Add more commissioners?

Dear Editor:

It’s really getting old, the riff between the “female” county commissioners and anyone or anything that needs help or an issue resolved. They should do a little research on how the past county commissioners worked in this county.

Think back to when my grandmother, Marjorie Ours, Brown Norton from Paw Paw and the late Nelson Kesecker were the commissioners. When they were addressed with a problem or county officials needed something, they “worked together” to help with or resolve the issue. It seems like every issue now is “war.”

I would think the Sheriff’s Department would be on the “top of the list” for placement in the courthouse. Where would we be without the dedicated police officers we have in this county? The sheriff and his deputies have graciously worked in cramped conditions, without complaining, for almost four years now.

Nine out of the 11 deputies work a second job to make ends meet. They put their life on the line every day for this county. They are overworked and underpaid and the thanks they get from the “female” commissioners is “budgetary uncertainty” when all they want is a decent place to work.

And for Ms. Hutchinson being not crazy about the idea of tearing the oak woodwork out of the large courtroom in the Magistrate building,” move your office there. I’m not crazy about tearing out trees for a 4-lane highway, but some things have to happen for improvement and progress.

And, Ms. Hutchinson, as for the parking problem, when has Berkeley Springs not had a parking problem?

I would hate to be in Hutchinson’s or Dugan’s shoes and need a police officer. They would be lucky if any officer. They would be lucky if any officer showed up.

How can we get the number changed on how many commissioners we have?” Three was fine when the population was down. We need at least five or seven commissioners, then important issues wouldn’t be shot down with such trivial questions and requests.

I’m sure Tommy Swaim is looking forward to his “retirement” from the county. God help the poor soul that gets the job.

Tina L. Harvey
Berkeley Springs