Tucker County Clerk Sherry Simmons swearing in Tim Turner and Chopper Evans into the Tucker County BOE.
Prior to the meeting Wednesday, County Clerk Sherry Simmons swore in Tim Turner and Daniel “Chopper” Evans to the Tucker County Board of Education.
Under New Business/Tabled Business from Previous Business, the Remembrance of Board Members occurred. Commission President Lowell Moore began by saying there were two different board members to remember; Murray Dearborn and Gary Lipscomb.
Starting with the Dearborn family, Commissioner Patrick Darlington read “In honor and recognition, the Tucker County Commission hereby honors and recognizes Murray G. Dearborn for his dedication to the people of Tucker County by serving on the Tucker County Development Authority, Tucker County Ambulance Authority and Tucker County Visitors Bureau for many years. Presented to his family this twenty-second day of June 2016, by the Tucker County Commission”
Darlington continued by saying “I was pretty good friends with Murray and we sat on a lot of boards together. He was extremely dedicated to this county. The work and effort he put in to better this county was tremendous and it is deeply appreciated by this commission. We would like to thank him and the family because we all know, and I am sure you all know that when you are that dedicated to the community and participate in many things that it takes away from you all (the family). So we appreciate you all allowing him to do that and doing that for this county.”
The Dearborn family was then gathered for a picture, and the commissioners continued to praise Murray Dearborn by adding that often people do not realize how much time it takes to be a part of the boards and sit in on boards. Dearborn was active with the CVC, the rotaries, and so many different organizations. He not only brought expertise, but he brought personality and that is going to be missed.
Diane Hinkle then honored Gary Dean Lipscomb by saying “It is with much honor and much regret that I present this plaque to you in honor and recognition. The Tucker County Commission hereby honors and recognizes Gary Dean Lippy Lipscomb for his dedication to the people of Tucker Couny and his animous love of the youth of Tucker County by serving on the Tucker County Parks and Recreation Board for many years. I’m presenting this to his family this day, the twenty-second of June 2016 by the Tucker County Commission.”
Hinkle went on to say “I have a hard time speaking about Gary because it gets personal. Many of us in the community knew that Gary was very diligent with his service to the Parks and Recreation Board. We understand his love of athletics and of the youth, but of the people of Tucker County. You never asked Gary to do something that he wasn’t there with a smile always willing to help out. Personally, the Leaf Peepers I don’t believe can go on without him. When I would pull up at 5:30 in the morning for Run for It, Always Gary and Tina were there. We were always there to watch the sun come up and to deal with whatever. It just isn’t going to be the same without him. But in addition to his service to the county, he also served the town of Davis as a town council member. He was a true Tucker Countian, a wonderful man and a good friend and we’re going to miss him. I thank you very much for sharing him with us.”
Each family accepted the plaque in honor and recognition from the Tucker County Commissioners before thanking them and exiting the room.
After the Remembrance of Service, the commissioners covered KONE Elevators contract increase, Budget Revisions, First and Final Wavers of Estate Closings, Approval of Assessments and Approval of Payments.
Sherry Simmons also swore Bob Gilchrest into office for the Canaan Valley PSD Board.
Hired as a part-time animal shelter employee was Lindsay K. Amy.
Commission President Lowell Moore motioned to go into Executive Session to discuss the hiring of a full-time dispatcher. Executive session lasted approximately forty-five minutes, where no decision was made at that time.
Commissioner Hinkle moved to hire a full-time 911 dispatcher to relieve the comp time and over-time issues that’s been occurring and for the safety and security of Tucker County residents and visitors. Hinkle continued to comment by explaining that with much deliberation and discussion, some overriding factors that the commissioners considered is that this will actually reduce the budget for the 911 Center. The 911 Center has been reviewed by independent auditors and their recommendation was that additional staff was needed to address the over-time and comp time issue. They felt that by hiring another full-time dispatcher, it would address the issue.
All were in favor and the motion carried.
Before ending, commissioner reports were stated. Commission President Moore had no reports. Commissioner Hinkle stated about how in the newspaper it stated that St. George Medical Clinic got a grant for $350000 for the oral health center. Commissioner Darlington spoke on Corridor-H and how the seven-and-a-half-mile stretch should begin construction at the end of July or beginning of August, but how July 1 is probably the end of the Robert C. Byrd Corridor-H Authority. The road will continue to be built by his understanding, though.
