Tim Walker
AMR Reporter
Jason Bauserman and Joann Gilardi of the Upper Pocahontas Community Coalition told the Pocahontas County Commission at its April 2 meeting that, after considering the pros and cons of renovating the former Howes Tannery office building, they will no longer oppose demolishing it. Bauserman explained they reached this decision after considering the asbestos, black mold and handicap access issues as well as the approximately $300,000 in repairs that would be needed to make the building safe and usable.
Bauserman said the UPCC’s alternative plan would be for the commission to give them the site of the office building once it has been demolished so a one-story modern museum could be built there. He mentioned that the UPCC has been interviewing former Howes Tannery employees and recording their stories about working for the tannery. He said these will be saved and people visiting the future museum could watch them.
Commission President Walt Helmick said he agreed that the old building needs to be demolished because of its condition, but disagrees about building a museum on that site. Helmick said it is in such a Helmick said it is in such a remote area it will not attract visitors. Gilardi said they had considered that and planned to use shuttle buses from the train station in Durbin to the new museum. Helmick said it would make more sense to locate the museum in Durbin near the train station, as that location would make it easier and less expensive for visitors, and help the Town of Durbin by adding a new tourism activity. He mentioned that there were some buildings in Durbin that could be renovated or a new museum could be built there. Both Bauserman and Gilardi liked Helmick’s idea. Helmick suggested the museum should be a 1,500 square foot and only one story. Bauserman added that if the museum was in Durbin, a Mon Forest Town, there would be money available to assist with the project through that program.
Helmick suggested that he meet with the UPCC in Durbin next week to look at potential sites there.
The commission approved two memorandums presented to them by Sheriff Jeff Barlow regarding courthouse security. The first one set the policy for the new courthouse security operations as well as the new policy for the use of key Fob/ Keycards issued to employees so they could enter the courthouse through doors not open to the public. The public will be required to only enter via the basement door to the right of the main courthouse entrance, where they will be screened by a metal detector and their possessions by X-ray. They also voted to advertise for the security officer jobs to be stationed at the public entrance. The job position lists the minimum age of an applicant to be 21, with a high school diploma or GED, have a clean criminal record, be in good physical shape and pass a medical exam, and be willing to attend overnight training.
The commissioners also voted to hire Scott Triplett as the new County Floodplain Coordinator.
Lisa Cutlip, with the Snowshoe Resort Community District (SRCD,) asked the commission to allow the SRCD’s new Ranger Law Enforcement Agency to utilize the county’s Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and their Records Management System (RMS.) The commission agreed to this. This will allow that agency, which now has two employees, to store their police records on the county’s RMS, although different agencies of the system cannot access other agencies information. Currently the Sheriff’s Department and the Marlinton Police Department can access the CAD and RMS. Cutlip also said the Rangers are willing to be a part of a mutual aid agreement with the other law enforcement agencies in the county.
911 Director Mike O’Brien showed a computer imaging program which allowed the commission to virtually tour the proposed new 911 Center complex.
In other matters, the commission:
• agreed to transfer the Pocahontas County Broadband’s pole attachment agreements from the commission to Citynet, which will speed up the project.
• approved and signed four documents to advance the Howes Tannery Clean-up Project, which Amy Truesdale of Region 4 said were formalities required by the grant.
• approved the annual filing of fees charged by the county Health Department.
• signed a letter of commitment with the Mountain Transit Authority to financially support them this upcoming fiscal year.
• signed a letter of support for the County Ambulance Service to apply for a grant for ambulance supplies.
• discussed the possible new county demolition ordinance. Because a lot of people are suspicious of new ordinances especially if they equate them with possible zoning, it was decided to hold a public meeting on this ordinance in June. The meeting is to let people know that the ordinance is not punitive, since it will only help people who own distressed buildings, who want to demolish them, but can’t afford to do so, to receive financial help from the county.
Commissioner John Rebinski said the ordinance would not force owners to demolish any buildings on their property if they don’t want to.