By Gary Lee Stuber
The Clay County Commission met for their first monthly meeting in May 11 with all three Commissioners in attendance. Commission President Joyce Johnson was the only commissioner physically present, both Commissioners David Schoolcraft and Duane Legg were present by speaker phone. County Clerk Shelia Stone was present as recorder.
This meeting consisted mostly of routine county business, and was held the day before the West Virginia Primary when the courthouse would be busy, but the agenda was especially light. They approved minutes from the previous meeting, bills, purchase orders, budget revisions, erroneous assessments as presented by the Assessor, fiduciary appointments as presented by the County Clerk, including appointment of administratrix, affidavit and waiver of final settlements.
The commission accepted sealed bids for the paving project of the property around and behind the new Judicial Annex to be paid out of money reserved for the annex. Commissioner Johnson opened the five sealed bids and read them aloud to the rest of the commission. She explained before opening them they were not looking for the cheapest bid, but the total cost plus options and they were looking to see what additional options were offered.
The five bids were radically different in costs. The first bid opened was from WV Paving and the total was $49,400. The second was from Affordable Asphalt Maintenance for $63,463. The third was from Jane Lee Enterprises for $23,450. The fourth bid came from Mister Asphalt Inc. for $38,115. The fifth bid was from Triple A Paving and Sealing for $29,600. All these bids and their options will be looked at and the winning bid will be placed on the next agenda.
The 911 Ambulance Authority got a lot of activity at this meeting. First, the commission approved the hiring of a new paramedic, Jordyn Long. Then, the commission approved the selling of the surplus ambulance. This was the ambulance taken out of service when the new ambulance was put into service. Lastly, they considered the letter they received requesting two full time positions for either paramedics or EMT’s. The commission agreed to let the Ambulance Authority have two full time positions for either paramedics or EMT’s for three months, then they would evaluate that option going forward.
The commission approved a BDA request to use the front of the courthouse as well as the IGA parking lot for the farmers market to use June through September first and third Thursdays. Commissioner Legg, because he is often a vendor at these, abstained from voting but Joyce Johnson and David Schoolcraft made the approval.
Terry Martin, who was not present, had left an invoice for the Big Otter/Nebo/Walker Road Water Extension Project. These invoices are paid out of grant money collected for these projects, and the commission approved the invoice.
The next Clay County Commission meeting would have fallen on Memorial Day, so they moved the next meeting to the following day–Tuesday, May 26.
From those in the gallery when asked if they had anything to announce, Donna Salisbury of the Family Support Center across the road announced they were offering a Hunter’s Safety class on June 5 and 6 and there are still seven slots available to sign up for it. The Family Support Center is also sponsoring the ‘Little Anglers’ out at the lake at Wallback on June 13 fishing for children ages 5 to 12, as well as a ‘Popcorn Social’ on June 30 where everyone is invited.
Before adjourning, Commissioner Schoolcraft announced that MTA was very impressed by the county bus numbers, and they announced a daily bus into Clendenin and Charleston. Details are yet to come, but they are adding an additional bus, making five total operating in the county.
