By Stephen Smoot
With dry and cool weather setting in, most days have started thus, but last week’s Pendleton County Commission meeting opened with a prayer from Roger Dahmer, commissioner, that stated, “We thank You for this beautiful morning.”
Commissioners then went directly to Brooke Alt. One of Pendleton County’s duo of West Virginia University Extension Agents, she came on this day for National 4-H Week.
That organization helps to develop agricultural appreciation and skills while training the next generation of young leaders. Dahmer read aloud the proclamation for the week, stating 4-H is “building a ready generation for a world of change” and that it is “the largest youth development organization in the nation” with six million strong.
One in five West Virginia children take part in this vital program.
Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County Emergency Services coordinator, informed the commission that the county “did receive a $100,000 grant for the sheriff’s radios.” The grant had originally been written for the cost of the devices, but price inflation in the meantime created a gap of $65,000 between funds received and funds needed. Opioid funds will be applied to the difference.
Dahmer stated that he had conducted research and found two places in state law that allow the funds to be directed toward this purpose.
He said that the radios will provide “a very positive aspect” in that “they have WiFi capability.” Pendleton County Sheriff’s Department cruisers have Starlink, so that “radios will work in places they have never worked before.”
He hopes to get the same capabilities into fire apparatus and ambulances.
Carl Hevener, commission president, stated that he wanted to thank Lantz crews on the courthouse annex for accommodating the requests of those conducting a nearby funeral recently. “The church was appreciative,” he said.
Hevener then recognized Annie Humes and asked if she had Penldeton County Convention and Visitors Bureau related information to share. She replied that the state broke $9 billion in the tourist economy last year for the first time ever and that “Pendleton County outpaces every county in the state” for tourism growth.
Jefferson County typically sits in the top spot with Kanawha County (and its many government related visitors) in second. Broken down by county, Pendleton ranks fifth in the state.
Humes added that in the near future, the CVB will work to expand Pendleton County appeal “beyond adventure tourism.”
Commissioners toward the end of the meeting took steps to initiate a $2.50 per month addition to the monthly fee supporting 911 operations in Pendleton County. It has remained unchanged since the 1990s, set originally at $2.50.
Just for the sake of comparison, last month, a Big Mac Value Meal at McDonalds ran at a special discount price of $8.00. In 1992 the menu item debuted at $2.99.
Gillespie noted that even the proposed $5.00 per month fee would not come close to covering the total cost of county 911 operations. He also informed the commission that “we don’t have anywhere near the number of landlines we once had.”
Commissioners elected to follow a template ordinance from Greenbrier County.
They also held the first reading for a proposed Pendleton County Planning Commission. This came in response to a grant funding opportunity through the West Virginia University Law Clinic and Mon Forest Towns.
The second reading and vote for or against passage will take place in the next regular meeting.
Elise White, county clerk, shared that insurance premiums for county employees’ Blue Cross Blue Shield plans will rise 8.26 percent, and stated that “we don’t really have a choice in insurance.” The county’s employee base is too small for many companies and PEIA is no longer an option.
