[0:12] same president.
[0:17] » Okay, I have 10 o'clock. I will call the
Harrison County Commission meeting to
[0:22] order for August 5th, 2026.
If you will rise and join me in the
[0:27] Lord's Prayer and we'll have the pledge.
Please.
[0:34] » Our Father, who art in heaven, be thy
name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
[0:41] on earth as it is in heaven.
>> Give us this day our daily bread,
[0:45] » and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us,
[0:51] and lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. For thine is the
[0:56] kingdom, the power, and the glory
forever. Amen.
[1:02] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America, and to the
[1:07] republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[1:14] justice for all.
[1:26] Okay.
Number one, public comment. Laura, do
[1:31] you want to
>> I reminded everyone to make sure that
[1:34] you've signed up. If you choose to talk,
everyone has three minutes. You can now
[1:38] give your three minutes to somebody
else. I believe everyone has signed up.
[1:43] They would like to talk.
And I hope I can read everybody's
[1:48] handwriting or I pronounce your name
correctly. If I don't, it's no
[1:52] disrespect. Okay. And please, first we
have Virgil McNe.
[2:06] First, I want to thank the commission
for the opportunity to speak today, and
[2:10] I sincerely hope you'll take my comments
to heart. I'm speaking about the
[2:14] proposed Valley Link North transmission
lines and the community opposition to
[2:18] such. The proposed power line project
running from Putham County to Frederick,
[2:23] Maryland provides no benefit no benefit
to the citizens of Harrison County in
[2:28] particular or West Virginia in general.
It is obvious to anyone that has done
[2:33] even basic research that this is solely
for the benefit of data centers in
[2:37] Northern Virginia and Maryland.
The same minimal amount of research will
[2:42] reveal that the citizens of those states
don't want this either.
[2:46] Is with great interest that I read the
article in Tuesday's newspaper that
[2:49] interviewed two of our commissioners
regarding the matter at hand and that
[2:52] being the resolution opposing this
project in Harrison County. It was noted
[2:57] that the commission had not been
approached by the parties involved or
[3:00] given any details of the project or its
impact on Harrison County. That alone
[3:05] should indicate Valink's lack of concern
for our citizens concerns, among them
[3:10] health, property rights, and quality of
life.
[3:13] The article referred to the community
meeting held at South Harrison High
[3:16] School, but did little to report on the
level of opposition to this proposal. I
[3:21] personally witnessed the two two people
they interviewed, one being a teenager
[3:26] who claimed to be seeking more
information before reaching a decision
[3:30] that's hardly a representative
selection.
[3:33] I can state without hesitation that at
least 90 to 95% of those in attendance
[3:37] were strongly opposed and I truly feel
that's a conservative number. Without a
[3:43] doubt, the historic weather that evening
had quite a dampening effect on the
[3:46] turnout. Given favorable conditions, the
participation would have been
[3:49] significantly higher.
Every sole I witnessed voicing their
[3:54] concerns and opinions was adamantly
opposed. The subject matter experts hood
[3:59] up to represent the project were
woefully unprepared for any serious
[4:02] questions or concerns, putting on full
display the orchestrated charade we were
[4:06] being asked to participate in.
Quoting Commissioner Hinkle, we
[4:11] represent the whole county, not just two
or three people or businesses. Very
[4:14] true. There are a whole lot more than
two or three people's interest in
[4:18] represented here today. This is just the
tip of the iceberg as it were. the
[4:23] interest of several hundred citizens,
many who have jobs and are unable to
[4:26] attend this meeting are represented
today.
[4:31] To say that the practical effect of any
resolution would be limited is to
[4:34] concede defeat before beginning the
conflict. The best way to ensure defeat
[4:38] is to do nothing. I respectfully implore
the commissioners to live up to the
[4:42] concept of representative government and
adopt a resolution similar to your peers
[4:46] in upure, Lewis, Barber, etc. counties
opposing this misguided project. Thank
[4:52] you,
[4:55] » Steve Golf.
[5:06] I would like to ask the county
commission to oppose the Valley Link
[5:09] transmission line for the following
reasons.
[5:13] Its only purpose is to provide
electricity for data centers in Maryland
[5:17] and Virginia. We get none of it. But
construction costs will be paid for by
[5:23] increases in West Virginia electric
rates. Your electric bill, again, West
[5:28] Virginia resources are taken from us. We
pay for it, we get nothing.
[5:36] The footprint of this line will cut
through multi-generational
[5:40] family farms, orchards, degrading
everything that is beautiful, valuable,
[5:46] and unique about West Virginia. The
transmission line would threaten scenic
[5:52] historic battlefields and recreational
areas harming our tourism revenue.
[5:59] The construction
will cause vibrations from drilling,
[6:03] blasting, hammering required to anchor
tower foundations up to 30 ft deep. This
[6:09] may damage water wells. Roughly 5,455
acres of pristine forest, wildlife
[6:16] habitats, and agricultural lands will be
impacted, disrupting delicate water
[6:21] cycles, altering drainage patterns, and
fragmenting crucial wetlands.
[6:29] The heavy use of herbicides and rideways
risk toxic runoff into local water
[6:35] tables, orchards, wildlife, and our
backyards.
[6:39] The loss of money due to lower property
values is forever.
[6:46] Historical real estate data pub
published by organizations like the Wall
[6:52] Street Journal show that a power grid
expansion typically causes a 45% drop in
[6:58] raw land value,
lowering our quality of life. This means
[7:05] lower taxes for schools, county,
and we know the schools have been
[7:12] closing because we don't have enough
money the way it is. The high voltage
[7:16] lines have an almost fivefold increase
in the risk of chronic lymphatic
[7:22] leukemia and long-term exposure of
adults living within 1,640
[7:28] ft of a 110 to a 400 kilovolt
transmission line. Valley North is
[7:36] almost double that.
So, I ask that the county commission
[7:40] pass a resolution
opposing the valley link transmission
[7:44] line, send it to the public service
commission, and help protect the
[7:49] citizens of Harrison County so that we
don't lose our livelihoods, our farms
[7:53] that have been the families forever.
Thank you,
[7:58] » George.
[8:09] Hello, I'm George Shon. I've lived in
Harrison County my whole life. I'm here
[8:14] hopefully you will write PSC and a
letter of opposition, which I have a
[8:19] list of counties that have already done
that. Harrison County seems to be about
[8:22] the only one that hasn't. Um 20 counties
in this state are going to be affected
[8:26] out of the 55. Um, it's
uh
[8:33] I'm just winging this as you can tell,
but
[8:38] no, I'm not even reading anything. I'm
just holding this. Uh,
[8:44] it's this is going to ruin it people's
lives. I've lived in Harrison County my
[8:50] whole life. I've been where I'm at now
on my farm for 41 years. The line's
[8:54] coming right through my property.
proposed right over top of a Marcelus
[8:59] well.
Coming from these lines is a thing
[9:02] called an induced voltage. That means
electricity is spread through the air.
[9:08] If there's a gas leak on this pad that's
on my property, who knows what could
[9:13] happen. I don't know if anybody's ever
studied that, but I don't think it'd be
[9:16] very good. So, safety issue there.
Another thing, too, is most my wealth is
[9:22] my is my property. It's my the
inheritance for my children. It's being
[9:27] going to be stolen from me. That's how I
feel. Um you know hopefully the biggest
[9:34] thing too, one of the biggest things
supposed to be benefit the public. This
[9:39] is not benefiting the public at all.
It's only benefiting
[9:44] the data centers in Virginia and
Maryland. benefited Google, Facebook,
[9:51] and you know who Open AI, the list goes
on. You know who they are,
[9:57] which I'm not real fond of those people
to begin with. I don't even like AI. I
[10:02] don't even use AI. Never will. Uh my
opinion of it's the ruination of man.
[10:10] And these lines are the ruination of
West Virginia. It's going to ruin our
[10:15] tourism.
Uh,
[10:19] » okay.
>> It's just going to ruin thousands of
[10:22] people's lives. They're going to ruin
their value, property values are going
[10:26] to be ruined. Uh, it's ruining lives.
It's already ruined my life.
[10:32] I feel like my life's already been
ruined by this. And uh,
[10:38] I'm just not going to stand by and take
it. So, if anybody in here's from
[10:42] Valley, New York, I'm not going to stand
here and take it.
[10:45] All I have to say, I just hope that you
will go to the PSC
[10:49] and
voice your opposition to them because it
[10:54] doesn't benefit the public and that's
what they're here for is to benefit the
[10:57] public and they're not doing it.
>> Mike Fosnik.
[11:11] » Good morning. Um, I'm a lifetime
resident of Harrison County and I went
[11:18] to this meeting about this this electric
stuff and I was really just I I couldn't
[11:26] believe the they're supposed to be
experts and everything. So, you know,
[11:30] I've had heart problems, I've had a
stroke and everything. So, I went there
[11:35] and I asked them. I said, "Uh, how's
this affect my pacemaker defiill and all
[11:40] that?"
So they said, "You you'll be fine." And
[11:44] I says, 'Well, that's funny. I says,
'You know, my cardiologist in Cleveland
[11:48] Clinic and my primary care
said,"Absolutely not. You cannot be
[11:52] around that high voltage. Your your
equipment will malfunction."
[11:57] So then, you know, we got into
discussion about, you know, the kids and
[12:01] leukemia. And so they said, "Well,
that's a farce, too." I said, "Well,
[12:06] that's funny." I said the World Health
Organization states, you know, I can
[12:10] come up with as many research that, you
know, it it affects the kids. So, here,
[12:16] you know, they're wanting to put this
line, you know, I says, "Well, how close
[12:19] is this going to be to Watermith State
Park?" And, uh, I said, "Well, we don't
[12:24] know." And I go, "We know it's running
there somewhere. So, here we're going to
[12:29] have, you know, kids and other people's
going to be out there and trying to
[12:32] enjoy the uh environment and and nature
and stuff and and then you're going to
[12:38] have this constant hum that, you know,
uh my son-in-law, he's he's a medical
[12:44] doctor and when he was in medical
school, they took him down to where
[12:46] there's like a 100 uh kilovolt line and
he said that hum was just unbelievable.
[12:52] So, I hate to see what this 765
line's going to do. So, you know, I hope
[12:58] that you all oppose this. You know, I
asked them uh um about um
[13:05] all uh spraying and doing all this
stuff. And so I asked to see their
[13:10] material data sheets. They couldn't
produce any of that. They says, "We use
[13:14] about 30 to 40 chemicals and sometimes
we use helicopters and but we haven't
[13:19] done the uh the study to see what we'll
use." And they said, "But we stop 40
[13:26] feet before it runs into the water." I
said, "4t? Wow." I said, "The rain will
[13:32] carry it the rest of the way." So, I
know a lot of biologists and stuff. So,
[13:36] I wanted to take these material data
sheets on the chemicals they use. So, I
[13:39] wanted to see what they said.
And so, then I asked them about the uh
[13:44] the structures. They says, "Well, we
haven't done anything there yet neither.
[13:48] We have to do a geological study." Well,
that doesn't tell me anything. So then I
[13:54] asked him, I says,"Well, I read this
article about the uh metal roofs and
[13:59] electric and uh getting shocked. I don't
need no shocks." And uh they said,
[14:05] "Well, uh your house will probably have
to be grounded."
[14:10] I says, "Well, who's going to pay for
that?" They said, "That that would be up
[14:15] to the lander." Thank you,
>> Mariah Glass.
[14:29] Good morning.
I am asking for your voice of
[14:34] opposition. You are our voices. You can
be loud. I'm asking for that. Um, a lot
[14:41] of people don't realize that if it
doesn't cross your property, you are
[14:44] still affected andffected.
We are 50th in the nation for drinking
[14:50] water quality.
Drinking water is mostly for for the
[14:55] public. Specifically, let's talk about
Clarksburg is taken from the West Fork
[15:00] River. Every route in Lewis County,
every route proposed in Harrison County
[15:06] crosses the watershed of the West Fork
River. No matter which one they pick,
[15:11] the West Fork River and its tributaries
will be affected. It will be affected by
[15:16] the spray they use. and they will tell
you the sprays are safe. So is DDT.
[15:23] So was Roundup.
All of that will go into your water.
[15:27] There is no treatment for these
chemicals. These are known as forever
[15:31] chemicals. There are no EPA guidelines
for the forever chemicals that are now
[15:35] going to be put into your public water.
This also goes into the wells as runoff
[15:42] from the sprays.
The other thing that will happen, we
[15:45] have had historic flooding. When you put
200 foot rideways, which is twothirds of
[15:52] a football field, there is no more
decaying organic matter to trap that
[15:58] water.
The West Fork flows from south to north.
[16:03] These roots cross east to west that
dumps all the water into our watershed.
[16:10] and the flooding. I cannot even imagine
what can happen considering what just
[16:14] happened in Weston. It also was up here
as well.
[16:18] Please use your voice to block these
lines. Thank you,
[16:24] Sharon Glass.
[16:38] Good morning. I've had the privilege of
talking to Mr. Treeost and um your name
[16:44] went out of my head, Susan,
uh on the phone and I just wanted to um
[16:50] thank you for taking us in and also to
ask that you voice our opposition to the
[16:55] Valley North transmission line. Um one
of the other speakers right before
[17:00] mentioned about the noise and with your
permission, I'd like to share with you
[17:05] what this noise is going to sound like.
Now I my home is near the interstate so
[17:12] I have constant interstate noise. So
when I heard this and realized that this
[17:18] line will cover up any interstate noise.
It is louder than a constant interstate
[17:25] and it goes 247 24 hours a day. It never
stops. So with your permission I'll just
[17:32] give you a short excerpt of of this
noise.
[17:42] Yep. I turned it on.
[18:12] There's 10 minutes of this. If anyone
would like to have a uh the link, I'll
[18:16] be glad to share it with you. You can't
take the 10 minutes. You just can't. So,
[18:20] I wanted to bring that to your
attention. And this is 765
[18:24] kilovolts of power running close to
homes, close to everything that we hold
[18:30] dear in West Virginia. The other thing I
wanted to mention was uh at the open
[18:35] house and on uh Valley North's uh
website, they are mentioning reliability
[18:41] and they are mentioning affordability.
Now, perhaps they didn't read what PGM's
[18:48] planning document said. PGM's planning
documents said that they are moving bulk
[18:55] electricity. It has nothing to do with
reliability or affordability for West
[19:00] Virginia. Nothing to do with that. So, I
wanted to bring that out. Uh we in West
[19:07] Virginia, we have plenty of electric. We
don't have any reliability issues that
[19:12] we are all good. So the other thing as
mentioned I agree with with the
[19:18] herbicides and our water and also um the
metal. Uh what we don't think about is
[19:25] in West Virginia a lot of our sheds, our
homes, our watering troughs, they're
[19:32] metal. When an animal goes to those and
they happen to be near these lines, the
[19:39] animals get shocked. They stop drinking.
Thank you,
[19:46] » Kim Rristen.
[19:57] Good morning, Commissioners Thomas and
Commissioner Hinkle. My name is Kim
[20:02] Rristen. My family has been in Harrison
County before it was Harrison County.
[20:07] We've been Our farm has been with our
family for over 200 years. continuous
[20:12] usage a little over 700 acres in
southern west uh Harrison County, West
[20:17] Virginia.
Farming for us has been a lifestyle
[20:20] choice. We haven't stayed here because
we had to. We stayed here because we
[20:25] chose to.
These power lines uh segment 360 or
[20:31] segment 355 will impact our property.
It will have an aesthetic. It will
[20:38] affect the peacefulness. quiet as you
just heard from the noise. Noise is a
[20:43] real concern.
And the distance of the rideaways, a 200
[20:48] foot swath rideway is over 2/3 of a
football field. And that is a permanent
[20:55] forever rideway. They will pay for it
once. They are putting up, they say 175
[21:02] foot to 200 foot towers. However, they
are not confined to that size nor that
[21:09] number. They're saying now six lines,
but I have checked with them and they
[21:13] can put up to any number of lines that
they would choose to put through.
[21:18] There is no economic benefit for
Harrison County. There is no economic
[21:23] benefit for my family. We will be paid
once or forever right away. There is no
[21:31] tax uh advantages for the county.
There's no electrical consumption that
[21:37] goes into West Virginia. This is simply
a way to get it from Ohio to Virginia or
[21:43] Maryland. I've understood it is for data
centers.
[21:47] Either the data centers need to go where
the electric is or they can build power
[21:52] plants in Virginia or Maryland and use
our natural gas which would have a
[21:56] positive effect to power them.
There are many other concerns including
[22:02] including induced voltage. Uh in my farm
magazines it says if I happen to be out
[22:08] trying to ted the hay in the summertime
which creates a lot of static particles
[22:13] in the air I can be shocked while I'm
working. Now they have assured me valley
[22:19] north that that will have no long-term
effects.
[22:22] I however do not care for the idea of
being shocked.
[22:30] As proposed,
this project allows a large corporation
[22:36] to once again move through West Virginia
without leaving us any positive effects
[22:42] and only living with the consequences.
I would strongly urge for the commission
[22:48] to pass a resolution against the Valley
North line. Thank you,
[22:56] » Bev Taylor.
[23:04] » Good morning. Uh, thanks for having us
here. Um, I agree with everyone that has
[23:11] been up here. Uh, and they've said
mostly of what I was going to say. Um,
[23:18] I want to just say, are we crazy? Would
we allow this?
[23:25] If you all have you looked up at what's
already in the sky, all the lines that's
[23:35] already there, and some of them are
loud. Now, Miss Klasco played the sound.
[23:43] It is loud.
You think the wildlife is going to stay
[23:48] around and listen
to these sounds? I don't think so.
[23:55] Um, like I said, most most everything um
that I was going to say was said, but
[24:02] these towers is big, almost as big as a
football field. You all been to a
[24:06] football field. Look how widespan this
is and the lines. And once they get this
[24:13] right away, they can do whatever they
please. They can put a water line
[24:17] through to maybe supply the data
centers. They can do whatever they want
[24:23] to. Plus, it'll be wider because they're
going to need roads to get all of their
[24:27] equipment.
Everything's going to be tore up even
[24:31] around the rideway.
Once we permit this, it's going to
[24:36] happen and they're going to do whatever
they want to.
[24:41] We personally have a small um hrea. Our
electric bill is already skyhigh.
[24:51] It don't it's not coming through my
place, but it's going to raise my power
[24:54] bill and it's going to raise all of our
power bills.
[24:59] I don't think we need more expenses.
Um
[25:06] the company says this is to provide
growth.
[25:12] We are declining in population.
We are aging.
[25:17] What's this going to benefit us?
[25:22] You know, everybody's going to leave.
And the ones that do come in to still,
[25:27] you know, see the sights and all, do you
think they're going to come in and see
[25:31] these huge lines stretched across and
humming? I I think not.
[25:39] This is a Virginia company invading West
Virginia. We're being evaded again. Are
[25:47] we extension cord for everyone? I don't
think so. We shouldn't be, but it seems
[25:53] like we're getting suckered into
everything.
[25:57] So, I want to ask the commission,
please, please
[26:02] help us.
Please, I oppose the Valley Link and the
[26:07] North Valley project.
And I'd like to present you with these
[26:11] pictures if I may to keep and give Mr.
Tree calls one to
[26:21] Mike, do you want to go ahead and
>> Does this mic work over here?
[26:25] » That's fine. Yeah.
[26:29] » Hello. First, I want to say uh thank you
for letting me come up and and uh talk
[26:33] with you. Um this power line is proposed
one of one of the directions supposed to
[26:41] go is going right over top of my
drinking water well. Um I am I'm nervous
[26:49] to uh say that the
for the quality of my drinking water
[26:54] that my family supplies on and where we
live we can't get city water. We depend
[26:59] solely on that well to to water to our
house. Also it cuts through several uh
[27:04] building property places future building
sites that we wanted to uh to pursue in
[27:10] the future but again that would all be
stopped because of this. Besides that,
[27:16] talking with my friends in oil and gas,
the noise level that she played um
[27:21] during that's the that's the normal
level. That's just the normal during
[27:27] during um if it's foggy or it's raining,
it can be as loud as a rock concert with
[27:33] loud arcs that sound like a lightning
storm. So my friends in oil and gas,
[27:38] it's like when it's whenever they're
around it and it's raining or foggy out,
[27:43] the the lightning strikes. Imagine being
around lightning strikes. Besides that,
[27:47] just everyday conversations. It's as
loud as what she played like a a really
[27:51] old vacuum cleaner you have to yell over
to uh to communicate.
[27:57] Uh imagine that 24 hours a day. I It
doesn't benefit us as as a county
[28:04] whatsoever. Um, and it's destroying
people's their views, their their
[28:10] health. I was looking up some of the the
health sightings. And this one here is
[28:14] from emfharmony.com
and it talks about their safe distance
[28:19] charge be around 700 feet away from it
because the studies that link magnetic
[28:25] field exposure to childhood cancer. We
don't need any more of that.
