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Sheriff Kendle presents need for deputies again

By Staff | Jul 30, 2014

Tyler County Sheriff Bob Kendle, in a follow up from the last Tyler County Commission meeting, presented facts, figures, and numbers to support his need for additional deputies.

Kendle gave each of the commissioners a copy of the work his department has been doing, along with his proposal for additional help because of increased crime in Tyler County. He specifically mentioned two recent fires which claimed lives and the manpower needed to investigate them. He said drug usage is on the rise and, as a result, so are court sessions. Kendle said he would like two new officers, but even one would make a difference. “With school starting back up, we will lose the school resource officer,” Kendle stated. The commissioners all agreed to look at his report and to bring it back at the next meeting on Aug. 12, and possibly make a decision at that time.

Rosemary Guida of Northern Panhandle Workforce appeared to update the commissioners on the summer youth work program. She said 60 kids participated and there were 18 work sites. Each site had at least one youth participate. She mentioned Sistersville General Hospital as a participant. She said Tyler County only had one youth involved in the work program, and she was hopeful that next year there would be work available for more. She spoke about the federal funding cuts and said last year they were cut $389,000 and this year another $50,000 was cut. She added the state made up $300,000, which really helped. They have helped 146 people and have 440 on the waiting list, and she mentioned the Rapid Response program which helps those in need because of lay offs and closures has helped over 400 go back to school for training to learn new trades. She said Tyler County hasn’t shown the need some of the other counties have, but there is help available if needed.

Jason Stutler from CWS made a presentation to the commission on the need for an additional copier in the County Clerk’s office. He showed a slide on the copier which would be a faster and more reliable copier and would be able to meet the increase in the copying needs of the clerk’s office. He also gave cost proposals and service contract prices. He said the new machine would have less down time because of its capability to produce more copies. It would come with a seven-year warranty and would require a two-year service agreement. The service agreement would cost less because the machine would be designed to meet the copying needs.

Also, Mike Williams from Xerox presented his proposal for a new copier. The current copier is a Xerox and has worked well for several years, but is not built to handle the increase. He proposed a larger more efficient copier with the capability to produce around 40,000 copies per month. He also proposed moving the smaller one from the clerk’s office to the front and use it in combination with the one that is in place there.

Costs and service prices were given and Williams offered to allow his to be used temporarily to see if it meets the demand. Commissioners ultimately left the decision up to County Clerk Teresa Hamilton as to which copier to purchase. Williams will bring his in for a trial.

Assessor Jack Hayes reported on the purchase of new surveillance cameras for the magistrate and prosecuting attorney offices. He said the price would be between $599 and $899 for a four-camera wireless system, which would be operated by a transformer. He said it would be relatively simple to install and the county could do it themselves. It would be low voltage and would have one year storage capability, motion alert, and equipped with shutoffs. It is not an expensive unit but would meet the needs of those offices. It was mentioned it could also send alerts to the sheriff’s office.

The commission discussed a land purchase which has become available and might meet their needs for a secure storage facility. President John Stender said the building and land are large enough, but he was unsure of the condition of the building. Stender and Hayes had looked it over and Stender said there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the foundation. Commissioner Charles “Pork” Smith recommended having someone inspect it before a decision is made. Commissioner Eric Vincent said he would contact New Martinsville Building Inspector Joe Hanna to see if he would inspect the property for a fee. The commissioners all agreed to that plan.

Commissioners agreed to renew the volunteers accident renewal policy, stating it has a zero deductible and $50,000 limits. They are also looking into ways to properly compensate sheep claim appraisers. Stender said the rate of compensation causes the appraisers to lose money. Hamilton said the pay is established by law.

Hayes said there is a need to make the public aware of their responsibility to update their addresses. It was decided to run adds in the county paper, the Tyler Star News, and the Green Tab. They will also use the local radio stations along with the Public Service Announcement on local television.

Tom Cooper, director of the Tyler County Office of Emergency Management, updated the commissioners on the status of grants and a new generator. He said the generator is finished and just needs to be picked up.

Vincent, gave a report on the budget revisions. The commissioners approved the revisions contingent on approval of the state auditor’s office.

Smith reported on the 4-H grounds, saying some repairs are needed to the bridge and other small repairs and cosmetic concerns need some attention.

Stender reported funding for the victims’ advocate has been approved from the governor’s office. This allows for the funding of a full-time victims’ advocate in the prosecutor’s office for the 2014-2015 fiscal year,

Minutes from the last meeting were approved and the next scheduled meeting will be held on Aug. 12 at 9 a.m.