| During a Tuesday meeting, Calhoun Commission president Chip Westfall said under an item for Policy Handbook Revision, "Efforts will be made to change county employees salaries to be based on actual hours offices and the courthouse are open using the 2015 budget."
The commission recently extended the time the courthouse is open to eight hours 8-4, acknowledging the commission has no control over how elected officials exercise lunch hour.
"The reason for the change in court house hours, it was recommended by the state auditors office so that the county would be in compliance with federal minimum wage and overtime laws," Westfall said.
Westfall had commented that the commission had spent several weeks researching the commission's legal authority to define the office hours of elected officials, and that it appears that authority is to define when the courthouse will be open.
Commissioner Helmick said, "While there are reasons why certain offices can't be staffed and open during lunch hour, it is my suggestion that they should, particularly when they have staff, the commissions apparent authority is to adjust their budget during budget time for non-compliance."
Helmick said the most complaints he has received related to the Sheriff's office closing one hour at lunch.
Helmick, during Tuesday's meeting, said Calhoun Sheriff Carl Ballengee had overpaid himself $4,084.05 for a supplement Sheriffs are allowed for collecting taxes, the Sheriff's Department indicated it was an accounting error.
"The Calhoun Commission through the County Clerk have requested the sheriff repay that amount to county funds, with that amount to be deducted through a monthly re-payment plan from Sheriff Ballengee's salary through July, 2016," Helmick said.
The commission approved a 911 request to restore Tom Ullum's wrecker service to 911 rotation, related to the WV-PSC saying he had met certification requirements and that he had paid for a business license.
Calhoun 911 for September reported 123 calls for the WV State Police, 20 calls for the Calhoun Sheriffs Department and 12 calls for the Grantsville Police Department and WV Natural Resource Police 3 calls.
September calls listed by 911, Grantsville VFD 11 calls, Upper West Fork VFD 8 calls, Arnoldsburg VFD 3 calls, 82 calls for MHHS EMS through 911.
Calhoun Librarian Amy Norman appeared before the commission to possibly request the Library Levy be run on the 2016 ballot by the Calhoun Commission regarding its renewal.
Norman said the Calhoun Board of Education has yet to approve to run the levy for the library again, although such would help insure its passage, requiring a simple majority vote.
If the levy is run by the Calhoun Commission, the levy would require 60% approval.
Commissioners advised Norman they would process her request with formal notification.
Amanda Payne of the Rahall Transportation Institute advised commissioners that her group is looking at developing a sweeping ATV trail involving several Central WV counties, including Calhoun.
The project is in the early planning stages.
Payne said the recreational trail would be similar to the Hatfield and McCoy Trail in southern WV.
The commission donated $200 each to Halloween parties in Grantsville and Arnoldsburg, and a $100 donation to Christmas Connection.
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