Pat Heaster, DC OES Director presented the monthly OES report that included meeting with EQT and the VFDS concerning emergency plans for each EQT well, working on the wild well training for the VFDS, meeting with Ritchie Co OES to review their emergency operations plan.
He presented the County Commission with a DRAFT copy of the Doddridge County Emergency Operations Plan, noting that it was a work in progress. Mr. Heaster ended his report with an update of the current State of Emergency status noting that the DC OES office had been opened @ 10 pm, Friday, June 29 at the WU VFD, where there was power and phone. He also noted that water and ice was available at this location and that cooling stations had been set up at the Senior Citizens Center and McClellan VFD.
Steve Thompson, Insurance Agent , met with the Commissioners and explained the county’s insurance rates had risen from $99,000.00 per year to $123,684.00 due to an across the board rate raise, the increase in county’s exposure and the correction of the addition of the DCAA to their policy. He also noted that the premium was due on or before July 1, 2012. He was covering the premiums until the Commission approved the premium with the rate increases. Ralph Sandora asked Mr. Thompson if the insurance would be covering the costs incurred by the Commission for representation of the Flood Plain Appeals issue. Mr. Thompson replied that until the Commission was served with notice of legal action that the insurance would not be providing compensation for Attorney’s fees.
Beth Kellar gave a report and made recommendations to the Commission concerning the following financial issues:
The Oil and Gas Severance money was received in the amount of $431,821.00
Contract Workers – The IRS has mandated that all contract workers be re identified as employees. This will affect part of the staff at the courthouse and may affect the numbers with Brickstreet.
Recommends that all donations that were budgeted be paid to each agency.
Recommended that surplus be used for pay increases.
Noted that Fringe Benefits (such as payment for meals while attending day meetings) cannot be reimbursed for elected officials anymore.
Don Cumpston and Jim Bland from the DC Civil Service Board met with the Commission briefly in executive session concerning personnel. The Commission returned to the meeting and the motion was made and approved to compensate the deputies $50.00 per on call shift if they were not called out and if they were called out to pay the regular rate plus the $50.00.
Candy Mullins addressed the Commission with her concerns of the truck traffic which has been present on Snowbird noting the size of the trucks on the road was creating a danger for regular traffic. Commissioner Sandora was delegated to notify the State Road with these concerns.
Tammy Beamer filed a formal complaint with the Commission concerning the 911 Addressing and Mapping . Her complaint indicated that 7 out of 18 residents in her community had been given what she felt an improper address, including her own address. She indicated that she wasn’t upset about the address change but that the whole idea of 911 addressing and mapping was to provide the exact direction to people’s homes in the event of an emergency and incorrect locations could cause delayed response times for emergency services.
Other agenda items discussed and decided included:
* Dan Wellings – DC FPC. Discussed Flood Plain Permit Fee changes
*Opportunity Council requested $ a 15,000.000 donation. The Commission approved donating $7500.00.
*Discussed EDA Director’s employment status which was tabled.
*Discussed and decided against removing outside pay phone
* Discussed hiring of and interviewed for the open Security Guard position.
*Met with Prosecuting Attorney to discuss contract worker employment status and copier purchase.
*Also announced grant approval for the DC Day Report Center .
VIDEO Coverage of the meeting and a copy of the agenda can be found {HERE}
