Gilmer County Commission Special Meeting Report – 04.17.12

The special meeting of the Gilmer County Commission was called to order by Commission President Brian Kennedy.

Commissioners Dave Hess and Darrell Ramsey as well as the County Clerk Jean Butcher and the County Administrator Tim Farmer were present.

Public Comments:

After Pledge of Allegiance, in the Public Comment section of the meeting, G. Dave Ramezan from The Gilmer Free Press and Dendra Miller from Glenville Democrat questioned the Commissioners about the Gilmer County Schools project proposals to West Virginia Schools Building Authority (WV SBA).

•  Commissioners were asked about the funding proposals and the local funding portion of the project:

Commissioner Brian Kennedy said at times the county has helped with some projects and if it can be done he would be for it.
Commissioner Darrell Ramsey, looking at the financial report, indicated the county does not have any money to allocate for anything and Commissioner Dave Hess agreed with him.

•  They were then asked whether they would support any type of Bond for this project like they did for the college dorm project:

Commissioner Ramsey said the county is already maxed out and they cannot do it even if they wanted to.

•  The next question was about the commission’s position regarding the two new schools projects, whether it was OK for Troy students to go to Lewis County and Rosedale area student to Braxton County:

Commissioner Kennedy was against fixing the current schools and noted eventually all the county lines will be dissolved and therefore he did not see any problem. Commissioner Ramsey did not agree with Commissioner Kennedy and thought more study is needed. Commissioner Ramsey said, the Troy students can go to Glenville Elementary like they did at the beginning of the year. He said the school can support the number of students and there will be less loss of jobs. Commissioner Ramsey said he prefers that over the proposed Linn School.

•  Tax issues and funding was the next question:

Commissioners said the Gilmer County taxes will stay the same when the students go to other counties even though the other counties get the funding for the students.

•  After Commissioner Kennedy said the education of kids was important to him and it did not matter to him whether Rosedale area went to Braxton County, Troy area went to Lewis County, Tanner area went to Calhoun County, or some went to Ritchie County; Commissioners were asked whether it was good for Gilmer Counties Economic Development since the school situation is a loss for Gilmer County and gain for other counties. They were asked why they think it was OK for Gilmer County to keep losing to other counties:

The answer was simply a look!

Extension Office – Toiletry Supplies:

Since the County Extension Office is forced to move to Gilmer County Recreation Center, the extension office asked about the Toiletry Supplies since it was not in their budget. The supplies were provided at Courthouse Annex by the county.

The County Commission by law has to provide the space for Extension Office. The Extension office thanked the County Commission for having done more than it is required by law. The County Commission thanked the Extension Service for doing all they do for the County.

After extensive discussion the Commissioners voted to provide the Toiletry Supplies for the Extension office at the Recreation Center.

Sexual Assault Proclamation:

After a presentation by Kayla Smith, the Commission signed a proclamation to call April Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Gilmer County Office of Emergency Services - EMPG Grant:

Suzie Kirkpatrick, the GCOES director, presented the Commissioner with recently approved grants and the matching portion of the grant to be paid by the county.

Commission approved the grant. However, they noted the GCOES must include the entire grant in their budget since the County has to pay for it before the matching portion is obtained.

Budget Revisions/Control Report:

Reports were presented by the County Bookkeeper for approval of some revisions in the budget. Reports were approved.

Approval of the minutes of the County Commission:

The previous minutes were approved without any change.

Policy for Picking up Dogs:

The current policy for City of Glenville is if the dog which is not on leash and is caught, the fee is $20.00 and $5.00 per day.

However, there is no policy for county for any dog which is not on leash. But if the dog owners want to get rid of their dog the fee approved by the Commission is one time $50.00.

Establishing a Building Commission:

John Isenhart and Cindy Wilson were approved for the 911 building project.

Support for Litter Clean-Up:

It was approved to provide a dumpster for county clean-up

The Computer and Electronic cleanup is from 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the lot adjacent to Glenville Inn.

