By Stephen Smoot
In an early September morning that felt more like two months down the road, the Pendleton County Commission held its opening session of the month. Roger Dahmer, commissioner, provided the opening prayer, which included, “We thank You for the beautiful morning and cooler temperatures.”
In the first order of business, commissioners approved minutes from the second regular meeting in August and also the special meeting concerning the purchase of the former Franklin Elementary School.
Discussions have taken place on and off in past years concerning the school. Most recently, Redeeming Grace purchased the building and used it as a combination church and private academy. County officials for years have speculated on its utility for government offices and other operations.
Carl Hevener, Pendleton County Commission president, shared that the county purchased the building for $475,000. He said, “It is not on borrowed money either,” but from a savings fund that the county keeps for important purchases.
Recent concerns over the rising bed of the South Branch River creating a worsening flood threat have plagued the minds of both local elected officials and emergency planners. The community building contains a number of county and state offices, as well as Franklin Volunteer Fire Department and the Franklin base of Pendleton County Emergency Rescue.
Though some offices will move right away, emergency services has no plans to move as of yet.
Hevener added “I want to thank you all for what you all did on the school project,” speaking to his fellow commissioners, Karen Pitsenbarger, county administrator, and Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County Emergency Services coordinator. Gillespie grinned and said, “Just like herding cats!”
Gillespie then presented the memorandum of understanding with the state on flood gauges for area streams. The county purchases the gauges, then the state installs and maintains them. Only if the gauges would change how they monitored streamflow would the county have to spend money on them.
He shared that one of the planned gauges for the Seneca Rocks area lay in a problematic connection zone to the cell tower. A $5,000 adjustment to the tower, he explained, would rectify the problem and establish a reliable connection. Since that is “the only unexpected expense so far,” Gillespie told the commissioners that his office’s budget could afford it.
Upon being queried, Pitsenbarger stated that work on the courthouse annex continues to stay on pace. “Everything’s going pretty much on schedule . . . minor things had to be worked out, but so far, so good.”
Next, Mike Alt provided an update from emergency medical services, saying that the consistently low-class numbers for volunteer services will soon reach a crisis point. He added that the County will soon have to make decisions on how to fund salary enhancement next year if the State fails to fulfill its obligations here.
Annie Humes and Jennifer Taylor-Ide joined the commission meeting as well. When asked if they wished to share a comment, they declined and said they were there to listen.
