‘It’s Thanksgiving, not Spankxgiving’
By Peggy Mackenzie
“None of your money went into this one,” said Greenbrier County Commission President Mike McClung at the close of Tuesday’s commission meeting, in reference to the drag and burlesque show, “Spankxgiving,” held at GVT this past weekend. McClung stated he did not attend the event, but in a telephone complaint to GVT Executive Director Cathey Sawyer, he said he expressed his disappointment and displeasure at what he termed was “a mockery of Thanksgiving.”
“I want to assure the public that this production was not a part of GVT’s regular scheduled events and did not use funds from the county commission’s arts and rec account,” he said, giving rise to some confusion since those funds are generated from bed tax monies, not Greenbrier County residents’ taxes.
Sawyer’s remark, following the meeting, was that McClung’s complaint was the only negative response GVT had received for the sell-out performance.
The commission meeting itself was brief, quickly dispensing with the items on the agenda with minimal audience of three people in attendance.
Of the two old business items, only the appointment of new fiduciary commissioner, Virginia A. Lemon, was approved. Commission President Mike McClung recused himself from the vote, stating that Lemon works for him.
The other item, a discussion of snow removal options for the county parking lot, compelled Commissioner Woody Hanna to state that not enough response had thus far been received to hire someone for the job. Commissioner Lowell Rose said all applicants must have either a business license or a valid drivers license and insurance to cover any potential damages. The item was tabled until the next meeting.
In new business, 911 director Al Whitaker stated that he’d received two bids for the installation of a camera and satellite for the Homeland Security and Emergency Center’s mobile command vehicle. One bid came from Mobile Satellite Tech for $25,663 and the other from Lynch Diversified Vehicles for $39,813. Whitaker said there are three separate areas the bids must cover. He will review the bids, he said, to see what each covers with regard to camera, satellite and the pneumatic mechanism for the satellite.
Whitaker also received the commissioners’ approval and signatures for a Homeland Security grant, which included $11,000 for data storage and two years of satellite service for the mobile command; and $110,105 for a portable oxygen generator machine. He said the machine allows the 911 Center to immediately provide much needed oxygen to seniors and others in need. Another $10,000 portion was approved for the coordination of meetings and planning sessions for our area.
Lastly, the commission addressed the waste coal severance grant application for 2015 fiscal year, the reappointment of Howard McQueen to the PSD No.2 board at the request of the board members, and certification of the final disposition of the 2014 real property list.
