Tim Walker
AMR Reporter
New 911/EMS Director Benjamin Brown appeared before the Pocahontas County Commission at its September 2 meeting, and the commission approved his request to hire two 911 dispatchers. The commission approved the hiring of Aleel Carr as a full-time 911 Dispatcher, Carr had been working as a part-time 911 dispatcher. The commission also approved the hiring of Megan Crumm as a part-time 911 dispatcher, effective September 15.
Amy Truesdale, of the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation (GVEDC), asked the commission to approve Resolution #12 of the EPA Tannery Cleanup Grant. She explained that Resolution #12 allows payments of invoices owed to Greenbrier Environmental, the primary contractor for this Brownfields/EPA grant; and the resolution also allows payment from that grant for GVEDC’s service charge invoice. The total amount paid under this resolution is $2,330.52, which the commission approved.
During the Hear Callers portion of the meeting, Carla Miller, who lives next to the property which was recently bought by the county, said she had heard that the commission intended to gravel that entire property. She said she was concerned because if that is the case, vehicles might be parking and driving right up to her property line. Commission President John Rebinski and Commissioner Thane Ryder told her that the only decision they will be making at this time about that property will be to move the gravel from the current 911 Center to that lot when the 911 Center eventually moves into its new building behind Pocahontas Memorial Hospital. The new 911 Center has not even been built yet. They also indicated that they would have no problem with planting pine trees or other green barriers between her home and any future parking lot.
Miller also asked if there had been a change of lighting outside of the courthouse as very bright lights have recently been shining into her windows. The commission said they believe there were some recent lighting changes made to enhance security but will look into that issue for her.
In other matters, the commission
• discussed which projects they should include in their Courthouse Facilities Improvement Grant application. They said they have, for now, decided to not include courthouse gutter replacement or the purchase of gravel for the possible new parking lot on their new property next to the courthouse. They do want to include replacing the steps with a handicap ramp at the front of the courthouse at the sidewalk, and repave the parking lot behind the courthouse, but they still need estimates to make sure the cost won’t exceed the $125,000 limit for this grant. They said that $100,000 would come from the grant if it is approved, but the grant requires that the county put up a $25,000 local match. The deadline for applying for this grant is September 26.
• went into an executive session to discuss a personnel issue concerning the maintenance employees at the courthouse but took no action on this.
• went into an executive session to discuss with the County Prosecutor issues surrounding the mowing of the county’s FEMA lots in Cass. Rebinski said this involved legal issues that go beyond addressing David Cain’s recent open letter to the commission that was published in the August 28 edition of The Pocahontas Times. That letter complained that the county has not been mowing those FEMA lots and now the grass is three feet tall and a blight to the community. After returning to open session, Rebinski said that they took no action at this time. He also produced recent photos of those lots which show that while the grass is a little high, it is nowhere close to being three feet tall. He explained that the Day Report workers have not mowed it for a month because both of their mowers are broken, but that will be addressed. Rebinski has in the past been upset because Cain has been mowing those lots and cutting trees on them despite being sent a letter by the commission telling him not to do that. He said the lot closest to the river has been designated by the commission to be allowed to return to its natural state, but Cain has continued to mow it.
• authorized the trashing of junk accumulated in the former ARC Building.
