By Stephen Smoot
Not long ago, Pendleton County officials came up with what they thought was a sure-fire marketing slogan.
Generation X especially for a time would announce approval of all things good by saying “that rocks!” The idea was to combine the Pendleton name, the fun behind the slang, and the area’s most famous features, the many great rock formations around the region.
Many, unfortunately, misunderstood and thought an attempt was afoot to rename Seneca Rocks after the county. Among those who got confused, many expressed strong emotions about any idea of renaming the famous landmark.
Last week, the Pendleton County Commission offered up its response to the proposed resolution to change the name of Spruce Knob to Trump Mountain.
Commissioner Roger Dahmer opened the meeting with the customary invocation, stating that “We pray for our leaders in Washington We pray for our leaders in the state.”
Later in the meeting, Dahmer read aloud the letter signed by the commissioners to be sent to Delegate Elias Coop-Gonzalez. Coop-Gonzalez served as a lead sponsor of the resolution.
A resolution is not a bill, but a statement of opinion. This resolution said that five years after the passing of President Donald Trump, the state should consider renaming the iconic peak.
Sentiment in Pendleton County, the Legislature, and across the state showed that most strenuously opposed the resolution and many who had originally signed on backed away immediately.
In the letter, commissioners wrote Coop-Gonzalez directly “to express our firm and unequivocal opposition” to the resolution “which you have sponsored.” The letter also called the proposal “deeply concerning.”
“Spruce Knob must be preserved under its rightful and longstanding name.”
Commissioners then shared two proposals of their own, as they wrote “in the spirit of constructive engagement” with Coop-Gonzalez, urging him to take a leadership role in two areas that could help.
First, they stated, “We encourage you to advocate for the restoration and improvement of the Spruce Knob Observation Tower.” Commissioners related that the tower formerly offered a “legendary 360-degree panoramic view,” but since its construction, trees have grown tall enough to serve as obstructions.
Several steps have been taken toward a new tower, including the sharing of design concepts.
Commissioners also requested of Coop-Gonzalez that he examine “the pressing need for a dedicated revenue stream to support Fire and EMS services.”
They concluded with “would you consider taking a leadership role in championing legislation that addresses these urgent matters?”
Commissioners addressed the letter to Coop-Gonzalez, but also sent it to State Senators Robbie Morris and Bill Hamilton, Delegate Bryan Ward, Senate President Randy Smith, Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, and those who co-sponsored the original resolution.
Morris, Hamilton, Smith, Hanshaw, and Ward were not part of the group supporting the resolution, but were included because they either also represent Pendleton County or serve in leadership roles.
In other county business, Karen Pitsenbarger, Pendleton County administrator, shared that crews will work on heating issues at the community building and drainage issues at the Clinton Hedrick Community Building in Riverton.
Next, Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County emergency services coordinator, said, “We’ve been trying to get something done on Allegheny Mountain for 40 years,” referring to the dangerous curves on US Route 33 on the eastern slope of the ridge. Gillespie praised new State Senator Robbie Morris for taking up the issue in committee with the new head of the department of transportation.
He also shared that the weather had repeatedly interfered with the installation of traffic cameras on Elk Mountain and that the project probably would not get done until after the conclusion of winter conditions.
After Gillespie spoke, the commissioners, with Carl Hevener, county commission president, abstaining due to a conflict of interest, accepted Kim Kline’s offer to fill an open seat on the board of health.
Jennifer Taylor-Ide came to the commission meeting to discuss the potential development of a wind farm on Jack Mountain. She shared that the State Senate had passed SB 439 out of committee. Taylor-Ide stated that the bill “rescinds tax incentives for industrial wind turbines.”
The bill is sponsored by Chris Rose (R-02 – Monongalia), Rupie Phillips (R-07 – Logan), and newly minted State Senator Darren Thorne (R-15 – Hampshire). Phillips comes from the heart of the southern coalfields while Thorne’s home county is currently embroiled in controversies over green energy developments on farmland.
Taylor-Ide stated that the point of the bill lay in making taxes on wind turbines higher. Commissioners shared an opinion that Trump’s ending of federal subsidies and other incentives for green energy might discourage the project.
Additionally, Thorne has also introduced a bill that, if passed, will return authority over certain economic development projects to county commissions.
