COMMISSION MEETING

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007

 

PRESENT:                 W. SCOTT BIAS, PRESIDENT

                                    ROBERT L. BAILEY, COMMISIONER

                                    NANCY CARTMILL, COMMISSIONER

                                    WILLIAM T. WATSON, COUNTY ATTORNEY

                                    STEPHEN ZOELLER, COUNTY MANAGER

                                    SHARON ROSS, ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER

                                    FOR BILLABLES AND PAYABLES

                                    CHRIS TATUM, ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER

                                    FOR PERSONNEL AND PURCHASING

 

W. Scott Bias, President, called the regular scheduled meeting of the Cabell County Commission to order at 10:00 a.m.

 

APPROVE:

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve the agenda as presented.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.  

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, moved to approve purchase orders #100 C through #246 B and pay jackets.  Robert L. Bailey, Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

 

Robert L. Bailey Commissioner, moved to approve erroneous assessments, land consolidations, split tickets and probate documentation.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, moved to approve handwritten checks to Mountain State Blue Cross and Blue Shield Company, not to exceed $100,000.00, from the Cabell County Medical Insurance Fund.  Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. 

 

#199                            LETTER, KAREN COLE, COUNTY CLERK

 

                                    RE:  COAL SEVERANCE FUND CARRYOVER,

                                             FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007 

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, moved to accept the letter regarding the Coal Severance Fund Carryover from the County Clerk.  Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007

PAGE TWO

 

#200                            LETTER, KIM WOLFE, SHERIFF

 

                                    RE:  SHERIFF’S COMMISSION - WEST VIRGINIA

                                             CODE §11-A-1-17

 

Stephen Zoeller, County Manager, stated a letter had been received from the Sheriff certifying the tax collections for 2006-2007, which entitled the Sheriff to receive his $15,000.00 supplemental pay.

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve the issuance of a check, in the amount of $15,000.00, to Sheriff Kim Wolfe.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. 

 

#201                            LETTERS, KIM WOLFE, SHERIFF

 

                                    EMPLOYMENT    

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, moved to approve the employment of Ronald Miller, Jr. as a full time deputy, effective July 16, 2007, with a rate of  pay of $2,360.34 per month; approve the employment of Carl Craft as part time Courthouse Security, effective July 13, 2007, with a rate of pay $10.00 per hour.  Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.    

 

#202                            RESOLUTION, CABELL COUNTY COMMISSION

 

                                    RE:  HONORING WILLIAM EARL “BILL” WOLFE   

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, moved to approve the adoption of a resolution honoring Cabell County resident, William Earl “Bill” Wolfe, who was celebrating his 105th birthday.  Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.  Exhibit (A)

 

#203                            APPEARING, R. LEE BOOTEN, II

 

                                    RE:  ESTATE OF JOHN THOMAS VINTON

                                             MOTION TO REOPEN CLAIMS PERIOD AND                                                             ENJOIN CLOSING ESTATE

 

This item was moved to later in the agenda.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007

PAGE THREE

 

#204                            APPEARING, RALPH BASSETT, ESQUIRE 

 

                                    RE:  ESTATE OF GORDON DANIEL HAZELETT

                                             PETITION TO RELEASE CLAIM FILED AGAINST

                                             THE ESTATE BY BANK OF AMERICA DUE TO

                                             SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND DUE TO ESTATE

                                             INSOLVENCY

 

Ralph Bassett, attorney representing the Gordon Daniel Hazelett Estate, appeared before the Commission with a petition to release claims filed against the estate due to insolvency.

 

William Watson, County Attorney, stated he had reviewed the petition and found everything to be in order and as there were insufficient assets to pay the claims of the creditors, he would recommend the Commission grant the petition.

