HCCOA achieves financial stability
By Hannah Heishman
The Hardy County Commission held a regular monthly meeting on Feb. 3. Students from Hardy County FFA attended the meeting.
Commissioner David Workman attended by telephone.
Office of Emergency Management and 911 Director Paul Lewis reported there were no communications issues during a winter storm. He said calls took longer due to icy roads, but that all first responders did an excellent job.
Bergton responded to a sledding accident on Crab Run in Hardy County, as a result of a new memorandum of understanding (MOU), which took three years to finalize.
“It’s producing results,” said Commission president Steven Schetrom.
Roger Vacovsky presented Hardy County Emergency Ambulance Authority’s financial information. He said their income was below projection for January, so they also “ratcheted back expenses.”
West Hardy EMS treasurer Billie Biddle agreed that January was slow, adding that it’s normal.
Vacovsky and Biddle discussed mutual aid calls; West Hardy was dispatched for four calls in HCEAA’s area, and was canceled for three of them.
Vacovsky noted that two of the mutual aid calls were during a 90-minute period with five calls.
Bill Ours, Hardy County Health Department and president of the Committee on Aging, said the dialysis center has a single patient enrolled until the State assesses them as ready to accept all patients.
If someone is receiving dialysis, they can request transfer back to the Hardy County center.
Ours said that once it’s ready, there are 13 patients signed up from the Keyser dialysis center and an additional 10 who will receive treatment at home.
He said many citizens are experiencing Covid and the flu, and expressed concern that, “measles is all around us.
“We’re seeing diseases we haven’t seen in a while,” he said. “Follow the science and the history of what’s protected our people.”
Sheriff Steve Dawson said his deputies have been busy, with more than 200 calls in January.
At January’s meeting Dawson told the Commission his office was assisting ICE; this month, he reported they’d arrested 10 illegal immigrants.
Deputy Brad Short’s K9 is eight years old, and will retire in March. He is not planning to replace her. Dawson said Short will keep her.
County Clerk Loretta Humbertson told the Commission that citizen feedback warranted a second polling place for early voting, and suggested the HCEAA’s building in Baker. The Commissioners approved her suggestion.
Early voting begins Apr. 28. It’s 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the two Saturdays. The two available locations are the courthouse and HCEAA building, and any registered Hardy County voter can go to either location for early voting.
Voting can be electronic or with a paper ballot. Only voters registered Republican can vote on Republican ballots. As of publication, those registered for parties that do not have their own ballots can still choose to vote on the Democrat ballot.
For the General Election in November, there will be only one ballot that everyone will use, based on results from the Primary.
The County owns three military surplus field kitchens, currently stored at the Department of Highways shed. Lewis said a local church might be interested in them. Humbertson asked if the fire departments could use them, and Lewis said he’d check.
Mike Crites, executive director of the Hardy County Committee on Aging (HCCOA), said, “We are financially stable right now.”
Crites said the staff has evaluated all programming, not just financially, but also determining whether it’s meeting needs, and how best to move forward.
“I’ve learned a lot, I’ve got a lot more to learn,” he said, adding they’re providing more activities.
Ours, as HCCOA president, said, “Mike’s been a huge asset. The new board is tremendous… Most people think of the (senior) center as a place for old people to eat, but now they’re going to Buc-ees, to the Winchester Mall for shopping. It’s come a long way.”
Darren Taylor, executive director of the South Branch Valley Day Report Center serving Hardy, Hampshire and Pendleton Counties, requested Commission signatures on an MOU to continue their support.
The Commission approved signing the MOU.
The SBVDRC is an alternative supervision for criminal court cases. Instead of sending people to jail, the judges can choose to send them to the DRC. It’s cheaper for counties to send people to the DRC than it is to send them to jail.
The SBVDRC has saved more than $1 million yearly for the past three years.
Taylor said last year the center had 280 clients. They already have 265 this year.
They provide education, parenting skills, life skills, relapse prevention, therapy and domestic violence intervention, among other things.
They received a $250,000 grant to begin a juvenile services program.
“The goal is to see them now so we don’t have to see them as adults,” Taylor said.
