All in agreement it seems
To get you
up to date, how about a wrap up article for August and Sept in
the land of confusion, the Central Appalachia Empowerment Zoo,
we mean Zone.
Briefly...
CAEZ held their monthly get together over at the Dundon Campground on August 1. With a quorum in place and after months of Board fissures, it was important to remove opposing Boardsters. It was a unanimous vote to toss long time Boardsters, the ones with the experience and background knowledge. What remained were those with wittle knowledge of the purpose of the non profit and even less understanding of the by laws, rules, articles of incorporation.
Without knowledge, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle and daily operation of the social service provider.
Like, the current Board doesn't have the interest or skill to go back and read the office held paperwork. We're not sure if ANY of em have actually sat down and read all the information on say, their Clay Apartments operation in downtown Clay, the old Mankin venture in Fayette County, nor a CAEZ backed home near Widen. On that Widen residence, the CAEZ did not even know they owned the place!
Since last Nov (when everything went to H in a hand basket), the County's tourism future has been on hold. CAEZ owns the 9 acre campground in Dundon. That campground is needed to attract a rail ride company to venture into Clayberry and set up shop. Since that fateful Nov '22 Board meeting, the CAEZ has been dragging their feets and holding up the progress of the new tourism business.
For this Aug 2023 gathering, a Suit (Steve Connelly) from Charleston was on hand to accept the signed, sealed, delivered lease agreement between CAEZ and the folks wanting the campground, the W V Rail Authority.
Didn't happen. CAEZ still had issues (some typos) with the official lease agreement.
So that makes Nov thru August without a signed lease and a chance to get tourism dollars flowing into the Land of Little.
Through out this meeting and the last ones, anytime the current Board doesn't understand something, doesn't know about something... they spew out innuendos on the problem being the old Board and Office Manager. What they should be saying includes: Gosh we haven't got a clue on what's going on and haven't taken the time to read background info.
Often they spent great amounts of time on something important only to end the conversation by tabling the topic til a later date.. which never comes.
After 87 minutes of lack luster performance, the Aug Board meeting called it quits.
SEPT.
As required by the groups' by-laws, every September is the time for their annual general membership meeting. Over the last 28 years or so, there have been sit down dinners, sometimes just finger foods, a guest speaker and much merriment. By laws also require the public to be notified of the event with cordial invitations for all to attend.
For September 5th, the date of the 2023 annual general membership meeting, it was quite different. Gone were the sit down dinner and guest speaker. On the kitchen stove were a couple tin foil covered aluminum pans. For the public (one), we never heard an invite to gobble. As for a guest speaker, didn't happen.
With the front door of the meeting place locked shut, at 6pm the regular meeting got underway with around seven Boardsters either present or via the telephone.
Up front there was muffled conversation. We think once again, the dimly lit Board was trying to figure out the tried and true past practices of the CAEZ and practices they didn't have a clue about.
We're calling Mickey Boggs as the ring leader of the 10 month delays and back door dealings including holding a quorum of the Board , meeting at 9:30 at night earlier this Summer. So prevalent is her grip, we're calling the wayward Board, the Bogg's Brigade.
But wait, something was different for this Sept meeting. No Mickey. She was neither in attendance nor on a phone connection. She was AWOL so to speak. We think (maybe) Ms Boggs got in a peeing contest before hand and (stomping her wittle feets) stayed away from service! Just a guess readers.
Of their 28 years or so, the CAEZ has been broke for the last ten. The only way they have kept the lights on has been by selling assets. Like three years ago their sold their old Valley Fork Grade School building. They still have a little over $120K from that sale. Because they have done NOTHING in the way of improving the 5 county CAEZ service area (projects), those funds have been used to maintain utilities.
If the CAEZ ever agrees to that railroad lease on the campground, the non profit will realize $100K per year on the five year contract lease. Couple that one half million on top of their existing $120K+ and making no investment into social projects, the CAEZ should be around a long time of lack luster existence.
In the way of discovery....
