Tim Walker
AMR Reporter
During the Mail Items portion of Tuesday’s Pocahontas County Commission meeting, it was disclosed that High Rocks, Inc. mailed a request to the commission asking for an extension to spend the funds the commission had contributed to them at the November 2, 2020 commission meeting. The contribution of $4,507 was given to purchase a commercial dishwasher. Contributions from Hotel/Motel Tax are to be spent within the same fiscal year, and that fiscal year ended June 30. According to Commissioner John Rebinski, the dishwasher High Rocks had intended to purchase was not suitable for their needs. Rebinski attempted to introduce a motion to deny the extension request, however, motions cannot be presented regarding mail items, so this matter will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.
The commission reported that Seneca Behavioral Health added an unacceptable restriction to the commission’s offer to purchase Seneca’s tract of land near the hospital for $60,000. Although Seneca approved the price, it now wants to add a restriction to the deed which would prevent any future use of the property for behavior treatment services. Since the commission is considering building an assisted living facility, they feel that behavioral treatments might be required for residents of that facility. The commission decided to let their original offer stand without adding that restriction to the deed.
After talking with 911 Director Mike O’Brien and Pocahontas County Prosecutor Terri Workman-Helmick, the commission agreed to return the name of a road in Huntersville to “Nessie Lane.” That name had been assigned to a private driveway seven years ago by the 911 Center. Carrie Parker, the only person who receives mail on Nessie Lane, wants the sign returned and the road name left as Nessie Lane. The sign had been removed at the request of a member of Parker’s family, who does not have an address on the road. He had threatened to tear the sign down if it was not removed. The commission voted to return the sign, stating that the ordinance prevents road name changes after five years. Workman-Helmick explained that although the sign had been removed, the road name remained “Nessie Lane,” and if anyone tears the new sign down, it would be a crime – destruction of property.
Laura Finch, the County Fiduciary Commissioner, provided an update on the seven unresolved estates she is handling. It was explained that a new WV law -WV Code 44-2-19a allows the County Commission, after making certain notifications to the estate administrator, beneficiaries and claimants, and issuing an order to show cause, to administratively close out estates that are more than three years old, unless there are unresolved claims. In addition to the seven estates Finch is working on, the commission was given a large list of overdue estates that will also need to be handled in accordance with the new law.
In addition, at this meeting, the commissioners handled the following items:
* Discussed, but took no action on water issues at the East fork industrial Park.
* Approved an extension for the Broadband Study Grant.
* Tabled to the next meeting a discussion on the Courthouse Annex and its funding.
* Renewed the annual contract with Global Science Technologies, Inc. to maintain the courthouse computer systems, but tabled to their next meeting, action on new state requirements for things to be included on the commission’s website.
* Approved appointments of Judith Fuller, Ken Gaiter, and Candace Butler to three-year terms on the Parks and Recreation Board.
* Awarded a certificate of appreciation from the West Virginia Association of Counties to the Pocahontas County Health Department for a job well done during the COVID-19 outbreak.
* In addition, Cindy Wilfong of the County Health Department told the commissioners that there are currently two active COVID-19 cases in the county. She said the county is currently experiencing a “calm before the storm” with low COVID numbers, but anticipates the arrival of the COVID-19 Delta Strain, which she says may be a slightly milder but more contagious form of COVID. Wilfong said they are also anticipating a very bad seasonal flu outbreak this fall, and flu shots will be available by the end of September.