[28:30] Uh in addition research has found that
nonionizing radiation also presents in
[28:35] Wi-Fi devices and cell phones can cause
uh oxidative stress. It um can do ectric
[28:42] echrogen changes, cellular DNA damages,
sperm test damages, uh calcium overload
[28:49] and the effects of EMF right that you
would be getting from this are
[28:53] frequently and cumulative and
irreversible.
[28:56] Why in the world would we put something
through our county that's going to
[29:01] affect the health, the the beauty, the
wildlife, the water? Why would we do
[29:06] that? It doesn't benefit us whatsoever.
I thank you for your time.
[29:14] » Robert Stinger.
[29:22] » Hello. I'm a resident of southern
Harrison County. Most of these people I
[29:27] know or have met attending some of these
meetings.
[29:32] I'm just going to echo basically what
everybody else said. I am also a farmer,
[29:36] livestock farmer and a veterinarian.
Now, I've tried to do some research on
[29:41] it and there definitely are claims where
these high voltage lines are causing
[29:45] negative impacts on animals as well.
I don't know. It seems to be hard to get
[29:51] a straight answer out of the Valley Link
people at these open houses, but they
[29:56] talk about a 200 foot rideway. My
understanding is that there's an
[29:59] additional 100 ft or so on each side
where you can't have any buildings.
[30:04] Well, if that comes through your
property, it basically has rendered your
[30:08] entire property useless. So, as all
these people said, there's no benefit.
[30:13] It's easy to call them power lines, but
they're really transmission lines.
[30:17] There's no plans to have any power to
West Virginia. It's just going to the
[30:21] data centers. And you just have to look
at a cost benefit. As far as everybody
[30:26] here, we've all went to these meetings.
They've been able to provide no benefit
[30:31] or evidence of benefit to our county or
to the people.
[30:35] I I know they're just going through the
southern part of the county and I think
[30:38] there's some concern there. It's a lower
population, more rural part of the
[30:43] county. And we're here today to just
make sure that you listen to your
[30:47] constituents down in the southern part
of the county. We are dependent on
[30:51] agriculture. We are dependent on hunting
and for sure these lines are going to be
[30:56] negative to to all those attributes that
we hold dear.
[31:01] Thank you,
>> Dave Sutton.
[31:08] » Hi, my name is Dave Sutton. I live in
Stonewood. I'm recovering addict and I
[31:13] brought some um more information on my
Uber proposal that I've been advocating
[31:20] for and if you guys would take a look at
it and I see that you're getting ready
[31:26] to hire IT people.
So those they could implement this
[31:32] really really easily.
And you take some of that opioid money
[31:37] and use it for something be very
constructive
[31:42] and would help. Um and as you look at
that proposal, you'll see that it's
[31:48] going to save taxpayers money in the end
for a little bit of outlay.
[31:56] So, I hope you guys look at that and
consider it.
[32:01] And as far as this power line, I gotta
say this is just the high-tech version
[32:07] of what the coal companies did to this
state for how many years?
[32:13] You know, it's the same thing letting
it, you know, hopefully we're not going
[32:18] to let this play out again because we
see what the coal companies did. They
[32:24] made jobs, but also the taxpayers
again
[32:30] did the cleanups and
so it's make the liabilities public and
[32:38] the profits private just like the coal
companies. So I really hope you guys um
[32:45] stand up against all that. Stand up
against that all you can.
[32:50] It's all I got.
Patty Johnson.
[33:10] Thank you for having this meeting. I
appreciate the opportunity to say
[33:14] something. I am not directly um
I'm not this the line will not go
[33:20] through me. I'm on the northern end of
the ca the county. However, I my uncle
[33:26] purchased a piece of property um several
years ago. It's been many years ago and
[33:32] I had some experience with the high
tension lines that go through it went
[33:37] through his property. Um it was on the
upper end and I know that like she
[33:43] demonstrated with her recording there
was a lot of noise from that line. It
[33:49] was constant. Then along in the evening,
usually around four o'clock, the noise
[33:55] increased. I guess they were turning the
power up down at Harrison. I don't know.
[33:59] I mean, that I'm I'm not a person, but
he had a 200 foot right away through his
[34:03] property and it didn't really affect
him. We just bought it to run a couple
[34:08] of horses on. I mean, he was the one
that purchased it. But I can see no
[34:13] benefit whatsoever for anybody in this
room other than to lose their land,
[34:19] which no one wants to do that. Um,
I've had some experience with an
[34:26] instance where we were threatened with
eminent domain and it was kind of run
[34:31] through on the same thing. it was really
to support somebody else, but you know,
[34:36] they claimed it was for the benefit of
the community, which it wasn't, but um
[34:41] we couldn't fight them on it. I mean, we
didn't have the money to take them to
[34:44] court and fight them. Um, I just would
like to see the commission do the right
[34:51] thing and do what all of these other
counties, Upure, Lewis, Barber, all of
[34:55] these people are doing, which is to
present a resolution to oppose this
[35:02] because I'm so afraid that the PFC is
going to go ahead and um push it on
[35:08] through because I think there everybody
down there seems to be involved in the
[35:12] idea that this is a good thing. It is
not a good thing.
[35:16] And one of the things that I don't think
anybody's really brought up is the
[35:24] the destruction that it's going to bring
to the farms that it runs through. And
[35:28] that right away may be 200 ft, but
believe me, there are going to be in and
[35:33] out, in and out, and you're not going to
get anything out of you're not going to
[35:36] get any additional monies. You're just
going to have to live with the mess.
[35:42] Thank you.
[35:48] Tilman is the last name I believe.
>> I didn't realize that.
[35:53] » Thanks. Being last simply means
>> that was you
[35:56] » simply means I was the latest one to
arrive. But echo many of the comments
[36:00] that were presented here and thank you
for the opportunity to speak.
[36:05] I was real proud of our county and our
community because they appeared in mass
[36:09] at that Harrison County High School
thing. I saw Judge Medell there. He was
[36:14] not too happy with having 250 foot
towers. I saw cattle farmers. I saw Bob
[36:20] Suan and Davy Rrist and they were not
too happy. I saw Cara Elgo. Cara is the
[36:26] uh director of critical care at UHC
and um she was concerned about her
[36:32] elderly relatives. I also saw Jim
DeMarco. Jim is a is a internal medicine
[36:37] nephrologist board certified at UHC.
He's been there for 40 years. And he
[36:42] said in his medical school teaching, it
was an apparent fact that the EMF
[36:47] frequencies from these high voltage
lines had detrimental effects to health.
[36:52] My name is Mike Tilman. I'm I'm a
retired nurse. I'm also retired as a CEO
[36:57] of UHC. So at the hearing
I I wandered over to the health person
[37:02] who was talking about the health impacts
of this line and she very glibly said
[37:08] there's no causality between EMF
frequencies and poor health
[37:14] and and I did some research on that and
in a sense she's really right because to
[37:19] prove causality in the medical field you
have to have a significant sample you
[37:24] have to have randomized double blind
studies and you have to control for
[37:28] variables. So in order to prove
causality and damaging effects of EMF,
[37:33] you would have to take let's say let's
say a thousand babies, randomly assign
[37:39] 500 to live under EMF lines, 500 to live
outside of EMF lines, control for
[37:45] variables, and study them longitudinally
over 20 years. Now that's stretching it
[37:50] a little bit, but of course studies like
that can't be done. So there are no
[37:54] studies that demonstrate causality.
However, just a real casual review of
[38:00] the literature shows there's real
potential damages to these EMS
[38:04] frequencies which are caused by these
lines. I'm not going to read them to
[38:08] you. I'm not a subject matter expert,
but I will give you this handout which
[38:13] which demonstrates some of the some of
the dangers of electromagnetic
[38:18] frequency.
So, like everyone else here, we hope
[38:22] that you listen to the residents of
southern Harrison County and we also
[38:26] hope that the public service commission
listens to all the county commissions,
[38:30] realizing that perhaps you won't listen
to us and we realize that perhaps the
[38:34] public service commission will listen to
you, but we certainly hope that you take
[38:38] a stand against these lines. Thank you.
[38:43] If I could approach and give you a snip.
[39:05] Is there anyone on Zoom that wishes to
speak publicly?
[39:10] Anyone
on Zoom wish to speak publicly?
[39:16] Okay, hearing none, we will move to the
1005 nuisance property. Chad and Roberta
[39:24] Barnhart, case 25001.
[39:30] » Good morning. Um, I have Chad and Robera
Barnhart. Um I we have talked to Chad
[39:36] Barnhart and he has obvious they went
through a divorce. Chad has signed over
[39:42] all his rights to Roberta for this
property. Um we have the deed. He gave
[39:49] he brought us the deed yesterday and we
heard from his attorney as well.
[39:55] Um, so it remains in Roberta's hands to
either she needs to get this fixed or
[40:03] demolished.
[40:06] » Is Roberta here. Okay.
>> I'm in the process of selling the
[40:11] property. I was waiting on the deed. As
soon as I get it deeded, I'm switching
[40:15] it right over to um Christina Jones and
they are willing to fix the property.
[40:26] She said if we can give her two or three
weeks, they'll get the grass cut and
[40:31] start working on the property.
[40:45] » I do. Has it been reported?
[40:50] » It has not. Not yet.
Once I get the original deed, once it's
[40:55] recorded and everything, then I'm just
going to deed it right on over to
[40:58] Christina Jones.
[41:05] Commissioners, this deed was done on the
fourth day of August of this year, and
[41:10] we do have a copy of their divorce
decree um Chad has turned in.
[41:35] You see something?
[42:07] Just wait and see what happens.
[42:19] Can you verify what she said?
[42:29] Did leave it.
[43:05] This is
[44:13] It's not two weeks.
[44:32] Just
give them
[44:42] energy.
[44:53] What was
[45:06] » make a motion to give you two weeks to
get D5
[45:12] » and 30 days for remediation.
>> Okay.
[45:17] So I once I get the deed
>> give you two weeks to get the deed filed
[45:22] 30 days for remediation. If not then we
will continue
[45:27] our next steps.
>> All right that sounds
[45:30] » you make sure that it gets recorded or
do you want her to bring a copy of the
[45:34] recorded deed or how do you bring copy
to planning? What is the recorded deed?
[45:38] » Okay.
>> Okay. Okay. The motion is within two
[45:44] weeks that
>> be recorded
[45:48] » the deed that Robera get the deed
recorded and a copy come to the planning
[45:53] department
>> and then 30 after 30 days of that then
[45:57] we will
remediate correct
[46:00] » yes
>> is there any further any discussion
[46:05] hearing none all in favor signify by
saying I I any opposed hearing none
[46:10] motion carried
[46:14] Okay. 1010 nuisance property, Black
Rockck Enterprises
[46:20] properties in Jarvisville.
>> Um,
[46:24] Michael Benedom. This property belongs
to Michael Benedom. He called me the
[46:28] other day. He's has been out of town.
Um, and he is not able to come today,
[46:36] but he said he will take care of this
within two weeks.
[46:40] and he is also a client of uh Mr.
Simmons and he said he also told him
[46:46] that as well
[46:52] » and by taking care of it
>> de demoing it taking it down.
[46:59] » How long have you been going over this?
>> A good while. This one ready to go to
[47:09] » Yes.
Motion 30 days to have building and the
[47:14] property cleaned up and removed if not
turn it over to leave it 30 days.
[47:22] » Okay. The motion is to give them 30 days
to clean up the property, get it down,
[47:28] and if not then we will turn it over to
legal. Correct.
[47:32] » Yes, ma'am.
>> Okay. Any discussion?
[47:36] Hearing none. All in favor signify by
saying I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none.
[47:41] Motion carried.
Okay. 10:15. Proclamation. Harrison
[47:47] County goes purple for September 2026.
Do we have We have the proclamation.
[48:02] I mean,
[48:05] you come on. Okay.
[48:24] We're at National Recovery Month is
observed September to increase awareness
[48:28] and understanding of mental health and
substance use disorders and to celebrate
[48:34] those in recovery with their strength
and resilience. And whereas the color
[48:39] purple symbolizes the ongoing trouble
faced by individuals, health care
[48:44] providers have been addressing opioids
and substance use crisis across our
[48:50] communities. And whereas West Virginia
goes purple, founded by Terra PC,
[48:55] founder and executive director of the
hope project, is a statewide movement
[49:01] dedicated to raising awareness, reducing
stigma, and supporting individuals and
[49:06] families. ed by substance use disorder.
And whereas Harrison County goes most
[49:13] frequent and recovery resources while
emphasizing the vital role local
[49:17] agencies and community members play in
addressing this public health crisis.
[49:22] And whereas Harrison County goes purple
encourages open dialogue, community
[49:26] engagement, and collective action
substance misuse and sub and support.
[49:33] And now therefore, be it resolved that
the Harrison County Commission is hereby
[49:38] in the month of September 2026.
Be the Harrison County show. Be it
[49:44] further resolved. We the Harrison County
Commission in the state of West Virginia
[49:48] call upon the citizens to observe this
month through awareness, education and
[49:53] community engagement by wearing purple,
lighting homes and businesses with
[49:58] purple lights displaying purple ribbons
or signage and participating in recovery
[50:03] focus events and passed by the county
commission of Harrison County, West
[50:09] Virginia this day of August 26.
[50:21] So my name is I grew up here West
Virginia 35 years old Indian graduated
[50:27] 2009 Bridgeport went to college and
everything and how my life
[50:33] kind of stop being emotional but I of
course you know did not have a good
[50:37] support system and I turned to my kne
was the supply and I has lost hundreds
[50:45] of countless friends, family members,
everything due to the opioid epidemic
[50:49] and substance use disorder. So there's a
lot of stigma behind it. Hands down. You
[50:53] see the people out in the streets, you
know, they're worthless. They're bombs.
[50:56] They're junkies. That's daughter, that's
a son, that's a mother, I'm a mom, I'm a
[51:01] wife, my name's Sarah, I'm not any of
those things. I have a wife. And you
[51:06] know, I finally chose to fight for my
family and for a better understanding
[51:10] because those words, they do affect
people. We do believe everything the
[51:16] community calls us that we feel like
we're not worthy of it. Okay. And one
[51:20] act of kindness, helping somebody,
making sure there's resources out there,
[51:25] you know, there is a housing crisis in
this in this county. Sadly, there's very
[51:29] minimal resources out there to help
children that do, you know, have broken
[51:33] homes, everything and spews white. So
with that being said, I mean, you know,
[51:39] I can't use trauma for my choices and
actions, but addiction is a very bad
[51:45] disease. It really is. I mean, I did
things that I never thought in a million
[51:48] years I would do. I had a home. I had a
good education. You know, I was supposed
[51:53] to be, you know, one that got my first
college degree in my family. Sadly, the
[51:58] wife decided that there was another I
had to be humbled because I was very
[52:02] naive. It is very good to educate your
children, your nieces, your nephews, one
[52:07] substance use. It's very easy to say
just don't do it. I took their classes.
[52:12] I've listened to all the rhetoric and
it's it's not a reality anymore in the
[52:16] supply. It is dangerous. It's not
heroin. It's fentanyl. In that folks
[52:21] tranquilizer, which is causing overdose
not to be able to be reversed anymore
[52:26] because it's not. So just educate your
family and everything. Just have
[52:30] kindness, please. That's all I ask for.
Because now I have a career. I work for
[52:34] a multi-billion dollar corporation. I am
an outreach worker. I help people in the
[52:39] judicial system. Find an alter of jail.
That's very quick to say just lock them
[52:45] up and not even think twice of it. You
know that can save revenue and
[52:50] everything. And we do have fun that can
help with resources to make sure people
[52:54] have food maybe get a bed in recovery
open up more recovery centers because
[52:59] I'm loud and I'm proud. I'm not ashamed
of my pal whatsoever. It's got me where
[53:03] I'm at. I've got my children back. I
never read enough outreach and you know
[53:08] I love it here. I came back to this
county because I want to fight my
[53:12] people. You all deserve that. You
deserve a second chance. Thank you.
[53:39] and money. We have a special funding
request from the West Virginia Italian
[53:44] Heritage Festival requesting $5,000 for
their festival that takes place in
[53:49] Clarksburg on September 4th through
September 6th.
[53:53] » Good morning. Thank you for allowing me
to come before you today. My name is
[53:57] Ouij Vargo. I have been in some capacity
with the West Virginia Italian Heritage
[54:02] Festival for the entire 47 years. So I
have had the privilege of seeing the
[54:07] great collaboration that exists between
the festival and the county commission.
[54:14] um without the county commission
support, whether it is financial or
[54:18] whether it is just a collaborative
effect as we put our stage up as we get
[54:22] ready to bring the festival to the
streets. Uh the county commission has
[54:27] always worked beautifully with us to
help us bring this festival to pu
[54:31] fruition every year with a budget of
just a little under $450,000.
[54:38] close to a half a million dollars is the
festival budget in what we do throughout
[54:44] the entire year to produce for 47 years
now this fabulous festival. So, humbly
[54:51] we request and respectfully we request a
$5,000 contribution from the um county
[54:58] commission this year to help put towards
another successful year. We know that we
[55:03] bring a lot of foot traffic moving up
into the weekend of the festival and
[55:08] throughout the festival. And that foot
traffic, of course, those people sleep
[55:12] in our hotels, they eat in our
restaurants, they visit our retail
[55:16] shops, and they spend money while
they're here at the festival and with
[55:20] things throughout the county. So, we
respectfully ask for a $5,000 grant from
[55:26] the commission. Thank you very much.
>> You're welcome. Thank you.
[55:31] Move to approve $5,000 for West Virginia
Heritage Festival.
[55:36] » Motion to
uh award the $5,000 request from the uh
[55:41] award the $5,000 request to the West
Virginia Italian Heritage Festival. Is
[55:46] there any discussion? Hearing none. All
in favor signify by saying I. I. Any
[55:51] opposed? Hearing none. Motion carries.
[55:56] Okay. 1025 special funding request from
John'stown Community Educational
[56:01] Outreach Service requesting $3,000
through annual John'stown Fair that
[56:06] takes place on September 11th through
September 12th.
[56:09] » Uh I'm not a COS member, just uh it just
sent me down to speak. Uh good morning
[56:15] and my name is John Chapman from the big
city of Johnstown and this is our 72nd
[56:21] community fair and you all have been
gracious to help us and we're asking
[56:25] again this year for $3,000 to keep us
going. All the basically all the money
[56:30] goes to keep the community building
in business and we'd appreciate any any
[56:35] that you give us and hope to see you all
there. Thank you.
[56:48] Motion to approve $3,000 request
for the annual John'stown fair.
[56:55] » Motion to approve the $3,000 for the
annual John'stown fair. Is there any
[57:00] discussion? Hearing none. All in favor
signify by saying I. I. Any opposed?
[57:06] Hearing none. Motion carried.
[57:15] How did I think it wasn't past 10:30?
>> Um, so at 10:30 we have a special
[57:21] funding request from the town of Lost
Creek requesting $24,450
[57:26] for a drainage project.
>> Good morning, commissioners. My name is
[57:30] Richard Gaines. I'm an engineer with
Stantech Consulting Services. I'm here
[57:35] on behalf of uh town of Lost Creek.
Dear uh Mayor Dave Volivario sends his
[57:42] regards. He was unable to attend today.
I'm sure you're aware that we have a
[57:47] drainage project going forth in in Lost
Creek. We were here about a month ago,
[57:51] two months ago getting a an easement
through the rail trail. At that time, we
[57:56] told you we were bidding the project.
The project was bid. project uh did come
[58:00] in over budget and with some
modifications, some changes, deletions,
[58:09] we were able to get the project within
budget and we uh on July 27th issued uh
[58:18] notice to proceed with a contractor BC
Allen.
[58:22] Um,
but one of the things that we had to cut
[58:27] from the project was a uh replacement of
a 4-in asbestous cement uh water line
[58:35] that's owned by Greater Harrison.
Uh when we started the project, we sent
[58:42] uh something out to all utilities to
say, "We're going to be tearing up the
[58:46] asphalt. We're going to have impact in
the whole area. Please look at your
[58:51] utilities and determine if you need to
replace them because we don't want to do
[58:57] all these improvements and come up with
a project and then find out that you
[59:01] need to replace a line and then tear up
all the new asphalt and the investment
[59:05] that's put in. Um,
Hope Gas immediately came replaced the
[59:14] water line or their gas line in the
roadway. That's been completed for a
[59:18] little over a year.
The other lines that were in the road
[59:22] were owned by Greater Harrison. The
sewer line they felt like was no
[59:27] problem. It's deep enough, no problems
to deal with, but they were concerned
[59:31] about the water line. said they did not
have budget to replace it at the time.
[59:38] So the suggestion was Lost Creek,
myself, we designed the replacement of
[59:44] the water line, bid that and decided to
make it a deductive alternate.
[59:52] Unfortunately, it was one of the items
we had to deduct from the project.
[59:56] The price uh for that was $33,360
[1:00:04] was the bid for replacement of that
water line for 540 ft.
