By Stephen Smoot
The Pendleton County Commission last week held its second meeting of the month of May. Commissioner Roger Dahmer led the session with a prayer that said, “We thank You for all the blessings You’ve given us . . . In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”
Carl Hevener, Pendleton County Commission president, then suggested that the agenda of the meeting be rearranged to honor two social service organizations whose work supports those in the county who face challenges.
Dahmer first read a proclamation honoring Community Action’s 60 years of service across the nation. The proclamation discussed the organization’s “spirit of hope,” and its work in “creating opportunities for millions.” It also shared the mission of “building strong and resilient communities” while serving in “99 percent of all U. S. counties.”
The proclamation concluded by naming “the month of May as Community Action Month in Pendleton County.”
Next the commission honored MountainHeart Community Services, an organization that provides support and assistance to parents of young children, including early Head Start, child care, and assistance to children three and under experiencing some form of developmental delays.
The proclamation for MountainHeart was meant for “recognizing child care providers on this day.” It honors those, mostly owners or employees of locally owned small businesses, who labor to provide “a safe and nurturing place . . . for children.”
The “future depends on . . . the quality of early childhood experiences,” it concluded.
Edna Mullenax, Peggy Rittenhouse, and Rachel Loudermilk were on hand to represent the organizations thus honored.
Next, commissioners recognized Brooke Alt from West Virginia University Extension Service. She came to introduce newly hired extension agent Jessica Hoover. Hoover shared that “I’ve lived in Pendleton County all my life.” Hevener responded by saying “we’re glad to have you.”
The Pendleton County Health Department’s Amber Hedrick spoke next. She brought to the commission’s attention that the West Virginia State Legislature had recently changed state law. Instead of having a “one size fits all” approach to fee increases that would apply the same for each county, the State Legislature decided to give autonomy to each county to make such decisions on their own.
County health departments also must get county commissions to approve major decisions, such as fee increases. Hedrick explained that Pendleton and other counties had agreed to request permission from their commissions for the same percentage fee increase for certain permits – 25 percent. With aid from the State Legislature dwindling, the health departments rely on these fees to pay for essential services, such as food handling classes and environmental services.
Hevener noted that “they’ve given local governments less, but also given them more to take care of.”
At first, Hevener suggested that the commission run the request by April Mallow, county prosecutor, to get her legal opinion. Hedrick, however, said that “we’ve had fees for service since 2007” and that delay might push the issue past the deadline and force the county health board to revisit the subject.
“If there is no action taken in 30 days,” Hedrick explained, we’d have to start over.” No action from the commission renders the board action void.
With that explanation given, the commissioners voted to approve the action.
After Hedrick concluded, Amber Nesselrodt, executive director of the Pendleton County Convention and Visitors Bureau, shared the good news concerning the rise in county hotel/motel tax revenues. These numbers usually reflect the health of a local tourism economy.
Nesselrodt told commissioners that receipts for the first quarter of 2024 had increased by approximately 19 percent over 2023, reflecting a higher demand for county lodging from visitors.
Additionally, she came to seek approval for an appointment to the Mon Forest Towns Board. Sam Wood resigned as Mon Forest Towns alternate representative for Seneca Rocks. Nesselrodt received commission approval to appoint Melinda Brooks from Experience Learning as a replacement.
Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County emergency services coordinator, requested that the commissioners approve a memorandum of understanding that would permit the move from UHF to VHF. The MOU would lay the groundwork to do an application for funds to make that upgrade, which Gillespie called “a game changer” that could lead to significant improvements.
As the meeting came to a conclusion, commissioners signed a support letter for a Community Action grant application. Hevener also shared a note from the Circleville Volunteer Fire Department thanking the commission for support that “makes their job a little easier.”
Corrections for the LEPC article printed in the Pendleton Times two weeks ago are the road to the tower site was graveled, not paved, and also, the pad for the tower is complete, not the foundation.
