Rent-A-Cop Program

October 20, 2015

Regular Session

5:30 pm.     Discussion and/or Action – Exoneration Orders; Approval of Minutes.

5:35 pm.     Public Input/Hear Callers.                

5:45 pm.     Discussion and/or Action – Opening and Awarding of Bid for Heating Oil for all Courthouse                         Offices and Jail Building November 1, 2015 through October 31, 2016.

6:00 pm.     Discussion and/or Action – Conveyance of Green Bank Industrial Park (Slavin) Property to                         Pocahontas County Board of Education and Execution of Deed (If Appropriate). 

6:15 pm.     Tammie Alderman Pocahontas County Day Report Center – Discussion and/or Action-                                Monthly Update Day Report Center.

6:30 pm.     Discussion and/or Action – Proposed Contract from Snowshoe Mountain Resort for Law Enforcement for Snowshoe Area.

The RAD district proposal had a stake driven through its heart by the bankers who didn't want their debts to be relegated to secondary status.  The County Commission drove the final nail in the coffin and it was over.

The RAD Proposal would have allowed a private police force at Snowshoe.  This was very much a public secret which was not talked about much.  BUT SNOWSHOE NEEDS SECURITY.  There can be no doubt about that!

At one time, the county patrolled Snowshoe in conjunction with its own security force.  But along came idiot sheriff who said that they couldn't have guns to protect the visitors and guests.

That opened up a can of worms.

At yet another point,  the certain select deputies were performing a Wells Fargo service for Snowshoe.  Every morning you could see a county police vehicle sitting at the bank.

The state's attorney general at the time forbid this practice.

The problem actually goes back to the days of the Coal Wars in which the Mining Companies would hire the police to protect them from the miners.  Resisting a mining guard who is a police officer substantially raise the ante.  So the practice was outlawed.

Now it seems that this idea is back--again!  Snowshoe would contract with the county sheriff's office to protect them.  (Why??I am not sure)  The county already has an obligation to do so and with double the deputies in the past it shouldn't be too difficult a task.  Either someone is trying to shake down Snowshoe or, even worse,  Snowshoe may be trying to get a grip on our sheriff's department.  I don't know which!

The question is whether our county commission is bright enough to figure out that a contract with Snowshoe is either unnecessary or there is a hidden agenda which would allow Snowshoe to "own" their own public police force.  Would a deputy who is rented by Snowshoe respond to a call in Marlinton or to his master on the mountain???