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TC Commission Hears Request From New Beginnings

By Randy Rutherford - Staff Writer | Aug 22, 2024

The Tyler County Commission met on August 16, 2024, in the auditorium of the Senior Center in Middlebourne. Following the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer, the minutes from the July 30, 2024, meeting were approved. Also approved were the Fiduciary Report from County Clerk Neil A. Archer II and the Exonerations from Assessor Lisa Jackson.

First up on the agenda were Melissa Maston and Sara Ingram-Soles, co-owners of the licensed New Beginnings Recovery Clinic and Behavioral Health Center in New Martinsville which has been in operation for three years and currently serves 125 patients. The ladies attended the commission meeting to request funding from opioid litigation settlements to support their efforts in helping patients recover from addiction. The center provides comprehensive care for individuals struggling with both substance abuse and mental health issues. With a focus on holistic healing, they offer a wide range of services including addiction recovery and behavioral health therapy; their goal is to empower their clients on their journey towards a healthier, happier life.

New Beginnings highlighted that their biggest challenge in providing effective treatment is transportation. Despite patients’ willingness to undergo treatment, many struggle to find reliable transportation for follow up visits. This lack of transportation is a significant barrier particularly since counseling is mandatory for all patients, making it difficult for them to complete their treatment plans. They also mentioned that they are the only clinic offering services between Wheeling and Parkersburg, which further compounds the difficulties of transportation due to the wide geographic area they cover.

New Beginnings has introduced a program called the Harm Reduction Clinic which is an evidence-based program with a proven track record. This program is part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at preventing, treating, and facilitating recovery from opioid addiction. The Harm Reduction Clinic focuses on directly engaging with individuals who use drugs to prevent overdoses and the transmission of infectious diseases. The program also aims to improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of participants. A key feature of this clinic is it offers low barrier access to health care services, including both substance use and mental health care, making it easier for individuals to get the help they need.

Numerous studies have documented the positive outcomes associated with harm reduction interventions including reductions in HIV and hepatitis C transmission, decreased overdose fatalities, and most importantly, an uptake of addiction treatment services.

New Beginnings is also planning to implement additional projects aimed at enhancing community health and supporting those struggling with addiction. These projects include a Community-based Syringe Service Program which will provide access to sterile syringes and injection equipment, while also offering safe disposal options. The program aims to reduce the spread of infectious diseases among individuals who use injection drugs.

Another planned initiative is the Infectious Disease Prevention And Treatment Program. This project will focus on preventing and treating infectious diseases by providing vaccinations, testing, and connections to care for both insured and uninsured individuals. It seeks to ensure that those at risk have access to essential health care services. And lastly, Transportation Assistance. Recognizing transportation as a major barrier to treatment, New Beginnings plans to offer transportation services to help patients access addiction treatment, including medication assisted treatment, mental health counseling and other medical and social services. These initiatives reflect New Beginnings commitment to comprehensive care, addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of individuals in their community.

Tyler County received approximately $14,000 from the opioid settlement funds. The county commissioners have approved using a significant portion of these funds to cover mileage expenses for employees of New Beginnings to transport Tyler County residents at the federal mileage rate. This support will help ensure that patients have reliable transportation to return to their appointments addressing one of the clinic’s primary obstacles and providing continuous care.

Next, Commission President Mike Smith requested approval to change the date of the November 12th meeting due to election canvass. Commissioners approved this request, and the meeting date has been changed to November 19th.

Mr. Smith then requested approval for the rental agreement with Jenkins for storage of the county clerk’s record books. The commissioners approved the agreement. Following that Mr. Smith sought approval for three change orders from WYK associates related to the courthouse renovation, totaling $275,157. The commissioners also approved these change orders.

Commissioner Smith read a request from the Tyler County EMS Unit 1 DBA Middlebourne EMS to appoint one commissioner to the Board of Directors as a non-voting advisory position for a one year term. Commissioners appointed Lance Hickman to the position.

Josh Fulks, E-911 Director, requested approval to re-hire Ashley Hostutler as a dispatcher with a start date of August 26, 2024. The Commission approved the request.

Tom Cooper explained that the Mitigation Grant project for the LED sign at the Middlebourne Senior Center has received one bid from Gearheart Enterprises for $34,494 of which the Commission is responsible for twenty-five percent of the cost. Commissioners approved moving forward with the project.

Tyler County Emergency Squad Unit 1 Middlebourne EMS presented their monthly activity for July 2024. In addition to their regular 24/7 911 coverage, they provided approximately 474 additional man hours to provide second and third crews for additional 911 coverage and staffing for Inter-Facility transfers. There were a total of 67 responses which included 27 total emergency responses, 20 emergency calls with transport and 7 emergency calls without transport. Inter-facility transfers numbered 40.

Two new American Heart Association BLS instructors were added to bring the agency to five instructors. Their current roster includes eight emergency vehicle operators, 12 emergency medical technicians, and three paramedics. Under community involvement the agency held a blood pressure clinic at Middlebourne City Park with 35 people checked. Squad members also volunteered to help the VFD at Tyler County Fair and at Tyler County speedway weekend events. The Agency attended the Tyler County Commission meeting, LEPC, and their regular squad meeting.

During the public comment session, Tom Cooper reported that the transportation project has progressed to the next step which involves hiring a contractor to conduct a study and develop a plan for providing public transportation for Tyler and Wetzel Counties’ residents to and from Wheeling, Parkersburg, and Clarksburg. Currently there’s no public transportation available for local citizens to these cities where care is often provided. The only existing transportation option is the Senior Center’s buses which are available for individuals over 60 but are limited in the services they can provide.

The next meeting of the Tyler County Commission is scheduled for August 27, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the auditorium of the Senior Center in Middlebourne.