A publication of The County Commissioners' Association of West Virginia - June 2014 - www.ccawv.org

CCAWVs Board of Directors gathered at Wheeling Island Casino in Ohio County on June 22nd and 23rd for their annual spring board meeting. Canvassing requirements had forced the board to meet later than usual, but it was a very productive meeting. Board members and members of the legislative committee reviewed the 2014 Legislative Session, which, barring the salary saga, was a relatively quiet one for Commissioners.

They also reviewed the freshly released Interim Committee Study Topics. A full list of these topics can be found on the Legislatures website:

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Joint/2014%20interim%20studies.cfm

CCAWV encourages all Commissioners to review this list, and also to complete the enclosed Issue Nomination Form if you have any ideas for legislative issues to pursue in the coming year.An exciting item on the agenda was the announcement of CCAWVs partnership with Dave Barton at Shenandoah Valley Group to roll out a brand new Dental/Vision Plan: Guardian. Guardian boasts the largest network in the state of West Virginia, as well as extremely competitive rates. Contact CCAWV today to see how you can save your county money while oering them a better product!

CCAWV Annual Meeting and Auditors Training Series Registration Now Open!Sunday, August 3rd, Commissioners from across West Virginia will gather at Huntingtons Pullman Plaza for their Annual Meeting and training series by the WV State Auditors Oce.We plan to have a full training agenda as well as some fun opportunities to meet and mingle with commissioners from all corners of the state. The meeting is just a month away! Have you:Sent in your registration form?Sent in a registration form for any guests?Made your reservations at Pullman Plaza? (304-525-1001, make sure to tell them you are in the CCAWV block!)Thought about what you will bring for your countys door prize? ($25 and under, please!)Filled out your Legislative Issue Nomination form?

If you have any questions, please call Megan at the CCAWV oce (304) 345-4639.

CCAWV Spring Board Meeting

PresidentTim McCormick, Ohio (234-3628)

Vice-PresidentNancy Cartmill, Cabell (526-8634)

Immediate Past PresidentRon Watson, Harrison (624-8500)

District 1-- Western DivisionDon Mason, Marshall (845-0482)John Stender, Tyler (758-2102)Danny Greathouse, Hancock (564-3311)

District 1 -- Eastern DivisionChair: Janice LaRue, Mineral (788-5921)Bernie Fazzini, Harrison (624-8500)

District 2 -- Western DivisionAgnes Queen, Lewis (269-8200)Jerry Linkinoggor, Clay (587-4259)

District 2 -- Eastern DivisionChair: Mike Taylor, Randolph (636-2057)J.R. Keplinger, Hardy (530-0284)Donnie Tenney, Upshur (472-0535)

District 3 -- Western DivisionChair: Mickey Brown, Boone (369-1561)Rick Handley, Mason (675-1110)

District 3 -- Eastern DivisionBob Pasley, Wayne (523-5246)Jack Woodrum, Summers (466-7100)Denise Scalph, Fayette (574-4290)

CCAWV2309 Washington Street EastCharleston, WV 25311(304) 345-4639info@ccawv.org

Vivian ParsonsExecutive Directorvivian@ccawv.org

Megan StroupAdministrative Assistantmegan@ccawv.org

Director's Discussion with Vivi an Parsons

The County Commissioners Board held the spring meeting last weekend and it was a full agenda! Multiple issues were addressed and many positive things accomplished. CCAWVs Strategic Plan was reviewed and 3 new goals added. Lots of discussion centered around the financial hardships many counties are facing, how other parties are reacting to such, and ways that we can help each other with these situations through the CCAWV and our partners! Stay tuned for more information as solutions progress.Multiple county commissions are having their

constitutional duties and responsibilities challenged in numerous ways. There are pending and/or threatened suits on budget cuts, firing issues, hiring authority, and discretionary funding decisions. Believe it or not, some commissioners are being challenged over paying outstanding jail bills, if doing so limits funding to other oces, organizations, or projects! County Commissioners have not only the constitutional financial responsibility for the county tax dollars, but they are criminally liable for those decisions. Adequately funding all county elected ocials oces has always been a priority of county funds, but courts have consistently held that as long as the county commission is not arbitrary or capricious in their decisions, have properly met with each elected ocials to review their budgetary needs, and has taken into consideration the total resources the county has to work with, it is the county commission that has the authority to determine what is adequately funded.

The WV Code also MANDATES that counties pay a daily per diem for inmates in the WV Regional Jails! While the Regional Jail Authority makes every eort to work with county commissions who are struggling with tight budgets and have even allowed for payment plans at times, the mandate of the Code is not an option, and commissioners are responsible for the countys debts. So it goes for the oce of county commissioner; juggling limited resources, juggling others requests, making some happy and others not so.Rest assured, it is a priority of the CCAWV and its board to protect the constitutional authority and responsibility of county commissioners statewide.

