By Stephen Smoot
This is one budget shortfall that comes from good news, that crime is not paying in Pendleton County.
During the regular first Pendleton County Commission meeting for the month of July, Elise White, county clerk, stated that the magistrate court had been unable to collect enough in fines to cover basic needs, such as phone service and the cleaning bill.
The county will cover the shortfall since, as one official put it, the county would essentially write a check to itself to cover costs.
White explained that a significant source of revenue for the court in the past, fines for worthless checks, have dropped significantly over the past several years as writing them has fallen out of fashion. Other revenue producing fines for the court have not increased enough to cover the shortfall.
White also informed the commission that she had received a suggestion from the State Auditor’s office. They “flagged and questioned” the county’s issuance of 50 percent of hotel/motel taxes for emergency services. The rest goes to the Pendleton County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In 2015, the county commission passed a resolution that gave the funds to emergency services and has operated under that resolution ever since. The State Auditor’s office suggested that the commission pass an annual resolution every March to renew the mandate.
The county commission was not operating in violation of law, but was advised that passing the resolution yearly would serve as a better practice.
Carl Hevener, county commission president, suggested that the county government withhold giving the total customary support for the West Virginia University Extension Service. The county provides funding to help pay for two agents, but WVU has not filled the currently open agent position.
“If we don’t have two county agents, we’re not sending WVU the full amount until the position is filled.” Hevener said, then emphasized that he didn’t see why the county should give leeway to WVU on the issue, “if they can’t give Huggs 60 days for rehabilitation.”
The commissioner was referring to the controversial decision of WVU to fire former head basketball coach and Hall of Fame member Bobby Huggins after an alcohol related incident. The commissioners also briefly discussed the school’s declining support for agriculture education and its negative impact on the field and the community as a whole.
Rick Gillespie updated the county commission on potentially improving the parking situation at the North Fork Mountain trailhead on U.S. Route 33. He explained that the United States Forest Service “has a legitimate interest in doing something” about the cramped parking conditions there.
He added that the 911 center’s administrative phone system was installed and running well.
