Dugan resigns from Parks & Rec Board

Morgan County Commissioner Stacy Dugan told her fellow commissioners at their October 7 meeting that she is resigning from the Parks & Recreation Board effective immediately.

“I thought this was an opportunity to revamp the board, take control of some things that were going on, and obviously that’s not the way it worked itself out,” Dugan said.

Dugan said she was outvoted by the other members of the county’s Parks & Recreation board on everything she tried to accomplish.
Commissioner Thomas Swaim said he has been outvoted many times on many boards.

Dugan countered, “Not when it comes to safety. I am not doing it.”
“There is liability with that soccer field and there are problems with that board and the commission needs to start addressing some of those problems,” Dugan said.

Dugan declined to get into specifics about her concerns in a public meeting.
“I have done all I can do with that board. I am resigning as of right now,” she said.

Commissioner Brenda Hutchinson said she would take over Dugan’s position on the Parks & Rec board.

The board was formed with three board members each appointed by the Town of Bath, Morgan County Board of Education and the county.

Dugan’s resignation comes on the heals of the resignation of Town of Bath Councilman Jim Slough from the board and the decision by the town council to quit the board.

Grant applications
County Grant Assistant Carol York presented commissioners with resolutions for two grant applications.

One application is for a $25,000 Records Management and Preservation Grant. If awarded, the grant will be used to restore 50 books from the late 1800s and early 1900s and for roller shelving for the circuit clerk, county clerk and assessor’s offices, York said.

The second grant is for $80,000 from the Courthouse Facilities Improvement Authority. If awarded, the grant will go toward the cost of the new courthouse.

Panic buttons
Chief Sheriff Deputy Tony Link gave commissioners a quote to remote the various panic buttons throughout the courthouse to a panel at the security station in the lobby.

The quote of $11,244 also provides for automatic notification to 911 when a panic button is pressed.

Hutchinson asked Link to contact the West Virginia Supreme Court to see if they would help fund the project.

Link said the fire alarms in the old Magistrate Court building, now occupied by the Sheriff’s Department, need to be tied into the fire alarm system of the courthouse.

Link also said that sprinkler systems are needed in two old vaults in the building and there have been problems with the security cameras in the prisoner’s holding cells.

Documents signed
County Administrator Jody McClintock presented several documents to be voted on and signed by the commissioners.

The commission agreed to sign off on the Certificate of Substantial Completion of the Courthouse from Milestone Construction Company.

The commission is withholding $250,000 from Milestone until the installation of the geothermal heating and cooling system is completed and all punch list items are resolved.

The commissioners signed a lease agreement with the West Virginia Supreme Court for the Family Court space. The county will receive $2,171 a month.