Tim Walker
AMR Reporter
Pocahontas County Schools Superintendent Dr. Leatha Williams, who assumed her position last July, introduced herself and provided an update on schools to the Pocahontas County Commission at its March 3 meeting.
Williams began by telling them that the theme of the schools is now “stronger together,” stating that as a result of that unity of effort among school teachers, staff and administration and with community support, the schools were, as of February 11, released by the West Virginia Board of Education from both the County School System’s State of Emergency for Special Education Services and from the State of Emergency at Pocahontas County High School. She told the commission that this release occurred in record time, as some school systems take three to seven years of improvements before being released from state interventions, but Pocahontas County Schools was released in six months. She went on to talk about the future.
“However, our next stage is a little more intentional,” she said. “ It’s to build a strong, positive culture in our school system.”
Williams said they are committed to restoring the community’s confidence in the school system and working toward reestablishing a block schedule at the high school, as it was years ago but has eroded into the current “period schedule.”
Williams also talked about meeting the needs of the community by offering classes leading to jobs for graduates right here in the county. For example they will be working toward having high school students being offered classes that can enable them to graduate from high school with not only a high school degree but also an Associate Degree in areas such as in law enforcement, in jobs related to healthcare as well as other needed positions, which will help keep high school graduates living and working right here in the county.
Chris Lusk, the County Ambulance Director delivered an update, saying that they now have three ambulances, one in the northern area of the county, one in the southern area, and a back-up ambulance. He said that since January 8 there has been an ambulance staffed in the southern area that currently operates 28 nights a month. Later this month, that will increase to 31 nights a month, with Marlinton covering the days. They now have three full-time and seven part-time employees of the County Ambulance Service
Jamie Baker of Region 4 conducted a public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant application to demolish the abandoned buildings at the former Howes Tannery site, to make room for new development. The commission authorized that grant application, which if approved, could provide $250,000.
In other matters, the commission:
• received a letter from Joe Kaffl asking the commission to write a letter to the Department of Highways requesting it repair the roof on the Locust Creek Covered Bridge before the bridge deteriorates. The commission said the matter will be placed on the next meeting agenda.
• approved the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s land use covenant for the tannery site, which basically disallows any future use of the groundwater there except for water testing. Additionally, they approved the payment of Resolution #18 of the Tannery Demolition Project in the amount of $26,576 from the grant to Greenbrier Environmental for additional water monitoring there.
• approved an agreement for Mon Power to install a guidewire on the commission’s property at the former ARC building.
• approved an updated grant change order to account for an additional state funding of $8,232 for the county’s ARC Broadband project and approved budget amendment #3 in the amount of $7,525 for that project to pay engineering and legal services invoices.
• approved a request from Sheriff Troy McCoy for the commission to provide funds to pay for attorney fees for an estate settlement, not to exceed $10,000, which can be reimbursed when the estate if finally settled.
• approved transferring a vehicle from the Day Report to the Animal Shelter, a vehicle from the Sheriff’s Department to Courthouse Maintenance, and a vehicle to the Ambulance Service from the Sheriff’s Department.
• authorized the current contractor to install and/or fix outdoor lighting at the Animal shelter.
• approved Travis Cook’s board appointment to the LEPC be switched from representing the Shaver’s Fork VFD to Marlinton Fire and Rescue.
• agreed that they did not need to pass a motion to use $324,800 from the 911 salary reimbursement at the end of the fiscal year to be used to make payments to the USDA 911 facility loan. Instead, they will make that change during their budget process.
