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Radiate kindness, See B3 Welcome, WVDOH gets Spring with bad roads seasonal deadline produce See B1 See A5 Still Free! Inside Inside Back Roads: Centreville DAQ public meeting Page A2 INNformer Page A4 Volume 6, No. 6 The Wells Inn, 316 Charles St. Sistersville, WV 26175 March 22, 2019 Schools, counties could lose if energy tax ruling upheld By Daniel Tyson “Ive seen numbers all over the board” in how much enue in the state school funding formula,” he added. CHARLESTON – Arguments in the case regarding funding Tyler County schools could lose if the court Lancaster explained the estimated $4 million loss in decided in favor of the energy companies, Jeff Davis, the valuation and assessment of property value for excess levy collections would require major changes Tyler Countys chief school business oiffcer, said. gas wells now before the West Virginia Supreme to the Wetzel County school system. He said the vot- Court could eliminate millions of dollars sent to ers in Wetzel County overwhelmingly passed the De- Jeff Lancaster, the chief school business oiffcer in school boards across the state. cember 2017 excess levy with nearly 90 percent of Wetzel County, said the impact on Wetzel County schools would be substantial. Based on the numbers the voters voicing approval of the levy. The justices heard arguments March 12 in the case stemming from Antero and other oil and gas compa- given by the Wetzel County assessor, the decline in Class III Personal Property would result in an annual He said a ruling against the state would have negative nies seeking to avoid taxation on their wells at values effects on the district. “I believe that the major reason based upon the West Virginia State Tax Departments decrease to the excess levy collections by more than $4.1 million. for the high percentage is that our voters want to keep current method of valuation. our small schools, and there is no way this would be possible in Wetzel without the excess levy and the oil “In addition, our regular levy revenues would go If the court rules in favor of the energy companies, and gas boom in our area,” Lancaster said. down by roughly $3.5 million, which would result in counties and schools could lose millions of dollars each year, school oiffcials said. the state picking up that portion of the loss in rev- Continued on page A3 Sistersville city recorder resigns By Charles Winslow SISTERSVILLE – Discussing crime in Sistersville with Tyler Countys Prose- cuting Attorney, raising police pay and accepting the resignation of the City Recorder were among issues addressed at the regular meeting March 11 of the Sistersville City Council. After a lengthy executive session at the end of the 90-minute meeting, council was gaveled back in to announced City Recorder Heather Rice had submitted her resignation, effective April 8, but had agreed to continue as interim recorder until a permanent replace- ment is appointed by the council. She is the daughter-in-law of Mayor Bill Rice and has held the job since Chad Edwards left last February. Heather is expected to return to her previous po- sition as assistant recorder and water clerk for the city. Accepting an invitation to address council, Tyler County Prosecuting At- Ready to race at Americas baddest Bullring! torney D. Luke Furbee answered ques- Pre-race tuneup slated Saturday and racing begins March 30. See story and schedule on Page A11. tions and explained the workings of the judicial system. Council had sent him, and other members of the judiciary, a letter expressing the citys frustration with repeat offenders being granted Matamoras seeks donations to open pool bond after committing additional crimes while already out awaiting trial. By Charles Winslow ment with the Washington Country Jobs and Family During the cordial 45-minute presen- Services to allow the Matamoras Police Department to tation, Furbee answered several ques-MATAMORAS, Ohio – Unless donations are found, and add Patrolman Devin Waterman to the department. The quickly, the small cash-strapped village’s pool will not tions from council members and short-term agreement will provide oiffcer Waterman’s explained that the primary considera- be able to open this summer, the Village of Matamoras pay at no cost to the village. tion for the bond amount set by the magistrate isnt that the individual has Council learned during their March 20 meeting. Also under police matters, the village discussed, but been charged with an additional crime, “We don’t have the money to open it,” Village Clerk took no action, on a proposed cellphone ordinance but whether they are considered a flight Carol Evans-Danvers stated. While the council agreed risk. He reminded council the states and, using the emergency procedures, held the first, unanimously to approve expenditures needed to pay for second and third readings of an ordinance to approve constitution prohibits excessive bail, that there isnt a set formula or sched- the food license and the license needed to operate the the village’s jail contract with Washington County Sher- pool, there aren’t funds available to make needed re- ule a magistrate has to follow and the pairs, including replacing a chemical control pump, two iff’s Oiffce. amount of bond is up to the discretion broken circulation jets, fix leaks or buy pool chemicals. Council also agreed to have River City Tire Service of of the court. He added being charged Marietta repair the brakes on the police department’s with a crime is not the same as being “We have never shut the pool down. Give it a couple of Crown Victoria so the cruiser can return to service. convicted. “A person is presumed in- nocent until proved to be guilty.” weeks and let’s measure donations,” suggested village Relating to the storm sewers and sewage system, coun- Mayor John Schmidt. cil authorized Mayor Schmidt to apply for an Ohio EPA Furbee also explained jail time may be “It’s important to me to get the pool open,” Schmidt told limited due to the graduated proba- loan to inspect and clean out sections of the drainage The INNformer atfer the meeting. “My job is to make tionary sanctions enacted by the state systems that have clogged and are backing up. sure the village is safe, which means getting the pool legislature. If a person on probation All council members were present for the 45-minute open. Without it, the kids may be tempted to try to go commits a violation – other than ab- meeting Wednesday, March 20, instead of Monday. sconding or committing a new crime, swimming in the river or farm ponds. We have life other than a drug violation –they are That meeting was postponed due to illness. The next punished with up to 60 days in jail and guards and provide safety.” regularly scheduled meeting of the Matamoras Village The village pool is the only public pool for children of then released on probation. Only after Council will be 7 p.m. Monday, April 1. the third offense will the courts revoke Matamoras and Grandview Township. The next-nearest Donations for the pool may be made to the Village of probation. pools are several miles away in St Marys and New Mar- Matamoras and can be mailed or dropped off at the When asked what the council could do tinsville. Village Hall, 802 Granvdiew Ave., New Matamoras, Ohio 47567. Continued on page A3 Other items addressed included approving an agree- INDEX Tornado drill A4 Crossword puzzle A8 WV LEGISLATIVE UPDATE B4-B12 Appalachian tornado outbreak A4 Word search puzzle A9 Completed legislation B4-B9 Back roads: Centreville A2 Regional roundup A5 Crossword answer A10 Local lawmakers bill tracker B10 Wetzel County Commission A3 Cops & courts A5 Bullring ready for season A11 Legislative photos B11 Letter to the Editor A3 Events A6-A11 RECIPES: Spring vegetables! B1-B3 Kelly wraps up session B12 DEP permit A3 Happening this weekend A7 Kindness B3 Legislative scorecard B12
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