By Gary Lee Stuber
The Clay County Commission meeting held on May 12 may have been light on content but not on news. The meeting was attended by all three commissioners: David Schoolcraft, Duane Legg, and President Joyce Johnson. County Clerk Shelia Stone was in attendance to record.
Before tackling routine county business, the commission heard a brief update on the Clay County Veterans Memorial still under development. Spokesman Joe Lanham said that the fencing had been ordered and was being delivered when the fence hangers arrived. They had to be shipped separately and he did not know when they were arriving. He wanted to know when the shrubs were coming down. Clay County Health Director Anna Brown told him volunteers were coming June 20 (West Virginia Day) to dig out the shrubs and wanted to know when the fence would be on site. Joe did not have a date but asked commissioners who was liable if someone got hurt on site during any possible gap before the fence went up. Commissioner Legg offered that because the county still owned the old courthouse property that the county would be the responsible party.
Curiously, this very subject came up at the last Clay County Historical meeting. Jerry Stover said at the meeting that the courthouse and other locations currently house in storage historical documents and artifacts for a possible museum and the site was supposed to be offered to them for that purpose by the commission. Another member cued that another window in the courthouse was recently lost to the ravages of time and weather and more needed to be done to keep maintenance up. Oscar Hutchinson, the society’s Parliamentarian said, “The Judicial Annex is being finished even now and will be at least six months before the old courthouse can be closed.” That dampened any hope of an early museum.
The commissioners told Joe Lanham it was unlikely someone would be there trespassing at the memorial site. Joe told them a year ago that while they were working on the memorial a young boy came crashing through the shrubs and fell likely twenty to thirty feet to the ground. Fortunately he was not seriously hurt. Commissioner Johnson said they would put up orange plastic fencing if there was a gap between the shrub dig-out and proper fencing going up.
The commission took care of routine county business approving previous minutes, approving bills and purchase orders, budget revisions, acknowledging erroneous assessments, accepting fiduciary affidavits and waivers of final settlements as presented by the county clerk.
The commission reappointed Joyce McLaughlin to the Clay County Board of Health. They accepted bids for projects out at Maysel Park to add top soil to the soccer fields and erect a new multi-purpose building for park picnics and family gatherings.
The commission previously held a public meeting explaining the new Special Emergency Ambulance Fee, and was about to adopt it when someone in the room wanted to speak. Commissioner Legg gave him the opportunity.
Daniel Tanner of Nebo introduced himself. He is a manufacturer in the county and also the owner of Walker Creek Farms. They are a tourist attraction in the county offering cabins and fishing and boating on a number of well stocked ponds. Tourist industries of this type are the target of this 2% tax added to the cost applied to customers.
Daniel argued that he is already maxed out on what he can charge. And he is erecting four more cabins increasing his overhead. He argued this is not the time to tax tourists just as Clay is struggling to enact a thriving tourist industry. Commissioner Johnson suggested that 2% seems minimal for a good cause: a needed new emergency vehicle. But Commissioner Legg suggested they table the approval and take another look at it. Commissioner Schoolcraft agreed and the special tax was tabled.
The commission set the next meeting for the day after the fourth Monday of the month to Tuesday, May 27 at 9 a.m. because that Monday is Memorial Day.
