By Hannah Heishman
County Planner Melissa Scott updated the County Commissioners on several ongoing projects at their Aug. 5 meeting.
She said she’d appealed FEMA’s flood plain maps, because they did not include Hardy County’s flood control dams in their models. She also proposed adding at least three stream gauges and including the Lost River, which currently has no gauges.
Scott said FEMA’s next step is to hold public hearings, which may be virtual due to lack of funding. The County will ultimately have to approve maps, and may need to hold their own hearings.
Scott reported the Planning Commission has approved the Hardy County Comprehensive Plan. “I think the biggest challenge was to balance everything,” she said, providing examples such as management vs. what people want to preserve, and property owner’s rights vs. neighbors’ rights.
The Commission approved holding a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the new Hardy County Health Department.
Joanna Reed from Eastern Regional Family Resource Network talked to the Commissioners about a plan for the RDA-owned Hamilton House, across North Elm from the courthouse.
Reed said the structure will be an emergency, short-term shelter for those fleeing, those who actually have no home or will have no home within 14 days, and those whose homes have become uninhabitable.
Reed said ERFRN will be assisting with resources to help tenants out of their current situation. She said the intention is stays of two weeks to a month.
Reed said there will be a breakfast in mid-September to define clear policies and procedures. She plans on eight beds to begin with, but could see providing up to 25 beds if needed. Meals could be prepared and served in-house.
She said it’s hard to collect accurate data, because many unhoused individuals have shelter on private land, where ERFRN can’t go to conduct surveys.
Paul Lewis reported the Lost City tower is up and running. The road washed in storms in the weeks preceding the meeting, and he said repairs were scheduled.
Lewis told the Commission that most grants were going towards the southern U.S. border and anti-terrorism measures.
The Commission approved and signed lease agreements for the Charlie’s Knob tower and the Helmick Rock tower, and the 2024 Homeland Security Grant award.
Steve Miller, Hardy County Emergency Ambulance Authority treasurer, and Derek Alt, the director, requested increasing the ambulance fee to help with staffing and equipment at the end of its life.
Alt reported HCEAA dropped 12 calls in July and seven in June. He blamed losing four full-time employees, with no backfills due to a hiring freeze to save funds.
“The idea is to look at the bigger picture, the 12 months rather than the two months,” Alt said.
Commission President, and acting HCEAA president, Steven Schetrom said he didn’t think the Commission was ready to vote on the fee, yet, and that there should be public hearings, first.
“There are more amendments that I think need to be added, or at least considered,” he said.
The Commission tabled voting on the ambulance fee until December.
The Commission approved signing the dog warden contract with Jim Shupe. Shupe was granted the opportunity to address the public about dropping dogs on or near Corridor H. He said in the last six months, between 15 and 20 dogs have been dropped in that area. He asked the public to please bring the dogs to the pound.
Shupe expressed concern for the animals, but also concern that humans could be killed either trying to swerve to miss a dog, or be struck trying to rescue a dog.
As of the meeting, the pound was holding 15 dogs.
Commissioners approved increasing mileage pay to match the federal rate of $.70. They signed a letter of support for Lost River Trails, a series of mountain biking trails under construction in and near Lost River State Park.
The Commission will meet again on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 9 a.m. in their courthouse chambers. The public is encouraged to attend.
