By Lon Anderson
Moorefield Examiner
The Hardy County Commission’s long-running debate over the proper functions of the Hardy County Emergency Ambulance Authority (HCEAA) came to an abrupt end at the Commission’s monthly meeting on February 4. On a two-to-one vote, the Commissioners stripped the HCEAA of its fee billing and collections functions to “bring them back to the Courthouse.”
After four months of wrangling over with no action, County Commission President Harold Michael said, it was time to take action. Commissioner Jay Fansler then made a motion to bring the collections operations for the Ambulance Authority back to the Court House. Michael seconded the motion.
“I still think there are other options I would like to see us explore until at least June (end of the fiscal year),” Commissioner David Workman said.
“Customer service is the biggest thing for me—to give better service,” Fansler said, explaining why he was supporting the move.
“I thought Dave (Commissioner Workman) was supposed to research this and get back to you,” noted Fran Welton, Chair of the Local Emergency Planning Committee.
Workman replied that he did. “I sent an email out with my plan and heard nothing back, so I assumed they didn’t agree.”
“So you’re moving everything back to the Courthouse?” Welton asked Michaels.
“The ambulance service was not created to collect fees but to provide service. The bottom-line is we need to put it back the way it was,” Michael said.
“Where will it be?” Welton asked.
“Right here in this office,” Michael said.
“Then I think you ought to dissolve the ambulance service,” said the Office of Emergency Management and 911 Director Paul Lewis.
“Later,” said Michael. “I think we can save a lot of money. It’s not worked out and has cost us two to three times what I think it should,” Michael explained.
“So collections—anything having to do with the fees?” asked Derek Alt, HCEAA Emergency Director.
“And investigations and everything?” Lewis asked.
“Yes, we’ve put an ad in the paper,” Michael noted.
“That’s putting the cart in front of the horse,” Workman retorted. “I was not aware of this until it was pointed out to me.”
“It’s not really the cart before the horse,” Michael responded. “We’ve talked about it for four months, how much longer do we need?”
Michael explained that early on “the ambulance Authority entered into a contract with a less than reputable person and then all this fee money got outside the County’s control. So almost from the get-go I’ve been concerned, so let’s start over and get back to where we started.”
With that, they took the vote and changed the HCEAA structure, starting in March.
In his monthly report to the Commissioners, Lewis reported that:
• The 911 Call Center’s Computer Aided Dispatch system is currently three upgrades behind and the total cost to upgrade is around $59,000, and the upgrades are scheduled for this month (February)
• The Call Center is advertising for part-time 911 dispatchers and will shortly lose another full- time dispatcher.
• In January the Center handled a total of 810 calls: DNR had 31 calls; Sheriff’s office 254; Moorefield Police 342, and State Police 59 calls.
• For EMS, Fraley had 106, HCEAA 84, Wardensville 26, and Capon Springs assisted with 5.
Reporting on HCEAA calls, Alt indicated that there were 82 alerts in January and 53 transports—”our highest to date.”
Michael then asked Alt about why the current HCEAA collection costs, reported at $16,240, were so high.
The billings are outsourced to a contractor, Alt explained, and cost about $2 per letter and 8,000 bills were mailed.
The Commission then approved a request for a budget drawdown for $65,000 for the HCEAA.
In her report to the Board, Welton noted that because a new Red Cross representative for the region has been named, they will be able to continue the County’s smoke alarm installation program. Last year some 60 units were installed, she reported.
Welton also requested a $500 budget allocation for new training videos and materials for the County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which the Commission approved.
Next up before the Commission was Tom Mathias representing Love Memorial Clinic in Moorefield, with a report and a request for assistance. The clinic, he explained is a non-profit that is technically owned by 10 local organizations whose representatives make up the Clinic’s board of directors.
The clinic, which has been operating for about 45 years, had over 13,000 patient “encounters” last year, or a little over 1,000 per month on average, Mathias said.
The clinic, he indicated, now faces a significant challenge and “we’re hoping you might be able to help us.” The clinic’s mammogram equipment must be replaced; the certifying agency says it’s worn out and it will no longer certify the equipment to operate.