[1:00:10] So what we did is we went back to the
contractor. We've talked with Greater
[1:00:16] Harrison. I went to the board meeting
last this past month and presented to
[1:00:22] them our wishes to have that water line
replaced. Basically, I was told we don't
[1:00:28] have the funds. Um, and basically they
felt like it was the town's problem to
[1:00:34] deal with and so the suggestion was to
come to the county commission. the
[1:00:39] greater Harrison is a subdivision of the
county and uh they they get their funds
[1:00:45] from there. But basically what we've
done is we've gone back to the uh
[1:00:51] contractor. We've coordinated with
Greater Harrison
[1:00:56] and by doing some direct purchase of
materials
[1:01:01] uh Greater Harrison doing a little work
uh on their with their own labor taking
[1:01:07] out a fire hydrant and some things to
reduce our costs. We were able to get
[1:01:11] down to a need of $24,540
[1:01:16] to replace this water line. And um I
don't know if you all are familiar with
[1:01:22] asbestous cement pipe. It's was great
when it was put in because that was the
[1:01:27] best material at the time. It is fine
when it's in its current location and
[1:01:34] there's no work being done. We're
removing about a foot of material off
[1:01:38] the top of it. going to be putting down
new base material, new asphalt, which
[1:01:42] will have vibration,
and it it will very likely cause uh
[1:01:47] fractures in the pipe.
And
[1:01:52] so, our request is for that $24,540
to replace that water line. The one
[1:02:00] point I would say is, can we do the
project without replacement? And the
[1:02:05] answer is absolutely we can. But it
would be a travesty in my opinion to do
[1:02:12] all this work, put
800, $900,000 into a project just to
[1:02:19] come up with six months down the road
with leakage under the road and then
[1:02:23] tearing up all the new asphalt.
So I'm open for questions.
[1:02:31] You got remove fire hydrant
so that hydrant won't be replaced.
[1:02:37] » Yes, exactly. What? Right now there is a
existing fire hydrant on a 4-in water
[1:02:42] line
>> which is not allowed by the health
[1:02:45] department. And so um it it was never
allowed. I can't say never. Maybe when
[1:02:52] it was installed it could be. Now that
we are replacing the water line, even if
[1:02:56] it were with a 4 inch, um the w the fire
hydrant cannot be there. The fire hy
[1:03:02] fire department has asked for a new
connection so they can fill their trucks
[1:03:08] from the PS from the PSD and I don't
think they've gone anywhere with that
[1:03:12] yet. But that was just a suggestion from
the town council meeting last night.
[1:03:19] Now, one one point I didn't make there
is when we went to the greater Harrison
[1:03:24] uh meeting, they came back and said, "We
don't want to replace the 4-in line with
[1:03:32] 4 in. We want to replace it with a 6 in,
but the problem is it doesn't connect to
[1:03:36] a 6 inch on either end." So, they still
can't put a fire hydrant on that. So,
[1:03:40] they're wanting to upsize the pipe to 6
in. So you can see we've actually went
[1:03:46] down in price with going up in size of
the pipe
[1:03:52] just by the negotiations with the
contractor
[1:03:57] and Greater Harrison doesn't have any of
these
[1:04:02] gate valves or
that they can donate to the project.
[1:04:08] that is a part of this reduction in cost
is is a few items that they have in
[1:04:13] stock that they can provide.
They didn't want me to tout all that,
[1:04:19] but uh basically they're they're
providing some assistance
[1:04:23] and the result is this this difference.
[1:04:35] So basically, Greater Harrison is doing
nothing.
[1:04:40] » I'm taking
>> And that's not what I thought was going
[1:04:43] on,
>> right?
[1:04:45] » I thought they were ponying up.
>> Isn't that what you were told?
[1:04:51] » I I would have thought they'd have
stepped up. I'm I'm not very happy.
[1:04:56] » I mean, that's what I was under the
impression that they were going to put
[1:04:59] something in for this. Again, they they
are assisting, but they're not they're
[1:05:05] not able to come up with just additional
funds that that we
[1:05:08] » How are they assisting?
>> Well, one is a fire hydrant they are
[1:05:12] replacing or pulling out, which was an
$8,200
[1:05:16] cost. So, they're going to provide that
labor to remove that fire hydrant. And
[1:05:21] then they are also providing some
materials.
[1:05:24] » Okay, that's what I
>> some materials that they have available.
[1:05:27] Okay.
>> Do most of this work, Susan.
[1:05:32] » But I hate I mean I think I I would What
do I know? But after watching what we
[1:05:37] went through with Clarksburg, I would
agree 100% that when you got that open,
[1:05:42] we need to fix it,
>> right?
[1:05:45] » So, where are you at on awarding the
contract? The contract is awarded
[1:05:49] without the water line and the
contractor is planning to start next
[1:05:53] week on everything without the the water
line.
[1:05:59] » Well, if the water line gets replaced,
then he's the one going to do the all
[1:06:03] the the work. Harrison's going to come
in and
[1:06:08] » basically BC BC Allen will will put the
new line in and once the old line is
[1:06:16] dead, they'll pull Greater Harrison will
pull out the fire hydrant.
[1:06:19] » What are these reconnect services of
$7500?
[1:06:23] » Those are the connections that feed the
houses, the fire department, all the
[1:06:28] businesses down through uh Railroad
Street
[1:06:30] » and Greater Harrison's charge and
reconnect fees.
[1:06:34] No, no. Those are the contractor to to
disconnect the old line and put in a new
[1:06:41] line service line up to the meter.
[1:07:06] I'm trying to get a more defined answer.
I was under the impression that Greater
[1:07:09] Harrison was helping out. Um
>> Well, I guess they're supplying the
[1:07:15] » materials. Yeah.
>> Yeah. The only labor that they're
[1:07:17] providing is to take out the one fire
hydrant.
[1:07:32] because this is the third number I've
seen. So, and the last one I saw was a
[1:07:37] little bit cheaper than this.
>> That's I'm not sure where that one had
[1:07:42] come from.
>> I don't remember at this time either.
[1:07:46] I mean, I'm I'm not opposed to trying to
help out Lost Creek, but
[1:07:52] and I'm going to say it. I think Greater
Harrison could step up a little bit.
[1:07:57] » I'm not going to disagree. I mean, we
gave him a rate increase. You know, that
[1:08:02] we look to financials, they're not
running bare to bone.
[1:08:09] I I don't understand why they
>> So, you're telling me if this line fails
[1:08:14] and they're going to have to do all this
work anyway?
[1:08:17] » Well, it'll be what what I'm afraid of
is there's going to be a one problem
[1:08:22] area and it's going to be a patch. Then
there's going to be another problem area
[1:08:26] and it's going to be a patch and this
brand new asphalt's going to
[1:08:29] » 10 times to and when we could get it
done right now.
[1:08:31] » Yeah.
>> Hopefully
[1:08:33] not have to dig again.
>> Yeah. Somebody was here from greater
[1:08:38] Harris.
[1:08:50] So, what happens if we push this off two
weeks? How does that affect the project?
[1:08:56] » Uh, I mean, the contractor will be
starting next week. Uh, it probably
[1:09:01] would not be terrible to put off for two
weeks. I think they could still be able
[1:09:05] to move forward and get it completed.
Our our deal is trying to get everything
[1:09:09] done by the end of November before the
asphalt plants close.
[1:09:14] So, it's it's it's the uh they have it
shown to start construction next week on
[1:09:20] their schedule if they were to do it.
But again, if we push it for a couple
[1:09:24] weeks, I don't think it'd be the end of
the world.
[1:09:32] » Thanks.
Well, I mean, I don't want to hold up a
[1:09:35] project, but if you think it
>> Oh, I mean,
[1:09:40] I'm like David. I wish they were here,
but I don't know what I'd say to them if
[1:09:43] they were. But
>> well, be just looking at their
[1:09:46] financials. I mean,
this this benefits them
[1:09:53] and their their charge as far as I'm
concerned to supply water and
[1:10:02] I'm not a fan of
asbestous pipe.
[1:10:07] I can't understand how they're even
having this discussion why they're not
[1:10:10] in removing it and taking the
opportunity to put it in correctly.
[1:10:16] So that's my charge of it. That's going
to have to come and explain to me why
[1:10:20] they're not taking care of that issue
that we still have it in the system.
[1:10:26] So, if you can wait, I'd love to have
them sit here and explain to us.
[1:10:32] » We'll we'll make that work.
>> Okay.
[1:10:35] » She's trying to get a hold of Bill. I
think
[1:10:47] » you want to talk to him now or they
>> two weeks. I want to go through their
[1:10:50] financials.
>> Okay. Right.
[1:10:53] » Thank you. So, we will put this on the
next agenda.
[1:11:01] » Okay. 10:35. We have a special funding
request from Healthy Harrison seeking
[1:11:07] $100,000 strengthen their request for 1
million from the West Virginia FF for
[1:11:13] statewide expansion.
>> Thank you, commissioners. I certainly
[1:11:17] appreciate the opportunity to come and
speak today. I'd like to start by
[1:11:20] thanking um you guys for being the front
runners. So, you know, a couple I think
[1:11:25] it was last year we applied for $65,000
to fund uh a campaign that would drive
[1:11:33] awareness and attention to the
individual organizations that you funded
[1:11:38] as part of your opioid settlement funds.
Um we saw tremendous success. I provided
[1:11:44] those numbers to all of you as a result
of the total number of views to total
[1:11:50] number of full playthroughs. Um the
response was absolutely tremendous. Uh
[1:11:55] the videos were incredibly high quality
and we received not only qualitative
[1:12:00] data that supports our project but
qualitative data. Um and as a result of
[1:12:05] that uh you know request to the county
commission uh we were invited to explore
[1:12:11] West Virginia first funding. Um, so we
went through that process and what I'll
[1:12:16] tell you is that uh the the initial
meeting we had was with the West
[1:12:20] Virginia First Foundation staff uh
including their executive director and
[1:12:24] executive team. Um we shared with them
our success and our aspirations to
[1:12:31] expand into a more robust statewide uh
proposal that would cover the entire
[1:12:38] state.
um not only were they impressed, they
[1:12:42] really suggested that they had it in the
back of their mind to do something very
[1:12:47] similar and um one of the key questions
they asked us was could we garner the
[1:12:54] support of the county commission once
again. So I said certainly would explore
[1:12:58] that. They also wanted me to inquire um
from their board members whether or not
[1:13:05] uh the idea that we were proposing was
feasible. Um for which we we did pursue.
[1:13:11] We met with uh Jonath Jonathan Daer at
in Morgantown. Um obviously we have
[1:13:18] Luenzio on our board. We met with Doris
Stutler who serves on the board. Uh Dr.
[1:13:22] Christensen um and then another
individual. So, just to be crystal clear
[1:13:27] here, I am not I went I went to business
school. I have very little experience
[1:13:33] um with with the opioid epidemic. Um
little to none. But what I'll say is
[1:13:40] that as a businessman, I have surrounded
myself by professionals who know what
[1:13:45] they're doing both in the fields of the
opioid recovery and also in the um in
[1:13:51] the understanding of the campaigning and
and how important that is to save lives.
[1:13:56] Now, what does that mean to save lives?
What I can share with you is that uh
[1:14:02] Jacob's Ladder received $1 million from
the West Virginia First Foundation. And
[1:14:07] being from Harrison County, I'm sure
both of you have heard of Jacob's Well.
[1:14:11] So, I thought to myself, why did Jacob's
Well get um a million dollars in funding
[1:14:16] for this? Turns out it was Jacob's
ladder. So, as a layman, um recognizing
[1:14:21] the importance of doing these campaigns
to drive traffic to these life-saving
[1:14:27] organizations is not only critical, if
people are unaware of them and where to
[1:14:32] turn to, it puts us in a really tough
predicament. So why I'm here today is is
[1:14:37] to not only answer your questions, but
to propose an idea, a concept that not
[1:14:44] only is what the experts have considered
to be a very good idea, but also
[1:14:50] protects the county commission and the
tax dollars that you receive um or tax
[1:14:55] dollars you receive in protecting the
ideas that you support and also
[1:15:00] protecting the opioid funds that you've
received. And what I mean by that is we
[1:15:05] are asking for $100,000 from the
Harrison County Commission in order to
[1:15:10] pursue a $1 million
um grant from the West Virginia First
[1:15:14] Foundation. I've also received
commitments from West Virginia News of
[1:15:20] $100,000 and positively West Virginia
for $100,000 which would mean that we
[1:15:25] were taking a 30% match towards this $1
million uh dollar grant proposal. Now, I
[1:15:33] recognize and I've sat through several
meetings. That's a lot of money. That's
[1:15:36] a lot of money. I I recognize that maybe
two or three places have received more
[1:15:41] than $100,000, but it's in the few.
Correct. Okay. So, I I'm well aware that
[1:15:47] it's a lot of money, but what I would
say is that number one, I trust the
[1:15:51] experts. So, this will have to go
through the West Virginia Foundation.
[1:15:55] The board will have to approve this. And
what I'm asking you is contingency
[1:16:01] money. So you give us zero dollars if
the West Virginia First Foundation
[1:16:06] decides that this is a bad idea that
they don't want to pursue it. You're out
[1:16:10] of zero zero dollars. If they do do, if
they do pursue it and they do want to
[1:16:17] award us with the funding, then it's
it's made very clear that that the
[1:16:22] Harrison County Commission were the
innovators that were the front runners
[1:16:26] to support this idea for what becomes a
statewide expansion and and great idea.
[1:16:32] Um, so obviously I I've worked
diligently not only to come up with a
[1:16:36] good idea, but also a safe plan that
protects your funding so that if we do
[1:16:41] not receive the West Virginia First
funding, you take the $100,000 and
[1:16:45] allocate it towards anything of of your
suiting. What I I I will add an
[1:16:51] additional caveat because I don't
believe I included in the application.
[1:16:55] If it is your preference that the
$100,000 you would give to this project
[1:17:01] remains solely in Harrison County, we
can make that clear as part of the
[1:17:04] proposal as well. And so if you want us
to use part of our strategy to campaign
[1:17:10] the 100,000 you give solely for Harrison
County, we can certainly do that as part
[1:17:15] of our proposal. And not only do I think
it's a good idea, if I were in your
[1:17:19] seat, I would request that as well. So,
I'm I'm certainly willing to entertain
[1:17:23] any questions. Um, but but again, I just
want to make it clear. I recognize that
[1:17:28] this is a lot of money, but we have
every reason to believe that this could
[1:17:32] really have a strong impact regionally,
statewide, and give the proper credit
[1:17:37] due to the Harrison County Commission
for having been the the seed funders for
[1:17:42] us to do our initial campaign.
>> So, let me ask you this, General. Could
[1:17:47] we pledge the $100,000 to you
or do we you have to deposit $100,000?
[1:17:53] » No, I need a pledge.
Basically saying that contingent on the
[1:17:58] West Virginia First Foundation money,
we would be we would be willing to to
[1:18:03] give our portion if you if you receive
the award. If you don't, you're you're
[1:18:07] not on the hook for anything at all.
And so again, it's going through the
[1:18:13] experts. It insulates the money and
guarantees that you don't have to dish
[1:18:17] any funds out unless we're awarded with
grant.
[1:18:23] » Are we have any opioid funds left?
>> We don't have any opioid funds that
[1:18:29] would be able to use towards this.
There's opioid funds in the account, but
[1:18:32] it's still stuff that is being wait uh
we're waiting to pay out. So, it would
[1:18:36] have to come out of 026.
>> When's our next
[1:18:39] » Yeah, that's what
>> next allotment. When's our next aotment?
[1:18:44] Um, I don't know offh hand because they
never hit they didn't hit at the same
[1:18:49] time of the year, but I can find out.
[1:19:00] And again, that the pledge could be
contingent on the next round of funding
[1:19:03] coming in as well.
[1:19:08] My big concern is the one statement you
said that this would be used statewide.
[1:19:13] » Well, then he
>> and then and then I understand you
[1:19:15] narrow, but I don't know how you narrow
what you're doing so it's only for
[1:19:19] Harrison County.
>> Well, I could do it a number of ways and
[1:19:22] again I'm certainly willing to entertain
a series of options. Number option
[1:19:26] number one could be to replicate exactly
what we did in Harrison County for the
[1:19:31] 65,000. So it's essentially what we
would do is we would introduce 10
[1:19:37] additional videos and run a campaign
just in Harrison County. In our
[1:19:41] partnership with Interaction Media, they
can uh promote the videos just within
[1:19:47] the boundaries of of Harrison County.
They could do that through social media.
[1:19:50] Um I' I've worked with Meltwater
Midstreams, which manages uh social
[1:19:55] media campaigns. they have informed us
that 80% of the Harrison County
[1:19:59] population is on Facebook and so that's
really where we've targeted folks. So if
[1:20:04] you wanted it to stay within the
boundaries, we could do that um you know
[1:20:09] through a social media campaign that
would include billboards and other
[1:20:12] things of that nature.
>> And that's just for our with our money.
[1:20:15] That's correct. You're not going to use
the other money you statewide.
[1:20:18] » Excuse me.
>> The the foundation's money you would use
[1:20:21] statewide
>> which would also which would also be
[1:20:24] inclusive of Harrison County. So
>> right.
[1:20:26] » Yes. So if you envision drawing a state
a circle around the state that would be
[1:20:31] the West Virginia first funds, but in
the center of that obviously would be
[1:20:36] funding that would go towards Harrison
County. So the campaign would overlap.
[1:20:40] Um but obviously we would
>> but our money would go
[1:20:44] » That's correct.
>> Stay home.
[1:20:46] » Did you supply the county with a report
on the 65,000 and what you did and all
[1:20:51] you got? So you have that report? Um, I
believe Michelle has it with the opioid
[1:20:55] promoting uh paperwork. I don't have
>> Have you submitted a business plan for
[1:21:00] what you're asking for now? You know
what the money's going to be used for?
[1:21:04] » So, I have a business per Well, I I have
a
[1:21:08] I've not been asking.
>> You ask for a million dollars. What did
[1:21:11] you lay out then give you millions of
dollars? That's what I'm asking.
[1:21:14] » So, essentially,
>> yeah, that's a that's a fair question.
[1:21:18] And what I would say is um the the
application process is such that we
[1:21:24] can't apply and and suggest that we have
matching funds until we we've obtained
[1:21:30] those funds. And so they informed me
that so yes, we have a business plan, a
[1:21:35] business proposal. Um and that business
proposal includes
[1:21:40] uh the concept that we would receive
matching funds from uh Harrison County
[1:21:46] Commission.
>> So it breaks down how much is going out
[1:21:50] to hire
>> Yes.
[1:21:52] » outside people cost of
>> Yes.
[1:21:56] » you all and your overhead all that.
>> Yes.
[1:21:59] » Could we get a copy of that?
>> Sure. I mean not right now but happy to
[1:22:04] provide it.
[1:22:09] As far as the deadline goes, um it's a
it's a little bit tricky because I'm
[1:22:15] applying there's there's different
rounds of funding. So, similar to the
[1:22:19] more local level, there's rounds of
funding. We're not applying for rounds
[1:22:23] of funding. We're we're applying for
something called a direct funding
[1:22:26] request, which is outside the the
typical timeline. And so, their next
[1:22:31] meeting is in September. So, um, that's
why you're seeing my face today is
[1:22:36] because I'm trying to expedite the
process.
[1:22:39] But again, I just want to reassure you
that I'm more than happy to provide that
[1:22:42] information to you. I owe it to you. Um,
but this has to be vetted through the
[1:22:48] experts, the West Virginia First
Foundation. And so, if they see anything
[1:22:53] that doesn't look good, obviously
they'll just reject the entire proposal.
[1:22:58] » Well, these are the two experts here
that have to go through the same thing
[1:23:03] that they're doing.
>> Certainly. I I guess what makes it a
[1:23:06] little bit challenging is that to share
the entire proposal with you, which I'm
[1:23:10] more than happy to do. Um that is going
to be totally inclusive of what our plan
[1:23:15] is statewide, but more locally and again
you have the ability to earark however
[1:23:21] you want. So, if you said we're willing
to do it contingent on these variables,
[1:23:26] uh, which were really outlined in our
initial proposal for the 65,000, which
[1:23:31] was solely focused on Harrison County,
if you wanted to just replicate that,
[1:23:36] then it would safeguard the funding for
Harrison County to be used exactly the
[1:23:41] way and I I could provide more
deliverables.
[1:23:43] » How's it affect your asking for the
million dollars if we want our
[1:23:47] hundred,000 stay here? Because then it's
not part of your statewide program.
[1:23:51] Well, I mean, it's part of the state, so
I would argue that
[1:23:56] » you have you approached them that if we
give you this 100,000, we don't want it
[1:24:00] to be used for the statewide program.
>> In which case, I would say, okay, it's
[1:24:04] not going to work out. I I get what
you're saying, but you know, I can only
[1:24:07] play so much tennis with them regarding
back and forth of what if this, what if
[1:24:12] this. They're looking for we have these
commitments and we want to see this
[1:24:16] happen and if you could pull it off then
we'll consider it. Um so to go back for
[1:24:22] them and and and make that I think
they're going to push back and say look
[1:24:26] you're you're call they've already told
me I'm calling too much.
