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By Bob Weaver
In our bountiful society, when most folks flip the light switch, twist
the water faucet,
call the police, need a pothole fixed or request an ambulance - we are
use to the
correct response.
In Clay County, more particularly the Town of Clay, some of the basics
are falling
apart. The town's third mayor in recent weeks was appointed this
Tuesday. His name
is Glenn Nichols. Clay Council may not have followed the open meetings
law to get
him on the job, but things are desperate. There is anger, screaming
and yelling, with
blame placed on lack of funds or personal character, or both.
Most of this year, and again this week, the water system is under a
boil advisory. A
testing of water a few weeks ago resulted in the tester saying the
quality was similar
to nasty water straight from the Elk River. The town provides water to
the counties
public service districts, so all the customers are in turmoil. The
PSD's, some of them
seeking rate increases, don't know where to turn.
"Some people seem to think the money has been misspent," said Pam
Taylor of
Bickmore. "Whatever, the place is in a mess." Her friend from Ivydale
Brenda Baird,
caught strolling down Main Street Wednesday said "Things need to look
up pretty
soon. It's hard to tell what's going to happen next." Interestedly,
traffic was
bumper-to-bumper on Main Street, Route 16.
The Clay County school system has been purchasing bottled water to
keep school
open. The town has been unable to pay the certified water plant
workers, and for a
while, West Virginia Water Company gave a helping hand with their
employees. The
Town of Clay has been on the brink of building a new and upgraded
water plant. With
the town in debt up to $70,000, according to last week's Mayor, it is
unlikely the
project will be launched.
Street workers have not removed the Christmas lights, and it is not
clear if there are
any street workers left. The town's last temporary Police Chief turned
her badge and
gun back in to the town a few days ago. The ambulance service is in
bad shape,
cutting their budget and cutting services, midst conflict and
in-fighting.
The Clay Commission is facing a serious financial crisis, and everyone
is blaming
everyone else. With or without "fall guys," the situation is really
depressing.
Described as a town fixture, "Crow" Smith remained perched on his
stone pillar in
front of the old courthouse. He thought it was "pretty peaceful around
here even
without the town cop." Smith was an obvious photo target for the
Charleston
newspaper last week. "I still like it here," he said.
Christmas lights are still up
Vacant storefront welcomes visitors
War memorial honors Vets
Clay Republican Headquaters at "Y"
Pam Taylor(L)of Bickmore and Brenda Baird (R) of Ivydale talk about
the future of Clay
"Crow" Smith sits on perch at old Clay courthouse
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