| The West Virginia State Police are no longer seeking to close Calhoun's detachment and move it to a consolidated location at Big Otter in Clay County, according to Delegate David Walker.
Del. Walker said State Police officials have advised him they have purchased the Big Otter property, reportedly for $350,000, and will be converting the house and acreage for a training facility, in addition to housing the Clay detachment.
The agency appears to have reversed their position from needing to save $200,000-$250,000 by closing 21 barracks.
The elegant Clay County house and acreage near I-79 is described as the county's premium property, and had been listed by a realtor for $450,000. It will require additional funding for renovation and development.
Premo Big Otter house and acreage known as Boggs property, now
owned by Telford Cruickshank, reportedly sold to State Police for
$350,000, was assessed for $48,000 by former Clay Assessor Susie Legg; House has 16 rooms, five bedrooms, 3.5 baths, the realtor saying "Once you enter the door you will have stepped into Better Homes and Gardens"
Walker said he did not oppose the moving of the detachment from central Clay to Big Otter because it will improve the police presence in the county.
"I understand they will be looking for a new building to house the Grantsville detachment in Calhoun," Walker said, with officials indicating the current owner was wanting to sell the property.
Grantsville businessman Raymond Baker has leased the building near Grantsville to the agency for 20 years.
"I have never raised the monthly charge of $600 and just signed a two-year lease with them," Baker said. "I have not been trying to sell the building," he continued, saying the lease does have a clause it can be voided by either party.
Sgt. O. S. Starsick of the Grantsville detachment, said he had been asked to seek new quarters.
Col. C. R. "Jay" Smithers told the Calhoun Commission that the proposed closure of the Grantsville detachment was a cost-savings move, with the possible closure of 20 other detachments, recommended by an internal study done by the agency.
Public Information Officer Michael Baylous told state media, "We continually review our daily operations in an attempt to become more effective and efficient as an agency."
Baylous said the State Police is always willing to make changes to financially benefit the citizens of West Virginia and keep the public safe.
The Calhoun Commission acknowledged that the current detachment officers, for the first time in many years, were performing at a much higher level.
Following the publishing of the proposed consolidation by the Hur Herald about six weeks ago, agency supervisors advised local detachment officers to no longer release public information locally.
The agency has also declined general information and Freedom of Information requests from state media outlets for a list of detachments (21) on their proposed closure list.
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