Pocahontas Commission to Auction Snowshoe Condominium of Courthouse Steps

At their November 20^th regular meeting, the Pocahontas County Commissioners formally certified the results of the County’s November 6^th General election, formalizing what had been the unofficial results without any changes to those results.

The Commissioners also heard from Joe Clendenen of SecuriTech about his offer and proposed contract to install a security system at the Former Shoe Factory Building.  Clendenen said that for the cameras installed both inside and outside of the building needed additional lighting to produce usable images. He suggested that motion detectors also be installed as these could notify the 911 Center if someone is breaking into the building.   The Commissioners agreed that this would be a good idea so no action on the contract was taken at this meeting, and Clendenen will revise the contract to include more lighting where needed, and motion detectors. The revised contract will be taken up at a future Commission Meeting.

The Commissioners and their Counsel Bob Martin discussed the future Courthouse steps auction of the Summit Condominium which was received as a settlement for Hotel Occupancy Tax. The Commission now owns the Condominium and needs to sell it at auction so that the proceeds from the sale can be applied to the Hotel Occupancy Tax the previous owner of the Condominium owed.

Martin said that when he examined the condominium, he was “pleasantly surprised” at its condition. He said the kitchen is fully furnished with cookware, dishes and utensils as is the bathroom with towels and it is in great condition.  He said that a similar condominium nearby is being offered for sale at a significantly higher price than the $77,000 in delinquent taxes the previous owner owed. Martin said in his legal opinion, any sale proceeds above the amount owed in taxes would properly belong to the Commission and could be deposited in the General Fund since the previous owner gave the Commission full ownership of the property as full payment for his tax bill.

The Commissioners approved some rules for the auction:

The auction date will be Friday, December 14^th at 3 p.m. and it will be held on the Courthouse steps in Marlinton. Written auction bids on the condominium must be received at the Commission Office in the County Courthouse no later than the close of business on Thursday, December 13. The written bids received by that date and time will be opened at the beginning of the auction and the highest written bid received would serve as the amount where the auctioneer would begin the auction.  The winning bidder at the end of the auction will be required to put 20% of their bid down immediately; and agree that the closing on the property sale must occur within 30 days.

In other actions during this meeting, the Commissioners approved the appointment of Paul Arbogast Jr. to a three-year term on the Pocahontas County Dramas, Fairs and Festivals Board, which will expire on June 30, 2021, and they appointed Reta Griffith to the unexpired four-year term of Kristen Kinnison on the Pocahontas County Farmland Protection Board, which will expire on June 30, 2020.

They approved a budget revision and resolution of the $1,686.00 which was insurance money received as payment to repair damages to a hospital vehicle which had struck a deer. They also approved a similar budget revision and resolution in the amount of $1,604.00 that was for an insurance check received because of a traffic accident that a Day Report vehicle was involved in.

Bob Martin delivered a short Counsel Report in which he mentioned that there would be a Meeting of the RAD Board on December 10^th where an issue involving adding precinct voting to the RAD bylaws would be discussed.  However, Martin said he did not think that precinct voting for RAD Board members was a good idea. He added that even if added to the bylaws, this would not accomplish what the supporters of it wanted because it is contrary to the State Statute governing elections of RAD Board members which allows all residents of the RAD, regardless of the precinct or area they live in to nominate and vote on anyone they choose for any Board position.

The Commissioners adjourned the meeting after they approved the payment of invoices.