Meeting again at 5 p.m. Jan. 21
By Hannah Heishman
The Hardy County Commission met following a two-hour weather delay on Jan. 7, 2025. A winter storm through Monday and freezing temperatures Tuesday resulted in the Commission’s decision to push the meeting time back to enable more people to attend.
Newly appointed County Clerk Loretta Humbertson called the meeting to order, and they hit the ground in the new year ready to go.
“We’re excited about moving forward, solving problems,” Commissioner Steven Schetrom said in the opening prayer.
Their first order of business was selecting and swearing in Schetrom as the new Commission president.
Then Paul Lewis, Office of Emergency Management and 911 Center director, updated Commissioners that generator and electrical work is complete at the new 911 tower near Lost City along Route 259. Once weather clears, he said, all that’s left is to install some equipment on that tower and the tower at Helmick Rock, and the new tower should be operational.
He did not have a schedule available.
Lewis said one 911 dispatching trainee resigned, and another is retiring soon. He said he has an applicant he’s going to begin training, and will advertise the fill other spot.
Lewis reported there were 612 calls to 911 in December 2024.
For law enforcement, the Department of Natural Resources had 14 calls; the Sheriff’s Office had 290 calls; the Moorefield Police Department had 138; and the State Police had 24.
For Emergency Medical Services, West Hardy had 102 calls in December. Hardy County Emergency Ambulance Authority had 74, and Wardensville Rescue Squad had 35.
Moorefield Fire Department responded to 29 calls; Mathias-Baker had 14, and Capon Valley had eight.
Derek Alt, Hardy County Emergency Ambulance Authority director, reported their December expenses were $123,873.02. Their revenue was $116,018.17, including $85,000 from the ambulance fee and $30,613 from services.
He reported all vehicles and equipment are in service, and that all ambulances were inspected in December and are good for the next year.
Alt reported he anticipated a $420,000 shortfall over the next year, and that he has a plan. Commissioners opted to learn more at their next meeting.
Alt requested, and the Commissioners approved the regular $75,000 for the month. Of that, $10,000 goes to West Hardy.
The Commission also moved to automatically disperse the $75,000 to HCEAA monthly, without a request each time.
In a follow-up to a question Schetrom asked in December, Alt said that a county-wide EMS subcommittee was scheduled to meet Jan. 10.
Schetrom read from a document regarding the subcommittee, which stated their three primary goals are to enhance response times, improve community EMS awareness, and improve interagency collaboration.
Bill Ours, Hardy County Health Department director, reported the new building is ready. He said they got internet and furniture the first week in January, and that they plan to close on Jan. 17, and reopen Monday, Jan. 21 in the new building.
He plans a small ceremony at that time, with a bigger event and an open house in the spring.
Ours, who also serves on the Committee on Aging board of directors, informed the Commission the Committee has a new executive director.
Sheriff Steven Dawson reported that December 2024 was a good month for the drug task force, and listed several arrests as well as sentences passed down in court. He said his office is running under budget, and thanked the Commission for allowing him additional deputies, as they have been busy.
TaYare Meade, the Teen Court Coordinator, and Serena Redman, from Potomac Highlands Guild, provided an update on teen court in Hardy County.
Meade said an order to establish the court was signed by a circuit court judge, but not filed. In the interim, several things occurred that actually made that a good thing, as now wording within the document needs to change.
Once a new order is signed and filed, thus creating a teen court in Hardy County, the program belongs to the County Commission.
Teen Court already exists in Grant County, which has one of the better programs in the state. It’s a diversion program, and aims to help certain types of youthful offenders accept responsibility for their mistakes, while also teaching students about the judicial process.
Meade told the Commissioners they needed to assign a fiscal agent to handle the program’s money. Part of the order establishing the program adds $5 onto court fees. That money is used to fund teen court.
The Commissioners approved assigning the fiscal agent position to the County Clerk.
They also debated officially naming Meade to be the County Teen Court Coordinator, but ultimately tabled the discussion until their next meeting.
Next the Commission voted to adopt a resolution opposing PEIA increasing their rates, and encouraging the Legislature to find other ways to make up funding.
“The increases have been 15, 14, and 16 percent, so about a 45 percent increase over the last three years in premiums,” Commissioner David Workman explained. He said the local government portion is locked in, but the State portion, “is…the one that’s at risk.”
“They’re passing on these costs to (employees), and they should be looking at more fiscally responsible ways to manage this at state levels,” Workman said.
The WV Public Employees Insurance Agency covers most state employees, including those in government and public education, and retirees from those agencies.
A number of other topics crossed the Commissioners’ desks relatively quickly.
Schetrom said the per diem rates affecting the jail bill may rise, making the Day Report Center (DRC) one of the more important ways to mitigate that cost.
“I think it is very important for us to participate in the Day Report Center,” Schetrom said.
The Commission ultimately tabled further discussion and decisions regarding safety on the South Branch River, particularly a stretch just north of Circle C.
The County Clerk was tasked to look into whether moving bank accounts is feasible, or desired by other elected department heads. Schetrom said he specifically raised the topic in open meeting so the public would know it’s on the table for consideration.
Similarly, Schetrom said the Commission is considering a key fob system to allow easier access for employees to the court house. Security and key accountability became an issue when Humbertson began inventorying keys, and discovered many are unaccounted for. The issue was tabled in order to seek feedback from other elected officials.
County Coordinator Wendy Branson told the Commission that December was very busy for the dog pound. Jim Shupe picked up seven strays, and an additional four dogs were owner-surrendered. Five dogs were placed for adoption.
Branson said Shupe has had to turn down other surrenders, because there is no space.
She said there is still only bid for the pound improvement project.
She requested the Commission adopt two resolutions, one naming Humbertson the fiscal agent for federal funding, and one to apply for indoor energy efficiency grants. They adopted both resolutions.
Branson said she’s working on a new version of the Employee Handbook, and will schedule meetings with elected officials for their input.
She provided an update on how new elected officials were settling.
Allegedly, the Hardy County Prosecutor’s physical office was left in disarray and needed cleaning, and all that office’s computers were reset to factory settings. The latter created a disruption that affected the Circuit Clerk’s office.
Circuit Clerk Kelly Shockey said her office had to make copies of many documents pertaining to court dates starting this month. She said they stayed functional, but the Prosecutor couldn’t access anything, and it created extra work.
Most of the deleted material on the computers was recovered.
With assistance from Macie Fultz and Amelia Gagnon, the office was functional within a few days.
Branson said that all Prosecuting Attorney office employees except one part-time employee had resigned.
She said the judicial offices and new magistrate reported no issues.
The last two topics of the meeting were board appointments and meeting dates.
The Commissioners will all keep the same board appointments.
The Hardy County Commission will hold two meetings each month for at least six months, “to see if it’s productive and accomplishes what’s intended,” Schetrom said. They intend to provide easier access to their meetings and procedures, and make it easier to engage with them at meetings.
Many who work are unable to attend meetings at 9 a.m. on first Tuesdays. They’re adding a second meeting, 5 p.m. on third Tuesday. The meetings will be in the Commission Chambers, in the courthouse.
The next meeting is Jan. 21 at 5 p.m., and the public is encouraged to attend.