Parks and Recreation finds Funds to Keep Pool Open through August

During the August 6^th Pocahontas County Commission meeting, Alyssa Vickers, Director of the County Parks and Recreation told the commissioners that thanks to a donation, they will be able to have the funding to keep the swimming pool at the Observatory open through the month of August. At the July 21^st commission meeting, Vickers had said that budget shortages have caused deficits in running that swimming pool. When questioned about whether Parks and Recreation will be able to operate the pool next summer, Vickers said between now and then, she will try to fund it by applying for grants or possibly forming a “Friends of Parks and Recreation” group to raise money for it.

Vickers also clarified that Parks and Recreation has opened a money-market account, and during the months that they receive excess funds from the Hotel/Motel Tax above their needed $20,000 operating expenses, that extra money is being deposited into that account for operating expenses during the months they don’t receive Hotel/Motel Tax money.

The commissioners held a discussion about possibly asking the Health Department to move their office out of the courthouse. since the Sheriff’s deputies need to move from the old jail building. They also talked about possibly moving either the deputies or the Health Department to the current 911 Center once the new 911 Center is eventually built. No decisions were made.

The commissioners also approved for Parks and Recreation to purchase a zero-turn 42 inch Gravely lawn tractor for $5,000 and a 21-inch push mower for $500 from Buckeye Hardware. These are needed to maintain the parks.

The commissioners also approved $2,500 contributions to each of the following non-profit corporations: the Tucker Community Foundation for “Run for It, 2026” and Bryans Battery Inc for the Droop Mountain Civil War Reenactment to be held on October 10 and 11, 2026.

With the concurrence of the County Prosecutor who had reviewed the proposed Pocahontas County Flood Plain Ordinance, the commissioners conducted the third reading of that ordinance by title, and approved it.

Additionally at the meeting, the commissioners:

• Approved Payment Resolution #23 from the EPA Tannery Project in the amount of $28,468.83 to pay an invoice from Greenbrier Environmental.
• They removed the Sheriff’s Office as the estate representative for the Mulvie Grimes Estate. With the concurrence of the Sheriff, they appointed three relatives as the new co-representatives of the estate.
• Regarding the Thornwood Water Project, they approved Grant Amendment #2. Lesley Taylor of Region 4 explained that this is an extension of the project completion date since the US fish and Wildlife Service has still not approved the project because of a possible habitat of the endangered Rusty Bumble Bee. Taylor said that other federal agencies have determined that the bee has not been found within 20 miles of the project area, but Fish and Wildlife has still not provided them with the official go-ahead for the project.
• They approved the IRU Agreement for the ARC Broadband Project. This is a “right to use” agreement.
• Chris Lust provided an update on the county Ambulance Service. He said they now provide 170 hours of service per week and have coverage in both north and south county.