State officials listen to problems faced by Calhoun citizens
Left to Right: Del. David Walker, moderator Donnie Pitts,
Sen. Larry Edgell and Sen. Jeff Kessler answer questions
A community forum discussing Calhoun County needs and challenges was held Friday at the county park, with the county's two State Senators, Jeff Kessler and Larry Edgell, and House of Delegate representative David Walker.
About 35 community members, elected officials, and representatives of essential services, had an opportunity to ask questions and express concerns to the elected officials.
Former Calhoun school administrator Donnie Pitts moderated the discussion, sharing his personal views about the county. "I have been fortunate to have grown up here, made a living here and raised my family here," he said, adding that his three daughters have had to leave the area to find employment.
"Our infrastructure makes it hard, hard to get here, hard to get out," Pitts said, declaring the lack of opportunity.
"It's hard on young people who do want to be productive citizens," he said.
Richard Westfall, administrator for WV-DHHR, told the officials, "We've got great young people, but what I'm seeing now is the working poor struggling to make ends meet and live here. The wages are not livable."
WVU Extension agent Curt Garrison, said his office was participating in several positive efforts, from trying to get a swimming pool for county youth to developing a new livestock program.
School Superintendent Roger Propst raised the issue of the state's unfunded liability for retirees, with the state counting their current debt against county school systems.
"We're currently being billed $72,000 a month or $1.2 million for the state's shortfall," said Propst, with most county school systems participating in a lawsuit over the action.
"One of our top issues is the replacing of Arnoldsburg School, getting it out of the flood plain," Propst said.
Patty Eisley, speaking for Calhoun EMS, said, "We're facing a shortage of paramedics, not unlike most of WV. Insurance companies and federal agencies are paying for ambulance service less than ever before."
"Our EMT's are paid $8 an hour, and paramedics are paid $11 an hour, with no benefits or retirement," Eisley said.
Former commissioner Rick Sampson, as a board member of the LK Transit Authority, acknowledged the support the agency had been given.
County commissioner Bob Weaver, speaking for the commissioners, expressed concerns about poor cell phone and high-speed Internet service, saying the county has long offered free tower and support service to providers, with no takers.
Saying Calhoun has the second smallest budget in the state, Weaver asked the state officials to support proposed laws that would bring taxation measures back to counties, so they could have some revenue locally to support local services.
County Clerk Richard Kirby said, "The people in this room wear many hats," indicating they speak for different needs and services.
L to R: Sen. Jeff Kessler, Sen. Larry Edgell and Sen. Larry Walker
Sen. Kessler responded to concerns over wireless phone and high-speed Internet services, saying communication infrastructure is a key to progress.
Kessler expressed concerns regarding the retention of a qualified workforce, and shortcomings in education "in a state that spends 70% of its' budget on education."
"I think we can come out of this recession and become a growth state," he said.
"We're one of a few states where the state budget is stable," said Senator Edgell, indicating that the teacher's retirement system has been a big challenge.
"We're solvent, looking for a brighter future," he said.
Delegate David Walker spoke about intervention with students who are having problems in public education.
"We could prevent a lot of problems and bring the graduation rate up," he said.
Walker addressed state-wide problems regarding volunteerism, particularly the needs of volunteer fire departments and local ambulance services.
Related to energy and the economy, Walker said, "You can't build enough windmills to replace (natural) gas."
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