With their infinite wisdom, the CAEZ Board was unaware they even owned a house with a Widen address. All of sudden, State regulars are forcing the CAEZ to make a foreclosure of the falling down frame structure in the middle of nowhere,and cough up $4500 from their own funds to cover mandatory regulatory requirements. After a full 25 minutes of discussion, guess what they decided? You got it, no vote and instead, everything was kicked down the road, tabled til later.
The most important thang is that campground lease and getting it signed and delivered to the State folks.From around the table, all were in agreement of the 24 page lease with the exception of a couple typos in need of correction. CAEZ Chair Leslie Osborne was given the green light to sign the paperwork.
Here it is readers. This meeting was held on Sept 5th. We're typing this wrap up on the last day of Sept. According to BDA Chair Mitch DeBoard, as of a couple days back, that needed signature has NOT been signed. You got it, the most important thing for our County's future, it not been signed. Our future is still in limbo if DeBoard's info is correct.
Now nearly 2 hours of meeting time under their belts, here's another example of what's wrong with the struggling Boggs Brigade.
Discussion turned to a letter received concerning a piece of property the CAEZ sold years ago to a Mankin Company. The Chair received the letter along the lines of : CAEZ sold Mankin a lot in the Mt Hope Industrial Site; the deed was never provided for the purchase; and those folks want that deed.
Hmmmmm...
Much discussion ensued. After several days to rethink that Mankin purchase and after checking with people who can still remember, here's what we think:
CAEZ provided Mankin with some kind of loan; there was some confusion back then; a lawyer handling the paperwork died and never completed the deed.
That was probably 20 years ago.
All that paperwork is covered in dust, in file cabinets, in the office, and in need of someone to do a little research.
Finally, those two red cabooses over at the Campground, the rail ride contractor wants them gone. That contractor ( Rail Explores Inc ) has other use for the land the cabooses are occupying. Want a caboose? Want to scrap em out and make $$$. Better call the CAEZ today.
Going on 1 year, CAEZ remains the one obstacle in the way of growing a rail ride tourist draw and growing County Clay.
This is pitiful!
AW
Briefly...
CAEZ held their monthly get together over at the Dundon Campground on August 1. With a quorum in place and after months of Board fissures, it was important to remove opposing Boardsters. It was a unanimous vote to toss long time Boardsters, the ones with the experience and background knowledge. What remained were those with wittle knowledge of the purpose of the non profit and even less understanding of the by laws, rules, articles of incorporation.
Without knowledge, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle and daily operation of the social service provider.
Like, the current Board doesn't have the interest or skill to go back and read the office held paperwork. We're not sure if ANY of em have actually sat down and read all the information on say, their Clay Apartments operation in downtown Clay, the old Mankin venture in Fayette County, nor a CAEZ backed home near Widen. On that Widen residence, the CAEZ did not even know they owned the place!
Since last Nov (when everything went to H in a hand basket), the County's tourism future has been on hold. CAEZ owns the 9 acre campground in Dundon. That campground is needed to attract a rail ride company to venture into Clayberry and set up shop. Since that fateful Nov '22 Board meeting, the CAEZ has been dragging their feets and holding up the progress of the new tourism business.
For this Aug 2023 gathering, a Suit (Steve Connelly) from Charleston was on hand to accept the signed, sealed, delivered lease agreement between CAEZ and the folks wanting the campground, the W V Rail Authority.
Didn't happen. CAEZ still had issues (some typos) with the official lease agreement.
So that makes Nov thru August without a signed lease and a chance to get tourism dollars flowing into the Land of Little.
Through out this meeting and the last ones, anytime the current Board doesn't understand something, doesn't know about something... they spew out innuendos on the problem being the old Board and Office Manager. What they should be saying includes: Gosh we haven't got a clue on what's going on and haven't taken the time to read background info.
Often they spent great amounts of time on something important only to end the conversation by tabling the topic til a later date.. which never comes.
After 87 minutes of lack luster performance, the Aug Board meeting called it quits.
