One of the first requests to come before the Braxton County Commission at their regular meeting on Friday, August 19 was from Sheriff Lou DellaMea to fill the position of Chief Deputy. The Sheriff explained that a successful applicant would be responsible for direct supervision of all subordinate Deputy Sheriffs, preparing work schedules and other reports for the Sheriff’s approval. He added that the applicant must also be a certified police officer with prior supervision experience.
After hearing the request, Commission President Lisa Godwin told the Sheriff that the Commission would have to reactivate the local Civil Service Board which would have to approve the request before the Commission could take action. Godwin stated that the Commission would move forward with corrective action pertaining to the Civil Service Board. Later in the meeting Lieutenant Bryce Scarboro of the Sheriff’s Department stated that he had spoken with the three members previously appointed to the Civil Service Board and all three were willing to continue to serve in that capacity.
Eddie Williams was first to speak to the Board. He gave the Commission an update on the activities of the Pleasant Hill Waterline Association in the area of fundraising and activities planned for the near future.
Williams also addressed problems at the Falls Run Community Center which is utilized as a polling precinct during elections for that portion of the county. He stated that there was a soft spot in the floor and the porch needed work. He also identified an old concrete walkway that needed to be removed. He requested the county, as they had in the past, provide the labor for the repairs and the Park and Recreations Board would purchase the materials. President Godwin stated that she would have the County Maintenance Department look at the repairs needed.
Beth Atkins introduced Samantha Foster the new librarian at the Sutton Public Library. Foster in turn, reviewed programs that the library was providing and answered questions for the Commission.
The Commission President reviewed the OES/9-1-1 report provided by Director John Hoffman who was not in attendance. That report revealed that Braxton County had fielded 2,757 calls during the month of July with 693 being of an emergency nature. Of those, 561 were referred to the county’s law enforcement agencies, 138 were fire related and 175 pertained to the EMS.
On a motion introduced by Larry Clifton, the Commission approved the short form settlements for the following as submitted by the Fiduciary Supervisor: Velma Lynn Clifton, Harold Stephen Gillespie, Linda F. Singleton, Nelva Squires, and John C. Squires.
A motion by Melvin Gum approved the correction of erroneous assessments for: Cynthia Duran, Kortney Davis, Sharon L. Thorne and Foster M Heater, James H. Hall, Lois E. Blake, Lawrence & Anita Wimer, Michael Rexroad, Charles Lane, Lou Ann Gaines, Robert Coffman, Jacob E. Fairburn Jr., Jesse L & Shirley Teters, Cody A. James, Arthur Boggs Jr., WJ McElwee, Randal Kendall, James W. Belknap, Patrick & Veronica McVay, and Edna Tonkin.
A request to consolidate contiguous tracts of land for tax purposes was approved for Coy J or Jesse Belknap.
Three purchase orders were approved via separate motions: $10,992 for 8 portable SIRN Radios and 12 charges for EMS; Sports Connection, $1,785 for lettering on 3 Sheriff’s cruisers; General Appliance, $1,919.50 to repair an air handler in the Court room.
The Commission approved a written request from John Hoffman to rehire Ralph A. Marshall as a full-time Emergency Vehicle Operator with extra assigned duties to include ambulance maintenance coordinator and driver training for new hires.
The Commission also approved a request from Hoffman as Mapping Coordinator to name a gravel road off Little Buffalo Road, Eagles Landing Drive.
The Commission approved intragover-nmental agreements with the towns of Sutton and Flatwoods for the County to service as Flood Coordinator within the municipalities.
The Commission reviewed the need for small window air conditioning units for the Courthouse Annex while the new unit was being bid and installed. Larry Clifton made a motion to purchase the lowest price which was Wal-Mart for 4-8,000 btu units costing $2,563.88 and 6-5,000 btu units costing $2,153.88.
Separate motions approved the county and EMS bills for payment as well as the minutes of the Commission’s August 5 regular meeting and August 15 emergency meeting pertaining to the air-conditioning unit in the Annex.
Beth Atkins told the commission of an upcoming public meeting in Sutton on August 23 pertaining to the Elk River Trail
Commission President Godwin requested a motion to go into executive session under section 6-9-A4 of the State Code to discuss a personnel related matter. That motion was approved at 9:40 a.m. The Commission reconvened in regular session at 10:16 a.m. with no action taken.
Being no further business to consider the meeting adjourned. The next regular meeting of the Braxton County Commission September 2 beginning at 9:00 a.m.
