Hardy County Commission approves copier lease, reviews animal-shelter upgrades and cites drought concerns

The Hardy County Commission on Oct. 2 (meeting date not specified in the record) approved an upgraded copier lease and heard County Coordinator Wendy Branson review a range of county operations, including completion of work at the animal pound, pending grant applications for courthouse and park improvements, and drought-related calls from residents with dry wells.

Branson said the county’s dog pound picked up eight dogs in September; five were returned to owners, one was rehomed and staff logged roughly 353 miles of travel that month. "The construction at the pound has now been completed," Branson said, and she reported donated fencing and debris were removed in coordination with park staff. Two kennels purchased from Tractor Supply have been installed on a new concrete pad; park staff plan to include a third kennel on a forthcoming concrete pour so the pound will have three available enclosures.

Branson also said internet cabling was installed at the pound and that a new camera system was installed Oct. 2 by installer Tommy McCausley; McCausley needs to complete software setup to enable notifications on Branson’s and pound staff phones. Branson said Melvin is building heavy-duty shelving to organize donated blankets and towels.

On finance and equipment, Branson described the existing copier arrangement and a proposed replacement lease. She summarized current costs as roughly $144 per month (lease plus average usage/maintenance) and said the proposed lease "incorporates the average monthly usage cost providing a newer, more capable copier for a small increase in a monthly expenditure." Commissioners voted to proceed with the upgrade; the commission chair said the expense will come from the equipment line in the county budget.

Branson reported grant activity: the county applied for a Courthouse Facilities Improvement Grant to replace exterior doors and windows on the first floor; the application covered one phase (about $87,000) because the full project would have exceeded the program’s $100,000 maximum. She said the county typically expects notification about awards in mid-December. Branson also said a spay-and-neuter grant is winding down and that scheduling surgeries has been difficult because local veterinarians are overcapacity; the county has used out-of-state providers when necessary. For parks, Branson said she is preparing a grant application for Brighton Park to purchase playground equipment that would include adaptive, inclusive components for users with disabilities.

Clerk reports and county finances were discussed as well. The county clerk brought routine exonerations, consolidated tax items and checks for commission approval; commissioners voted to approve those items. The clerk reported farmland preservation receipts for September of $14,234 and a jail bill for August of $41,010.84, and noted the jail bill has been rising and is a growing, largely uncontrollable portion of county budgets. Rob Kerr reported the home-incarceration program supervised 10 offenders and recorded 280 person-days of supervision in the month reported.

Drought and resident impacts drew attention. The commission president noted Hardy County is among roughly 16 counties with areas in "extreme drought" on the U.S. Drought Monitor and said staff have received calls from citizens whose wells are dry or producing little water and who are hauling water for household use. "We have citizens that have no water," the commission president said, and commissioners urged awareness while hoping for relief from rain.

Votes at a glance - Copier lease: Motion to proceed with the upgraded copier lease and incorporate the usage cost into the monthly payment; motion moved and seconded (movers not specified in the record). Vote: passed (recorded vocal vote: three ayes). Funding source: equipment budget line, per the chair’s remarks. - Exonerations/consolidations and payroll/checks: Motion to approve the clerk’s presented exonerations, consolidated items and issued checks; motion moved and seconded (movers not specified). Vote: passed (recorded vocal vote: three ayes). - Executive session: Motion to enter executive session under code section 6-9A-4(b)(1) and 6-9A-4(b)(6) to discuss personnel matters related to 9-1-1 employee Paul Lewis; motion moved and seconded (movers not specified). Vote to enter executive session: passed (recorded vocal vote: three ayes).

What’s next: Branson reminded commissioners the next meeting will focus on the county’s comprehensive plan; she noted the commission has 90 days after submission to accept, reject or amend the plan. Branson also said an HCEAA (ambulance authority) meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at the Baker Building and said she completed an advanced grant-writing certificate through Marshall University.

(Clarifying note: several items in the coordinator’s report — including the exact monthly copier lease line item, the identity of some commissioners who made or seconded motions and the precise date of this commission meeting — were not specified in the transcript and are recorded as not specified in county documents referenced in the meeting record.)