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Calhoun's three county commissioners Larry McCallister, David Barr and
Bob Weaver
met Friday with B. Fred Hill, a district field representative for
Congresswoman Shelly
Moore Captio. Ms. Captio was scheduled for the meeting a few weeks
ago, but her
auto slid into a ditch on slippery Route 5.
Hill asked the Commissioners for a list of concerns for the county.
Some of the issues presented:
Unfunded mandates from Charleston, the financial destruction of rural
counties.
The struggle to pay the regional jail bill. Calhoun has always made an
effort, but larger
counties like Kanawha do not pay their assessment in a timely manner,
keeping the
moneys in interest bearing accounts.
The poor and unsafe condition of access roads out of the county,
making it difficult
for local residents to drive to their jobs, or hindering small
companies or businesses
from locating in the county.
The failure of the Appalachian Regional Commission to assist the
poorest of the poor
Appalachian counties over the past 35 years, which was their original
mission.
Infrastructure was funded primarily in developed areas that had more
immediate
potential, according to the ARC. The inability of rural counties whose
standards are
below the poverty level, twenty-six counties in West Virginia, to come
up with
matching money (25%) for projects.
The ARC says they may begin to favor these poor counties by adjusting
their formula.
Commissioner McCallister said the lack of matching money will still
deny funding in
most cases. "I just can't understand why our government spends
billions in
developing infrastructure in foreign countries and denies such
assistance here," said
Commissioner Barr.
There was talk about the need to obtain a shell building as an
incentive for small
companies to locate in Calhoun and the problem of finding enough flat
land for
commercial use.
Concerns were expressed regarding the need to maintain health care in
Calhoun,
referring to Minnie Hamilton Health Care. The center and the county
school system
are the largest employers. Those concerns have arisen because of
proposed budget
cuts to implement President Bush's tax breaks.
Hill said Congresswoman Capito will be returning to Calhoun to hear
the concerns of
residents in a public meeting.
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