By: Mat Cloak
The Parsons Advocate
During the audience and guests portion of the meeting, Larry Armbruster, president of the Tucker County Ambulance Authority, provided an update on ambulance services and fees. Armbruster reported that approximately $180,000 was collected so far from the EMS fee. “We are putting it to good use,” Armbruster said.
Armbruster noted that the Ambulance Authority is capable of only placing one employee on the 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. night shift. “We are having a great deal of difficulty getting the number of additional people that we need,” Armbruster said. At this point, this has not been a problem for the Ambulance Authority, but Armbruster predicted it might pose problems in the future.
According to Armbruster, the Ambulance Authority is meeting their goal of a 10 to 15 minute response time. He concluded that, “We are in reasonably decent shape.”
A second reading of the EMS ordinance revisions was held. The changes are as follows: Payments should be made by or before September 1 of each year, beginning with September 1, 2018. The Tucker County Commission will collect the unpaid fees, instead of the Ambulatory Board. Invoices not paid by September 1 of any given year will be assessed a late fee of $15 a year, plus 1.5 percent of the original fee per month until paid. Late fees will not be assessed for 2017.
A question was raised about where the late fees collected from the EMS fee will go. Commissioner Patrick Darlington clarified that the late fees will go to the Ambulance Authority, not the County Commission.
While there were members of the audience that spoke in favor of the fee as well as the work by the EMS personnel, some spoke out against the EMS fee and the Commission itself. Commissioner Hinkle responded, “There’s no attempt on our part to fool anybody. We are trying to be as transparent as absolutely possible.”
The Commissioners then gave their reports. County Clerk Sherry Simmons reported that the federal audit is going well. The County Clerk’s Office is working on a death certificate program that would allow the office to scan death certificates and produce certified copies.
Commission President Lowell Moore met with West Virginia Department of Highways to assess the flood damage in Leadmine and to plan for the future. The Department of Highways applied for a permit to clean debris from under a bridge in Leadmine that is undercutting the foundation.
A group of concerned citizens, Senators Smith and Sypolt, and County Commissioners met in Leadmine to view the stream bank erosion. The Commission is seeking help from the state to fund additional work in Leadmine. A diversion wall or some other form of water damage mitigation is desired.
The Region VII quarterly meeting focused on the likely merger with Region VI, which Moore said, “I think it’s going to hurt us.” Region VII is actively resisting the merger, because the region will almost double in size. A consolidation board was approved, and Moore was appointed on the board.
Commissioner Hinkle reviewed her trip to the White House, which Hinkle said, “Was the first time the County Commissioners have been invited to the White House. They are acknowledging that what they do in Washington D.C. very much impacts our county government.”
Commissioner Darlington reported that construction on Corridor H has begun, and the Kokosing Construction Company is hiring for positions related to road construction.
The Commission approved date changes to the upcoming meetings. The next County Commission meeting will be on Wednesday, November 8 at 9 a.m. The following meeting will be on Wednesday, December 13 at 9 a.m. Both meetings will be held in the Tucker County Courthouse Courtroom.
