By Stephen Smoot
Prayers were answered last week. To open the Pendleton County Commission meeting, Roger Dahmer prayed for a “healing rain,” which came in force by the end of the week with the arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Debby.
Meanwhile, the commission conducted its regular business.
Karen Pitsenbarger, Pendleton County Administrator, reported that the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department had requested funding to purchase “a couple of industrial sized fans” for their bay. Extreme heat plus non-working fans made conditions difficult for the first responders.
Terry Hedrick, from FVFD, provided an estimate for the cost of replacement fans and explained that the department needed a certain type. The estimate came to $1,200, which the commission approved.
She then related that a concerned citizen had shared worries about the manhole covers near the community building and that Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s staff sought to schedule a conference call with the commission.
Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County Emergency Services Coordinator, called in from the site of the new Seneca Rocks tower. He reported that “we’re progressing on the tower. We have the drill on site. We hit extremely hard rock.” Though difficult, the work would not be halted by the presence of adverse subsurface conditions.
Gillespie then reported that he was “working with Motorola guys at the Seneca Rocks Volunteer Fire Department to install radios paid for by a grant.”
Janice Lantz, executive director of Pendleton County Senior and Family Services, came to the commission to “thank you all for continued support for the senior center.” She went on to say that “we haven’t gotten a funding increase in some time. Your all’s support means a lot.”
Lantz had questions about commission guidelines concerning an added $5,000 awarded by the elected body to senior services. Carl Hevener, Pendleton County Commission president, said that the commission wished that the funds directly support senior programs.
In the ensuing discussion, Lantz discussed the challenges of the budgeting process for the center and received clarification from the commission. Commissioners explained that they preferred to see the funds not spent on the physical facilities or salaries. Lantz queried to find out where the dividing line was between direct and indirect support of seniors and their programs.
Next, Annie Humes came to speak on behalf of the Pendleton County Convention and Visitors Bureau. She stated that the organization, due to the resignation of the executive director, was now undergoing a search for a replacement. Humes said, “I’m just here to ensure that there’s good communication” during the transition period and to “make sure the commission priorities are clear and understood.”
She added that “overall there is energy and positivity” in the organization and that “a level of transparency” is a priority.
The question arose as to whether or not the commission wanted a role in the hiring process. Hevener said that he was involved in the previous effort only due to the fact that the CVB had just split from the chamber of commerce and that he wanted to ensure fairness in the hiring process. Humes then said that she wanted to learn how the commission wished to be updated by the CVB and that she would go next to meet with the Town of Franklin to update the Council.
Next, commissioners heard from Gillespie that he had called Miss Utility to make sure that the placement areas for new signage at the Pendleton Community Building would not interfere with underground infrastructure.
“We’ve been cleared,” he noted.
The new signs will warn large trucks to not park overnight on the public parking lot. A short discussion with April Mallow in her role as county attorney confirmed that state code did not require an ordinance to enforce the warnings read on the signs. County governments have the right to make and enforce rules on their own property without a formal ordinance.
Commissioners then heard and passed a proclamation concerning the ongoing drought. It read that “a state of emergency has been declared by the County Commission of Pendleton County” concerning the officially declared D3 drought status.
It calls upon “public employees” to “exercise the utmost diligence of duties” and that “all citizens are called upon and directed to comply with necessary measures.”
Toward the end of the meeting, commissioners recognized Mike Alt and Tina Eye, representing Pendleton County Emergency Rescue. They came with a memorandum of understanding in hand concerning use of state aid.
Alt said, “I definitely want to thank the commission for their support” and shared that in a month’s time the unit had received 106 calls for EMS services with 98 requiring a response. Eye added “that’s the most we ever had in a month.”
They also “racked up 635 man hours last month alone,” said Alt.
Dahmer asked if the heat had contributed to the rise in calls. Alt replied, “It’s not categorized as such,” but many were heat related. He then discussed the significant improvement in response times
Gilespie said, “Everyone’s doing a great job.”
Finally, commissioners discussed a contract offer from Webb Law Firm concerning a planned lawsuit against an online prescription drug platform. Mallow explained her concerns about the contract with the commission. The firm requested both a 25 percent contingency fee and also coverage of expenses.
Mallow explained that most firms use the contingency fee to cover expenses and that allowing the firm carte blanche to cover expenses could rack up costs very quickly. Dahmer said, “This could add up to an awful lot of money.” Commissioners agreed to table discussion of the contract until they could gather more information as to whether Webb Law Firm’s request was customary in this instance.
