Helmick to Discuss an Alternate Plan for the Courthouse Annex

During the June 4^th Pocahontas County Commission meeting, Commission President Walt Helmick admitted that he just can’t overcome the National Historic Registry listing of the old jail building, so he has been looking over a new location to build a courthouse Annex. His original plan had been to demolish the old jail building which is located immediately behind the courthouse, and build a new courthouse annex on that site. However, his inability to get the old jail removed from its listing on the National Registry of Historic Places has stymied the project from moving forward. Now, Helmick is determined to move the project forward, abet at a new location.

He called for a special commission meeting to be held on Friday, June 7^th at 8:00 am where he will reveal the location that he is looking for the annex. He said he will also propose purchasing that property at that meeting. He also said that he has the money to purchase it since the commission has saved about $400,000 since he has been its President. He said they did that by eliminating two commission administrative positions.

We will keep you informed on the details of this, as well as on any actions the commissioners might or might not take at that meeting.

911 Director Mike O’Brien expressed his concerns that the bid being advertised for the new 911 Center, appears to be for the two EMS ambulance bays that were planned to be added as attachments to the new 911 building, rather than for the 911 building itself, which in the bid is described as a “option.” O’Brien told the commissioners that the original concept was to build the 911 Center with the EMS bays to be the optional additions.

Commissioner John Rebinski said his plan is to build the EMS part first, then with the funds left over and any additional funding, to slowly implement the 911 Center. He assured O’Brien that this is just a “baby step” approach and the 911 Center will definitely eventually be built.

O’Brien remarked that Rebinski’s approach might be viewed as a violation of their funding by the Public Service Commission since they put up $300,000 to pay for engineering of the 911 Center.

O’Brien was authorized by the commissioners to enter into a contract with James Boggs for $3,000 so that Boggs, through his company Geotistics LLC can continue to assist the 911 Center with 911 addressing. Boggs had worked for the 911 Center in the past as a county mapper for 911 addressing.

The commissioners approved the contract with the Reclaim Company to demolish the former BOE Office building and also approved the notice to proceed with the project. Réclame’s President, R. S. Williams, said it might take 45 days for them to start but then the project will be completed in ten to fourteen days.

The Commissioners also:

• Awarded the only bid received, which was from Mitchell Chevrolet, to sell them a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox at a cost of $29,595, for the Assessor’s Office.
• Discussed, but delayed making a decision until the next regular meeting, on a haymaking contract for the East Fork Property.
• Discussed, but also delayed making a decision until the next regular meeting, on a request from the Day Report Officer to reduce his hours from 40 to 32 hours a week. There were questions about how this will affect annual leave, sick leave and holiday pay.
• Discussed tax problems encountered by the County Senior Citizens regarding employee withholding taxes, which the commissioners said is intolerable, but they want to discuss it with them at a future meeting.
• Approved the Assessor’s personal property and land books for 2024. This is a routine annual approval.
• Approved various fiscal yearend budget revisions and resolutions and also in-house budget revisions.
• Approved utility rights-of-way for the new 911 Center with both PMH and Seneca Health Services.
• They approved distributing the $125,581.40 state-awarded EMS Salery Enhancement Funds among the 6 qualifying ambulance organizations in accordance with the number of calls each handled.

at that meeting. He also said that he has the money to purchase it since the commission has saved about $400,000 since he has been its President. He said they did that by eliminating two commission administrative positions.

We will keep you informed on the details of this, as well as on any actions the commissioners might or might not take at that meeting.

911 Director Mike O’Brien expressed his concerns that the bid being advertised for the new 911 Center, appears to be for the two EMS ambulance bays that were planned to be added as attachments to the new 911 building, rather than for the 911 building itself, which in the bid is described as a “option.” O’Brien told the commissioners that the original concept was to build the 911 Center with the EMS bays to be the optional additions.

Commissioner John Rebinski said his plan is to build the EMS part first, then with the funds left over and any additional funding, to slowly implement the 911 Center. He assured O’Brien that this is just a “baby step” approach and the 911 Center will definitely eventually be built.

O’Brien remarked that Rebinski’s approach might be viewed as a violation of their funding by the Public Service Commission since they put up $300,000 to pay for engineering of the 911 Center.

O’Brien was authorized by the commissioners to enter into a contract with James Boggs for $3,000 so that Boggs, through his company Geotistics LLC can continue to assist the 911 Center with 911 addressing. Boggs had worked for the 911 Center in the past as a county mapper for 911 addressing.

The commissioners approved the contract with the Reclaim Company to demolish the former BOE Office building and also approved the notice to proceed with the project. Réclame’s President, R. S. Williams, said it might take 45 days for them to start but then the project will be completed in ten to fourteen days.

The Commissioners also:

• Awarded the only bid received, which was from Mitchell Chevrolet, to sell them a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox at a cost of $29,595, for the Assessor’s Office.
• Discussed, but delayed making a decision until the next regular meeting, on a haymaking contract for the East Fork Property.
• Discussed, but also delayed making a decision until the next regular meeting, on a request from the Day Report Officer to reduce his hours from 40 to 32 hours a week. There were questions about how this will affect annual leave, sick leave and holiday pay.
• Discussed tax problems encountered by the County Senior Citizens regarding employee withholding taxes, which the commissioners said is intolerable, but they want to discuss it with them at a future meeting.
• Approved the Assessor’s personal property and land books for 2024. This is a routine annual approval.
• Approved various fiscal yearend budget revisions and resolutions and also in-house budget revisions.
• Approved utility rights-of-way for the new 911 Center with both PMH and Seneca Health Services.
• They approved distributing the $125,581.40 state-awarded EMS Salery Enhancement Funds among the 6 qualifying ambulance organizations in accordance with the number of calls each handled.