By Patrick Hurston
At a special meeting on Oct. 25, the Hardy County Commission approved both a
funding request by the Hardy County Emergency Ambulance Authority (HCEAA) and a
request by County Clerk Gregg Ely to sign and submit a revised budget to the state
auditor’s office.
The meeting, held in the Circuit Court room due to early voting, was chaired and
opened by Commission President David Workman. Commissioner David “Jay” Fansler
was present, and Commissioner Steven Schetrom participated by phone.
HCEAA Assistant Director Nathan Kesner petitioned the Commission to take next
month’s $65,000 drawdown early, citing a checking account of approximately $1,243
and a savings account of $78. Kesner also referenced November’s payroll, the first of
which is due Friday, Nov. 1, which comes out of the Oct. budget.
In response to questioning from Workman, Kesner said he did not anticipate any
unexpected expenses in November. Under questioning from Schetrom, Kesner
acknowledged that HCEAA will likely come back to the Commission in November for an
additional request.
“Just looking at the projections, how we’ve been going the last seven or eight months, I
would anticipate that we probably need additional money,” Kesner said.
After no further discussion the request was unanimously approved.
The second agenda item was presented by County Clerk Ely who requested
authorization to sign the state budget revision. The request was to address routine over
overage and underage in some budget line items.
Outside of the formal meeting, Ely explained that the primary reason for making the
adjustments was an $80,000 federal grant that was received for purchasing new
election equipment, including electronic pollbooks and the new ballot counting machines
that will be located at each precinct this year. The reimbursement will go towards the
general county budget. State code requires that any time a county’s budget is revised,
the revision must be filed with the state auditor’s office.
With no discussion the request was unanimously approved.
Following the official business of the Commission, Workman welcomed two residents
who wished to address the Commission.
Speaking first, Glen Cook questioned “the rapid calling of this special meeting, without, I
don’t think, adequate notice to the county.” Expressing concern that “this commission
has fallen into the same tactics used by previous commissions about 10 or 12 years ago
by not giving the public adequate prior information,” Cook also asked for assurances
that the Commission is not going to fall into “the same money pit as before.” Cook was
referring to the initial funding provided to the Mathias-Baker fire company.
Though the meeting was scheduled on short notice following a meeting of the HCEAA
Board earlier in the week, Clerk Ely confirmed that adequate public notice was given,
meeting the requirements outlined in state code.
In response, Workman told Cook he believed there were many lessons learned from
previous commissions and that he is “watchful and hopeful that we do not fall into that
same category.” He emphasized that the Commission is doing “everything in its power”
to ensure it is “properly representing constituents.”
Matthew Harris, the second guest speaker, said he was there on behalf of the
approximately 2,200 members of his Facebook group, Emergency Operations of West
Virginia.
Harris said he is concerned that even if the EMS levy on the November ballot passes,
that the county will find itself in the same position again in five years. “In five years, it’s
going to be the same thing. Why, why, why?” he said.
Harris was referring to the levy that voters will be asked to vote on which will appear on
the general election ballot next month. That levy, if passed, will replace the current
ambulance fee, and will remain in place for a period of five years, at which time it would
need to be put in front of voters again.
Harris said he is working with several state delegates to find funds to offset any burden
to taxpayers.
Before adjourning the meeting, Workman said he and his fellow Commissioners are
likewise working through both the State County Commissioners Association and the
state’s EMS Advisory Council to impress upon state legislators the impacts of the EMS
funding crisis, particularly in rural areas like Hardy County.
