Established 1845 Wednesday, September 21, 2016 OOREFIELD XAMINER MVOLUME 125 - NUMBER 38 TWO SECTIONS • 16 PAGES 94¢ E USPS 362-300 and Hardy County News New Biz Launchpad Receives $50k Grant By Jean A. Flanagan Moorefield Examiner It’s a perfect example of the “Catch-22.” The Hardy County Emergency Ambulance Authority hasn’t made a recommendation Representatives from the Small Business Administration, the New Biz Launchpad, Skybrook Store, and Eastern WV Community and Technical College look skyward at the about an emergency ambulance drone recording the check presentation at the New Biz Launchpad in Wardensville. fee because they consider it a func- By Jean A. Flanagan Wardensville Friday morning. dence Joseph Kapp were joined gion III Natalia Olson-Urtecho. here quite often.” tion of the Hardy County Commis- Moorefield Examiner “We have all been chosen to re- by local community and business The New Biz Launchpad was Olson-Urtecho was appoint- sion. ceive the SBA Growth Accelera- leaders at the New Biz Launchpad one of 68 winners of the third an- ed to the US SBA by President The Hardy County Commission hasn’t made a decision regarding “What does San Francisco, LA, tor Fund Competition Award.” in Wardensville to accept a “big nual Growth Accelerator Fund Barack Obama in 2012. the emergency ambulance fee be- Chicago, Philadelphia, Austin, Dr. Charles “Chuck” Terrell, check” for $50,000 from the U.S. Competition. “Three years ago, we started cause they are waiting for a recom- Texas and Wardensville West Vir- president of Eastern West Virgin- Small Business Administration. “I had never been to West Vir- this program,” she said. “Con- mendation from the HCEAA. ginia have in common?” Chuck ia Community and Technical Col- Presenting the check was US SBA ginia before my appointment,” gress gave us a little money, only The HCEAA Board of Direc- Terrell asked a crowd gathered in lege. and Entrepreneur in Resi- Regional Administrator for Re- Olson-Urtecho said. “Now I travel Continued on page 6 tors met on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Acting Executive Director Der- ek Alt presented a comprehensive budget to the board and reviewed it at length. The budget includes Baker Residents HARVEST MOON 24/7 coverage for the entire county as well as re-certification training, service contracts, supplies and in- surance. The budget did not in- Anticipate New clude contingency for vehicle and/ or equipment replacement. “The overall total is $768,048, but does not take into consider- Retail Store ation income from billing,” Alt told the board. The HCEAA has discussed ini- By Jean A. Flanagan tionable nuisances or hazards. tiating the process of billing public Moorefield Examiner All other perceived light indus- and private insurance for services. trial uses shall be referred to the That process can take between six There are survey teams on Hardy County Rural Develop- months to several years to com- the ground and the rumors that ment Authority for a recommen- plete. a new retail store is being con- dation. The final decision shall The three existing county emer- sidered for the Baker Industrial still be made by the Planning gency ambulance providers, Fraley Park. But the industrial park is Commission.” Ambulance Service, Wardens- zoned for industrial use and a re- Commercial is defined as “any ville Volunteer Rescue Squad and tail store would be a commercial wholesale, retail, or service busi- Mathias/Baker Volunteer Fire and use. So how can a commercial ness activity established to carry The full moon rose over the West Virginia mountains Saturday. This was the harvest moon, which is the Rescue, participated in the budget store be built on industrial land? on trade for profit.” full moon nearest the autumnal equinox. Photo by Mike Mallow Before a retail establishment “What designates any indus- Continued on page 6 could be built on an industrial- trial zoning is that some form ly-zoned property, the property of manufacturing takes place,” would have to be rezoned, ac- Scott said. “You may have a re- cording to Hardy County Plan- tail component to the business, ner Melissa Scott. but there is some form of manu- Wardensville Streamlines Town Code The Baker Industrial Park is facturing happening on site.” Scott explained the rezoning owned by the Hardy County Ru- By Jean A. Flanagan or other natural resources within taxes. dence in the fee structure and will process as outlined in the Hardy ral Development Authority. Moorefield Examiner town limits, and there are no oper- While a B&O tax is levied against not be done arbitrarily or in the County Zoning ordinance. She “The Baker Business Park al- ation of amusements,” Crowe said. businesses, the sales and use tax