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, moved to approve the petition to release claims against the Estate of Gordon Daniel Hazelett.  Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

 

#205                            RESOLUTION, CABELL COUNTY COMMISSION

 

                                    RE:  AUTHORIZE PARTICIPATION AND COOPERATION

                                             IN THE WEST VIGINIA LOCAL ECONOMIC

                                             DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM  

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve the county’s participation and cooperation in the West Virginia Local Economic Development Grant Program.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.  Exhibit (B)

 

#206                            LETTER, RESOLUTION AND GRANT CONTRACT

 

                                    RE:  CABELL COUNTY DAY REPORT CENTER AND

                                             ENHANCED COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAM

                                             $93,100.00 GRANT #08-CCF-60

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve the grant contract for funding, in the amount of $93,100.00, for the Cabell County Day Report Center.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.  Exhibit (C)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007

PAGE FOUR

 

#207                            RESOLUTION, CABELL COUNTY COMMISSION

 

                                    RE:  IN THE MATTER OF AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

                                             TO BUILD A CABELL COUNTY EMERGENCY

                                             RESPONSE CENTER 

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve publishing of an advertisement for bids for the new E-911 Center.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.  Exhibit (D)

 

#208                            RESOLUTION, CABELL COUNTY COMMISSION 

 

                                    RE:  IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF A

                                             RESOLUTION TO BECOME A PARTICIPATING

                                             PUBLIC EMPLOYER OF THE WEST VIRGINIA

                                             EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES RETIREMENT

                                             SYSTEM   

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, moved to approve the adoption of a resolution for participation in the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Retirement System.  Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. 

Exhibit (E)

 

#209                            RESOLUTIONS, CABELL COUNTY COMMISSION

 

                                    RE:  RECLASSIFICATION /EMPLOYMENT – CCEMS   

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, moved to approve the reclassifications of Shane Skeens and Ricky L. Reynolds as full time EMT’s, effective July 13, 2007, with their rate of pay of $7.29 per hour; reclassifications of Kyle Jeffrey Adkins, Sean Michael Gue and Scott Michael Preston as full time temporary EMT’s, effective July 13, 2007, with their rate of pay of $7.29 per hour; the reclassification of John B. Perry as a per diem Paramedic, effective July 13, 2007, with a rate of pay of $10.80 per hour and the employment of Phillip Anthony Bowen as a per diem Paramedic, effective July 13, 2007, with a rate of pay of $7.29 per hour.  Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

 

#210                            RESOLUTION, CABELL COUNTY COMMISSION

 

                                    RE:  IN THE MATTER OF AN AMENDMENT TO A

                                             RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE DISPATCHING

                                             OF TOWING SERVICES FOR EMERGENCY TOWING

                                             OF VEHICLES 

 

 

 

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007

PAGE FIVE

 

Stephen Zoeller, County Manager, stated this amendment, on the emergency towing policy, was in regard to action taken at a previous meeting which would place Johnny’s Auto Recovery on the rotation list.

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve the amendment to the resolution establishing the dispatching of towing services for the emergency towing of vehicles.  W. Scott Bias, President, seconded the motion and the vote was as follows:          Exhibit (F)

 

                                                            W. Scott Bias, President                                aye

                                                            Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner                  aye

                                                            Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner                     nay

 

#211                            DISCUSSION/ACTION:

                       

                                    RE:  CHANGE OF SCOPE AND REBID COURT SECURITY

                                             GRANT

 

Stephen Zoeller, County Manager, stated since the bid for this project had been awarded, there were several changes the court system would like to make and several items that were requested which had already been purchased through a previous grant, therefore, he would like to re-bid the project.  Mr. Zoeller further stated that once the Court Judges had made recommendation on how the funds would be spent, it would come back to the Commission for their approval and then the project would be re-bid.

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, moved to approve the change of scope and to rebid the Court Security Grant.  Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

 

#212                            DISCUSSION/ACTION:

 

                                    RE:  CONTRACTING ATTORNEY TO ASSIST IN

                                             COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT TAXES 

 

W. Scott Bias, President, stated he believed the Commission needed to discuss on what bases an attorney would be hired to assist in the collection of delinquent taxes and since Tom Bell, Chief Tax Deputy, was not present, he believed this should be tabled.

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, stated she was fine with they way they had preceded with the previous attorney and she would like the commission to check with the Board of Education and other entities to see if they would be willing to pay their share on attorney fees.

