By Stephen Smoot
“Lord we pray that You help us to make the right decisions,” shared Roger Dahmer, Pendleton County commissioner, as he delivered the customary invocation prior to the second County Commission meeting of July.
Commissioners heard first from Pastor Carl Annable of Redeeming Grace Church in Brandywine. Accompanying him was a member of the congregation whom the church had helped through difficult times.
Annable came to share information about “West Virginia Goes Purple: the Hope Dealer Project.” He spoke of the individual who came with him, calling her “one of the beautiful people that the Lord has gifted us with.”
The Hope Dealer Project that he referred to is a Martinsburg-based advocacy organization. Its website states that it has been active in all 55 West Virginia counties “through our flagship initiative West Virginia Goes Purple, uniting communities in support of National Recovery Month and year-round advocacy.”
The website goes on to state that it specializes in detox, recovery, and sober living placement assistance.
“We support all those who have a heart for the broken,” stated Annable.
Pendleton County Commission president Carl Heavner replied, requesting that they send the proclamation to be signed during September.
Next, Karen Pitsenbarger, Pendleton County administrator, updated commissioners on courthouse annex progress. “As you can see,” she explained, “the bar joists are delivered . . . they are pretty much on schedule. We are not out of money, contrary to rumor.”
The commissioners then approved a series of draws totaling approximately $401,000 to pay for work.
Annie Humes, executive director of the Pendleton County Convention and Visitors Bureau, came to express gratitude to the commission. She thanked them for a letter of support to place an Almost Heaven swing near a scenic view in the county and said, “Your involvement means a lot.”
Humes also shared that a Mon Forest Towns initiative resulted in “beautiful drone photography” and other images gathered around Seneca Rocks and the Franklin areas. The Town of Franklin will administer footage in and near Franklin. Since Seneca Rocks has no municipal government, the Pendleton County Commission will retain authority over images around the iconic monument.
She then told the county commissioners that a previous communication had been in error, that they had requested three Mon Forest Town signs instead of just two.
Mike Alt, who owns and operates Shreve’s Country Store in Smoke Hole, as well as serves as training officer for Pendleton County Emergency Rescue, suggested that the West Virginia Route 28 and West Virginia Route 42 direct traffic to Smoke Hole via both methods of access instead of southbound on WV 28.
Humes agreed that would help tourists.
Commissioners then asked Alt if he had any updates on ambulance service and state EMS. He shared that the West Virginia Department of Health had not yet released its itemized budget, which would show if the legally-established EMS salary enhancement fund had money in it for disbursement.
Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County Emergency Services coordinator, explained that every county surrounding Pendleton now has a paid service. He warned that this area might lose personnel if they preferred to work in a paid, versus a volunteer, service.
“People don’t understand what you have to pay,” replied Alt, explaining that some regional services pay well and that could eventually be a price Pendleton County will also have to shoulder.
Gillespie concurred, saying, “We’re not immune to what’s happening nationwide.” He shared the opinion that paid fire and EMS was inevitable.
Elise White, Pendleton County clerk, received approval to receive a $10,227 grant for records digitization.
