County Commission’s East Fork Hay Field Issue Possibly Approaching Resolution

With so many local farmers taking advantage of the sunny days by being out in their fields making hay, it is perhaps appropriate that the issue of who will get to make hay on the commission-owned fields at the East Fork Industrial Park in Frank was discussed at the July 2^nd County commission meeting. This was the third straight meeting that the commissioners took up this issue. Jamie Warner, and his father before him, have been making hay on those fields for 33 years. Two meetings ago, Commission President Walt Helmick suggested that two other area farmers, Travis Vandevender and Allen Sisler, had asked him if they could also make hay on the that county property, which, they said, is only fair since they, like Jamie Warner, are also residents of the county. This issue was held over until the last commission meeting on June 18^th, but at that meeting, the three farmers could not resolve this among themselves by agreeing to share the hay making there. As a result. Helmick deferred this until the July 2^nd commission meeting.

During that meeting, Helmick said his goal was to pass a motion seeking a resolution to this in the form of a proposed lease for the mowing of the property, and to discuss that with the County Prosecutor. However, surprisingly, the three farmers involved produced a map of the property, and said they had reached an acceptable compromise to divide the fields up between the three of them. This agreement will allow Jamie Warner to make hay on the fields on the West Side of the Interstate Hardwoods building, while the other two would make hay on the fields in on the East side of that building.

So, the commissioners passed a motion whereby the commissioners will submit a proposed lease to the County Prosecutor which will contain that agreed upon compromise division of the Hay fields. The motion also allows Jamie Warner to finish haying the entire property this year, so the new lease agreement will only become effective in 2025.

All the parties agreed that the lease would last 10 years, with a commission review each fall to ensure that each of the farmers is doing a good job. The motion says the compensation that the commission receives from this agreement is that the property is being mowed which contributes to its maintenance and good appearance. The farmers compensation will be the hay they make. The motion also included a requirement that each farmer will submit a yearly list of their expenses, such as fertilizer, labor fuel, equipment and any dirt they may have had to add.

With so many local farmers taking advantage of the sunny days by being out in their fields making hay, it is perhaps appropriate that the issue of who will get to make hay on the commission-owned fields at the East Fork Industrial Park in Frank was discussed at the July 2^nd County commission meeting. This was the third straight meeting that the commissioners took up this issue. Jamie Warner, and his father before him, have been making hay on those fields for 33 years. Two meetings ago, Commission President Walt Helmick suggested that two other area farmers, Travis Vandevender and Allen Sisler, had asked him if they could also make hay on the that county property, which, they said, is only fair since they, like Jamie Warner, are also residents of the county. This issue was held over until the last commission meeting on June 18^th, but at that meeting, the three farmers could not resolve this among themselves by agreeing to share the hay making there. As a result. Helmick deferred this until the July 2^nd commission meeting.

During that meeting, Helmick said his goal was to pass a motion seeking a resolution to this in the form of a proposed lease for the mowing of the property, and to discuss that with the County Prosecutor. However, surprisingly, the three farmers involved produced a map of the property, and said they had reached an acceptable compromise to divide the fields up between the three of them. This agreement will allow Jamie Warner to make hay on the fields on the West Side of the Interstate Hardwoods building, while the other two would make hay on the fields in on the East side of that building.

So, the commissioners passed a motion whereby the commissioners will submit a proposed lease to the County Prosecutor which will contain that agreed upon compromise division of the hay fields. The motion also allows Jamie Warner to finish haying the entire property this year, so the new lease agreement will only become effective in 2025.

All the parties agreed that the lease would last 10 years, with a commission review each fall to ensure that each of the farmers is doing a good job. The motion says the compensation that the commission receives from this agreement is that the property is being mowed which contributes to its maintenance and good appearance. The farmers compensation will be the hay they make. The motion also included a requirement that each farmer will submit a yearly list of their expenses, such as fertilizer, labor fuel, equipment and any dirt they may have had to add.

Helmick said the commissioners will still need to run all of this by the County Prosecutor to ensure that the commission can legally do this, and for her to draw up the agreement so that it is legally sound.

During the mail items, the commissioners received and accepted a letter of resignation from Lee Ryder, the Day Report Officer. Ryder had previously asked for, but was denied, to have his hours reduced to 32 hours per week while keeping his annual leave and sick leave benefits.

In a related matter, Jodi Zickefoose, the Director of the Day Report Center, asked for and received permission from the commissioners to repaint the maroon portion of the outside front portion of the Day Report building. The commissioners also authorized her to remodel the front office area by adding a kitchen, which includes installing a stove and refrigerator. Zickefoose said this is needed for the Life Skills Class they conduct there. She said she already has the money in her budget for this.

The commissioners also approved the Day Report’s acceptance of their $51,000 Community Corrections Grant. Zickefoose said the grant amount is based on the number of clients they serve, and those are going up, so next year’s grant should be larger.

Additionally:

• The commissioners authorized County Assessor Johnny Pritt to hire Charity Morrison as a part-time Deputy Assessor at $14.00 an hour starting on July 8^th.
• They approved a budget revision and resolution for their Coal Severance balance. County Clerk Missy Bennett explained that they had to estimate the amount when they did their budget in March, and now have to reconcile that estimate with the actual numbers they received.
• It was announced that the U.S. Department of the interior has made a PELT payment to the county of $982,800. Helmick explained that this almost 1 million dollars is paid to the county’s General Revenue fund every year and is based upon $3.15 per acre for each of the 312,000 acres of federal land in the county. He said it is paid to make up for lost property tax revenue to the county. Helmick said this money comes to the county with no expenses tied to it, so it is basically free money for the county.

During the mail items, the commissioners received and accepted a letter of resignation from Lee Ryder, the Day Report Officer. Ryder had previously asked for, but was denied, to have his hours reduced to 32 hours per week while keeping his annual leave and sick leave benefits.

In a related matter, Jodi Zickefoose, the Director of the Day Report Center, asked for and received permission from the commissioners to repaint the maroon portion of the outside front portion of the Day Report building. The commissioners also authorized her to remodel the front office area by adding a kitchen, which includes installing a stove and refrigerator. Zickefoose said this is needed for the Life Skills Class they conduct there. She said she already has the money in her budget for this.

The commissioners also approved the Day Report’s acceptance of their $51,000 Community Corrections Grant. Zickefoose said the grant amount is based on the number of clients they serve, and those are going up, so next year’s grant should be larger.

Additionally:

• The commissioners authorized County Assessor Johnny Pritt to hire Charity Morrison as a part-time Deputy Assessor at $14.00 an hour starting on July 8^th.
• They approved a budget revision and resolution for their Coal Severance balance. County Clerk Missy Bennett explained that they had to estimate the amount when they did their budget in March, and now have to reconcile that estimate with the actual numbers they received.
• It was announced that the U.S. Department of the interior has made a PELT payment to the county of $982,800. Helmick explained that this almost 1 million dollars is paid to the county’s General Revenue fund every year and is based upon $3.15 per acre for each of the 312,000 acres of federal land in the county. He said it is paid to make up for lost property tax revenue to the county. Helmick said this money comes to the county with no expenses tied to it, so it is basically free money for the county.