Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor:
My name is Bobby Ford. I am the original Republican candidate running for Greenbrier County Commission on May 14, 2024 in Greenbrier County.
Formerly, I worked as the Building Code Official/Building Inspector for 12 years for the county. During this time I observed many changes, some good to not so good. My feeling is, it is getting worse. The process that the elected officials should be overseeing have been handed off to a hired lawyer who is not accountable to the people.
The current commission has allowed this non-elected employee to guide processes that is not streamlined nor conducive for the county to be open for business, nor easy for our working contractors to conduct business in this county.
Our hardworking EMS providers are at a critical point of almost failure. I am not trying to scare my friends and neighbors, but want you to understand that it is past time for our county to help the three remaining EMS agencies to avoid failure of the complete system. Leaving us to depend on an outside agency who will promise to put ambulances here, but will pull them to cover other obligations outside our county. This is a true first priority. These people deserve our commissions attention.
Our fire departments have been overlooked by the support from the county commission. The commission used to provide help to the departments to pay their bills. That money stopped. There is no support from the commission to help our volunteers who give their time and resources to help us in our times of need.
The current commission wasted over three million dollars of arts and recreation money to develop a sports complex that never happened. What is the progress of the complex? What happens to the land once the complex is a failure?
Agencies and people have tried to get put on the county commission agenda to be heard and discuss issues. The standard response is “it takes one of the commissioners to put it on the agenda.” There are serious issues that have never made it to the agenda. This policy seems to limit the people’s ability to speak and have open government.
What is the true status of the water projects that my opponent is speaking of, especially to Alta? Has that project gone to bid? When will it go to bid? When is the completion date anticipated?
Folks, I have not made politics my life. I am not a career politician and haven’t held a public office. There are many problems that need serious attention. I don’t have the answers to all of them, but with your vote and support I promise to work with people who can help find answers to the problems and make our county better for all who live here, work here, and visit here.
I appreciate your consideration on May 14, 2024.
Bobby Ford