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The financially riddled Town of Clay is without a mayor after the
angry resignation of
Dr. Sharooz Jamie, who held the job for only a month. Sharooz says the
town is in debt
from $40,000 to $70,000, indicating a problem with financial records.
He says the
town is adding another $10,000 in debt each month, even after losing
the police chief,
certified water operators and street workers.
Temporary Police Chief Linda Gray, according to the Clay Communicator,
walked out
of a recent council meeting and left her gun at the front desk. The
town's Christmas
lights are still up, no town employees to take them down.
The Clay Communicator says Sharooz resigned after a "yelling and
screaming" match
at a council meeting. Sharooz quit when he did not receive support of
council
members after he insisted on rehiring a fired water plant operator.
Sharooz recently
replaced Mayor Joyce Gibson who quit because of an illness.
Congresswoman Shelly Moore Capito (Republican) has reportedly obtained
a $50,000
emergency loan for the beleaguered town, but Clay officials say they
have not
received the money.
The nearly bankrupt town is looking at the construction of a new water
plant.
The town and counties public water system has been in disarray for
several months,
after the state Bureau of Public Health made a surprise visit. They
declared the water
was dangerous to drink and the Clay school system has been purchasing
bottled
water to keep the schools open. Health official J. D. Douglas said
water taken directly
from the Elk River was nearly the same as the treated water.
Boil water orders have been in effect during much of 2001 since
certified water
operators cannot be kept on the payroll. West Virginia Water Company
has been
providing free temporary operators and relief, but they are scheduled
to leave.
The town's water system supplies public service districts in the
county. They too are
in financial distress and seeking rate hikes.
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