SEPT.
As required by the groups' by-laws, every September is the time for their annual general membership meeting. Over the last 28 years or so, there have been sit down dinners, sometimes just finger foods, a guest speaker and much merriment. By laws also require the public to be notified of the event with cordial invitations for all to attend.
For September 5th, the date of the 2023 annual general membership meeting, it was quite different. Gone were the sit down dinner and guest speaker. On the kitchen stove were a couple tin foil covered aluminum pans. For the public (one), we never heard an invite to gobble. As for a guest speaker, didn't happen.
With the front door of the meeting place locked shut, at 6pm the regular meeting got underway with around seven Boardsters either present or via the telephone.
Up front there was muffled conversation. We think once again, the dimly lit Board was trying to figure out the tried and true past practices of the CAEZ and practices they didn't have a clue about.
We're calling Mickey Boggs as the ring leader of the 10 month delays and back door dealings including holding a quorum of the Board , meeting at 9:30 at night earlier this Summer. So prevalent is her grip, we're calling the wayward Board, the Bogg's Brigade.
But wait, something was different for this Sept meeting. No Mickey. She was neither in attendance nor on a phone connection. She was AWOL so to speak. We think (maybe) Ms Boggs got in a peeing contest before hand and (stomping her wittle feets) stayed away from service! Just a guess readers.
Of their 28 years or so, the CAEZ has been broke for the last ten. The only way they have kept the lights on has been by selling assets. Like three years ago their sold their old Valley Fork Grade School building. They still have a little over $120K from that sale. Because they have done NOTHING in the way of improving the 5 county CAEZ service area (projects), those funds have been used to maintain utilities.
If the CAEZ ever agrees to that railroad lease on the campground, the non profit will realize $100K per year on the five year contract lease. Couple that one half million on top of their existing $120K+ and making no investment into social projects, the CAEZ should be around a long time of lack luster existence.
In the way of discovery....
With their infinite wisdom, the CAEZ Board was unaware they even owned a house with a Widen address. All of sudden, State regulars are forcing the CAEZ to make a foreclosure of the falling down frame structure in the middle of nowhere,and cough up $4500 from their own funds to cover mandatory regulatory requirements. After a full 25 minutes of discussion, guess what they decided? You got it, no vote and instead, everything was kicked down the road, tabled til later.
The most important thang is that campground lease and getting it signed and delivered to the State folks.From around the table, all were in agreement of the 24 page lease with the exception of a couple typos in need of correction. CAEZ Chair Leslie Osborne was given the green light to sign the paperwork.
Here it is readers. This meeting was held on Sept 5th. We're typing this wrap up on the last day of Sept. According to BDA Chair Mitch DeBoard, as of a couple days back, that needed signature has NOT been signed. You got it, the most important thing for our County's future, it not been signed. Our future is still in limbo if DeBoard's info is correct.
Now nearly 2 hours of meeting time under their belts, here's another example of what's wrong with the struggling Boggs Brigade.
Discussion turned to a letter received concerning a piece of property the CAEZ sold years ago to a Mankin Company. The Chair received the letter along the lines of : CAEZ sold Mankin a lot in the Mt Hope Industrial Site; the deed was never provided for the purchase; and those folks want that deed.
Hmmmmm...
Much discussion ensued. After several days to rethink that Mankin purchase and after checking with people who can still remember, here's what we think:
CAEZ provided Mankin with some kind of loan; there was some confusion back then; a lawyer handling the paperwork died and never completed the deed.
That was probably 20 years ago.
All that paperwork is covered in dust, in file cabinets, in the office, and in need of someone to do a little research.
Finally, those two red cabooses over at the Campground, the rail ride contractor wants them gone. That contractor ( Rail Explores Inc ) has other use for the land the cabooses are occupying. Want a caboose? Want to scrap em out and make $$$. Better call the CAEZ today.
Going on 1 year, CAEZ remains the one obstacle in the way of growing a rail ride tourist draw and growing County Clay.
This is pitiful!
AW