New mammogram equipment costs about $80,000, according to Welton, who noted they can no longer get parts for the old equipment. “We’re fortunate that we’ve been able to get used equipment in the past,” Welton said.
“Have you considered applying for grants?” Michael asked. “Rose (Helmick) is good at finding them and handling the stacks of paperwork.”
“There maybe some federal money out there—maybe (U.S. Senator) Shelley Capito can help us,” Michael continued. “A lot of times, it’s just a matter of [private]going to Shelley and asking.”
“We could go over to the Small Business Administration and submit a grant or loan request to finance at one to two percent,” Helmick noted.
“So go ahead and submit a grant request—it takes a year,” Michael noted. “That will put you way ahead of the game. There’s also a budget item in the state that helps pay for clinic expenses.”
The Commission also heard a presentation from the WVU Extension service provided by Elizabeth Metheny and Alex Straight along with their budget request for $6,500 for the next fiscal year, for which they would also receive an agency match.
Straight, who is now the extension agent, noted that whereas they had to cover multiple counties last year, this year she will be able to serve Hardy County full-time. Programs they will be supporting this year include: Maple Days, animal judging, Poultry Week, weed control with a focus on Japanese stilt grass that is taking over pastures, growing microgreens in classrooms, an arts appreciation program, and 4-H camps, which are now getting underway.
The Commission was also briefed on new State auditing requirements. According to Helmick, the State will now require that all grants of $50,000 or more be audited within two years, starting this year.
“If the state can’t get to us then, we have to get an auditor to do it for us,” Hemick told the Commissioners. “It means we’ll have to submit financial audits starting June 2020 that certify the money was spent in accord with the grants,” Helmick said.
“So it’s up to us to get them done,” Michael noted. The Commissioners then approved a motion adopting the new policy for state grant certification and management.
Other Business
• Sending a letter of support for HB 4071 currently pending in the State Legislature. The bill, Michael explained, will switch the funding source for 911 emergency phone center operations in the state from a tax on phone bills to electric bills. Changing the tax is necessary, Michael said, because the number of land line phones nationwide is rapidly decreasing due to the increasing reliance on cell phones.
• Sending a letter of support on behalf of a grant to restore the Higgins House, which sits next to the Moorefield Town offices. Once restored, it will be the home of the County’s Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• Seeking a quote for liability insurance to cover as many as 10 CERT volunteers at a time while doing volunteer work for the County.
• Learning that the County had received a grant of $12,682 to fund two projects, one in Assessor’s Office and the other in the Clerk’s office.
• Learning that there is a grant for water and park conservation that the County could apply for that might cover improvements in the park, including the cost of a gazebo or building or support Riverfest or fund bike path construction. It’s a National Parks grant for as much as $2.8 million, Helmick noted, and must be submitted by May 1.
• Approving an agreement with the Department of Highways concerning the tearing down of the burnt-out building on the corner of Upper Cove Road and State Route 259 in Mathias.
• Agreeing to fund a $5,000 grant to support the Tri-County Fair in its 100th year. Each of the three counties are being asked to provide this funding, Workman noted.
• Approving a list of 115 County election workers and officials submitted by County Clerk Gregg Ely for the May 2020 state primary election.
• Postponing adoption of the proposed by-laws for the County’s new GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Boards for a second month pending answers to more questions from President Michael.
• Authorizing County Coordinator Helmick to work with other jurisdictions in the Region 8 Council to become eligible for private investments via a new initiative from the Governor to create “Opportunity Zones.” Private investors, by putting money into projects in designated zones can receive tax credits for their investments, Helmick explained. The program will also align 160 separate grant programs to better focus funding.
• Sitting as the County Board of Equalization and Review for a couple of minutes only to learn that there were “no appointments”—no tax appeals or other matters to consider. “So, we’re just a bunch of happy taxpayers,” quipped Michael.
“Pretty much,” responded Lee Lehman of the Tax Assessors Office.[/private]