 

William Watson, County Attorney, stated he had reviewed the law and believed it to state that they could participate in certain fees, however, he did not believe their participation would include paying attorney fees.  Mr. Watson further stated he believed Mr. Bell was checking with the State Auditor for clarification on this issue.

 

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007

PAGE SIX

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to table this item until clarification could be obtained and the Sheriff or Mr. Bell could be present.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

 

#203                            APPEARING, R. LEE BOOTEN, II

 

                                    RE:  ESTATE OF JOHN THOMAS VINTON

 

Lee R. Booten, attorney representing Wayne Paxton Vinton and his son, Wayne Edward Vinton, appeared before the Commission and informed them that when Wayne Paxton Vinton moved out of his house and into a nursing home, he allowed his son, John Thomas Vinton, to remain in said house.  Mr. Booten went on to say that the furniture and furnishings belonged to Wayne Paxton Vinton.  Mr. Booten stated that Wayne Edward Vinton helped Mr. Vinton with his bills. 

 

Mr. Booten stated John Thomas Vinton died unexpectedly October, 2006 and the administrator of his estate, Keith Vinton, son of John Thomas Vinton, filed an appraisal of the estate showing the house as part of the estate of John Thomas and listed the house in the probate appraisal of John Thomas Vinton.  Mr. Booten further stated his client, Wayne Paxton Vinton, was not listed as a beneficiary and has denied ever signing a deed in February 2005 and denied giving the house to his son, John Thomas Vinton.  Mr. Booten stated a declaratory judgment, which was pending, has been filed in the Circuit Court.

 

Mr. Booten stated he was requesting the claims period be re-opened on the Estate of John Thomas Vinton, as the deed was fraudulently obtained, thus not allowing the plaintiffs sufficient time to file a claim against the estate before the expiration of the claims period. 

 

Paul J. Prunty, attorney representing Keith Vinton, stated he believed the claims period did not need to be re-opened as there was a suit pending against the estate, therefore, Mr. Vinton could not close the estate even if he wished.  Mr. Prunty further stated if the claims were to be re-opened, there was the possibility of more claims being filed against the estate and personal property was not a claim.

 

Mr. Prunty stated he believed the Commission no longer had jurisdiction over the estate and the matter would be taken care of in Circuit Court. 

 

William Watson, County Attorney, stated the Commission always maintained jurisdiction over probate matters.  Mr. Watson further stated that fraudulent issues would be decided by the courts and there were laws that provide for claims to be filed after the claim period ends if the estate has not been disbursed.   Mr. Watson recommended the Commission affirm the estate not be closed.   

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to affirm the estate should not be closed by reason of pending litigation and any disputed claims be filed against the estate and resolved as part of the litigation.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007

PAGE SEVEN

 

#213                            DISCUSSION/ACTION: 

 

                                    RE:  ASSESSMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR E-911

                                             AND CCEMS  

 

Stephen Zoeller, County Manager, stated the Commission, along with other offices had provided support services for CCEMS and E-911 at no cost.  Mr. Zoeller further stated those services include the payroll department, tax department, purchasing and Human Resources and now CCEMS and E-911 were in a position to compensate the county for these services.

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, asked if the Commission was going to charge other offices in the Courthouse the same fee because of the services they were provided.

 

Mr. Zoeller stated that would not be a recommendation and Commissioner Cartmill asked why CCEMS and E-911 were singled out when no other office would be charged.

 

W. Scott Bias, President, stated it was because the other offices come out of the general fund budget and CCEMS and E-911 generate their own money and were self sufficient.

 

Commissioner Cartmill stated it has taken a long time for E-911 to become self sufficient and with the help of the tariff fees they have been able to raise employee’s salaries in order not to lose personnel.  Commissioner Cartmill went on to say that E-911 was now in the process of building a new center and that center would need new equipment and she would hate to jeopardize their needs.

 

Commissioner Cartmill further stated CCEMS had done a wonderful with their money and that if Mr. Merry needed a new ambulance, he purchased the ambulance with his money and all of the new ambulance stations were built out of these funds, due to Mr. Merry’s good management.  Commissioner Cartmill stated she did not believe E-911 and CCEMS should be penalized by adding an administrative fee.   

