By Hannah Heishman
The Hardy County Commission met for their regular meeting Tuesday morning, Oct. 1 with Commissioners David Workman, Steven Schetrom, and David “Jay” Fansler all present.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, Commission president Workman called the meeting to order.
The first scheduled topics of every Commission meeting are the Office of Emergency Management update from director Paul Lewis, followed by Hardy County Emergency Ambulance Authority (HCEAA) director, Derek Alt’s, update. Sheriff Steve Dawson and Bill Ours, from the Health Department, are next.
The meeting opens with emergency and first response.
A major topic at several recent meetings has been Emergency Medical Service for the county, with a levy on November’s ballot. The levy would replace the “Ambulance” fee, and is based on the assessed value of personal and real property taxes.
For many Hardy Countians, the levy, once applied, would be less than they pay for the fee.
The ambulance fee has remained the same since it began in 2016, while costs for everything else have increased.
EMS requires expensive equipment, expensive, well-maintained vehicles, and well-trained personnel, particularly in rural areas with extended distances to get to a patient, and then to get the patient to a hospital.
Even in cases where helicopter medical evacuation is best, it often requires a 30-40 minute wait, causing EMS providers to decide if the patient is best served by ground transport to the nearest hospital, or air transport to a potentially better, but more distant facility.
Commissioners have scheduled a number of Town Hall sessions to educate the public on EMS costs, ensuring voters have the most information possible to make the best decisions in November. The Commissioners are legally restricted from advocating for the levy, but they are allowed to educate the public on why the levy is necessary.
If the levy is voted down, the Ambulance fee will increase, likely by 125% in order to try to maintain current EMS needs. Hampshire County just increased theirs by 100% to $200. Fansler observed that other counties are contacting Hardy County for information on establishing their own fees.
All three Commissioners recognized how hard a fee increase, especially one of that amount, will be for those on fixed incomes. “‘Do I buy food or medicine, or pay the ambulance fee?'” Workman said. “(The Commissioners) recognize these concerns. But something has to happen, we have to do more.”
The Commission has also approached the Legislature regarding conducting a state-wide survey to consolidate counties’ data.
If the public votes down the levy and refuses to pay the fee, EMS capabilities will drop around the county as the HCEAA, West Hardy Emergency Medical Service, and Wardensville Volunteer Rescue Squad are forced to operate with reduced funding.
The Town Halls will be held across the county, and are all at 6:30 p.m. The first is Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the Bingo Hall, 225 Jefferson Street in Moorefield. The next are Oct. 16 in the Wardensville Visitor’s Center, Oct. 23 in the Mathias Fire Station on Route 259, and Oct. 24 at the HCEAA building in Baker. Another is tentatively scheduled for the Rig Civic Center Oct. 29.
The special legislative session, called by Governor Jim Justice, will consider EMS across the state for additional funding.
Public Health Director Bill Ours asked if consolidating the County’s EMS under one organization is a possibility.
Schetrom said that the county already has one county system, via a memorandum of understanding.
HCEAA was formed to cover the Baker-Mathias area when the former organization dissolved. The fee was intended to assist EMS across the county. A single county system would be an “astronomical” cost to the county, Workman said. The current agencies are able to provide the EMS support required, with savings for the county, and are worth it despite being difficult to manage.
“People don’t think about the distances,” Fansler said.
HCEAA, because they have crews at their station 24/7, are able to respond quickly, but average 18 minutes to get on-scene due to distance. West Hardy may take a few minutes longer to go enroute during pay-per-call shifts, but they often have shorter distances to travel, and they cover a much larger population.
“We hope you never need an ambulance,” Workman said, “But we need to ensure if you do, we can provide it as required by Chapter 7 (of the state code).”
Alt briefed the Commission on a topic Schetrom raised at a previous meeting, regarding staffing and business model. HCEAA uses a paid shift model, while West Hardy uses a combination paid shift and paid-per-call model.
The Commission discussed a $10,000 per month allocation West Hardy requested to help cover payroll. The Commission had granted the request. Alt proposed incorporating that amount into HCEAA’s allocation, from which he would distribute the funds to West Hardy.
The motion was quickly moved and seconded. Workman, who is an at-large member of the West Hardy board of directors, abstained from the vote, but said he hoped that, “If it goes forward, the intent will be honored into the coming year.”
Schetrom, who is Commission’s representative on the HCEAA board of directors, said there are “no plans to change… The HCEAA recognizes the intent.” Lewis, Office of Emergency Management director and HCEAA board president said, “I have no problem seeing that go forward.”
The HCEAA board must discuss the topic at their next meeting. The Commission voted with two supporting and Workman’s abstention, to send the $10,000 per month to HCEAA for distribution to West Hardy.
The final topic under EMS and readiness involved a recent exercise in which Workman participated as a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member.
“A county coroner would’ve been good in the mix,” he said.
County coroner is an unpaid, appointed position that provides the County with a go-to for planning purposes. The Grant County Commission recommended Hardy County use Tabitha Hitt, who is also a medical examiner. The Commission quickly approved appointing Hitt as the County Coroner.
Moorefield Athletic Booster president Logan Moyers approached the Commission requesting money to help rebuild the running track in Moorefield. For more information, refer to the Moorefield Town Council story. The Commission agreed to donate $50,000, but would add an additional $10,000 if the Moorefield Council would match the $60,000.
The $120,000 donation, between the two, would cover the total amount needed to fund the track.
The Community Education Group, based in Lost River, requested a letter of support from the Commission to aid them in getting grants. The CEG is a nonprofit that supports education and efforts around hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, addiction, and recovery. The Commission quickly approved the letter of support, noting concerns in and around Hardy County involving addiction and recovery, in particular. “Intervention is critical,” Workman said.
The rabies clinic held in September was very successful, with more than 50 animals vaccinated. County Coordinator Wendy Branson said she plans to have another in Spring 2025.
Branson is trying to get a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) grant to help pay for another School Resource Officer. The County has two, one at East Hardy and one in Moorefield. One is paid by Hardy County Schools, the other is funded partly with a JAG grant and partly by Hardy County Schools. The SRO in Moorefield covers four schools at different locations; having a second officer would be more efficient in case of an event such as an active shooter.
Branson requested policies and guidance regarding the dog pound. She reported September was “crazy busy,” with seven dogs dropped off. The facility averages 12 dogs at any given time.
She said the dogs are not “cute, cuddly puppies,” and that smaller ones are easier to rehome. Chestina Merriner helps by getting some of the dogs accepted into Northern Virginia rescues, but there are still dogs in the pound. There is no current policy determining how to proceed, outside a State policy that pounds are authorized to euthanize an unclaimed dog after five days, but may extend that period. Currently, two dogs are scheduled for euthanasia due to behavioral concerns and bite history.
The pound received a $24,000 grant, and requires a committee to manage it. The Commission appointed Branson, Merriner, Bill Ours, Jim Shupe, and Steve Pendleton; Branson will chair the committee.
Budgeting will be a topic for an upcoming special meeting. Currently, the pound has no budget beyond funding as needed for foods and vet bills, but will require more money for equipment and construction or renovation.
Budget discussions are also needed for jail costs, because per diem is scheduled to increase from $50 per day to $77 per day.
The Commission approved and appointed Melvin Shook to serve on the Public Service District board of directors.
The November meeting date must change, because the first Tuesday is Election Day. The Commission will meet Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. They will canvass the vote Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. Typically, it would be Nov. 11, but Veteran’s Day is both a state and federal holiday.
Full disclosure statement. Hannah Heishman is an EMT with West Hardy EMS
