Commissioners Approve Hiring 1 Part-Time and 1 Full-Time 911 Dispatchers
New 911/EMS Director Benjamin Brown came before the Pocahontas County Commissioners at their September 2nd meeting and asked for approval to hire Aleel Carr as a full-time 911 Dispatcher, at a pay rate of $15.00 per hour with full benefits. Carr had been working as a part-time 911 dispatcher at $14.00 per hour without any benefits. To replace her, Brown also asked approval to hire Megan Crumm as a part-time 911 dispatcher at a pay rate of $14.00 per hour, without benefits, effective September 15th. The commissioners approved both of these hires.
Amy Truesdale of the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation (commonly referred to as GVEDC,) asked the commissioners 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 commissioners approved.
During the public input portion of the meeting called “Hear callers,” 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 about that soon will be to move the gravel from the current 911 Center to that lot when the 911 Center eventually moves into its new building up behind PMH, but that has not even been built yet. They also indicated to her that they would have no problem with planting pine trees or other green barriers between her home and any future parking lot built there.
Miller also asked if there has been a change of lighting outside of the courthouse since very bright lights have recently been shining into her windows. The commissioners said they believe there were some recent lighting changes made to enhance security, but will look into her issues with that.
The commissioners also 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 repaving 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 will have to put up a $25,000 local match. The deadline for applying for this grant is September 26th.
The commissioners went into an executive (or closed) session to discuss a personnel issue concerning the maintenance employees at the courthouse, but took no action on this.
They also went into an executive session to discuss with the County Prosecutor the 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 Pocahontas Times August 28th edition. That letter complained that the county has not been mowing those FEMA lots and now the grass is 3 feet tall and a blight to the community. After returning to open session, Rebinski said that they took no action on any of this at this time. He also produced recent photos of those lots which show that while the grass is a little high, it is nowhere even close to being 3 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 has 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 been mowing it anyhow.
The commissioners also authorized the trashing of junk accumulated in the former ARC Building.
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