Frontier Communications Only Listing Businesses, Not Homes in New Telephone Directory

At their July 6^th regular meeting, the Pocahontas County Commissioners, upset that the brand-new Frontier telephone books omit individuals’ listings, including only business listings, voted to write a letter to Frontier asking them to also include residential listings in their telephone directories.

During the Mail Items portion of the meeting, it was disclosed that High Rocks mailed a request to the commission asking that they be given an extension of time to spend the funds the commission had contributed to them at the November 2^nd, 2020 commission meeting.  The contribution to High Rocks had been for four thousand, five-hundred and seven dollars ($4,507.00) to purchase a commercial dishwasher. Contributed money has to be spent within the same fiscal year, and that fiscal year ended on June 30. According to Commissioner John Rebinski, the dishwasher High Rocks had intended to purchase turned out not to be suitable for their needs. Rebinski attempted introduce a motion to deny this extension request, however. since motions cannot be presented regarding mail items, this will be placed next meeting’s agenda.

The commissioners said that Seneca Behavior Health added an unacceptable restriction to the commission’s offer to purchase, for $60,000, a tract of land near the hospital. Although Seneca approved of the offered price, they now want to add a restriction to the property deed which would prevent any future use of behavior treatment services there. Since the commissioners are considering the building of an assisted living facility there, they feel that behavior treatments might be required for residents of that facility. The commissioners decided to let their original offer stand without adding that restriction to the deed.

After talking with 911 Director Mike O’Brien and County Prosecutor Terri Workman Helmick, the commissioners agreed to return the road sign to “Nessie Lane,” in Huntersville. That name had been assigned to that private driveway 7 years ago by the 911 Center. Carrie Parker, the only person who actually 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 family member of Carrie Parker, who does not have an address on the road. He had threatened to tear the sign down if it was not removed. The commissioners voted to return the sign, stating that the ordinance prevents road name changes after 5 years. County Prosecutor 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 – which can be found at this link – https://code.wvlegislature.gov/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 3 years old, unless there are unresolved claims. In addition to the seven estates Finch is working on, the commissioners were provided with 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 The appointments of Judith Fuller; Ken Gaiter; and Candace Butler to 3-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 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 also said that 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. She also said that, although nothing is yet confirmed, there has been conjecture that vaccine boosters may be recommended in the fall, but these might not have to be from the same vaccine manufacturer as a person’s original vaccine shots. She said they are also anticipating a very bad seasonal flu outbreak this fall, and flu shots will be available by the end of September.
• Tabled action until the next meeting on accepting a Frontier Maintenance plan.