Part 1 -the November Pocahontas Commission Meetings
Even in the midst of a big election, the Pocahontas County Commission held three meetings in November. In Part 1 of this story, we will report on the first of these meetings, the regular November 1st meeting.
At that meeting the Commissioners heard from former Commissioner David Fleming who asked the Commissioners to consider making a $100,000 donation to the Green Bank Observatory to demonstrate the County’s support for the Observatory, which is facing a decision by the National Science Foundation which could possibly result in the closure of the Observatory. The Commissioners will consider this at a future meeting.
They awarded a contract to finish painting the interior of the Courthouse to Billy Dunz.
They appointed Maxwell C. Doss as a Committee to handle the affairs of Bradley Totten per WV law.
At the Town of Marlinton’s request, the Commissioners voted to publish the proposed de-annexation of the Lisa Howard property. This property, which is located outside of town in the Beard Heights community, was annexed by the Town in 1995, but does not border any other properties in town. Listen as Mayer Sam Felton explains this unusual situation and why the Town should fix it..
“In about (19)95 the anticipation was to merge the utilities between the town and what was going to be the middle school, hospital –all of that. We annexed the roads –the roads are in the Town of Marlinton” said Mayer Felton. “And there was a particular Council person at that time that chose to but the Lisa Howard property, and he could remain in the Town of Marlinton (and) on the Town Council. That was part of the reason at that time but still yet was looking forward at such a time there would be water cuts. That whole plan disintegrated. Ms Howard was the only property that was ever annexed on the end of the town. I could add that she should have been receiving some services all those years and the town chose not to do that in prior years and she was only paying taxes without any services.”
In two weeks after this is published, the Commission will consider approving the de-annexation as a “Minor Boundary Adjustment.”
They heard from Monique Grimes, who showed up wearing a Chinese anti-radiation suit, about the dangers of Radio frequency-electromagnetic pollution on the human body. She wanted the Commission to take certain actions.
“I am requesting that we put a moratorium on any future cell-wireless activity until we digest the truth” said Grimes. “On behalf of the children, that there be no wireless communications in the schools of Pocahontas County. It damages DNA and it destroys their ability to think properly. It is a known fact.”
The Commission took no action on this.
They also approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Human Resources Development Foundation to allow that agency to provide temporary jobs for unemployed persons here in the Cunty and to use a portion of the Former shoe Factory as a temporary office.
They also approved funding requests for 4 non-profit groups. These were:
- $5000.00 to the Family Refuge Center
- $5000.00 to the Child and Youth advocacy Center
- $1000.00 to the Mountain Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc.
- $3000.00 to the Pocahontas County honor Corp
In Part 2 of this Story, we will report on the Special Meeting held on Monday, November 14th to Canvass the result of the November 8th General election and on the Regular Commission meeting held on November 15th.
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