By Stephen Smoot
As September turned to October, summer to fall, and drought into seemingly endless rain, the Pendleton County Commission held its first meeting in the 10th month of the year. Commissioner Roger Dahmer provided the invocation, in which he prayed “we thank You Lord and Praise You” and “we thank You Lord for the rain.”
The commission’s first official action of the meeting lay in passing a resolution honoring Pendleton County 4-H and the work done in support of them by the West Virginia University Extension Service.
Brooke Alt, one of Pendleton County WVU Extension’s agents, brought along with her four students with a passion for learning about and working in agriculture, McKenna Hedrick, Lydia Heavner, Phoebe Pownell and Ross Pownell.
Dahmer, who once served with the West Virginia office of the United States Department of Agriculture, read the proclamation to officially recognize National 4-H Week. It stated that 4-H is “leading efforts to solve problems in their communities,” and “helping young West Virginians to develop knowledge and learn life skills.”
Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County Emergency Services coordinator, came to the commission with a request to augment fire response infrastructure along a new water line. He stated emphatically that in the project under construction, drinking water service represents the top priority and that nothing should delay the Public Service District’s important work in getting customers access to public water as quickly as possible.
Gillespie then explained that in discussions with engineers working with Pendleton Public Service District, that with added funding, they had the capacity to install a single fire hydrant along the new water route.
Additionally, they told Gillespie that the best location for them to place one would be at the junction of Sandy Ridge Road and Moyers Gap Road. Gillespie noted that would be precisely the most effective location on the line to do so. He stated that engineers priced the addition of a hydrant at between $4,500 and $6,000.
“Water line extensions should always include some enhancement of fire protection,” Gillespie explained later.
Elise White, Pendleton County Clerk, informed the commission that it had $5,372 remaining in American Rescue Plan Act funds that it must either spend, or plan to spend, by Dec. 31.
The commission decided to allocate up to $6,000 to pay for the hydrant, using the ARPA money and getting any remaining, if needed, from the county budget.
Next, Gillespie praised the Pocahontas County Commission “as a great partner” in efforts to force reform of the National Radio Quiet Zone. Pocahontas County serves as the eighth to issue a resolution against the NRQZ with at least three more local governments possibly following suit.
The NRQZ mandates restrictions in Pendleton, Pocahontas, and Randolph counties in West Virginia, as well as multiple jurisdictions in Virginia. The actual Quiet Zone itself covers approximately one third of West Virginia and a large portion of Virginia, although most areas do not labor under the same restrictions seen in Pendleton County and nearby areas.
Representing the South Branch Valley Day Report Center before the commission was Darren Taylor. He shared information on grants received and applied for, as well as what costs they covered. Grants received helped to advance a staff position from part to full time, allowing for expanded service.
“We have close to 15 clients here,” said Taylor, who added that “some of them are coming from DHHR.”
The Day Report program’s mission, according to its website, “lies in revolves around altering the behavior of specific offenders by offering them personalized and evidence-based treatment programs, along with accountability measures.” These include classes in anger management, life skills, and other needs.
Grants applied for now could eventually find use in purchasing a vehicle to run between offices in Franklin and Moorefield. If enough funding comes, the center may add another staff person.
Mike Alt, training officer for Pendleton County Emergency Rescue, stated to the commission that they continue to work on preparations for a mental health class in November. He added that September brought out more calls for emergency service than July, which was extremely busy.
He added that “we’re still being aggressive with our sports program.” The Medical Time Out program teaches players and coaches proper responses to medical emergencies through trainings. Alt stated that the loss of a coach on the sideline to heart attack this fall only underscores the need for such trainings.
Toward the close of the meeting the commission learned that the county’s bill for sending offenders to the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail came to approximately $73,000. That represents a nearly 40 percent decline since fiscal year 2022 when Pendleton County was second only to Tucker as being the county with the lowest jail bill.
The regional jail bill for many counties represents their largest regular expense.