COUNTY COMMISSION APPROVES BUDGET-LEVY - Hears Phone Complaint Problems, Fire Escape Installation Pending

(04/18/2014)
The Calhoun Commission has approved the 2014-15 levy rates and budget, commission president Chip Westfall said, "The commission has managed to put together a balanced budget, with the cooperation of elected officials and county employees."

The commission discussed a citizens concern about problems related to the maintenance of the road between the old Calhoun High School and Wayne Underwood Field.

While the street has long been used as a public Grantsville street, it is a driveway now owned by the current owner of the old high school property and the county who owns Wayne Underwood Field.

Commissioners said they will try to look into finding a solution to fix potholes, noting that half the drive-way is privately owned.

The commission was advised that the West Virginia Public Service Commission had approved returning operations of the Mt. Zion PSD from the Town of Grantsville, who had agreed to emergency operations and maintenance of the system last fall.

See WV PUBLIC SERVICE RETURNS WATER OPERATIONS TO MT. ZION PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT

A number of northern Calhoun citizens appealed to the Calhoun Commission to complain to the West Virginia Public Service commission regarding long-time Frontier phone disruptions in the general Big Springs area.

The commission will forward the complaints to the WV-PSC.

See BIG SPRINGS PHONE CUSTOMERS OUTRAGED ABOUT FRONTIER "STONE AGE" OUTAGES - Calhoun Commission Issuing Formal Complaint To WV-PSC

Minnie Hamilton EMS reported the service responded to 117 calls in March, with improved response times.

Calhoun 911 reported they received 267 calls in March.

Calhoun Clerk Jean Simers was given permission to install a railing on the handicapped access entrance into the basement of the courthouse.

The courthouse custodian tendered his resignation.

The commission noted that the project to install a fire escape to the upper floor of the courthouse is moving ahead, in addition to other projects to meet fire codes.

911 Director Kathy Wood said her agency is working with Calhoun Schools regarding safety issues.

The commission endorsed a grant for the West Central Beekeepers Association, and worked on a request from the Mt. Zion PSD to lease the former EMS building at Mt. Zion for their operations.

Approval was made to pay a mandatory fee of about $19,000 to the WV Auditors office for the annual audit of county funds.