Mallie Combs RDA. Farmland Preservation board to be filled. George Leatherman is president. Need to replace a director. Last contract ends end of March, wants to retire. Workman said they’ve met someone who does this work in Mineral and Hampshire. Part time position. Pretty significant work associated with it. Salary around $20K/year, which last month was what the County made from Farmland Preservation. Will put a job description together, looking for someone to fill the space. Dick Gray has served without or with very minimal pay.
The Rural Development Authority executive director, Mallie Combs, asked the Commission to pay a $1700 fuel oil bill for the Hamilton House warming center and emergency shelter.
Combs also asked if Commissioners would approve her request to manage the Hamilton House the same way the RDA manages their other properties, including not allowing snow to be pushed onto the property. The Commission approved.
“We always go back to the insurance, and if there’s something that’s a particular liability, we do not allow that,” Combs said. A neighbor had asked permission to push snow onto the Hamilton House property.
National FFA Week is Feb. 21-28. FFA students from across the county attended the Commission meeting, bearing witness while also learning about how government works. They presented the Commission with a proclamation, which was approved and signed.
Commissioners and meeting attendees alike supported the students’ presence, and offered guidance as they return to their schools.
County Coordinator Wendy Branson reported there are currently 14 dogs at the pound. Dog warden Jim Shupe picked up 11 dogs in January; eight dogs went with Potomac Highlands Animal Rescue.
Branson presented a written response after a citizen posted a photograph of an underweight dog at the pound with frozen water. She said the dog did have access to shelter lined with bedding, and acknowledged the frozen drinking water. She reported the dog arrived in worse condition than it appeared in the photos.
She noted that the only dedicated income for the pound comes from citizens paying their dog taxes, which is $6 per dog. Shupe’s salary is $15,000, and the total income from dog taxes in 2025 does not cover half of that.
This means there is already a funding gap before considering mileage, supplies and maintenance, and veterinary costs.
While some people do donate some items, most expenses fall on the County. And with even less money available now than there has been, the county is left trying to fund everything from emergency medical services to the dog pound.
She also reminded listeners that, officially, the pound is a holding facility for animals, not an animal rescue. The County is only required to keep dogs for five days; after that, dogs can be humanely euthanized at the County’s discretion.
Shupe has avoided that for all but a very few, very unstable dogs.
“I encourage anyone who has a dog, please pay your dog taxes” in the County Assessor’s office, Branson said.
Finally, she noted that, due to liability and the risk to animals and humans, No Trespassing signs are posted, cameras are in use, and anyone discovered to have gained unauthorized access to the facility is subject to citations.
Schetrom said he’d like the Humane Society of Hardy County to help take some of the load: “We have to keep communication and coordination with the Humane Society.”
Previously, HSHC members volunteered to help at the pound and offered to assist with funding. The County was unable to accept the donation, and liability created concerns for volunteers. Communications broke down.
The HSHC does not have a facility ready to accept animals. Their primary focus has been assisting with the County’s feral cat population, although members assist other animals as needed.
Peggy Moomaw, Hardy County Public Information Officer, said the most popular posts on the County’s social media pages involve the Sheriff’s reports and closure notices.
Humbertson reported she’s trying to get youth involved in election processes.
The W.Va. Secretary of State’s office hosted an I Voted sticker contest for 8th graders. No digital submissions were allowed, only hand-drawn. In Hardy County, Lelia Brafford was first place; Georgia Hahn was second place; and Brantley Crites took third place. Honorable mentions were Bella Linville, Kate Huffman and Case Whetzel.
Hardy County had 45 submissions. Brafford’s submission will go to the regional competition.
Humbertson said the county is near 85% enrollment for voters, and that Moorefield High School was very close to getting 100% of those eligible to vote in the primary registered.
She’s also hoping to find younger poll workers for the Primary and General elections.
The December 2025 jail bill was $38,696.58.
The amount for farmland preservation was $19,655.90.
The County Commission’s next regular meeting is Tuesday, March 3 at 9 a.m. in their courthouse chambers. The meeting will be streamed on the County’s Facebook page, where it will also be available to watch for about two months. The public is encouraged to attend or observe.