 

Mr. Zoeller stated the administrative fees would not jeopardize the financial stability of either organization.

 

W. Scott Bias, President, stated he did not believe the Commission was penalizing the organizations because he believed the Commission had been generous in supporting them which had helped them to the place they were today.

 

Commissioner Cartmill stated the public had given the support through the tariff fees and levies and she did not believe telephone tariff fees could legally be used for administrative fees.

 

William Watson, County Attorney, stated he had reviewed the statues and he believed it was legal to charge administrative costs.



THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007

PAGE EIGHT

 

Commissioner Cartmill stated the administrative costs were for the director and assistants at E-911.  Commissioner Cartmill asked Mike Davis, E-911 Director, if other counties charged administrative fees.  Mr. Davis stated he did not know if any counties charged administrative fees.

 

President Bias stated he believed CCEMS and E-911 were model agencies and it was due to good management and the Commission had given them the tools to reach that point. 

 

Commissioner Cartmill stated she believed it was wrong to charge the administrative fees and asked how much money the fees would generate. 

 

Mr. Zoeller stated it would be based on percentages of 1% to 5%.

 

Commissioner Cartmill stated she was told this fee would provide pay raises for the employees at the Courthouse and it was not right to fund a pay raise with the administrative fees from E-911 and CCEMS.  Commissioner Cartmill went on to say if the Commission wanted to give pay raises to the employees, then they need to look at the carry-over at the end of the year to see what the county could afford and then give the raises.

 

President Bias stated he believed once you have become self sufficient, then you need to take responsibility for services provided.  President Bias further stated that a lot of services were provided to CCEMS and E-911 and he believed they should pay for them.  

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, asked Mr. Watson if charging an administrative fee was legal and Mr. Watson replied it was his opinion that it was legal to charge the fee.

 

After more discussion, Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to charge a 3% administrative fee from CCEMS and E-911.  W. Scott Bias, President, seconded the motion and the vote was as follows:

 

                                                            W. Scott Bias, President                                aye

                                                            Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner                  aye     

                                                            Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner                     nay 

 

#214                            LETTER, CABELL COUNTY COMMISSION

 

                                    RE:  WV CODE 7-7-7 (DEPARTMENT CONTROLLED BY

                                             THE CABELL COUNTY COMMISSION)

 

Stephen Zoeller, County Manager, stated this was a correction on the salary letter pursuant to West Virginia Code 7-7-7 that was approved at the previous meeting.

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve the correction of Home Confinement’s payroll letter.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

 

THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2007

PAGE NINE

 

#215                            RESOLUTION, COAL SEVERANCE STATE BUDGET

                                    REVISION #1, FY 2007-2008

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve the Coal Severance State Budget Revision #1.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.  Exhibit (G)

 

#216                            RESOLUTION, GENERAL FUND, COUNTY BUDGET

                                    REVISION #1, FY 2007-2008

 

Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, moved to approve General Fund County Budget Revision #1.  Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.  Exhibit (H)

 

#217                            RESOLUTION, GENERAL FUND, STATE BUDGET

                                    REVISION #1, FY 2007-2008 

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, moved to approve General Fund State Budget Revision #1.  Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.  Exhibit (I)

 

William Watson, County Attorney, informed the Commission that on August 10, 2007, Judge Kaufman would hear the Foster Foundation suit against the Commission.

 

Stephen Zoeller, County Manager, stated he was working with County Clerk, Karen Cole, on the new accounts payable system.  Mr. Zoeller further stated that the new system would start August 1, 2007, with the old system running parallel to make sure everything was correct.  Mr. Zoeller went on to say we would convert to the new system on August 16th if there were no problems. 

 

Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, stated he would like to meet with Mrs. Cole regarding the precinct changes that had been discussed at a previous meeting.

 

W. Scott Bias, President, adjourned the meeting at 11:15 a.m., until the next scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 26, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.

 

 

 

                                     

                                                            _____________________________________________

                                                                   PRESDENT, COUNTY COMMISSION 

 

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