getting assurances from a licensed surveyor that access was available.
The August 25th County Commission meeting was a darn good one. It's what public meetings are suppose to be. Nobody won during or as a result of this meeting but the property owners felt better after getting to say their peace. That's a good thang.
aw end
There were a bunch of peed off taxpayers (voters too) in the peanut gallery for this Aug 25th assembly.
At issue is vehicle access for those camps and homes along ERTS. For the last many decades, those folks have used the RR rights of way for access to their property. That access also boosts property values.
Lead speaker for the ad hoc group was Dave Morgan who told the Commission: property owners have kept up the rights of way; they are for ATV's using the semi road; ATV use is good for this county; there are grants available to grow an ATV trail; and they didn't appreciate it when RR's Frank Jorgenson told em to just use a boat to get to their properties. Mr Morgan went on with a lengthy spiel.
After hearing from the guy and seeing nearly a dozen more speakers, Commissioner Fran King: County Commission doesn't own that rights of way, Bill Bright does!; Federal law prevents ATV's and vehicles to use the RR rights of way; the trail when completed, may bring in $$$; and, each tourist brings in on average $10 per day per visit.
Fran was trying to tell em but in nicer terms, folks, we don't have a say in this fight.
Dave Morgan came back with: we leased that RR property and paved it; the gas company plant is along that rights of way; there are 740 property owners affected if vehicles are prevented from using it; and , once the Elk River Foundation takes over, no vehicles will be allowed on the old rail bed.
We don't know where that last part came from. The Foundation has zero power with the State Park nor the RR rights' of way. None.
A few weeks back Frank Jorgenson with the RR told, there will be vehicular access in that section for property owners. About as soon as those words were uttered, many saw thru em. Jorgenson is with the railroad. Once the State takes over ownership, anything that Frank said in the past, it doesn't matter.
County Assessor Teresa Davis mentioned, when the property is turned over to the State, this county will lose property tax income. Note: Ms Davis is also a property owner along the trail.
Mitch DeBoard, BDA Chair and now a paid contractor for FEMA was standing in the back of the Commission room. All eyes turned his direction. From DeBoard: I wanted an ATV trail too but Federal Law from 1983 prevents such travel on abandoned tracks; and, Frank Jorgenson did say property owners can drive on the trail but he later added, but no one knows how that will be accomplished.
Some in the delegation spoke up with: we didn't need another bike trail, they never work out!
Well of course, that's a load of BS.
One lady stood and referenced a deed from the early 1800's that specifically read, once the RR leaves, that property will revert back to the original owner. She added, the RR (Bright) doesn't own that rights of way, and "It's been a boondoggle !"
Another lady told the CCC that her old deed states, the property can only be used for railroad purposes.
Other spoke. Some sounded pretty convincing but then, what everybody starts with, they're bringing a lawsuit to keep use of someone else's property for their personal gain.
One lady pointed at the Mel Gibson Look Alike and said she didn't like being called a "whiner."
30 minutes into the opening discussion, a younger lady stood up and mentioned something about wanting to build a campground along ERTS and without vehicular access, that wouldn't be possible.
Still there, Dave Mullins: this is discrimination. Old people can't use the trail!
Oh Boy!
On and on they went
Commissioner Connie Kinder: We understand the issue.... trail is already busy with side by sides...
Fran: It's not wise to have little kids and side by sides on the same trail...
That drew a unanimous shout out with "Put In Separate Trails!"
Trying to close down the 40 minute discussion, Fran King , who also owns property along ERTS, "I don't know what the answer is... We wish you the best.."
Before we start calling em a bunch of whiners again, there was one point that stood out and worth a mention. One Lady commented, since Bright RR never actually fixed up the rails and used them, that strip of ballast has already been abandoned. Abandoned land doesn't fall under all the hocus pocus Federal law. She might have something to stand on with that angle.
Now for the whining.
One. Don't go around threatening a lawsuit. Either do it or shut up
Two. Check your history books. How well did it go for the Indians when the railroad came thru their land out West? The Indians got screwed 170 years ago because railroads are given special powers and authority. Was back then and it remains that way today.
Three. Every lease EVER entered into with the railroad, it's very clear, that lease can be broken at any time with a 30 day notice.
Four. Money grubbing lawyers are eager to take a rights of way case. Some might have good intentions but at the end of the day, lawyers are the only winners. They go home and enjoy a nice thick steak and just smile.
Five, that part about a separate trail.. dumb dumb dumb. The two will never meet.
Six. How could anyone buy a piece of property without a deed search? Why would anyone purchase a place without getting assurances from a licensed surveyor that access was available.
The August 25th County Commission meeting was a darn good one. It's what public meetings are suppose to be. Nobody won during or as a result of this meeting but the property owners felt better after getting to say their peace. That's a good thang.
aw end