[1:24:35] » Susan I think we need to find out where
our next funding is.
[1:24:47] I'd like to revisit this after we get
the information from them and come to a
[1:24:52] conclusion on the next meeting.
>> Could you clarify the specific
[1:24:57] information that you're requesting how
the Harrison County portion would be
[1:25:01] used? Is that correct?
>> We're we're part of the state house.
[1:25:06] » Okay. Could you clarify the question?
I'm sorry. I just don't quite
[1:25:09] understand.
>> We give you 100,000. Yeah.
[1:25:12] » And we keep it strictly to to Harrison
County. How's that going to be handled?
[1:25:17] What's what what's what it's going to
cover? What we're going to get in return
[1:25:20] for $100,000.
>> Okay,
[1:25:24] that makes sense.
>> Let me come back in two weeks.
[1:25:26] » Okay.
>> Too bad.
[1:25:29] » And then we can figure out where we're
going to
[1:25:32] get the funds because before this
meeting's over, you're going to hear a
[1:25:35] lot of large more numbers to be in uh 1
of July.
[1:25:40] I mean, August, I guess we're just now
settling in and we got a lot of
[1:25:47] expenses.
>> I understand. But as far as the opioid
[1:25:50] funding goes, that is a
>> I agree and that's why I asked the
[1:25:54] opioid money's coming down the pipe
soon, then it makes a difference. If
[1:25:58] it's going to be another year out, it
makes it that makes a difference to us
[1:26:02] on what we can financially do.
>> I appreciate that. So, I appreciate your
[1:26:08] consideration. I'll send that to you uh
as soon as possible and um I'll see you
[1:26:14] back in two weeks. Do I have to formally
request to be on the agenda again?
[1:26:18] » No. Thank you guys.
>> Sure. He'll put him automatically on the
[1:26:22] agenda.
>> Yeah, I'll mark on this paperwork that
[1:26:25] tabled so to say. Um so I just confirmed
with Michelle that I was correct that we
[1:26:31] don't there's like no schedule set for
the opioid funds. We usually receive a
[1:26:35] letter a week or two before it's
deposited saying, "Hey, your next round
[1:26:39] is coming." We'll make every effort to
call the state and find out exactly when
[1:26:44] to try to track it down. We can do that
for sure.
[1:26:50] » Good job.
[1:26:54] » I mean, I like
>> Yeah.
[1:26:57] » Okay.
Now, we'll go to number two, consent
[1:27:01] agenda. What's the pleasure? Move to
approve consent agenda.
[1:27:05] » Motion to approve consent agenda. Any
discussion? Hearing none. All in favor
[1:27:10] signify by saying I.
>> I. Any opposed? None. Motion carries.
[1:27:16] Number three, payroll changes
A through N.
[1:27:23] What's the pleasure? How are
all this within our budget confine
[1:27:29] confines that we passed?
We're not going to have to make any
[1:27:34] adjustments.
>> No, we're not. I even double checked on
[1:27:37] the openings just on the past this
agenda and last agenda. There's a total
[1:27:41] of three spots. Um, so all this falls
within our budgetary.
[1:27:47] » So C falls in with what we were already
paying.
[1:27:50] » I'm sorry, say that again.
>> C falls in with what we were already
[1:27:53] paying. Yes.
[1:27:58] » Age the same.
>> Yes.
[1:28:08] » And the assessors
are all from Valon or they all from
[1:28:13] general
>> um they're all from Val, sir.
[1:28:24] questions.
[1:28:30] » The only question I have, Sheriff, does
this bring you up to
[1:28:34] Where does this bring you? I'm
>> for law enforcement division.
[1:28:41] We still have vacancies that we're
actively filling filling
[1:28:44] » because you know what I'm thinking
about.
[1:28:46] » Oh, yeah. Yeah. We're uh
>> And they are too. for sure. Um, so we've
[1:28:52] had resignations
um for better opportunities or bettering
[1:28:57] themselves in their opinion. Um, we have
existing vacancies for deputy sheriff.
[1:29:03] Uh,
and then with the resignations of
[1:29:07] sergeants, we've we've promoted
sergeants
[1:29:11] which created vacancies in the deputy
additional deputy. So,
[1:29:15] » how many are you short right now?
Um
[1:29:20] I think three or four.
>> Does that include the two that
[1:29:23] » rail trail or I don't think that
includes
[1:29:26] » you have a list yet or you have to tell
>> we have an existing list. Uh I think
[1:29:31] there's between five to seven that are
still on that current list.
[1:29:38] We just requested three additional
deputy sheriff's uh
[1:29:44] three additional candidates for the
deputy sheriff position from the civil
[1:29:47] service commission um to to begin that
background process and it's you know
[1:29:54] it's it's extensive so it takes a little
while but um good news is one of them is
[1:29:59] certified law enforcement the other
I'm sorry we just h we're looking to
[1:30:05] hire certified law enforcement and a uh
uncert certified. So, the one will have
[1:30:08] to go to the academy. Good news is that
um we have two probationary deputies
[1:30:15] that are graduating the state police
academy this this month. I think it's
[1:30:18] the 21st. So,
>> but they're not in that count, right?
[1:30:22] » They're not That's Yeah, they're not in
in that count. So, we're working on it.
[1:30:26] I know. I just I was just curious where
you were.
[1:30:28] » Good thing is we got a good list. So,
that's you know, it's a good I think a
[1:30:33] good thing.
>> Thank you.
[1:30:35] » Yes.
So I
[1:30:43] » move to approve payroll change notices A
through N.
[1:30:49] » Motion to approve payroll change notices
A through N. Is there any discussion?
[1:30:55] Hearing none. All in favor signify by
saying I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none.
[1:31:00] Motion carried.
Number four, we have minutes and or
[1:31:06] amended minutes of previous meetings A
through D. What's pleasure to approve
[1:31:12] minutes or amended minutes A through D
as presented?
[1:31:17] » Motion to approve minutes and or amended
minutes of previous meetings A through D
[1:31:22] as presented. Is there any discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor signify by
[1:31:27] saying I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none.
Motion carried. Number five,
[1:31:33] requisitions, purchase orders, invoices,
A, B, and C. What's the pleasure?
[1:31:42] » Anything we need to discuss?
>> Well, did we find receipts for the one
[1:31:47] Amazon requisition for it?
>> I believe they have come.
[1:31:52] » Can we find out?
>> Yes,
[1:31:58] » please. And thank you.
[1:32:06] was they turned to be a requisition with
nothing.
[1:32:08] » Uh my only comment is that I'd like to
see a better detail when something's
[1:32:13] being put on the rail trail as far as
location of where they're depositing
[1:32:21] and working.
>> Yes, sir. I've already talked to Annie
[1:32:24] about that. And the limestone sand was
used between Spelter and um North View
[1:32:30] area. Yes to the Amazon receipt. They
have found it just
[1:32:36] » Okay. But we need to do better in the
future.
[1:32:40] » Yes.
>> Okay. No, that's all I have.
[1:32:46] » Move to approve requisitions, purchase
orders, and invoices A, B, and C as
[1:32:53] presented.
>> Motion to approve requisition, purchase
[1:32:56] orders, and invoices A through C as
presented. Is there any further
[1:33:01] discussion hearing? None. All in favor
signify by saying I. I.
[1:33:05] » Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion
carried.
[1:33:12] First one.
>> Oh,
[1:33:18] doesn't take much.
>> No. Okay, we have six. Exonerations,
[1:33:23] corrective tickets, joint property
applications. We have all three, it
[1:33:28] looks like. Exoneration corrective
tickets and joint joint property.
[1:33:32] » That is correct.
>> Move to approve 6 A, B and C as
[1:33:36] presented.
>> Motion to approve 6 A, B and C as
[1:33:41] presented. Is there any discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor signify by
[1:33:46] saying I.
>> I.
[1:33:47] » I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion
carried. Number seven. Review discuss
[1:33:53] consider consideration of approval of a
project fund requisition for the payment
[1:33:57] of cost associated with the project to
be financed from proceeds of the series
[1:34:01] 2008A Charles Point project number two
Northland Bay for 6A $16,627.
[1:34:10] What's the pleasure?
[1:34:15] » You know where this one's going.
>> I know. I just thought of
[1:34:20] » 7 A for approval to approve 7A.
>> 7 A for approval. Motion. All in favor
[1:34:27] signify by saying I. I. Any opposed?
>> No.
[1:34:31] » Okay.
[1:34:35] Number eight. Review, discuss, consider
consideration of approval of a project
[1:34:39] fund requisition for the payment of cost
associated with the project to be
[1:34:43] financed from proceeds of the series
2019 A and B bonds issued for the
[1:34:47] Charles Point Economic Opportunity
Development District.
[1:34:51] We have one for $7,196.
[1:34:55] » Move to approve 8A.
>> Motion to approve 8A.
[1:35:01] Is there any discussion?
[1:35:06] Okay. All in favor signify by saying I.
I. Opposed.
[1:35:14] » Number nine. Review, discuss, consider
consideration of approval of a project
[1:35:18] fund requisition for the payment of cost
associated with the project to be
[1:35:23] financed from proceeds of the series
2021A and B development district number
[1:35:27] three, White Oaks project number two for
$250.
[1:35:32] What's the pleasure? Move to approve 9A.
>> Motion to approve 9A. All in favor
[1:35:37] signify by saying I.
>> I.
[1:35:39] » I. Any opposed?
>> Okay. Motion carried.
[1:35:43] » Number 10. Review, discuss, consider
contract for services with Total
[1:35:47] Assessments Solutions.
[1:35:53] » Madam President, Jerry Wisdom is on
Zoom. Should you have any questions for
[1:35:58] him?
I know Trey has looked at the contract.
[1:36:02] He had some comments. I did forward that
out over to Mr. Wisdom and also um we
[1:36:09] did receive an email from the assessor
yesterday since he is unable to be here
[1:36:13] today.
>> And have you had a chance to look at
[1:36:15] that?
[1:36:19] » Yes.
>> Okay. Where I mean
[1:36:24] I haven't been able to digest that
letter yet, but where is that going to
[1:36:29] lead? I mean,
are we going to be I don't know.
[1:36:35] Do we need to take a little more time to
review and consider what
[1:36:42] » he sent us yesterday?
[1:36:46] » Think the issue is
>> commissioners, he would like that to be
[1:36:50] put of record if at all possible. He he
wanted to be here for any information.
[1:36:54] and he's dropping his son for military
duty, but in the effort for assessing
[1:36:59] fairly and equally for all taxpayers, he
wanted to make sure that that
[1:37:04] information is just provided from the
other side of the issue because there
[1:37:08] are multiple sides of those aspects.
>> I had thought Mr. Wisdom, and he can
[1:37:13] correct me if I'm wrong, had spoken with
Mr. Free regarding this matter.
[1:37:19] » No.
>> Um, that's what I was kind of led to
[1:37:22] believe in. I know he talked he said he
had talked to Allan but I don't know
[1:37:26] maybe it was a completely different
subject when we all
[1:37:28] » he stopped he stopped in and spoke with
me when Allan wasn't there one day and
[1:37:33] um he nothing was decided he didn't
speak with the the assessor
[1:37:37] » because that's what I took that
>> that was why he yeah prepared this
[1:37:41] information for you all to make you know
your decision to help
[1:37:45] » I mean I thought Allan had already been
>> yeah involved in this
[1:37:50] » none of the
>> no there's just multiple aspect Okay.
[1:37:53] I'm not I don't want to I'm not here to
start trouble. I just want to make sure
[1:37:57] » I just want you all to Absolutely.
>> He was not involved in this
[1:38:00] » before.
>> Absolutely.
[1:38:06] » Yes. I haven't seen this letter dated
August 4th, 2026. I don't see why the
[1:38:11] commission would have any objection to
making it part of the record.
[1:38:14] can certainly take it into consideration
and look at the issues raised by the
[1:38:17] assessor in the August 4th, 2026
correspondence and report back. That's
[1:38:23] what the commission's directive is
today.
[1:38:26] » I mean, that's what I would like to see.
I don't know about my other
[1:38:30] commissioner, but
>> there was a date that they were worried
[1:38:35] about
and it had to be that he wanted to start
[1:38:40] before I think it had to do with the
next t next
[1:38:45] » he's probably looking at the 27 tax year
which would have already been passed
[1:38:50] with the July one date. So, it would be
a situation picking things up for a 28
[1:38:55] tax year at this point, but it's not
it's like I say dealt with in multiple
[1:39:00] counties at this point that we were
concerned about.
[1:39:07] » I just like would like us to look into
what Allan said here before we move.
[1:39:12] » Absolutely.
>> Absolutely.
[1:39:15] » Just as a precaution.
>> Yes. Well, I think it'd be nice if,
[1:39:19] pardon me, if Allan was here to talk
about this in a commission meeting. If
[1:39:24] y'all were going to go down the route
with TASC, I think that's critical.
[1:39:30] » I would concur.
>> As I said, he he wished to be here. He
[1:39:35] had to drop his son for military duties.
>> I did it. So, I get that.
[1:39:39] » If you can, however you would like to,
I'm sure he'd be happy to to speak on
[1:39:43] the matter.
[1:39:47] That could be lawsuits.
>> There already.
[1:39:50] » That's what um
>> there already are.
[1:39:51] » I know. I mean, I'm aware of that and
that's what I'd like to know more
[1:39:55] information from
>> that side of it.
[1:39:58] » Yes, absolutely.
>> That's just me speaking.
[1:40:02] » Yeah. And there also have been lawsuits
where for years the producers have
[1:40:07] challenged,
>> right?
[1:40:09] » How many years were we in lawsuits at
the Supreme Court level with them? So
[1:40:12] it's it's goose and gander rule in terms
of looking at that perspective of it.
[1:40:17] But I think Allan needs to be intimately
involved in the the review of this
[1:40:21] relationship
[1:40:25] » and I was
>> we agree I think it's dependent upon a
[1:40:29] lot the state tax department also has an
input on that and issues to where seems
[1:40:34] like there should be discussion between
many.
[1:40:39] We hear that as well. So, I would like
to see us table this until the next
[1:40:44] meeting.
[1:40:55] I can make that motion. I will make that
motion that we table 10 for the contract
[1:41:01] for services with total assessment
solutions until we can the assessor can
[1:41:06] be present to speak to this or
Um, I'm okay with tableing it, but I
[1:41:13] won't bring it back up in two weeks.
>> Well, that's what
[1:41:16] » I think we've given our bailout.
>> I was already just to get this letter
[1:41:21] last night.
>> Well, that's
[1:41:24] » this I felt was a a bomb or whatever
attempted was dropped on us. Uh, this
[1:41:30] could have been given us to us weeks ago
so we could had discussions so that we
[1:41:35] didn't end up in this situation today.
So, I'm not I'm not real happy I
[1:41:39] received this letter last minute the way
it came in.
[1:41:43] » Understood.
>> Especially when we're sitting here
[1:41:45] trying to decide a contract to try to
maybe increase tax base of the county
[1:41:50] and increase tax dollars collected to
receive this letter the night before.
[1:41:55] That was
that was just
[1:41:58] » and I don't disagree with that either.
>> That was just
[1:42:02] » I mean the agenda I mean if you didn't
know about agenda it has been out.
[1:42:06] So, just to receive that is the way it
was. But I'm okay, Susan.
[1:42:11] » Okay.
>> Putting it back on the agenda in two
[1:42:14] weeks.
>> Okay.
[1:42:15] » And
uh at that point, everybody now has
[1:42:21] noticed it's two weeks.
>> Yes.
[1:42:24] » Well, come talk to us. Come talk to us.
But or talk to us in the in between time
[1:42:30] and Trey, you'll take a look at these.
But other counties are doing it.
[1:42:36] They're being successful. So
>> there's Yeah, there is. There's three
[1:42:40] and two with with pending lawsuits. I
mean,
[1:42:43] » yes. To pay money that they don't think
they don't know, they're going to tell
[1:42:47] you take it. So I mean that's just
>> and just from doing oil and gas for 33
[1:42:52] years as I had for this county, I know
that this is impendent upon a situation
[1:42:56] where if the tax department is going to
have to make some sort of a decision, is
[1:43:00] it being assessed here? Is it not being
assessed here? That's I mean that's just
[1:43:04] a question that I don't know the answer
to you know but they do and that's to me
[1:43:09] it's dependent upon a number of I'd like
to hear their
[1:43:12] » side of this too.
>> Right. Right. So okay my motion was I
[1:43:16] don't even know if I said table to put
on next week.
[1:43:19] » You said table on
>> Okay. Then I will send my motion and put
[1:43:24] it just put it back on the agenda in two
weeks
[1:43:27] » and you'll let him know.
>> Absolutely.
[1:43:30] » Thank you. Number 11, review, discuss,
consider Harrison County IT Department
[1:43:36] potential executive session to consider
matters arising from the appointment,
[1:43:39] employment, retirement, production,
transfer, demotion, disciplining,
[1:43:43] resignation, discharge, dismissal, or
compensation of a public officer or
[1:43:48] employee or prospective public officer
or employee.
[1:43:56] » Motion to go into executive session.
>> Motion to go into executive session. All
[1:44:01] in favor signify by saying I
[1:44:07] » add that to the motion.
[1:44:16] Okay. Motion carried.
Number 12. Review, discuss, consider
[1:44:21] hiring two IT interns.
[1:44:26] » Move to approve hiring two interns.
Motion to approve firing two interns.
[1:44:34] Any discussion?
All in favor signify by saying I.
[1:44:39] » I.
>> Any opposed? Hear none. Motion carried.
[1:44:42] Review. Discuss. Consider employee
handbook.
[1:44:53] Move to approve.
Approving the employee personnel
[1:45:00] policies and procedures handbook for the
Harrison County Commission as presented.
[1:45:06] Motion to approve the Harrison County
handbook, employee handbook as
[1:45:13] presented. Is there any discussion? I
have just a few comments I would like to
[1:45:18] make. And
I hate it that I had to read I'm not I I
[1:45:25] wanted to read it, but I hated not to
know some stuff that was in there.
[1:45:31] Um especially everybody knows where I'm
at with changing the paydays.
[1:45:38] Um I have spoken with
several of the elected officials and
[1:45:44] they say they're okay with it. I'm still
concerned with the employees changing
[1:45:48] their paydays. Talked to Rachel. I
talked to the sheriff. Um I hope this
[1:45:53] works because I know I went through this
years ago and it wasn't pleasant.
[1:45:58] So, and there's a couple other things in
there that I won't bring up, but I'm not
[1:46:02] going to oppose it. Um I will vote to
pass it. I just hope it's it works.
[1:46:09] That's all. I just had to say something
about it. Well, just just to that Susan,
[1:46:13] it is a living document. It's not that
>> but now it can still cause heartburn in
[1:46:22] the meantime and then heartburn again if
we do something else.
[1:46:26] » No argument there, but it's it's a
living document. It's something that's
[1:46:29] always going to change. It's something
that we
[1:46:34] have avoided for
how many years now since last time we
[1:46:39] did it. I think it was done in 14
addendum to it in 16.
[1:46:44] » Yeah. So,
>> oh, I know it's long overdue, but just
[1:46:48] out of the blue. No, who who who
complained about the time the pay period
[1:46:52] the paydays? I don't know. I never heard
any complaints. So,
[1:46:57] » I just think it was bringing us up to
what is pretty much a standard. So,
[1:47:02] » but that's okay. So,
one comment because you're changing pay
[1:47:08] » and I hope it's legal because I meant to
check the code.
[1:47:11] » Well, I just want you all to make sure
you give the employees adequate notice
[1:47:15] before you make the first new pay under
the policy. So, when do you want to make
[1:47:20] the first new pay and start the process?
And how are you going to give notice to
[1:47:26] the employees?
>> This is another thing that I want to
[1:47:28] bring up. Just when you bring that up,
>> I don't want to digress, but I just
[1:47:32] » I don't want to digress either, but when
you do these things, you need to bring
[1:47:36] everybody that's involved in the process
into the discussions. That was not done
[1:47:41] either. So, in the future, please, you
bring everybody that's involved in
[1:47:46] payroll.
Like, again, I I I know where I'm coming
[1:47:50] from because I've been there um before.
JD, I think you have payroll
[1:47:57] information.
>> Yeah.
[1:48:00] Yeah. So, as far as uh getting it out to
all the employees, we will send out
[1:48:05] notice. We're looking at at least a
month, a month and a half before we ever
[1:48:08] even implement it.
>> Okay. I'm sorry. I don't mean to
[1:48:12] interrupt you, but I'm hearing that we
are ahead in the hours right now. So,
[1:48:16] we're going to have to take some time to
catch up.
[1:48:18] » Yeah. Yeah. So, are we gonna get with
John and his department to make sure we
[1:48:23] know?
>> I will 100% go through Courtney and them
[1:48:25] make sure that everything's
>> Oh, I said John.