Lay the Fire/EMS Levy:

Proposed rates were approved by the state.

Special County Meeting:

A meeting is planned for Friday, May 18, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM to discuss various County issues.

All public is invited to attend.

Commission President Brian Kennedy said the main food is provided and everyone is asked to bring a covered dish.

More information about the meeting will be provided at a later time.

Finally, the Commissioners discussed the upcoming election and the additional cost associated with it to the county as the result of redistricting.

Now the county has to have different ballots for different parts of the county.

In addition they have to provide the staff for two additional precincts as well as having to purchase additional voting machines and all other equipment needed for these precincts.

In particular it was mentioned that publishing the ballots in newspaper costs $16,399.62. Overall the redistricting will cost the county an additional ~$30,000.00.

The report from GFP today covering the county commission special meeting was very informative for citizens of the county. It is worth reading for all of us to take a few minutes and look closely.

It very clearly states what and how Commission Kennedy feels and thinks.

It very clearly states what and how Commissioner Ramsey feels and thinks.

Commissioner Hess probably does not care one way or the other because he is retiring the last of June.

Now….....just so you know, if the voters of Gilmer County put Mr. Chapman back in as a Commissioner it will be 2 votes against 1 vote.

Kennedy and Chapman against Ramsey and this will play right into the hands of the “elites” and give them more control of you and your county.

Since that’s how Commissioner Kennedy really feels it would be in his best interest to step down now and let someone who cares about this county have the job. Since he is everywhere Candidate Chapman goes anyway, maybe they could move in together. That way they could car pool to the Grille, have another drink and our problems wouldn’t be a petty inconvenience to them anymore.

Sexual Assault Proclamation:

After a presentation by Kayla Smith, the Commission signed a proclamation to call April Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

WHAT for the last 12 days of the month? Now it will be sexual assault awareness month for the last few days?

If you are going to have an event, please don’t half a*s it. Try some follow thru! Why couldn’t APRIL be presented as sexual assault month in March, so that something could have actually have been done to bring attention to the fact that GLENVILLE LEADS the STATE IN RAPE!! Thanks to GSC!

I would say the effort by Kayla Smith should have been a little better thought out, and now the benefit is minimal, but maybe it was planned like that.

Hope someone informs the prosecuting attorney office of this Sexual Assault Proclamation.  lmao

Maybe Kennedy will move to one of those counties so he can fake living there like he fakes living in Normantown. 
Economic impact, you’d have to define the term.

Brian Kennedy’s revelation that the County’s boundaries will be redrawn underscores that a fresh start for the school system issue is needed including development of a master plan for future school needs. Secondly, when it was disclosed that the County’s finances are so bad that borrowing more money is unfeasible, the $28,000,000 County bond issue for the College’s new dorm obviously did that. There was no clear need for the dorm when Pickens Hall was fixable, but Brian Kennedy and Larry Chapman approved the bond issue without allowing citizens to vote so remember that at election time. Also, if the College were to default on the loan, the College’s Bowles and Rice attorney stated that the dorm would be sold on the court house steps. An outfall would be lowering of the County’s bond rating to be another blow for our finances. Thanks, Kennedy and Chapman, your common sense approach for common folks really paid off this time.

Brian Kennedy and his “Common Sense for Common People” campaign, was a slap in the face to the citizens of Gilmer County.  You elected him. 

You are stuck with his “no common sense” for this community.

Don’t make the same mistake with his party buddy Chapman and elect him too.  He was sent home once and then has been feeding at the trough of the County Commission Sponsored Economic Development gang.

As we wait for the SBA decision which has the potential to move the education of many of our students to another county, I wonder if he will care as those forced to work in Lewis County decide to shop there buy their gas there,get their hair done and in general do business where it is most convenient to them and ultimately move there. For our students to truly feel a part of Lewis County teams and after school participation, their parents will look at moving there.  It has the potential to increase the speed of this downhill slide Gilmer County has been on. I am sharing this with everyone I know who does not have internet.

