By Heather Clower
The Parsons Advocate
Tucker County Commissioners came together with other county employees and citizens to discuss the agenda at hand. The meeting opened with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance followed by Commission President Diane Hinkle calling the meeting to order. The minutes were read over and approved before Terry Silk; treasurer for the Tucker County Ambulance Authority Board took the floor.
Silk updated the Commissioners and those in attendance what the ambulance authority has been able to do since the EMS fee has been established in 2017. He reported that they were able to establish additional twelve hour shifts; coverage has improved with two crews operating 24/7 a minimum of fifteen days per month, one at Thomas and one in Parsons. Their goal is to have two crews operating at each end of the county at all times. They have hired another full time and part time medic as well as three full time EMT’s, and for the third year now, the Building Commission has voted unanimously to cover the rent for EMS Station II at Cortland Acres.
Silk continued stating employee pay rates are improving, however our county is not yet competitive with nearby counties, and without better participation with the EMS fee it won’t be. He expressed sincere thanks to everyone who has paid their EMS fee and asks that those who have not to reconsider. “We all benefit from better patient care”, he stated as he closed and answered any questions the panel had.
Lois Arbogast took the floor next as she expressed her concerns and suggestions regarding the EMS fee. This opened a brief discussion regarding the late fee and the clerical error that was made regarding the late fee. The tickets that went out were in error when they stated the late fee was $115, when in reality the late fee should state $15. The conversation continued with the point made that once a fee reaches the amount of $100, it is capable of being turned over to a collection agency. When Arbogast expressed her concern for those who are refusing to pay, Commissioner Hinkle explained, “There will be consequences for those who do not”.
The new face of the Child Advocacy Center attended the meeting as well. Suzanne Crawford is new to the area and wanted to stop by and introduce herself. Prosecuting Attorney Ray LaMora has worked alongside the Child Advocacy Center, and added, “What she is doing in the county is great”.
LaMora reported that the amount of abuse and neglect cases he has seen lately has tripled. As an example, he used our neighbor Randolph County, who went from approximately 40 cases last year to 130. Fortunately an investigator should be starting sometime this fall to help with the case load.
Bailey Stanton, director of the Animal Shelter, shared her report with the Commissioners. Last week the shelter transported two canines to Southern WV to a rescue facility funded purely on donations received for the cause. The shelter staff is focusing on the feral cat situation in Hendricks and Hambleton at this time, and she also brought them up to speed on the new website. Stanton provided a list of upcoming events the shelter has scheduled, including a rabies clinic on August 4, a bridge drive on September 1, and their big fundraiser, the Run-For-It team event taking place on September 29. She was also happy to report the success of the first annual golf tournament that took place over the weekend, raising $3400.
Commissioner Lowell Moore proudly held up The Parsons Advocate show casing the pictures of the youth partaking in the 2018 Tucker County 4-H Camp. Several youth attended the five day adventure at Camp Kidd and great fun was had by all. Moore highly praised the staff of the extension office, the kids, camp staff, sponsors, and all the volunteers for turning this program around and making it so successful.
A motion was made by the Board of Health to approve a three year term for Sylvia Rosenau and Donna Patrick. The motion passed unanimously. Also passing with approval was the revision to the EMS fee to omit the 1 ½ percent fees per month late as well as the budget revisions presented and assessments.
Next on the agenda was the Commissioners report. Commissioner Lowell Moore reported on attending the region seven Planning and Development Council quarterly meeting. There are seven counties that make up this region and it was well represented. Commissioner Patrick Darlington attended a meeting of the Convention and Visitors Bureau where they adopted new by-laws and he was happy to report they have turned the area more into a year full of tourism rather than just around ski season. Darlington also attended a Corridor H meeting where they spoke on the next three and a half mile section of roadway to be completed from Moore to Holly Meadows. The new bid award is expected to happen on November 28 with construction hopeful to begin as soon as next spring. Lastly, Hinkle took the floor bringing to light her attendance to a reception to form a new board for a snow sports museum. “Tucker County is the birth place of Mid Atlantic Skiing”, Hinkle said, which makes it the best location for this museum. She added the Cultural District Authority is working diligently on a grant for phase two, which will also help fund three part time positions and help the cultural diversity program. Hinkle finished up by reading a letter from Congressman David McKinley. This letter was regarding the reimbursement of the funds utilized in the diversion wall project. Congressman McKinley was very supportive of the project and the efforts made to protect the Civil War Historical Landmarks.
Last order of business mentioned was regarding the PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) payment. There is a record payment to be dispersed in the amount of over five hundred and fifty million dollars. The Commissioners went into executive session at 4:43 p.m., in which no decisions were made and the meeting was adjourned. The next county commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 8 at 9 a.m. in the old courthouse court room.