You should have received registration information for both our CCA meetings and the mandatory Auditors training. I certainly hope that you all willjoin us in Cabell County and tend to our business at hand. There will be workshops anddiscussions to be had that will definitely keep you alert and on task. We have had several counties come under attack by the court system in one way shape or fashion that we need to discuss. The outcome of those casesmay very well aect our own counties and how we do business. Don't forget the Door Prize dinner and

bring your prize, representative of your County. Those of you that are interested in applying for the Thelma Stone Award should have received the application and necessary info to submit yourapplication. If not, let Vivian or Megan know and I am sure they will help you.

Board of Directors

2013 -2014

President's Message by Tim McCormick

Crowning achievement: Getting an elevator in the courthouse. Biggest debacle or most embarrassing moment: Over-booking issues at the County Fairgrounds. Best advice for other County Commissions: Listen to the people, research the topics, and attempt to make sound decisions. Funniest thing to ever happen at a commission meeting: At one scheduled meeting, the power went o due to a storm. We had our meeting in the dark.Please list County Commission Staff: County Commission President Tim McDaniel, Commissioners Phil Hart and John Schola, County Administrator Je Rogers, and Assistant County Administrator Shana Frey. Best advice for other County Commissions: There is no "I" in TEAM.

Tim McDaniel

Place where I grew up: Philippi, WV

Real life occupation: Sales

Years experience as a County Commissioner: 3 years

My personal philosophy: Never take anything for granted. Make wise decisions that will benefit the county as a whole.

What do you like most about being a County Commissioner: Being able to help the citizens of Barbour County.

What do you like least about being a County Commissioner: Making decisions that could upset individuals , families, or other organizations.

Who would you invite (living or dead) to your next County Commission meeting and what would you discuss: I would invite President Obama to our meeting and discuss how he intends to help small counties with new jobs and infrastructure.

John Schola

P l a c e w h e re I g re w u p : Belington, WV

Real life occupation: Firefighter/Paramedic

Years experience as a County Commissioner: 14 years

You would be surprised to know that I: am afraid of dogs.

My personal philosophy: Be careful of the toes that you step on today. They may be connected to the butt you have to kiss tomorrow.

What do you like most about being a County Commissioner: Being able to help the citizens.

What do you like least about being a County Commissioner: Unfunded mandates

Who would you invite (living or dead) to your next County Commission meeting and what would you discuss: My mother and brother, who are deceased, and John Hart, my grandfather.

Place where I grew up: Philippi, WV

Real life occupation: Teacher

Years experience as a County Commissioner: 11 years

You would be surprised to know that I: used to be a coal miner

My personal philosophy: Treat others the way you would want to be treated.

What do you like most about being a County Commissioner: I enjoy when the Commission can make improvements to benefit the citizens of Barbour County.

What do you like least about being a County Commissioner: Not having the funding to do pro jects that you know need completed.

Who would you invite (living or dead) to your next County Commission meeting and what would you discuss: My late uncles , Robert McDaniel and Wendell Malcolm, who both served as commissioners in the 60s and 70s.

Spotlight on a County Commission: Barbour County

Phil Hart

NACo Annual ConferenceNew Orleans, LAJuly 11-14, 2014CCAWV Annual MeetingPullman Plaza, Cabell CountyAugust 3 -6, 2014CCAWV Fall Board MeetingThe Greenbrier, Greenbrier CountySeptember 21-22, 2014

WVU Community Leadership Academy October 1 3, 2014 Lakeview, Morgantown WV

County Commission OutreachBringing public awareness to the oce of County Commissioner

This is a monthly publication for county commissioners, commission sta, associate members and other interested parties.

Calendar of Events

CCAWV has partnered with Dave Barton of Shenandoah Valley Group to roll out a new, free benefit to members: an email series dedicated to a variety of HR topics.

The Aordable Care Act (ACA) and its attendant requirements have complicated the world of HR administration substantially. Do you or the person responsible for your countys HR administration know if your county is an ALE (applicable large employer)? Does the insurance coverage you are oering qualify as MEC (minimum essential coverage)? Are you familiar with the four approaches to determine MV (minimum value) of coverage? Are you confused yet?All of these questions, and more, are answered in CCAWV and SVGs explanation of the Pay or Play benefit. In about four and a half pages of clearly written, easy to digest, laymans English, this complex rule and its implications are laid out. It gives you (or your HR coordinator) the terminology necessary to speak to or explain this complicated matter. And thats just one topic!We are rolling new topics out on a monthly basis. This email series can be filed away and kept as a reference tool for HR managers and employees. The best part? It is completely free to members.

Just send your email address to Megan at megan@ccawv.org and ask to be included in SVGs monthly email blast. Make sure you and your employees dont get lost in the maze of federal acronyms and regulations!

From asbestos abatement to a variety of inspections, Astar Abatement, Inc. oers the environmental re- mediation services to protect your family and employees. serve you.

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CCAWV Partners with SVG to Keep Commissioners on HR Cutting Edge

CCAWV welcomes our newest Associate Members

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