Land Grab at Greenbank

First Jacob Meck wanted 9 acres to put in six sewage ponds.  Those could have include fracking fluid but most of all Greenbank would have inherited an open sewage system right across from the former GMC dealership and close to the Senior Citizens Center.  A health clinic was developed close to the property.

That didn't work out and we lost a county commissioner.

Then came the giving of all the Slaven property by the County to the Board of Education.  It actually was a good thing because the Board is more law-bound in regard to the disposal of public property.  They have to have a public auction.

But while the property was in the possession of the county commission, the decision was make to circumvent the "public" disposal law by transferring a selected number of acres to the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation.  The property was then leased to Jacob Meck for $50 per month for 99 years.  Of course, the GVED corporation collected the $50.  Meck went on to put in a car crusher, a solid waste business, and a storage facility.  He later added a trucking business.

This was in addition to a type of deal at Durbin in which the GVEDC collects $8,000 per month rent.  This was a portion of the old Howes Leather Facility. (The big blue building)  The income helped the various counties in the GVEDC.  The county got no direct revenue.

Then Meck wanted a couple more acres of the Board's property.  He finally got the Board to agree to let him "use" the property. A deal was made!

Suddenly, in the Pocahontas Times we read the following:

Now Meck wants all the property.  No auction, no public sale--an exclusive deal.  A private deal!

The Board must auction its property--not dole it out or even lease it to a private person or company.  We are talking 100 plus acres.  To avoid the public sale, the scam involves a transfer to the GVEDC with that group giving it to him, selling it to him, or making a $50 a month lease did for 99 years.  

This property is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars if placed at public sale.  It is worth very little in a private, closed door deal.  He even might get a tax exempt deal like the other property.

Most importantly the school system could be giving away hundreds of thousands of dollars in public property-- Money that could repair the schools or buy vehicles. Or support Senior Citizens.

Our board must do the right thing and auction the property if it wants rid of it.  Give everybody a chance in the county to bid on it, including Jacob Meck. 

 Contact one of these people below:

Pocahontas County

The Honorable Walt Helmick, Pocahontas County Commission
Reta Griffith
Charlie Sheets
Kendall Beverage

Ask David McLaughlin who is on the County Commission and running for reelection if he supports the sale of the property.

Below is a 2015 article in the Pocahontas CommentatorPlus

The Greenbank Property

Pocahontas County owns land at Greenbank which was originally donated for a school.  It has never been used for that.  Various people have suggested possible uses.  One of the latest proposals was as a site for six open sewage pits to hold human waste from Snowshoe, etc.  The CC initially approved the proposal but got cold feet and reneged.

Prior to that Jacob Meck had persuaded the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Authority to lease him a portion of the Greenbank property which they had been deeded for that purpose by the CC.  Meck built a large building on the property along with three public, paid storage units which he rents out.  He also placed a car crusher on the property and has been running a salvage business from the sit.   You will remember that some local persons including the superintendent at Cass were indicted for selling railroad steel to Meck.

Meck had several tanks along Deer Creek to store Snowshoe's sewage but they started floating on him and he had to dispose of them.  He now stores on the Greenbank Property.  All it all,  Meck has about 7 different businesses on the Greenbank property.  He distributes human waste from the honey wagons on Bill Heavener's farm.

There was a community revolt when he attempted to put in the six open pit sewage ponds right across from the senior center and the new medical center.  The plan blew up.  His favorite county commissioner,  David Fleming, was unelected as CC.

Well, now a new plan has been presented:  using the property for "agricultural purposes."  Unfortunately,  there is no definitive definition as to what is meant by that. 

 After all,  Jacob Meck sprays human waste on a local farm for fertilizer.  Is that what is meant by "agricultural purpose." 

 Or perhaps, we have a closeted "pig farm" coming out way.