[1:48:28] » John, we'll make sure that it's a smooth
process. Okay. Of no hiccups,
[1:48:31] » okay?
>> And like I said, I mean, I'm I'm talking
[1:48:34] with Courtney and Erica and I'll give
John, we'll make sure the process is
[1:48:37] done correctly and then the notices
we'll send out and we can even send out
[1:48:40] a letter to all the employees if we're
that's the way we're going to go that
[1:48:43] says, "Hey, we're changing it to this."
>> I wish we'd have done this before today,
[1:48:47] but that's okay. Here
I am and I'm going to say yes, but go
[1:48:51] ahead and I'll shut up.
>> No, you're fine. You're you're okay. But
[1:48:54] we we'll get adequate notice out to him
and make sure that everything's on par
[1:48:57] with it and it's taken care of. And like
David said, this is a living and
[1:49:00] breathing document. We can change it
anytime we need to change it. So, it's
[1:49:05] not set in stone for the next 25 years
and you can't ever change it. If it if
[1:49:09] it doesn't work, we can change it.
>> And I know not everybody's going to be
[1:49:12] happy. Believe me, I learned that a long
time.
[1:49:14] » Ecstatic about it. And there's going to
be people that don't like it. And I mean
[1:49:17] that's the way the world works. Um but
we the majority of the people that I
[1:49:21] spoke to that they're happy with that
going in that process. So there's a lot
[1:49:25] of really good things in the handbook
and I'm glad that you didn't table or
[1:49:28] something just because of one thing. So
I do appreciate
[1:49:31] » I'm I'm I'm not that I'm not that big.
>> I appreciate it. It it I do.
[1:49:36] » So and if you have any other questions
about or anything I mean
[1:49:39] » I'm just here for the employees that do
I mean
[1:49:44] Anything
else from JD? David?
[1:49:49] » Yep.
>> Okay. So, actually, we don't really know
[1:49:53] when we're going to start this yet.
>> Start like the process of it. Um, I'm
[1:50:00] going to start looking at it next week
and then I'll get with John and then see
[1:50:03] what we need to do. Then we'll have to
get with P. We'll go through that
[1:50:05] process. We'll start the actual process
probably next week or the following
[1:50:09] week. Nothing's in stone when it will be
implemented. When you're saying process,
[1:50:13] what? Oh, okay.
>> Getting a hold of going through John
[1:50:16] » implementation. Yeah.
>> We're not sure.
[1:50:19] » Pick some dates. So, those are all
false.
[1:50:22] » Yeah. Yeah. Make it make it as smooth as
possible.
[1:50:25] » And it'll be based on the hours that
have already been
[1:50:27] » Yep.
>> Okay.
[1:50:28] » Yep.
>> As an elected official, can I ask that
[1:50:31] maybe a calendar be provided notice of
when the pay will fall so that they can
[1:50:36] see that understand that?
>> No problem. So, I already have I already
[1:50:40] have one printed up moving forward from
like next week. No, it's not going to be
[1:50:43] in place next week, but I have one going
all the way in 2027. So,
[1:50:47] » as soon as we finalize it and we get it
done, I'll send out that mass calendar
[1:50:50] to everybody and you can print it off
and then we probably could actually do
[1:50:53] something on Paycom that sends an alert
or something or I can at least send out
[1:50:57] emails for the first two months saying,
"Hey, this is when you're getting paid."
[1:51:01] Just so they're aware.
[1:51:06] » Okay. Any further discussion?
>> Hearing ma'am.
[1:51:10] » Hearing none. All in favor signify by
saying I.
[1:51:13] » I.
>> I.
[1:51:15] » Any opposed.
>> Hearing none. Motion carried.
[1:51:20] Okay.
[1:51:24] 14.
Review, discuss, consider tearing down
[1:51:27] the annex portion of the courthouse.
[1:51:34] » I believe you talked to the
commissioner.
[1:51:36] » Yes. So, um, this was Commissioner Tree
cost item. He asked me, um, we had a
[1:51:42] discussion about it and pretty much what
he wants is a plan moving forward. I did
[1:51:47] tell him yesterday that I had a
conversation with McKinley. Um Michelle
[1:51:52] and I talked to them the day before and
there's a chance that it will cost more
[1:51:57] to selective demo that building and
leave like the first floor than it would
[1:52:03] be to um just repair the building in
general. So
[1:52:10] I believe it was his wish that um we
just get a plan and really look through
[1:52:17] this instead of it paying costing 10
million to tear down. We disc 5 million.
[1:52:21] I'm just throwing these numbers out
there that that's not what McKinley
[1:52:24] discussed with me, but they're easy
numbers. Five million to repair it or 10
[1:52:28] million to tear it down.
>> Have you seen this, Susan?
[1:52:32] » Yes, I have.
[1:52:35] » Um,
>> that's why I think we need to look at
[1:52:39] that building before we do anything.
I've been saying that for
[1:52:44] » well as long as I've been here and I've
been saying the there's water leaking
[1:52:48] and we finally but we still haven't got
anybody to look at that yet have we
[1:52:54] » or
>> the root
[1:52:56] » uh McKinley's working on that
>> they're working on it
[1:52:59] » two weeks ago or how many ever weeks ago
we talked about this
[1:53:02] » and McKinley is online um if you have
questions directly for them David Kroo
[1:53:08] is
>> and that It's been leaking for years and
[1:53:14] since before I was in this position and
it's still leaking and I've been here
[1:53:20] for six almost six years trying to get
something done.
[1:53:26] So again, we don't maintain the
buildings and if you don't maintain
[1:53:30] them, they're going to fall down.
So I'm with Commissioner Treeos to try
[1:53:35] to figure out what we can do if we can
do anything with that building.
[1:53:40] Well, I would just like to enter in
a March 16, 2018 from MES report
[1:53:50] that the courthouse annex
has had foundation and structural
[1:53:55] problems since its initial construction.
Based on past file information, historic
[1:54:01] photographs taken during construction
and the resulting lawsuits against the
[1:54:06] building's architect, structural
engineer, and contractor. The building's
[1:54:10] westside foundation was compromised at
the time of construction.
[1:54:15] The corrective action at that time was
to reduce the building's floor loading
[1:54:20] to accommodate the compromised
foundation.
[1:54:24] This compromised foundation results can
be seen in the settlement and cracking
[1:54:29] of the building's west side walls and
foundation.
[1:54:36] Evidently, there was lawsuits. Nobody
ever seems to be able to find them.
[1:54:42] Nobody was able to find
what corrective actions were taken, if
[1:54:47] any,
to show that there isn't a compromised
[1:54:51] foundation.
It goes on to say that we discovered the
[1:54:56] building's westside foundation design
construction problems. The building's
[1:55:00] central and east area foundations were
redesigned, thus providing a foundation
[1:55:06] that they think addressed the poor site
subsoil conditions. The result of these
[1:55:11] activities are evident by substantially
less cracking on that side of the
[1:55:15] building.
[1:55:18] But the building's
foundation has reached an equilibrium
[1:55:22] they feel.
So there won't be any future crack
[1:55:27] intercept.
So back when that building was built,
[1:55:34] they knew they had issues, proceeded
with it, but I asked staff to find out
[1:55:42] about the lawsuits
against the architects, the engineer,
[1:55:47] and the contractor, what the corrective
actions were, and those seem to have
[1:55:53] disappeared.
[1:55:58] We were not able to find anything and
also the circuit clerk's office helped
[1:56:03] look for some we weren't able to find.
[1:56:09] Maybe it was a copy and paste from
another just
[1:56:19] so I would just like that put into the
record.
[1:56:24] Um,
[1:56:29] as far as tearing it down,
um, I think that's being kind to it.
[1:56:37] Uh so my motion would be to
uh not necessarily have in-house do it
[1:56:45] but have uh go out to bid for companies
that do demolition
[1:56:52] and interview companies that do
demolition and then have them then we
[1:56:57] pick a company that does demolition
and have them take a look to see what
[1:57:02] the cost would be to them that
I think
[1:57:06] no point using our in-house engineers. I
think we need to go straight to
[1:57:10] demolition experts.
>> Should could the engineers not tell us
[1:57:14] if it needs to be demolished?
>> Uh
[1:57:21] I don't know how they could tell you
but whether it needs to be demolished.
[1:57:27] » Well, what is a demolishing into
whatever they're called?
[1:57:31] They're able to tell us if it needs
demolished or they can demolish it or if
[1:57:34] we're going to demolish how much it's
>> can't give us how much it's going to
[1:57:37] cost. That's their that's what they do.
There no point putting a third party or
[1:57:41] another party in between us and the
companies that demolish building.
[1:57:48] » Is that your motion?
>> Yes, ma'am.
[1:57:50] » Okay. The motion is to seek somebody a
cost of demolishing
[1:57:57] the annex completely clear down to the
ground.
[1:58:01] » Think we'd leave that up to the uh
experts on whether or not would have to
[1:58:04] go all the way down or how they whether
or not they could do it in steps and
[1:58:09] save part of it.
>> Okay.
[1:58:12] » That's that's what they would that's
what they do for a living. So I think we
[1:58:15] find a demo company.
>> Um
[1:58:19] » give us a price. Any further discussion
on the motion
[1:58:23] hearing? None. All in favor signify by
saying I. I.
[1:58:27] » Any oppose? No.
[1:58:33] Number 15. Review, discuss, consider
commission stance valley link power
[1:58:40] transmission project.
I had originally requested a resolution
[1:58:46] opposing the um Valley Link power line
and my understanding is we had somebody
[1:58:54] that wanted one in favor. Is that
correct? Is that what I'm hearing?
[1:58:58] » I was asked to provide one in favor.
Okay. And as well as yours.
[1:59:02] » Well, that's my stance. I would like for
us to move forward with the resolution
[1:59:08] um opposing the Valley Link transmission
line
[1:59:13] and I will make that motion.
[1:59:18] So all in favor signify by saying I
>> like discussion.
[1:59:23] » Okay.
>> Uh today we heard from a lot of people
[1:59:29] on how it will affect you.
Uh,
[1:59:36] I've read the
[1:59:41] I haven't at the moment.
[1:59:52] the resolution opposing
[2:00:00] some of the things that concern me
as it's going to we say we're going to
[2:00:06] impose a cost upon local government
but are not offset by the project's
[2:00:13] benefits. I'm not sure what cost local
governments will
[2:00:18] see due to this being built
in a diminishing county tax base.
[2:00:27] Uh
not heard any
[2:00:32] proof that that would happen.
uh the land is being considered as
[2:00:39] farmland and is right now it's taxed at
the lowest possible tax rate. So it's
[2:00:45] kind of not going to change tax base.
[2:00:54] I think that uh for us to truly be fair
to all parties
[2:01:01] and it's never been set up is for
the
[2:01:07] company that wants to come in and
build the power. We've not heard that.
[2:01:14] We've heard from you public people that
are affected.
[2:01:18] Uh I appreciate what you've said.
[2:01:25] I would like to see us
hear from them,
[2:01:32] but it seems that we are
as a commission not interested in
[2:01:38] hearing their side of it.
[2:01:43] I don't know how many of y'all read
this,
[2:01:52] but
Um
[2:01:58] I would have liked to heard the other
side.
[2:02:01] » Well, there were two meetings. I believe
we had two
[2:02:05] I was a meeting. They were they came and
spoke.
[2:02:10] » They came to the commission.
>> Well, you were invited to the meetings
[2:02:14] that they came here.
>> No, I mean for the commission to talk to
[2:02:19] them.
Well, I was welcome to ask them
[2:02:23] questions.
[2:02:27] » So,
what questions did you ask?
[2:02:32] » I don't recall.
>> Okay.
[2:02:36] » But I have spoken with Mr. Fallon and
asked him questions about the various
[2:02:42] things that was discussed today and he
does you know down the road with the
[2:02:46] county will will it'll be years before
the county sees a benefit in any kind of
[2:02:50] power.
Um, and he doesn't give any definite
[2:02:54] answers when I ask specific questions
such as the ones I've heard today with
[2:02:59] the metal roofs and if you touch your
downspout,
[2:03:02] um, you'll get electrocuted.
Um, I've heard a lot of that and I also
[2:03:09] was at a meeting where several counties
that are involved. We had a discussion
[2:03:13] about this and there are several
counties that are outside of
[2:03:19] our area. It's not Parson County. I
mean, these were some other counties
[2:03:23] that are in this lot and one county
actually is going to have two going
[2:03:28] through.
[2:03:31] So I guess I'm gonna talk to one of the
issues is uh I think trade
[2:03:38] saw where somebody asked you a uh answer
as far or question as far as farmland
[2:03:45] protection
[2:03:49] and you gave a opinion.
Yeah, I was asked a question about
[2:03:55] imminent domain and condemnation and
whether the statute for farmland
[2:03:59] protection was insulated from those
types of remedies and it's not. The
[2:04:05] statute does allow for
force taking a property um subject to
[2:04:11] the party's right to litigate over
valuation.
[2:04:15] That's just the West Virginia statute
for farmland protection. It's carved out
[2:04:19] within the framework.
Any
[2:04:24] questions about that?
>> So, no. I understand what you're saying
[2:04:28] that in the domain,
>> nobody's exempt.
[2:04:31] » Nobody's exempt.
>> There's not be would we be exempt if we
[2:04:36] had zoned this property?
[2:04:41] » Oh my, that's a broad question. Um,
zoning would
[2:04:46] or could impact a number of things. Um,
I still don't think it would exempt
[2:04:54] a force taking if a FUK or um
justification exists through a federal
[2:05:03] regulatory process, but it would change
valuation, it could change modeling, it
[2:05:09] could change depiction.
Um,
[2:05:14] all sorts of questions stem from that.
So zoning probably would have held like
[2:05:20] this.
[2:05:24] » They're still going to have at the end
of the day the regulatory power
[2:05:29] to condemn our imminent domain. It
exists. Everybody in this room knows it
[2:05:34] exists and that's part of the utility
process. It's not going to just
[2:05:39] disappear and the legislature decided
not to make it disappear in the context
[2:05:44] of farmland protection. They could have
decided that in Charleston or tried to
[2:05:49] and they didn't do that.
[2:06:12] All my questions
[2:06:16] All in favor of motion to pass a
resolution
[2:06:22] opposing the transmission power line and
the fix appropriate signatures. Signify
[2:06:29] by saying I.
>> Just one question you have on you have
[2:06:33] all three commissioners.
[2:06:37] » So is it going to be by commissioners or
by commission? Well, I said a fix the
[2:06:43] appropriate signatures, I believe.
>> Just wanted to clarify that.
[2:06:47] » Okay.
[2:06:51] » So, I apologize. Call vote. M.
>> Okay. All in favor signify by saying I.
[2:06:57] » I. Any opposed?
>> Hearing none. Motion carried.
[2:07:02] Thank you.
[2:07:08] Okay. Number 16. review, discuss,
consider approving the graft entire
[2:07:12] lease.
[2:07:17] » Madame President, what you have in front
of you is uh the lease that we've been
[2:07:21] going back and forth and towards the end
it's mainly been Trey going back and
[2:07:24] forth with Verizon dealing with the
lease that we have um on the grafting
[2:07:28] Tower site.
>> This is the guy that keeps emailing me
[2:07:32] this to sign. Is this
>> correct? Okay. And so in your packet you
[2:07:37] will see the changes um that Trey has
made to the document,
[2:07:44] his recommendations
of it. You have the redline copy and
[2:07:49] then of course the clear copy. So Trey
can speak more on this, but it was our
[2:07:54] thought process that the commission
approved this, send it to Verizon and
[2:07:58] let them approve it on their side or
come back with our questions and
[2:08:02] comments instead of
going back and forth.
[2:08:07] » So, this is part of a national campaign
by Verizon to reduce their rent
[2:08:11] obligation on tower leases across the
country.
[2:08:16] It's part of what's called the
firecracker program at Verizon. I took
[2:08:19] what they proposed. I built in a penalty
if they terminated the lease early if
[2:08:24] they'd pay 18 months rent up front. We
increased the rider to a more
[2:08:29] commercially reasonable rate from 2% to
4% in terms of annual increases on rent.
[2:08:36] We eliminated rent credits and if they
would ever seek to do this again, the
[2:08:42] lease would revert back to the prior
2013. I thought there should be should
[2:08:45] be some penalty if they try to further
renegotiate down their tower agreement.
[2:08:52] My other thought was we could demand an
upfront buy down from them and see if
[2:08:57] they want to pay some kind of money for
this amendment, some difference between
[2:09:01] their reduction and what they were going
to pay. I did not include that in here,
[2:09:05] but I'm happy to do that if you all want
to.
[2:09:12] This lease renews annually
or is it a month 18 month 18 months? No,
[2:09:20] it's a multi-
>> multi years.
[2:09:23] » It's a multi-year
>> shall be for
[2:09:26] » fiveyear terms and they're buying the
right to extend it for four additional
[2:09:30] fiveyear terms
per this amendment.
[2:09:38] There are other ways to approach it as
well. You can do it based upon number of
[2:09:41] antennas or number of units or pete on a
tower. None of that's in your historic
[2:09:49] lease agreement expressly other than the
exhibit.
[2:09:52] » So there's no limit on the amount of
antennas that they can place.
[2:09:56] » Not currently in your lease. No,
that's how they generate revenue. I mean
[2:10:03] they
>> they generate revenue.
[2:10:05] » Yes. Yeah. I mean I'm not a big fan of
them coming and asking for a rent
[2:10:10] reduction. It's just a question of are
they going to leave the tower? I don't
[2:10:15] personally feel like they do. This is
part of a national campaign to reduce
[2:10:20] their rent obligation.
>> How much are they trying to reduce it?
[2:10:24] » Oh, I don't have the base lease with me.
It was a substantial reduction. Um, I
[2:10:29] want to say at least
30 to 40% off of what they're paying now
[2:10:34] annually. I have those numbers scheduled
out at my office. I did not bring them
[2:10:38] with me.
>> So, who owns the tower right now?
[2:10:43] » We own it. It's our tower.
>> It's our tower.
[2:10:47] » Who else is on it besides up them and
us?
[2:10:50] » So, it's on another individual's land.
It is our tower and they are the only
[2:10:56] utility like phone company that is on
that. And then we have our equipment for
[2:11:00] the 911.
>> And what do we pay for the landl?
[2:11:05] » So the landl is whatever this contract
is split.
[2:11:13] Like they get half, we get half. We use
the half to pay for the utilities, the
[2:11:17] power, and everything else to the
generator, and then they get the other
[2:11:20] half.
>> So if they leave, how does that affect
[2:11:25] our lease?
>> If they they have the right to terminate
[2:11:30] the lease on notice, they give us notice
and they
[2:11:35] leave the space. Your question is, how
does that impact the lease with the land
[2:11:39] owner?
>> Yes, sir. I don't have an answer to that
[2:11:42] today. I could get you one.
>> And I seem less. But
[2:11:47] » yeah, then we pick up everything that
>> Well, it seems to me it's
[2:11:52] » I don't plus would there be power in
Well, yeah, because
[2:11:56] » he's the land owner now as he gets
whatever we generate off the power.
[2:12:01] We're not generating any money. I'm just
curious how that lease reads.
[2:12:05] » Yeah. I don't know that I have the base
lease in this file. I have the lease
[2:12:08] with
Celco partnership, the predecessor,
[2:12:13] » I believe correctly, like he gets $1,100
a month off of the lease for that tower.
[2:12:19] Don't hold me to those exact numbers,
but and that payment actually goes to a
[2:12:24] third party company that collects that
money because they paid an upfront cost
[2:12:30] to the property owner.
[2:13:01] They can put as much on the on the tire
as they want. Excuse me.
[2:13:08] There is a exhibit on the underlying
lease of the space they're using
[2:13:13] currently, but uh it's not very
restrictive.
[2:13:18] in terms of what they they put out
there.
[2:13:23] So, like I said, I'm not a big fan of
these amendments. We're starting to see
[2:13:28] more and more of them. It's kind of a
race to the bottom to reduce their rent
[2:13:33] obligations. From my perspective,
[2:13:38] » Paul Bump and I actually had a
conversation about the different towers
[2:13:41] and different leases because we're
coming across this where more companies
[2:13:45] are reaching out to us for different
tower sites. Um, one of the things is a
[2:13:50] rider that says if they put more
equipment on it, it is their
[2:13:53] responsibility that they b bear the cost
to have a structural engineer say that
[2:13:58] that tower can handle
new equipment or equipment that weighs
[2:14:03] up to, I don't know, 300 lb or whatever
it is. I mean, that is also an option we
[2:14:09] can put in there to protect us and they
have to bear the cost for that.
[2:14:29] So if we want we don't want any map to
we can keep the lease that we have in
[2:14:34] ports and it's up to them whether or not
they want to cancel.
[2:14:38] » That's the way the field is now. I think
your question about looking at the base
[2:14:43] lease to make sure that the documents
don't interplay is a good question. What
[2:14:49] our obligations are to our counterparty
there.
[2:14:52] » That's what I worry about.