If we are to accept the wisdom of the State BOE, why not take the next logical step and close all the schools in the county. If it doesn’t hurt the little children of the Rosedale area to ride the school bus for hours, it sure won’t hurt high school kids from the center of the county. Lets take the next step and then no one can accuse us of having bad schools.

This has been the most poorly handled example of administrative change I have ever witnessed. You are right Burnt, it all makes so little financial ,demographic or economic sense that they might as well close the whole county.  Gilmer has never been guilty of bad schools, just of hiring unskilled administrators. The old rule of never go into business with friends was forgotten and now we must all pay the price.Unfortunately, the children are included.
 
On a lighter note….

TO: Burnt Weiney and everyone.
You make a very good point.
So now if we believe that Common Sense for Common People Kennedy actually knows what he is talking about. 
We need to listen to him.  We should wait until all the county lines are redrawn before we do anything other than minimal school building repairs.  Building ANY new school at this juncture would be very premature.
Getting rid of ALL schools in the Land of Gil may be the best solution yet presented!
The vacant buildings could all be donated to GSC for use!

Probably tear them down to build a park where you can’t sit down and eat a sandwich. No food in a public park? Where’s the benches or the flag?  Property is still not deeded to the city and there’s money to be spent but what’s the point? They turn the lights off on seniors just playing music. Not very public spirited.

Same with the schools, none of us matter but make it pretty. I wonder who will be left to see it when all is said and done. Smooth everything over with a smile, tell us we’ll all hug each others neck when its over like children making up after a fight.  Guess we should be happy they even talk at us and tell us what to do or we’d be wondering around acting like we own the place.  Oh, that’s right, we do.  Keep forgetting that, and the ones who keep their mouths shut and don’t vote perpetuate it. You know, it’s said God helps those who help themselves.  I don’t think he meant help yourself to the public check book.

Are commissioners supposed silicate new bushiness for Gilmer Co . Yes . Have they? obliviously not. How come these company’s go to all the surrounding county’s, because they don’t know we would like apiece of the pie. All these high paid politicians have kept us WVs best kept secret look who runs them. There always looking out for us. As long as they get our tax dollars. LOL

Mr Ashley
Until the past commissioner was elected, the commission was just a vote of one that always had two puppies following.
Yes, businesses pass by Gilmer County.
And that is very understandable.
Usually, businesses investigate the entire county community before they relocate, move or expand.
When they find that there are maybe five individuals that run the whole county, county government, school system, local college…..do not think that don’t simply run away!
No one unless they are part of the “in crowd” would locate here!
This situation has become much worse and more evident since Lignetics moved in.  (Nothing to do with Lignetics, just for reference a time frame)
They come, they look, they run.

Voters of Gilmer County,,  If you think that the county is messed up now, Well, let me tell you something when you go vote and you mark the X for Larry Chapman, you might want to make that X somewhere else. We get larry and Brian together than the County will be in a mess.  With neither one of them liking Darell than Darell will not have a leg to stand on for the county. He cant to it alone, Chapman was in there once before and did not do anything, what makes you think he is going to do anything this time.  WAKE UP!!!!!!

First of all what ever happen to Commissioner Kennedy when he wrecked his car for driving drunk.  If anyone with common sense all you need to do is look at him you would know that he has a drinking problem.  But we still have him as a commissioner, than we want larry Chapman back.  Voters think about this hard, John Moss may be arrigant and cocky but he cant be worse than Chapman.  That is what is wrong with the county now People being paid for a job NOT done!  If we want to live in a place that we can call home town than lets do some changing.  So we can walk outside a be safe,  people come to our county and say something else except “OH, MAY THIS PLACE LOOKS LIKE A GHOST TOWN.“ Lets work with Darrel Ramsey for the county, Not against him like Larry Chapman will do.

Commenting is not available in this section entry.