| Most of the Calhoun Commission's meeting this week was addressing concerns for the water customers of the Mt. Zion PSD.
See AGEEMENT TO KEEP MT. ZION PSD SYSTEM OPERATIONAL MOVES FORWARD - One Year Operation/Maintenance Contract Will Keep Water Flowing, Boil Water Advisory Could Be Lifted Soon
Commissioners worked on issuing the regular 5-year levy that will be voted upon by county citizens on February 14, 2014.
The Emergency Services Levy, which funds the county fire departments, a partial salary for a deputy sheriff, and other ancillary emergency services, previously included funding for Calhoun Emergency Services ambulances.
Since Calhoun EMS is no longer a provider and the service was shifted to Minnie Hamilton Health System, MHHS saying the taxpayer contribution is no longer needed.
The EMS part of the levy (50.75%) has now been dropped, but voters will be asked to instead approve a Criminal Justice Levy, which will support payment of regional jail expenses, alternative sentencing programs and money needed to pay a full-time prosecutor. This levy is asking for an amount less than used for ambulance services.
County commissions have been challenged to pay regional jail fees.
Commission Chip Westfall said, "The levies are a more than a fair proposition for voters," with no increase in levy taxes, in fact a reduction.
Earlier in the meeting, Commissioner Bob Weaver made a motion to make the prosecutor full-time, but the motion died for a lack of a second.
Commissioner Kevin Helmick said he could not support the full-time position because of lack of funds in the current budget, with commissioner Westfall seeking support for the position with the Criminal Justice Levy.
Prosecutor Shannon Johnson told the commission that the part-time position does not cover the time and energy required for the office, giving examples of increased workloads.
Calhoun is one of three WV counties that does not have a full-time prosecutor.
- A request from the Mt. Zion PSD to lease the former EMS building at Mt. Zion for their operations was postponed, since the agency will not be operating the PSD.
- The commission passed a resolution for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
- Businessman Tom Ullum appeared to check the status of a car his company has had in holding for several years at the request of the WV State Police, requesting $26,000 for storage. The issue will be decided by the prosecuting attorney.
- John Schneider was appointed to the Calhoun Park Board.
- A grant resolution was approved for $30,000 from the Governor's Community Participation Grant Fund for courthouse repairs.
- 911/OES Director Kathy Wood reported that the Emergency Medical Dispatch program has been started at Calhoun's 911 Center, with the hiring of three new part-time EMD dispatchers, the program allowing dispatchers to stay on the phone during a medical crisis.
Woods said a new program has been activated that allows the spotting of locations from which cell phone calls are placed to 911.
She also said that further improvements to the 911 county radio dispatch system are in the works with repeaters.
- The commission went into executive session to discuss a legal issue, followed by no action.
- The commission spent much of the time approving bills, bonds, wills, and legal documents. | 