>> So I think we need to check that
[2:14:57] and report back because I that has not
been reviewed.
[2:15:02] But basically, we need to come back and
>> take agenda item 16 and place it on the
[2:15:11] next meeting.
[2:15:21] » Thank you, Trey.
[2:15:26] Number 17. Review, discuss, consider
pledging $500,000 to the Clarksburg
[2:15:31] Water Board to help with the Lumberport
Water System.
[2:15:40] » Good afternoon, commissioners. Um, my
name is Ryan Hulcom. um with the
[2:15:44] Thrasher Group and I was asked by um
representatives of the Clarksburg Water
[2:15:49] Board, Shortline Public Service District
and the Town of Lumberard who have all
[2:15:52] joined me um to just give a a brief
reminder. This project's been out there
[2:15:57] for a while um in the Clarksburg
Waterboard's request is relatively
[2:16:02] thorough in in the uh where we currently
are, but I did just want to highlight a
[2:16:07] few things um and the progress that this
project has made um since we last
[2:16:12] discussed it. Um it's been it's had a
lot of complexities in that you know the
[2:16:18] overall goal of this project is to
decommission the existing um lumberport
[2:16:23] water treatment plant and allow them to
purchase water uh from a neighboring
[2:16:28] utility. Um the the complex thing is
there are multiple utilities for them to
[2:16:33] purchase the water from. So um we
provide you know we performed an
[2:16:39] analysis um for several alternatives um
for purchasing from all those utilities
[2:16:46] and
one of the they were all construct like
[2:16:50] from a constructibility construction
cost standpoint all very feasible. Um so
[2:16:55] we took the next step in that okay we've
got three feasible alternatives how do
[2:16:59] we fund them? Um and we put together
nine different funding scenarios to try
[2:17:04] to determine what would be the best. And
in doing that, we did identify um that
[2:17:09] with the Clarksburg Waterboard um
absorption of or in that's in process
[2:17:15] with Shoreline Public Service District
that uh the Clarksburg Waterboard was
[2:17:19] willing to um disperse the debt service
associated with that project across
[2:17:25] their entire customer base in lie of
adding a search charge for repaying that
[2:17:31] debt to their resale rate. So they
they're just willing to take them on as
[2:17:34] a resale rate customer with no
additional search charge. That in itself
[2:17:39] is
downstream rate impact for the town of
[2:17:42] Lumberport customers. That difference is
really the clear differentiator that
[2:17:47] this um alternative for them to purchase
water is is the uh is the most feasible
[2:17:55] u overall. So, we we submitted we
compiled all this information and we
[2:17:59] submitted it to the infrastructure
council down in Charleston and um we
[2:18:05] were at the meeting last week and we
we'd received the technical comments.
[2:18:08] There were no technical comments on the
project at all. It went through fine. Um
[2:18:14] however, the funding committee um made a
point at the very beginning of the
[2:18:18] meeting that the economic enhancement
grant funds available through the water
[2:18:23] development authority are they've
received more requests than funds that
[2:18:27] they have available. Um which really
took not only this project but several
[2:18:32] other projects by surprise in that
moment. Um so immediately um Mr. Myers
[2:18:39] was with me. we immediately started
working to um try to figure out how how
[2:18:45] we would solve um that that problem. And
uh so what we what we've come up with um
[2:18:54] there's the current Shoreline public
service district project is projected to
[2:18:59] come in under budget. Um approximately
half a million dollars is what they're
[2:19:04] projecting right now. The total
shortfall with the inavvailability of
[2:19:08] the economic enhancement grant funds is
a million dollars. So Clarksburg said we
[2:19:15] would go and um borrow an additional on
top of what they're already borrowing um
[2:19:20] an additional $500,000 from the drinking
water treatment revolving fund and and
[2:19:26] they're uh formally requesting I suppose
uh a contribution um for this project
[2:19:34] uh from the county uh from the county
commission. So, um, that's kind of a
[2:19:39] quick, um, update on where we are and
and why we're here. Um, and it's been a
[2:19:45] long, long time coming. It's a
regionally it's a really important
[2:19:49] project. Um, that the town I've been
working with the town of Lumberport for
[2:19:54] several years on it. Um, so to be able
to be at this point, like I thought we
[2:19:59] were there and uh, and so this was a
little bit of a curveball that we're
[2:20:03] just trying to do what we can to return
us to being funded and being able to
[2:20:09] execute this project.
[2:20:14] » The rates going up.
>> Um, yes. So there will be a downstream
[2:20:20] rate impact. Um Clarksburg
Clarksburg's resale rate in comparison
[2:20:26] to what the town uh produces the water
at is is
[2:20:31] reasonably higher. Um but Lumberport's
accountant hasn't uh ran that analysis
[2:20:38] to know what that exact number is, but
council administration as a whole is in
[2:20:44] favor of of the project um to do this.
So, and uh Mr. Myers did bring up there
[2:20:52] the reason we were reacting and working
so quickly um to try to get this solved.
[2:20:59] The infrastructure council's uh
deadlines for submissions is the 10th of
[2:21:04] every month. And each time we don't have
an answer to the 10th, it basically
[2:21:09] delays the project about a month to 45
days. And um so that's that's the reason
[2:21:15] that from last Tuesday to now we've
we've turned to try to get on this
[2:21:21] agenda and everything.
[2:21:25] » Do you need an answer
on this 500,000 so you can make your
[2:21:31] pitch back on the 10th? Is that what
you're saying?
[2:21:33] » Yes. If if a if a contribution is
favorable, we would be able to resubmit
[2:21:38] to the infrastructure council on August
the 10th and be placed on the
[2:21:44] 20 20some August uh technical review
committee agenda and the September full
[2:21:51] council agenda. And from that I I
believe we would have a favorable
[2:21:55] funding recommendation to move the
project forward.
[2:22:03] Okay. Now, if we pledge this money,
because we can pledge it today, we don't
[2:22:07] have to write you a check tomorrow.
>> No.
[2:22:09] » If we were to do that, when would you
need the funds by?
[2:22:16] » Yeah. I mean, we would be um
>> realistically
[2:22:19] » realistically next year. Uh early next
year, I think is a realistic time frame.
[2:22:24] You know, there's
>> early next year.
[2:22:28] You mean calendar year?
>> Calendar year. Yeah, I mean
[2:22:31] » I'm looking to make two.
>> Um
[2:22:36] I I I think that
spring of next year is probably
[2:22:41] realistic if I mean if po we're going to
expedite the process. I know that the
[2:22:47] city and the town are wanting to start
immediately. That's that's the reason
[2:22:51] we're reacting trying to get funding as
quickly as possible
[2:22:55] » so it doesn't keep deteriorating any
worse than we already have
[2:22:59] » as well. Um, but we we can't we can't
start the design until it's fully
[2:23:05] funded.
>> And I don't mean I'm sorry. I should say
[2:23:08] recommended
>> or allocate or pledged is a good way to
[2:23:13] put it.
>> May I ask a question?
[2:23:17] » Sure. it. Um, with the 500,000, if they
pledge it, would it be possible to pay
[2:23:23] like 250 early spring and then the other
250 after the new fiscal year, which
[2:23:30] would be July 1st. Is that something
that we could take into consideration?
[2:23:35] It it it it
shouldn't. By the time we we have to get
[2:23:40] the rest of the funding from the
drinking water treatment rolling fund
[2:23:43] and infrastructure council, the other
funders, we have to receive their
[2:23:47] binding commitment um before we would be
able to to bid. But I mean, as far as
[2:23:52] drawing and having the funds in hand, I
don't see that being an issue.
[2:23:59] » No, I don't think so.
That's what I was getting at.
[2:24:04] » So, if this project comes in over your
budget, what's your next step?
[2:24:09] » Um, there are several uh several ways we
handle that. Um, usually we will work
[2:24:15] with the main funer, which is the
drinking water treatment revolving fund.
[2:24:18] They have monies available for for
overruns. Um, secondly, we have the
[2:24:23] infrastructure council themselves in
this project. Every project that goes to
[2:24:26] the infrastructure council is eligible
for up to $160,000 bid overrun. Um,
[2:24:34] we also will only close the project with
5% construction contingency.
[2:24:40] While there's more than that in the
estimate currently, that can all be
[2:24:43] applied towards we we won't be allowed
to close with more than five. So, those
[2:24:48] will be allowed to move into the award
if necessary.
[2:24:53] » You got 15%.
>> Yeah.
[2:25:01] The only other thing that I look at,
Susan, is
[2:25:08] we got a
remain $940,000
[2:25:12] water project
and we got a million dollar in salt
[2:25:18] cost.
[2:25:23] I'm trying to wrap my head around a
million dollars in soft cost on a
[2:25:28] $4 million project and we're adding
another million in soft cost.
[2:25:38] I mean, now we're charging $200,000 just
to administer
[2:25:43] » the the project the a lot items spec
Well, let me let me I guess let me
[2:25:49] answer the original concern. Um soft
costs for professionals are typically um
[2:25:55] governed by the construction cost of the
project. So I can say for engineering
[2:25:59] itself, we abide by the uh American
Society of Civil Engineering fee curves
[2:26:04] that are related to construction costs.
So that's also looked at. All those off
[2:26:08] costs are also looked at at the
infrastructure council as well. Um if
[2:26:12] they have concerns with those, they
always bring those up. None were noted.
[2:26:16] Um administration itself, I will say, is
usually a fixed percentage of
[2:26:20] construction costs as well.
>> Being aerial mappings required for this
[2:26:26] project.
>> Yeah. to to properly
[2:26:32] design the project, you you'd need a a
base mapping. And I will say the this
[2:26:37] the service this service is in
comparison to any publicly funded
[2:26:42] infrastructure project align like
there's nothing out of the ordinary
[2:26:48] there.
[2:26:53] » There's there's another thrasher there
guy knows how I feel about this stuff.
[2:26:57] So, he's been down this road with me
before.
[2:27:02] » And if I may,
>> I just find it interesting that you guys
[2:27:05] are looking at rideaways and surveying
and
[2:27:09] all this interesting stuff that I got
the impression you were laying the line
[2:27:14] back along existing rideways.
>> A lot of those we put in place as if we
[2:27:21] need them, right? So, if we do the
project with zero rideofways, those
[2:27:24] funds are not used. uh they're not
expended, right? It's all tracked by the
[2:27:29] plan the regional uh planning and
development council um who also who is
[2:27:35] the administrator of
>> there's a reduction in this overall bid.
[2:27:38] Is there a reduction back to us and
500,000 we pledged?
[2:27:42] » You you can um we can work with the
region with region six planning
[2:27:46] development council and we can when they
put together the schedule B the the
[2:27:51] proposed budget those funds could be I
mean if you wanted to put those that
[2:27:55] pledge towards construction only that is
an option like they can the re region
[2:28:01] six can set those budgets and your
contributions to whatever line items
[2:28:05] you'd like. I guess I'm Yeah, because
I'm just looking if it comes in at four
[2:28:08] and a half million instead of five
million, then we get a percentage of our
[2:28:13] money back.
>> I I see no I don't see any problem with
[2:28:17] that though.
[2:28:22] Guess
[2:28:28] the only other issue I have is again
this letter from lumber for a little
[2:28:34] disheartening to me for
[2:28:38] they're not the the city's not going to
try to
[2:28:42] spread any of this cost out over with
their residents.
[2:28:49] was a little surprised that that that's
not towards what you're doing. I'm just
[2:28:53] going by the letters. just saying that
the town doesn't feel it
[2:28:59] needs to kick in whether it's through
another assessment to all the people
[2:29:04] that are on the water or somehow
something short lines technically
[2:29:11] kicking in a half a million dollars back
to which you all did but city of one
[2:29:15] report is zero
>> and if I may on on the mayor's behalf
[2:29:21] like I said that rate the rate impact on
the customers themselves
[2:29:24] Again, I don't know what that is.
It will be a significant change in order
[2:29:31] to purchase it versus
>> I understand that.
[2:29:34] Then at the same time, I understand that
they're going to get a reliable water
[2:29:39] source that they haven't had for years,
[2:29:47] but without really putting anything in
it,
[2:29:54] which should bring in more funds.
They're not dumping into
[2:30:00] » I guess the question is if the and this
is a question for Trey after this all
[2:30:05] done if the city wants to start tacking
on stuff just to run the city onto the
[2:30:10] water bill just after we've
paid this money out. Is there anything
[2:30:16] that he have to say over that?
[2:30:24] » You understand my question?
>> I do understand your question.
[2:30:27] Um, and we're making it easy for them to
lose all the expenses and now they can
[2:30:33] turn around and look at whether or not
they want to.
[2:30:36] » They still owe us money.
>> Yeah,
[2:30:39] » they do.
We've been down this road with money
[2:30:43] with them.
>> You know what we're saying? So I'm
[2:30:47] proposing some kind of like lock period
or
[2:30:52] this. I'm not going to set it up to
where they're going to turn around and
[2:30:55] hit the citizens
I guess for other expenses when we're
[2:31:00] sitting there trying to
[2:31:08] trying to make sure that what we do gets
the best bang. That's why I want to know
[2:31:11] if we can get this thing under five
million that we get some of our money
[2:31:14] back so we can do other things and that
the we're going in to lumber pour to the
[2:31:22] tune of four or $500,000
and it's not so that they can go back
[2:31:26] out and
>> make money off our money.
[2:31:30] » Make money off our money
>> when they already owe us some. I don't
[2:31:33] even know what it is at this point. So
that's my only
[2:31:39] my only concern. So I don't know how we
make all this in a motion
[2:31:45] or how we'll look at it, but I think I
can make a motion that we will pledge
[2:31:53] to up to $500,000.
>> Details to be determined
[2:31:58] » and the details to be determined. And we
would like for it to fall into two
[2:32:05] uh physical calendar years for us.
So, and the details to be worked out.
[2:32:15] Does that work, Mr. Attorney?
It sounds like it'll have to. Um, yeah,
[2:32:21] we can work on it. We're going to need
some more information. We're probably
[2:32:24] going to need the financial
justification
[2:32:26] » any
>> as well as operational understanding of
[2:32:32] » what's anticipated out there in the
future. I don't know if yall are that
[2:32:36] far in the planning process or not. Um
but we can work on that. I like the two
[2:32:41] tranch idea the 250 250 each fiscal
year. I think that's for a total of
[2:32:46] five. And maybe
uh we'll have all that information by
[2:32:51] the second Tunch.
>> Tunch.
[2:32:55] So,
>> you guys happy?
[2:32:59] » Yes. Everybody understand what we're
trying to do here?
[2:33:02] » Get Yeah. If you if you ask more,
they'll get you. We'll work that out.
[2:33:07] Yeah.
>> And they
[2:33:09] » I trust you. I don't know about them
back there.
[2:33:15] » And disclosure, I mean, I've been in the
background in some of this for
[2:33:18] Lumberport. Everybody's been countywide.
Everybody's been trying to
[2:33:23] » Yeah.
>> do the best thing for the citizens from
[2:33:25] day one here.
>> And that's what the bottom line is here.
[2:33:29] That's
>> Yeah. I mean, we're just again, we're
[2:33:33] just trying to make sure that we're
keeping track of what we at all think
[2:33:37] we've got.
[2:33:40] » I I don't want to speak for
[2:33:44] they have a account for water problem.
So, they're going to be investing in
[2:33:49] their system. So,
They're going to be using the money that
[2:33:52] they normally would put into this
project. They need to fix in house
[2:33:56] first. So, they're going to be using the
money
[2:34:01] that you're going to be that they're
going to be using to fix all their leaks
[2:34:04] and and hope to walk them through to go
get some grants.
[2:34:08] » If if I may, I don't want to go back too
far in time. We did do when we were when
[2:34:13] we did do a phase one the first initial
phase project with Lumber report in
[2:34:17] which we did a leak detection study
across the system. And the system was
[2:34:20] relatively tight at that time. Um, but
what was noted is that the the average
[2:34:25] water meter age 20 to 40 years old and
we the this the town ple uh pledged and
[2:34:34] and contributed $250,000 of their ARPA
money
[2:34:38] » to go to the infrastructure council and
receive an additional $250,000 in grant
[2:34:44] um to perform and implement that project
that was completed back in 2023 or so.
[2:34:50] Um, so that was one way they they did do
that at one time.
[2:34:55] » Okay. Well, I mean, we still know those
grants are out there and I'll hope
[2:35:00] Clarksburg helps
and you all direct them how they can get
[2:35:07] those grants and get their system
brought up.
[2:35:12] » Okay.
>> Does everybody understand the motion?
[2:35:16] Okay.
Say it again. Oh, come on, John.
[2:35:23] » You got it. You sure?
>> He was just I know
[2:35:25] » he's messing with you.
>> He was messing.
[2:35:27] » Okay. Okay.
Any further discussion?
[2:35:31] » No, ma'am.
>> I just appreciate you guys coming and
[2:35:33] explaining everything
for your support of our project.
[2:35:37] » We haven't voted for it yet.
[2:35:43] » Okay. All in
>> all in favor signify by saying I. I. Any
[2:35:48] opposed? Hearing none. Motion carried.
>> Thank you very much. Thanks.
[2:35:51] » Thank you.
>> You got it.
[2:35:55] » No, we appreciate, believe me, what you
guys have been doing and it's it's not
[2:36:01] easy. We under we understand that
>> and to go and expect it and then you
[2:36:06] have that taken out from under you. It
was it was complete. Yeah. Well, we were
[2:36:11] just
>> not like the first one.
[2:36:14] » Seems to be a trend down there right at
the moment that money keeps getting
[2:36:19] pulled back.
>> Yeah.
[2:36:23] » Thank you so much. We appreciate that.
>> Thank you very much. Thank you.
[2:36:26] » Have a good day.
>> See you. Behave yourself. Al.
[2:36:32] » Okay. Number 18. Review, discuss,
consider creating a priority list for
[2:36:37] the rail trail project.
[2:36:45] This was Commissioner Toff's item.
>> Oh.
[2:36:48] » Um, so I'm not exactly sure what he was
looking for here. I know that we have
[2:36:53] several projects going on on the rail
trail.
[2:36:57] » Would that not be something that once we
get Where's it at? A rail trail
[2:37:03] committee
>> that they could do?
[2:37:06] » Yes.
>> Okay. So, do we not want to take any
[2:37:10] action at this time?
>> Well,
[2:37:13] this priority list, I I think we've
already pretty much
[2:37:19] Tell me if I'm wrong, Chad, but haven't
we pretty much established one.
[2:37:27] » Unless you know something we don't.
>> Well, I mean, Greek,
[2:37:33] we sat there too long.
>> We established the VA to
[2:37:38] the loss creek except for the issues
with the bridges which you have yet to
[2:37:43] bring to us. I don't think the cost
to complete that, right?
[2:37:50] » Yeah. I mean I I I don't know what I
don't know what that agenda item is
[2:37:54] about, but I mean we've we've had many
different priorities and discussions
[2:37:57] about the railro. It's all good. I mean
it's hard to prioritize things. I think
[2:38:04] in my mind connecting Shinston to
Clarksburg has always been my goal.
[2:38:08] » I mean, yeah.
>> Yeah, that's what I mean. But we know
[2:38:10] that
>> connectivity is the
[2:38:12] » but there's a lot of little pieces. I
don't
[2:38:16] did he did give us an idea what it was
going to cost to go from PA to
[2:38:23] » um Heightfield
[2:38:28] and that was around
[2:38:33] two or 300.
[2:38:39] » No, the total cost was 917
>> to go from the VA to
[2:38:45] » Hfield.
>> Yes.
[2:38:46] » That's how much?
>> 917.
[2:38:48] » 917.
[2:38:58] » How far are we from the BA towards
that we call good trail
[2:39:04] that's usable towards Hydefield. How far
down?
[2:39:07] » It's like Hampton Street. It's right
there where the water plan is. Not far
[2:39:11] from the where the dam is.
>> Pretty much stop right there. It's not
[2:39:14] doesn't go very far.
>> Yeah, there's Yeah, it's in pretty good
[2:39:17] shape. There's a retaining wall right
next to where the water plant dam is
[2:39:22] » that's failing.
>> So, I I just estimated a new retaining
[2:39:26] wall just encapsulate the old one.
So that's part of my estimate, but other
[2:39:31] than that wall that was built by the
railroad or by the waterboard.
[2:39:35] » I don't know. That's a good question.
I'm not sure. It's made of brick, so I
[2:39:40] would say I don't know.
>> That's interesting.
[2:39:43] » It is.
[2:39:46] At first, I wasn't going to fix it,
but I think if we're fixing rail trails,
[2:39:52] I think we ought to fix it correctly.
And the correct way to do it is to make
[2:39:55] it look like it's not going to fall on
you when you're walking on it. So, I
[2:39:59] don't think it's a structural issue. I
think it's just so old. It's just um
[2:40:04] failing.
>> Are the bids should be coming in from
[2:40:10] uh 19 to Reynoldsville or one of those
two?
[2:40:14] » Yeah. Um Sam and Laura have come to an
agreement on those dates, I believe.