is dark.” lows for these type of develop- also confirmed there have been Businesses in Wardensville will In addition, the section of town levied against the consumers. “We The changed code section stipu- ments,” said Mallie Combs, di- inquiries, but “no applications find the town code a bit more code that regulated the Business can improve and bring more rev- lates a public hearing will be held rector of the RDA in an email. have been submitted to the plan- friendly when it comes to licensing and Occupational (B&O) taxes enue into the town,” Crowe said of in February of each year to review “The RDA calls this light indus- ning office and no official infor- fees and operating taxes following for manufacturing was reduced to the sales and use tax. the current fees. Business own- trial and is provided in our cov- mation has been provided to us. $0.20 per $100 of gross income and The Wardensville Council also ers will have three weeks to sub- enants.” “It is customary for the pur- the Wardensville Council actions mit written comments to the town There is a difference between chaser of a property to make the to remove certain business classi- the B&O tax for banking and other revised Section 7-225 Schedule council. In May, the council will protective covenants and zon- purchase contingent on rezon- fications and clarify others. financial institutions was reduced of Business Licensing Fees in the ing although both are binding ing,” Scott said. “This is usually The Wardensville Council met to $0.50 of every $100. town code. meet and decide on the fees for under West Virginia law. Under done early in the site selection on Monday, Sept. 12. “The state wants to do away “We took those (individual fees) the next fiscal year, which begins the Hardy County Zoning Ordi- process because site suitability According to Town Recorder with the B&O taxes,” Crowe said. out so they could be revised eas- in July. nance, light industrial is defined is the first logical step of project Jon Crowe, the sections of town “They want us to move to a sales ily,” Crowe said. “In the past, the as “any industry that does not planning. I have had inquiry calls code that were removed applied to and use tax.” fees were changed without reason, Kapp Resigns from WDA use a significant amount of wa- from engineers and architects businesses that don’t exist in War- Only three states - West Virgin- the categories were confusing and Marcia Markley reported to the ter except for domestic purposes. asking about infrastructure at densville and have scant chance of ia, Washington and Ohio, and mu- there was no reference to state li- council on behalf of the Wardens- Industrial uses that do not create the site, but offering no specif- ever existing there. nicipalities in two states - West Vir- censing fees. ville Development Authority. She noise, odor, smoke and objec- Continued on page 7 “There is no production of coal ginia and Kentucky - collect B&O This will generate more confi- Continued on page 8 Sheriff Deputy Responds to Questions on Changes to Concealed Carry Law By Hannah Heishman Tuesday, Sept. 6 at the Hardy without permits, Ward and his Dave Warren welcomed attend- ry a concealed gun outside West sense, it’s outlawed in many states, Moorefield Examiner County Rod & Gun Club for dis- deputies started thinking about the ees to the new law, which he called Virginia. State laws vary on open including Virginia. cussion and information about people who could become routine “permitless carry.” carry. Warren outlined three major A number of questions and con- carrying a gun. Of the attendees, carriers, who had never carried be- Under the old law, in order to Warren covered a lot of territory rules for carrying a gun. Keep the cerns have resulted in the changes nearly all the adults were licensed fore, who may not know how to se- carry a concealed gun, citizens had in just under two hours, but all of gun pointed in a safe direction. to the West Virginia statute requir- to carry concealed weapons under lect a gun or ammunition, or how to attend and pass approved fire- it was important to those carrying Keep your finger off of the trigger ing citizens to have a permit to car- the old law. Hardy County Sheriff to train to properly handle both. arms training, apply at the Sher- guns or considering doing so. until you are ready to shoot. Keep ry a concealed weapon. During the Bryan Ward introduced the class “The objective of the Hardy iff’s office, pay $95, and be in good Carriers should not change be- the gun unloaded until you are 2016 legislative session, lawmakers by explaining the reason for its in- County Sheriff’s Office pairing legal standing to acquire a 5-year tween carrying openly — the gun ready to shoot.