By Gary Lee Stuber
All three members of the Clay County Commission met in a regular session on Monday Nov. 25, at 5 p.m. and awarded the low bidder Start to Finish Construction LLC to complete the Judicial Annex project next door to the courthouse. A little more than $980,000 was awarded. They came in approximately $400,000 under all other bidders.
The commission also took care of routine work, such as approving bills, purchase orders, minutes from previous meetings, affidavits, waivers, settlements of estates, probating wills and testaments, appointing executors of estates and more.
The commission made some hirings: Michal Wills as temporary part-time EMT-B and Aaron Burcham as temporary part-time paramedic. Both hires are without benefits.
The commission approved the Sheriff’s list of county real estate that are delinquent for 2023 taxes, and approved the public auction that will be held by the Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, Dec. 12, to sell two of the old cruisers.
The Clay County PSD Big Otter Waterline Extension project is $655,000 over funding and the project needs additional funding. The commission authorized President Joyce Johnson to request additional funds from either HUD, the Appalachian Regional Commission, or the West Virginia Economic enhancement grant to complete the Big Otter Waterline Extension project. They also moved to approve the Buffalo Creek Watershed to apply with the DEP for a $102,000 grant through the Clay County OASIS account. Mitch DeBoard was present to see the matter completed.
They only encountered one glitch. In a move to return unused WV Economic Enhancement Funds, originally held for the Judicial Annex, to the WV Water Development Authority, Commissioner Connie Kinder objected that funds were still needed for repairs of the Pumpkin Ridge Waterline Extension. She reminded them that it was a promise. President Johnson argued that money unused for a specific project needed to be returned and that they didn’t have authority to move to another project. Connie was overruled two to one and the measure was approved to return the money.
The next regular commission meeting is Monday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m.