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voice
Administrator
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Posted: Tue Mar 11th, 2008 02:10 pm |
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Mattson wants voices heard
The area man is seeking a county commissioner post.
By SHERREE GREBENSTEIN/Journal staff writer POSTED: March 11, 2008 Save | Print | Email | Read comments | Post a comment Email: "Mattson wants voices heard"
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BERKELEY SPRINGS — A Berkeley Springs man seeking the Democratic nod as Morgan County commissioner has asked county officials to consider putting important topics to public vote.
John C. Mattson told Morgan County commissioners that residents need a venue to express their viewpoints more. Mattson is seeking the Democratic nomination against Earl “Red” E. Yost and Stacy Dugan. County Commissioner Glen R. Stotler is the Republican incumbent.
“Voices need to be heard,” Mattson told Stotler, as well as Commissioners Tommy Swaim and Brenda Hutchinson.
Mattson said as an alternative to referendums commissioners could also obtain feedback in the form of surveys.
He said $3,000 to $4,000 could be spent on a survey to determine whether county residents want to spend $12 million on a new courthouse for downtown. He called the survey a good investment and would help commissioners get a feel for what residents want.
Mattson said many are not able to attend commission meetings.
“Some people don’t like public meetings,” he said. “People fear retaliation.”
By obtaining feedback from residents in the form of surveys or referendums, commissioners should go with the majority rule, he said.
“Find a way to satisfy everyone’s desires,” he said.
Mattson told commissioners that many people are against building a $12 million courthouse when a single brick building will suffice. He said some want the building constructed in another location instead of downtown.
He said many people don’t want their taxes raised to build a large courthouse.
“Even if you start from scratch you will still save money,” said Mattson, who called “extreme” the $3 to $4 million already spent on planning for the new courthouse. He said a simpler courthouse could be designed for about $1 million and built for $5 million. By doing this, the cost of the courthouse could come in at less than $10 million.
The Morgan County Courthouse was destroyed in an early morning fire on Aug. 8, 2006. Commissioners are currently in the process of securing funding to build a $12 million three-story courthouse at its previous site.
Mattson said not enough information about county government is posted online.
“Believe it or not, a lot of Morgan County residents are on computers,” he said.
Other issues Mattson said should be put out to residents via a survey or referendum are zoning and whether to let large businesses and chains such as Wal-Mart, Target, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Olive Garden and Ruby Tuesdays come to Morgan County.
Stotler said there is no law that allows the County Commission to have a say about what businesses can operate in Morgan County.
Swaim said every issue can’t be put to referendum.
Stotler noted the public can send written comments to county officials at any time and address any subject.
“No one has been denied the right to express their views,” he added.
— Staff writer Sherree Grebenstein can be reached at (304) 839-1521 or at sgrebenstein@journal-news.net
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