[2:40:21] » Yeah. So, I emailed you guys maybe two
days ago.
[2:40:26] » I saw that. I just Yeah,
>> I have a text from somebody at the city
[2:40:32] that they have a grant to pay from the H
Heartland Bridge to Wendy's.
[2:40:41] » We don't
>> I'm just telling you what the text I
[2:40:44] just got.
So,
[2:40:48] » yes, I was going to talk to him after
the meeting.
[2:40:51] » We We don't own all the way down through
there, do we?
[2:40:53] » There are parts of it that you don't, I
don't believe.
[2:40:55] » No, this is a city. Yeah, but we don't
there's there's
[2:40:59] » I don't know what they've done or I have
I mean I'll can talk to him after this
[2:41:04] meeting.
>> Yeah.
[2:41:05] » And find out for sure what
>> because we knew we know we get to height
[2:41:08] field. We own down to height field just
past Heightfield down technically the
[2:41:13] cemetery, don't we? I'm thinking.
>> Yeah. I I put some money in there for
[2:41:18] attorney fees because I think it's worth
you making sure Trey checks that and
[2:41:21] make sure that
um you do own all that in there because
[2:41:25] there was some there was some property
back in that area back behind the
[2:41:30] cemetery. I think when you come to that
business and I can't
[2:41:33] » just pass the cemetery there's
[2:41:38] » um when when are all the bids going to
be due or do you have that available
[2:41:43] quickly?
>> I do. Sam and I finalized everything.
[2:41:46] Um, everything is pretty much the same
except one thing in the email I sent
[2:41:50] you. So, the advertisement will be um
August 11th, August 18th pre- bid
[2:41:56] meeting August 20th bid opening instead
of Tuesday, it is now going to be
[2:42:00] Monday, September 14th, we'll have on
the September 16th agenda to award.
[2:42:08] » So, where is this? I'm sorry, I must
have missed that. This is for um the
[2:42:15] sections of trail. Believe all the
sections of the trail that we voted on
[2:42:19] all of that we voted on
>> to move forward. Okay.
[2:42:22] » That's correct. There there's some gaps
in there for the the bridges and the do
[2:42:27] » the property commission voted on. So
>> we got we got a bridge issue still from
[2:42:34] » laid up to Los Creek.
>> We got
[2:42:39] » but the bridges are passable.
>> The bridges from the VA to Lost Creek
[2:42:44] are in pretty good shape. We just need
to do some maintenance on them.
[2:42:47] » Okay. Yeah. You haven't given us the
price to do the maintenance on those yet
[2:42:52] » or have you?
>> Oh, yeah. That was part of the FEMA
[2:42:54] estimate that we've
>> Okay. So, we've never authorized you to
[2:42:58] do that though.
>> How much that was?
[2:43:02] » Oh, I think the FEMA the FEMA dollars
that we got for material cost alone were
[2:43:06] 707,000.
>> 76.
[2:43:09] » 76.
[2:43:20] I think we got an idea, Susan. I just
got a lot of projects that are all going
[2:43:25] to hit at the same time.
>> Right. That I mean, and to be honest
[2:43:27] with you, until I got that text, I
wasn't fond of working that way. But if
[2:43:33] Clarksburg's going to get it to
Clarksburg, then I'm okay. I didn't want
[2:43:37] to go to wherever we go and then we end
again and don't know how long it's going
[2:43:40] to take to get actually into town.
But if this is the case,
[2:43:45] » city of Clarksburg,
>> I don't know.
[2:43:51] » High field.
>> No.
[2:43:58] » And we've reached out
>> purchase
[2:44:01] » that rail trail area,
>> but we haven't heard anything back from
[2:44:04] the city
>> about the
[2:44:06] » whatever they want to give it to us for
a couple bucks or
[2:44:09] » sell it for a couple bucks.
think we should inquire?
[2:44:14] » Well, inquire. You can inquire. That
doesn't cost anything.
[2:44:19] » Well, I think Chad, from what I can
gather at the moment, we have like great
[2:44:24] big ball of projects that are all going
to take off at basically the same time.
[2:44:29] And as bids come in within a month or
two,
[2:44:33] I don't know what we would prioritize at
this point.
[2:44:41] none of the projects.
>> I know the bridge is out in limbo land
[2:44:45] with the state.
>> Yeah, you got the Union Cole property. I
[2:44:51] think should be pretty high on your list
of priorities
[2:44:55] to acquire. I don't know where Trey is
with that, but I think that's pretty
[2:44:58] high priority.
Um, and then connecting to Shinston is
[2:45:02] is critical
in my opinion. I think that's where you
[2:45:07] should be looking. Um, but you know,
it's all you're you're doing good stuff.
[2:45:12] I mean, that's just my opinion. That's
where the most use is.
[2:45:16] » But we could probably get some grants on
the Shinston connection, right?
[2:45:20] » Oh, yeah. For sure.
>> I mean, grants.
[2:45:25] » Yes.
>> But we just do. We still have the money
[2:45:28] set aside to buy the land trade for
>> Yes.
[2:45:35] » That's That's just been sitting there,
right? It's been sitting there. We've
[2:45:39] been trying to accommodate the property
owner's request. Patience is running
[2:45:46] beyond then with them or us
>> uh us and
[2:45:55] us.
Okay. So, we we you've already you've
[2:45:59] already determined we can get up the
hill from there.
[2:46:02] » Yes.
>> Where are we going up the hill? right
[2:46:06] before we get to that big open area that
we can dog leg up.
[2:46:11] » Oh, out on.
>> So, at this point,
[2:46:16] um,
[2:46:20] let's just go ahead.
[2:46:24] We're very close to the point where we
just go get the right of entry and we
[2:46:28] just
start because patience is growing. that.
[2:46:36] » Okay. Well,
um
[2:46:39] » pay the money into court and we roll.
[2:46:45] » And we have the money.
>> Yeah. So,
[2:46:49] » okay.
>> The only the only can of worms that
[2:46:51] opens up is that we're going to get
pushed for another bridge that still not
[2:46:56] going to go anywhere.
rather be.
[2:47:00] » It's just going to end right across the
river and stop because we can't go any
[2:47:04] further.
[2:47:10] » I don't know that I necessarily agree
with that, but it's going to open up the
[2:47:14] trail for sure.
>> Another million and then god knows.
[2:47:19] » I thought you I thought of a way to go
around.
[2:47:22] » Oh, I can. But
>> why can't we go around?
[2:47:26] » We discuss that. So, can we make that
motion, Trey? What we got on the agenda
[2:47:31] for you to?
[2:47:35] » No, unless we go up to the creating. No,
we can't do that.
[2:47:38] » Well, I mean, the agenda item was
creating a priority list. So, I think
[2:47:43] we've talked about that.
>> Yeah, we just skipped that, but we can
[2:47:46] back up to it if that's
>> So, we have priority list is to get
[2:47:52] bids in on all the stuff that we've
already approved the money for. So we
[2:47:56] can get those started.
Get us the price to get us around
[2:48:04] uh whatever. Um Chris Lane,
that's our one issue.
[2:48:11] » So we're still on 18.
>> Yeah, I'm just thinking on the list. So
[2:48:15] that's so the priority for you right now
is
[2:48:20] getting us around Chris Lane and uh
getting us the gold ice proper. So those
[2:48:25] are our two top priority
>> and we also did talk about u opening the
[2:48:30] conversation with the city about that
other
[2:48:33] » yeah I'm going to talk to Jason after
>> so
[2:48:36] » this afternoon
>> go with the city
[2:48:44] » okay
[2:48:48] » no action
>> well I think we
[2:48:53] I don't know if it's something We have
to make a motion. I think we've just
[2:48:56] directed staff and
>> Okay.
[2:49:00] » Thank you, Chad.
>> You're welcome.
[2:49:03] » So, 19,
we're not doing anything there at this
[2:49:08] point in time, right?
>> No.
[2:49:11] » Okay.
>> No, I think we need to wait in
[2:49:14] » see what everybody else I'll talk to the
city and let you know what I'm going to
[2:49:18] do.
>> Well, I think we need to get these other
[2:49:20] bids in and see if that part burn,
>> right? Oh, no. That's why I'm
[2:49:24] » so I'm I'm willing to to slow that one
down.
[2:49:29] » Okay.
>> So, nothing on 19.
[2:49:32] » No.
>> Okay. Number 20. Review, discuss,
[2:49:36] consider approving the bylaws for the
rail trail committee that we are
[2:49:39] creating.
Is that your Bailey Wick? That's why
[2:49:43] you're here.
[2:49:51] So, you had asked me to benchmark with
local
[2:49:57] um some of our local neighbors on how
they use advisory
[2:50:02] uh boards in their with their uh rail
trails. We did that. We reached out. We
[2:50:10] got some information. Um I think the
bylaws that I presented I hope were were
[2:50:16] clear. There's not a lot of authority in
the board. It's um a group of staff, um
[2:50:25] community members,
um our attorney,
[2:50:31] um there's room in there for other
organizations
[2:50:37] um to partner with us
to make recommendations to the
[2:50:42] commission on things like we were just
discussing
[2:50:47] um
with Chad. had recommendations for maybe
[2:50:52] maintenance projects, recommendations
for programming,
[2:50:55] recommendations for use, recommendations
for for future visioning for the trail.
[2:51:04] Um, opportunities for this group to
encourage use to um
[2:51:13] promote use on the trail. Um, it just
gives us a little bit more clarity, a
[2:51:19] charter per se, of forcing us to get
together and come up with ideas and
[2:51:27] recommendations on how we can get the
community more engaged and in love with
[2:51:32] our trail.
>> Who's involved in Harrison Recreational
[2:51:35] Trails?
>> That's Kent Spman's group. Okay.
[2:51:49] Um, so it's more or less less an
advisory board.
[2:51:54] » It's an advisory board, which is what
most of the other
[2:51:56] » I'm sorry. Right. There it is in first.
>> Yeah. No, that's okay. That's what the
[2:52:00] other groups are doing. That's what the
other jurisdictions are doing is an
[2:52:03] advisory board. Now, Harrison Recreation
Trails, they would be more of a
[2:52:07] fundraising
arm of the advisory board because that's
[2:52:13] what their charter is, is to have the
authority to raise funds, do
[2:52:19] fundraising,
um, to support any activities or things
[2:52:27] that we do on the trail.
>> These two people back here.
[2:52:30] » Yes.
>> Um, yeah. Yes, we've we've met. We've
[2:52:35] had many conversations.
[2:52:42] » So, we're excited. We're ready to get
together and start putting some ideas
[2:52:47] together. Um, our intern has done a ton
of work. She's got all kinds of ideas
[2:52:53] and um lists of things that we want to
address where she we have our agenda
[2:52:59] ready to roll for our first meeting. So
we just need your approval and then we
[2:53:05] can
>> Harrison County Recreation Trails is
[2:53:09] that
>> Spellelman's Kent Kelman's group. No,
[2:53:13] » George is involved.
>> George is in that. Um there are several
[2:53:16] other members. I'm I'm not a voting
member, but I attend all their meetings.
[2:53:21] » What's Pike Street Pikes? It's
>> the market
[2:53:26] » Jason Martin
>> and Tammy Jason
[2:53:29] » Jason shop in Chinston
[2:53:34] » they're very
>> I'm going to toss out maybe this is
[2:53:38] crazy but
[2:53:42] » city of Salem our trail lines do it but
they don't have any representation loss
[2:53:47] creek I mean lost creek doesn't have any
representation
[2:53:50] doesn't have any representation Those
are all areas in in Clarksburg. So,
[2:53:56] we're we're trying to make this
I'm hoping a more inclusive trail.
[2:54:02] So, and I'm I'm wondering, do we really
need
[2:54:10] grants on the board or the planning
department or the maintenance? No
[2:54:14] offense, sheriff, but sheriff on the
board. I'm just trying to figure out
[2:54:21] who these members should be and if it's
a guardians of a of a the fork then it
[2:54:28] should be just a member not the whole
organization just for them to give us
[2:54:33] » so it would be member it would be
representation from those groups
[2:54:38] » give us a member to approve
>> yeah and my feeling on bringing the
[2:54:44] players to the table that I'm
recommending
[2:54:47] are
we need our county planner on this. We
[2:54:54] need our sheriff representation.
It may be the sheriff that's appointed
[2:54:59] to the trail. Maybe he's the or she is
the person who's on the committee.
[2:55:04] » No, I think that's they're there. I
mean, once we get
[2:55:08] » right
>> there,
[2:55:09] » right? grants. You know, it would be
super helpful to have somebody feeding
[2:55:14] us information or us feeding them
information. Us having the city
[2:55:20] representation, I am certainly happy to
include them. The only reason we didn't
[2:55:25] include them is we're not excluding
them. We're just trying to keep the core
[2:55:30] group of the board members, but if we
wanted to expand that, we could. Um, our
[2:55:37] intent is to continue to partner with
them anyway, whether they're on the
[2:55:40] board or not. I've already been working
with Shinston on doing something next
[2:55:45] month,
next month with them. Um,
[2:55:50] when that portion of the trail reopens,
I talked to City of Clarksburg yesterday
[2:55:57] about doing something with them. Um, but
if your feeling is that they should be
[2:56:04] part of the group, I am more than happy
to
[2:56:09] uh make that change
>> because basically the Pike Street bikes,
[2:56:12] they could represent Shenon. You would
just need somebody from W Creek and say,
[2:56:16] correct? and city.
[2:57:38] Fus
[2:57:41] cities I want to keep pike street fights
just as a outlier want to have represent
[2:57:49] I'd like to have at least
Harsburg Shston and street
[2:57:54] » no I'm fine
>> I would push it to 11
[2:58:04] 11 voting members and then
[2:58:08] keep on voting
[2:58:19] » see a problem with that I don't it's
grassroots board it's good idea
[2:58:26] my only comments for
So
[2:58:30] allens
[2:58:49] and what's it take to change the bylaws
get to that in case we want to change
[2:58:55] the makeup of the or
get rid of grants and actually put some
[2:59:01] other organization in or whatever
because I mean grants is always going to
[2:59:04] be available to you whether they're come
to your meetings or not
[2:59:14] majority of the vote of the board
members.
[2:59:22] » Okay. So I just like to see it change to
11 add three cities and
[2:59:31] » adding Clarksburg, Salem and Los
[2:59:36] talked about this. So
[2:59:42] » the four cities, correct? Shinston, Lost
Creek,
[2:59:46] » St. Clarksburg
listston, Clarksburg, and Los, right?
[2:59:52] » Yeah.
I forgot to say
[2:59:56] » so be 12
[3:00:00] » and remove grants.
>> Yeah.
[3:00:06] » Always going to be there for you.
>> Save your ass.
[3:00:12] » You know he can't hear.
>> All right. I will make those changes.
[3:00:17] » Thank you.
>> Thank you.
[3:00:21] So, we're going to approve them.
>> Those corrections as noted.
[3:00:27] » Yes, ma'am.
>> Okay. Any further discussion? You got
[3:00:31] the motion, John?
>> Hearing none. All in favor signify by
[3:00:35] saying I.
>> I.
[3:00:37] » I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion
carried. Good job, girls and boys and
[3:00:44] whoever was involved in this.
Okay.
[3:00:52] review, discuss, consider ratifying,
vote regarding um the DS300 and express
[3:00:59] pole book sales agreement.
[3:01:04] » Madam President, I have the agreements
on there. It's my understanding the
[3:01:08] commission wanted to move forward with
getting uh these voting machines. So
[3:01:13] with that, um, we've worked hard working
with the vendor about having different
[3:01:17] payments set up so it wouldn't be a lump
sum all at once. And so these are just,
[3:01:23] um, the contracts, the agreements for
those
[3:01:28] » on the list put us the only county in
the state doing this.
[3:01:32] » There's others looking at it. I'm sorry.
I'm talking to John.
[3:01:35] » There's I've spoken with several that
use the express,
[3:01:42] but several counties do that. I don't
think there's very many that have the
[3:01:46] DS300s just yet, but I guess also a
couple do
[3:01:57] maybe 16. So, we're definitely
approaching the 10 year mark on how old
[3:02:02] our stuff is.
[3:02:05] We won't be first, I don't think, but we
will be a few that have all the new
[3:02:10] stuff. That's what we all decide.
>> Hopefully, we'll still be able to get
[3:02:15] money from the legislature.
[3:02:21] » Idea is I know grant wise we can always
apply for like reimbursement stuff. So,
[3:02:28] we missed this round. That was our
initial app for all of this stuff.
[3:02:33] Is that right? Or it just easiest
[3:02:42] to give out, but we can always give
another shot next
[3:02:47] answer down there.
>> Yeah.
[3:02:49] » Or better.
>> Well, they had
[3:02:51] » they had a minimal amount to get
>> and they couldn't
[3:02:57] probably pay for 10 express pole.
So the next round uh anything purchased
[3:03:02] after February 3rd of 27
um any payment we make after February
[3:03:07] 3rd of 27 we can have reimbursement for.
So however you set those payment plans
[3:03:11] up that would be the next rounds.
[3:03:18] » Okay. Any other
[3:03:22] » I know I know but it's
[3:03:35] Move to approve.
[3:03:44] » Well, the two to purchase DS300's
and the express.
[3:03:49] » Yeah.
>> The new express pole books.
[3:03:51] » Okay. DS300 and the express pole book
>> which is a tabulator. DS300 is a
[3:03:58] tabulator
>> election management system is kind of a
[3:04:02] couple 300 tag with in the back corner
>> per sales order agreement.
[3:04:09] » Any discussion on the motion
hearing? None. All in favor signify by
[3:04:14] saying I. I. Any opposed? Okay. Hearing
none. Motion carried.
[3:04:22] Okay. Number 22. Review, discuss,
consider request from county garage to
[3:04:27] dispose of excess vehicles.
>> Madam President, there's just a couple
[3:04:32] vehicles that we have um used every part
possible off of them. No longer can take
[3:04:38] anything off of them. Worth value or use
to us. So, the garage would like to take
[3:04:43] them to a scrapyard and sell them. They
just want the commission's approval. The
[3:04:48] money of course comes back into general
[3:05:00] their idea of excess vehicles is
two that purchase junk. They don't have
[3:05:08] any other excess vehicles.
>> So there are excess vehicles but we have
[3:05:12] sold a couple recently on gov deals.
These ones
[3:05:17] We're not going to be able to sell them
or anything on deals with no one's going
[3:05:20] to be able to use parts or anything. So
that's why they are requesting for these
[3:05:23] ones to go to the scrapyard.
[3:05:30] Move to
[3:05:34] direct the county to Rosose of
excess vehicles that need to go to the
[3:05:42] chunky yard.
>> Yes. Thank you.
[3:05:47] Okay. You
[3:05:52] » They got They got your name on the side
of them. So,
[3:05:56] » they're all way under the $10,000.
>> Yes, they are.
[3:05:59] » Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
>> No, they are.
[3:06:04] I just don't want to step on B's toes,
but I was over there the other day and I
[3:06:08] thought I said use car lot.
[3:06:12] Okay. So, the motion is to allow the
county garage to dispose of the excess
[3:06:19] vehicles.
Is there any further discussion?
[3:06:24] Hearing none. All in favor signify by
saying I.
[3:06:27] » I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion
carried. Number 23. Review, discuss,
[3:06:31] consider Susan Morris's resignation from
public defenders corporation board of
[3:06:37] director directors.
Madame President, I needed approval from
[3:06:42] the commission to accept Susan Morris's
resignation. Uh she is our appointment
[3:06:47] to the public defenders corporation
board of directors.
[3:06:53] » Move to approve Susan Morris's
resignation from the public defenders
[3:06:57] corporation.
>> Motion to approve Susan Morris's
[3:07:01] resignation from the public defenders
corporation. Is there any discussion?
[3:07:06] Hearing none, all in favor signify by
saying I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none.
[3:07:11] Motion carried. Now number 24. Review,
discuss, consider appointing Elizabeth
[3:07:16] Gross to the Public Defenders
Corporation Board of Directors.
[3:07:20] » Madam President, we reached out to um
George George Fordham, the chair of the
[3:07:26] Harrison County West Virginia Public
Defenders Corporation, asked him um who
[3:07:30] his recommendation would be, and he
talked to his board members. The
[3:07:35] recommendation for um the replacement
would be Miss Gross.
[3:07:47] » Make me feel better.
>> Well, he's talking about George.
[3:07:50] » Go ahead.
>> And move to approve appointing Elizabeth
[3:07:55] Gross to Public Defender Corporation
Board of Directors.
[3:07:58] » Okay. Motion to appoint Elizabeth Gross
to the Public Defenders Corporation
[3:08:02] Board of Directors. Any discussion?
Hearing none. All in favor signify by
[3:08:06] saying I. I. Any opposed? Hearing none.
Motion carried. Number 25. Review
[3:08:12] discuss. Consider appointing a new
fidiciary commissioner.
[3:08:15] » Madame President, I would ask that the
commission just table this item so it
[3:08:19] can be brought back at any time. We've
reached out a few people. Um, at this
[3:08:24] time they are not going to be able to
take on that res.
[3:08:27] » Both those ones can't do it.
>> So the one is no. the other we haven't
[3:08:32] heard back from and even Trey was
reaching out to some individuals.
[3:08:36] » Well, Jim Barner, so I have to reach out
to him again. He was gonna ask him.
[3:08:43] » No, he's doing it, but he I wonder I
asked him if he had any suggestions.
[3:08:48] So,
>> June sent over a couple of his
[3:08:51] suggestions months ago when we start
trying to fill this. Um, one of the two
[3:08:55] » he was out of the country.
>> Yeah. But one of the two individuals was
[3:08:58] a name that he recommended.
um who is not going to take it at this
[3:09:03] time, but he has a lot on display right
now.
[3:09:05] » There's one.
>> Okay.
[3:09:09] So, we're going to table this.
>> I would like it to be tabled. That way,
[3:09:12] as soon as we finally get confirmation,
we can bring it off the agenda, tabled
[3:09:17] items, and approve that appointment.
>> Okay.
[3:09:21] » The table.
>> Motion to table.
[3:09:24] » All in favor signify by saying I.
>> I. I.
[3:09:28] » Did you want to say something else? No,
I just it seems that we just can't find
[3:09:32] anybody wants to do it and I don't know
how to fix that whether it's money issue
[3:09:38] or it's time issue
>> but I think there's only so much money
[3:09:42] that we can
>> Yeah.
[3:09:45] » But you allow
[3:10:01] also doesn't have to be.
[3:10:06] » I wouldn't want to.
>> It should be.
[3:10:08] » Yes, it should.
[3:10:13] Okay.
>> Thank you.
[3:10:15] » Number 26. Review, discuss, consider
letter. The West Virginia Alcohol
[3:10:20] Beverage Control Administration for West
Virginia Hotspot.net
[3:10:25] Net LLC doing business as the Dola Dairy
Market.
[3:10:29] » Yes, Madame President. This actually
came before us back in January of this
[3:10:33] year, but they're adding another name to
the license. So, it has to go back
[3:10:36] through a commission meeting. Um,
they're requesting it to be approved so
[3:10:40] they can apply for the ABCA licensing.
[3:10:47] » Move to approve agenda item 26 to the
West Virginia hotspot.net at LLC doing
[3:10:54] business at Doaring Court
>> and fix the signatures.
[3:10:58] » And fix signatures.
>> Motion to approve the
[3:11:04] letter to the alcohol beverage control
administration for the West Virginia
[3:11:10] hotspot.net LLC doing businesses at Dola
Darart and a fix the appropriate
[3:11:14] signatures. Any discussion? Hearing
none. All in favor signify by saying I.
[3:11:19] I.
>> Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion
[3:11:23] carried. Review. Dis number 27. Review,
discuss, consider a resolution
[3:11:26] authorizing the filing of the
application for fund from the West
[3:11:30] Virginia Department of Transportation
fiscal year 2026
[3:11:34] recreational trail program grant.
>> Yeah, that grant will be uh we got an
[3:11:38] estimate from Thrasher. I think he was
talking earlier today. Uh that'll be
[3:11:42] from Camden Street to Height Field. Now
there will be an amendment to that
[3:11:47] resolution. um the the um financial
numbers on there that's actually
[3:11:52] $250,000 with a $50,000 match. Now that
uh estimate from Thrasher comes in over
[3:11:59] $400,000. So we're going to prioritize
what parts u will do one would be the
[3:12:05] ditching which is a large portion of
that money. So that'll be 250 plus a
[3:12:09] $50,000 match on that grant. But it
won't take care of everything according
[3:12:12] to the estimate.
We still need to figure out what
[3:12:16] Clarksburg's doing.
>> Yeah.
[3:12:18] » Okay.
[3:12:23] » So, what do we want to do with 27?
>> Move to approved resolution authorizing
[3:12:29] the application for fund West Virginia
Department of Transportation physical
[3:12:34] year 2026 for recreational trail program
grant fixed appropriate signatures.
[3:12:42] Motion to approve the resolution
authorizing the filing of the
[3:12:46] application for the fund from West
Virginia Department of Transportation
[3:12:49] for fiscal year 2026 recreational trail
program grant and a fix the appropriate
[3:12:54] signature.
Any discussion hearing? None. All in
[3:12:58] favor signify by saying I. I. Any
opposed? Hearing none. Motion carried.
[3:13:03] Thank you. Number 28. Review, discuss,
consider resolution authorizing the
[3:13:08] filing of the application of US
Department of Justice for fiscal year
[3:13:12] 2026 bridging immigration related
deficits experienced nationwide program.
[3:13:18] » Uh yeah, that's a large uh grant. It'll
be somewhere in the neighborhood of
[3:13:22] about $4.5 million. A collaborative
effort involving uh agencies with the
[3:13:27] Greater Harrison Drug Task Force.
[3:13:33] Who's actually filing the grant?
>> It'll be through the sheriff's office.
[3:13:38] » You all file the grant.
>> Yeah. It comes from the commission, but
[3:13:41] the agency will be the sheriff's office
under under the commission
[3:13:45] » who oversees the distribution of the
funds.
[3:13:49] » Well,
>> it will be through the county sheriff's
[3:13:53] office.
[3:13:59] » Yeah. I mean, I'll be doing the
reporting.
[3:14:03] there's a required partnership under the
two
[3:14:07] agreement that the sheriff's office
already has in place um with our federal
[3:14:12] partners. Um so we meet that threshold
through sheriff's cooperation with our
[3:14:17] federal partners
>> and we're going to use the
[3:14:21] this money for
what are we going to use the money for?
[3:14:25] » Many things. Um, have you was the grant
proposal? I don't know if it's in front
[3:14:30] of you all or not.
>> No, just a resolution. I did pass along.
[3:14:34] Um, I don't have that in front of you. I
should have brought that in. All the
[3:14:38] components as far as uh
>> I have you have Yeah.
[3:14:42] » You have the Biden grant.
>> He has the Sure.
[3:14:45] » notification of funding
>> from you.
[3:14:48] » No, you got that on your own. I don't
think I gave you notification.
[3:14:50] » That's fine. Sure. Um, some of what has
been discussed is for um, limited
[3:14:55] personnel. We can seek personnel for up
to a three-year time period. I know
[3:15:01] under my office, we will seek um, three
allotments for two attorneys and a
[3:15:09] support staff person. Um, obviously with
the caveat if we can find people that
[3:15:14] they would only be guaranteed a
three-year contract um, while this grant
[3:15:18] is in place. um you know, anything
further than that would have to be
[3:15:22] discussions with the commission or if
attrition has occurred within the
[3:15:25] office, things like that can occur. Um I
do have some older attorneys that would
[3:15:30] not be something that I couldn't foresee
happening during that three-year time
[3:15:34] period. Um there's some analysts that
we're asking for um under the sheriff's
[3:15:40] office in conjunction with the West
Virginia Fusion Center um to help aid
[3:15:45] with some of the numbers that um we're
tracking and dealing with. Uh there's
[3:15:51] cameras for law enforcement, there's
vehicles for law enforcement. The beauty
[3:15:56] of it is is there's no match requirement
from the commission. It's literally just
[3:16:00] an ask on our part. um and the federal
government either wants to give it to us
[3:16:05] because of our cooperation and the
numbers that we're supplying to them. Um
[3:16:12] we have, as everybody in this room
knows, a very um active drug problem. Um
[3:16:18] we also have a very active drug task
force that is made up of um many members
[3:16:24] but multiple police departments. Uh
Clarksburg, the sheriff's department, my
[3:16:28] office, uh Bridgeport Police Department,
and the state police. Um so a lot of our
[3:16:33] asks are going towards outfitting um
some of those departments so that we can
[3:16:39] continue focusing on the transnational
crime uh that we have occurring here and
[3:16:44] combating that. Um, and the Biden grant
specifically allows for that. Now,
[3:16:50] whether we get what we asked for, who
knows? Um, maybe they'll line item veto
[3:16:55] certain things and give us certain
things. I mean, that's certainly
[3:16:59] expected. Um, so it's a relatively large
ask on our part, but it's expected to be
[3:17:05] a large ask by the states and local
entities that are seeking this. Uh, we
[3:17:11] missed the first round of funding. Um
this is the second round of funding. We
[3:17:16] would certainly like to get our request
in during this round of funding. There
[3:17:21] is $3 billion
that is being allocated and earmarked
[3:17:26] under this grant by the federal um by
the Department of Justice. Um I think we
[3:17:31] stand a good chance of getting some of
the funds. um
[3:17:36] given our cooperation that we are I mean
a red state I believe probably blue
[3:17:43] states aren't getting anything. Let's
call it what it is. It's probably not
[3:17:46] going to happen under this initiative.
>> Some of the other items on there to be
[3:17:52] able to pay over a five-year program or
five-year period are uh CAD costs are um
[3:17:59] uh cell phone cost. Uh there's also u uh
digital forensics, ballistics
[3:18:05] identification as well to be part of
this.
[3:18:07] » I put in the software program costs for
the next five years that we've agreed to
[3:18:12] do. Um
there are uh
[3:18:16] » I mean this isn't for a specific
I mean you're saying drugs. Is that it
[3:18:21] or are we doing something else other
than
[3:18:23] » Well, the 287G cooperation is with the
federal authorities for immigration
[3:18:28] related issues and our drug epidemic
certainly stems from the transnational
[3:18:34] crime and that means
>> turn into a little
[3:18:37] » don't want to say what I'm
>> I don't know what I can't finish your
[3:18:40] thought. I apologize.
>> Our angle on this is to address the drug
[3:18:46] issue
>> which is in the county. Yeah, that's
[3:18:48] certainly what we're seeking and that
our drugs are stemming from Mexico. Now,
[3:18:54] do we see
specific gang related illegal
[3:18:59] immigration activity? Not so much in
West Virginia when it's what you're
[3:19:04] thinking about. But that's absolutely
what is bringing our drugs here.
[3:19:21] But we're not going to just pull over
people.
[3:19:23] » No, that's not even what we're asking
for.
[3:19:35] our subscriptions for that right
[3:19:41] digital
[3:19:45] like she said
[3:19:50] some things here and there like the two
investigative
[3:19:54] forensic
Parish and county specifically
[3:20:00] collaborate with state center. Those are
kind of the ideas of everything.
[3:20:04] » It's really,
>> is that something like if she hires
[3:20:07] three people in her office, they're
going to be
[3:20:09] » right.
>> Okay. It's gonna be based on
[3:20:12] » Okay.
>> They have to know that. Am I
[3:20:15] » I just want to
>> Same with the analyst. Is that what
[3:20:18] you're asking? Sure. Certainly.
like
[3:20:27] pressure.
[3:20:32] » It's it's a very broad grant um and they
have focused on providing it to the
[3:20:37] states and the local jurisdictions as
opposed to um giving it out federally.
[3:20:43] That was a very purposeful move under
this grant. Um we would be remiss and
[3:20:48] quite frankly stupid to not at least try
to get some of these funds um in our
[3:20:53] county and to help with um enforcement
and then prosecution and vehicles for
[3:21:00] task force officers that are the boots
on the ground out there combating this.
[3:21:05] I mean basically that's what we're
heavyhitting here is the drug epidemic
[3:21:09] because it stems from outside of our
borders. It stems from China with
[3:21:15] fentanyl production that is comes
through Mexico and then is distributed
[3:21:20] nationwide onto the streets. I mean, we
see it here every day. Um, that's where
[3:21:26] our partnership um comes in with our
federal partners and it's also in
[3:21:31] discussing with our um US attorneys and
our ATF and our DEA agents. Um I we will
[3:21:39] be uh seeking and I've been told that we
will get a letter of support from the US
[3:21:44] attorney here in the northern district.
Um so it's a collaboration on many
[3:21:49] levels but the money comes to us which
is you know very nice that we get to
[3:21:55] » going to reduce present staff.
>> Excuse me.
[3:21:58] » Is this going to reduce present staff?
>> Present staff.
[3:22:01] » Yeah.
>> In what regard?
[3:22:03] » We're bring on three new
prosecutors. that we're going to be able
[3:22:08] to keep three prosecutors busy.
>> Oh my god. If I could ask you for as
[3:22:13] many prosecutors and support staff as I
want, it would be more than that. It
[3:22:17] would be more than that. What we do in
my office and his office is we have to
[3:22:21] triage. I mean, the time that we get to
dedicate to certain cases and building
[3:22:27] even better files um is where
we don't see the necessary manpower. You
[3:22:35] have to all lot the time that you can as
much as you can to each specific
[3:22:40] » specialist.
>> It would help each individual attorney
[3:22:44] and yeah with their case load with
working these cases with talking to our
[3:22:49] federal partners with building broader
cases, bigger cases. Um, I don't know
[3:22:55] that any county in the state has the
luxury of doing that. And I'm not sure
[3:22:58] that this would give us that luxury
entirely, but it's certainly a help for
[3:23:02] three years, you know, if we can get
that.
[3:23:05] » I have no idea what they're going to
give us in the end. Yeah.
[3:23:07] » But it's an ask.
>> Yeah. And I completely understand your
[3:23:10] concerns about what, but that's not
where we're headed with this. So, I
[3:23:13] think there's a there a good proposal
here because we have multiple agencies.
[3:23:17] We part we're part of Hide the High
intensity uh drug traffic area. uh we
[3:23:22] receive a grant through that to pay
overtime for those gentlemen on the task
[3:23:25] force.
>> Oh, I'm not really concerned. I know
[3:23:27] these people would do their job and
>> yeah, so it's neiating financial burden
[3:23:32] from the county along with uh increasing
enforcement a opportunities.
[3:23:38] » So, one thing I'd like to add and
Rachel, you can correct me if I'm wrong,
[3:23:42] but not every county in the state of
West Virginia or law enforcement agency
[3:23:47] or whatever is going to be able to apply
for this. You have to be 287G, which we
[3:23:52] are, and not many.
>> The sheriff could probably speak better
[3:23:56] to which counties participated in that
versus which ones did not. Um, we yes,
[3:24:02] we do have that status already. And that
is one of the hurdles that we already
[3:24:06] meet in getting this um grant, what
whatever we request approved.
[3:24:13] many
across the state
[3:24:18] agreement last year at this time.
>> Rush, you got all theus with the
[3:24:25] departments that are going to be
involved with this.
[3:24:28] » He has the task force.
>> Task force and I did get the 2D7g this
[3:24:33] morning.
>> We just have one.
[3:24:34] » They're all
>> We just have one first, one outfit that
[3:24:39] we're doing this with, but we have an
with
[3:24:42] » so we have all agencies throughout the
county
[3:24:46] » but he's got to submit them so that's
why I'm asking
[3:24:49] » yes so I'll submit theus
>> you got all theou
[3:24:52] » not at this time but I will that'll be
easy to easy to have
[3:24:56] » our submission date is
>> well you have two submission dates 19th
[3:25:00] and 21st always want to be ahead ofhead
of the game there
[3:25:07] » we're talking the 14th is what we were
talking about so yeah there's
[3:25:11] Yeah, the DOJ has two submission two
websites to go through, two submission
[3:25:16] deadlines.
[3:25:34] I mean, we're the only people that
didn't ask you for money today.
[3:25:39] I feel like this is an easier one,
right?
[3:25:41] » Well, it isn't. It isn't. I mean, I I've
read through this like about five times
[3:25:45] and I have reservations. I'll just be
honest.
[3:25:47] » Tell me what they are so I can
understand
[3:25:50] » because it's the goal is to increase
carry out location, apprehension,
[3:25:53] detention, investigation, prosecution,
but illegal aliens.
[3:25:58] » Part of it is you need to read
aliens and drug human trafficking
[3:26:04] predators all related to illegal aliens.
All drugs in this county are coming from
[3:26:10] other nations.
>> But it talks about detention centers.
[3:26:15] » Well, that's we could have that that's
one avenue we could have written this
[3:26:19] going to.
>> I just have apprehensions.
[3:26:21] » But that's not the avenue you took. Was
that we did not take that avenue? Not
[3:26:25] even
>> that's the avenue.
[3:26:27] » As long as they know that that's that
we're not going to be out chasing
[3:26:31] illegally.
>> And I think that that is our hurdle
[3:26:34] because that is not how we submitted it.
Um I mean it's bridging the immigration
[3:26:39] related deficit
>> there. It's absolutely what it is but it
[3:26:43] gives seven different caveats basically
>> beneficial for your all's purpose.
[3:26:48] » Yes.
>> And now that
[3:26:50] » we're writing example
>> had we wr written it the other way and
[3:26:54] I'm sure some law enforcement entities
have maybe it's going to be easier to
[3:26:58] get the funding. I we may have a hurdle
in getting the funding because of the
[3:27:03] way we are going to approach it. Um
>> of course you always have to write the
[3:27:10] proposal to to fit your need and that's
what that's what the law enforcement
[3:27:14] need is and that's the approach that
we're taking.
[3:27:20] » So I don't think that uh
>> motion to approve
[3:27:27] authorizing
[3:27:33] the for the filing of the application to
the US Department justice fiscal year
[3:27:39] 2026.
I hate to say that's all I'm saying.
[3:27:45] » Okay. Motion as stated by Commissioner
Hankle.
[3:27:50] You got that?
>> I don't say the rest.
[3:27:52] » Okay.
Any further discussion hearing? None.
[3:27:56] All in favor signify by saying I. I. Any
opposed? None. Motion carried. Good
[3:28:01] luck.
>> Guys, please watch how you write this
[3:28:05] one because this one scares me.
>> If you'd like to see it before it's
[3:28:08] submitted,
>> we've been very careful on that.
[3:28:10] » Okay. I'm just
>> just saying I mean it I normally don't
[3:28:14] del.
It's that stinking name right there on
[3:28:18] top of
>> what it involves and just bothers me.
[3:28:23] which
>> the immigration part
[3:28:27] » every so much of it tied to immigration.
>> It is there's there's no way around it
[3:28:34] is part of the
[3:28:38] I said
>> we tailored ours force
[3:28:42] the drives that come in
[3:28:47] » I just don't want to find oursel trying
to figure out how to pay something for
[3:28:50] the back because we didn't
out of cover. That's all.
[3:28:55] » It's a lot of money.
>> I want to pay that back.
[3:29:00] » One of your one of your bigger ask
>> biggest one.
[3:29:06] » You'll I think you should look at it.
You'll see that we don't sugarcoat what
[3:29:09] we're asking.
>> Yes.
[3:29:10] » Okay.
>> Yeah.
[3:29:11] » I mean, that's
>> we don't make it up. We don't have the
[3:29:14] other
>> There's no fluff.
[3:29:17] » It just is what it is. We get it or we
don't.
[3:29:20] » I appreciate it.
>> Yeah. appreciate trying,
[3:29:23] utilizing his floor.
>> Just wish that he didn't have to keep
[3:29:27] tying all this other to help him.
>> Be nice to see
[3:29:34] » the other part of it really is.
[3:29:39] » Okay, I'm going to move on to number 29
before we all get into something we
[3:29:43] don't need to get into.
>> Okay.
[3:29:46] Review, discuss, consider travel
requests from 911 employees to go to the
[3:29:52] SIRN conference at Camp Dawson, West
Virginia on September 27th through
[3:29:57] October 2nd for Justin Norman and Trevor
Bates.
[3:30:04] » Madame President, this is for two of our
911 dispatchers to go to the Siren
[3:30:08] Conference, which is state
interoperability radio network. Um, it's
[3:30:12] always held at Camp Dawson. It's a very
beneficial um conference for them to
[3:30:16] attend.
[3:30:20] » Move to approve 29 A and B.
>> Motion to approve number 29 A and B for
[3:30:26] travel. Is there any discussion? Hearing
none. All in favor signify by saying I.
[3:30:31] I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion
carried. Okay. Number 30, Laura.
[3:30:36] » I'm going to keep it short. Two things.
One, I think the sidewalk looks great in
[3:30:39] front of the courthouse. I think it came
out nice. Um, two, just a reminder that
[3:30:43] the Shinsen Rail Trail portion that was
closed um for the slip repair is still
[3:30:50] closed. It has not opened yet. We do
have a walk through with um the
[3:30:56] contractors and stuff tomorrow.
Hopefully, we can get a better update to
[3:31:00] where we are, but I know for some reason
there's been a post that it is open. It
[3:31:04] is not open. Please say, but that's all
I have.
[3:31:09] » Okay. Commissioner Hankle.
Uh
[3:31:13] the only thing that I have if you
brought up is do we still have anou
[3:31:17] between us and the share and the rail
train
[3:31:24] on what their duties are going to
[3:31:35] » Yes.
[3:31:41] Yeah, we have.
>> Sure. We actually have a red one.
[3:31:50] » If you could check on that. That's all I
have.
[3:31:53] » I have nothing.
[3:31:59] » Motion to adjurnn.
>> Motion to adjurnn. All in favor signify
[3:32:02] by saying I. I.
>> I. Any opposed? Motion carried.