By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
managing editor

KEYSER — With only one Mineral County resident coming forth to protest the proposed $1 increase in the county’s 911 fee charged on telephone “land lines,” the Mineral County Commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday evening to put the increase in place.
The increase, which will bring the current $2 charge to $3, will go into effect sometime around Jan. 1, 2010, depending on how soon the telephone companies which service Mineral County customers can update their billing.
According to Marc Bashoor, director of the Mineral County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, the increase will keep Mineral County's fee in line with those of at least three of its neighbors.
“Grant County’s is $3.75, Hardy County is $3, and Hampshire is $2, although they are also considering an increase,” he said.
Keyser resident Dave Harman, however, told the commissioners he did not feel this was the time for an increase in fees of any kind.
“Any increase at this time is very inappropriate because of the economic situation,” he said. “I think we should be trying to find ways to cut and not to increase.”
County Coordinator Mike Bland said the $1 increase would help the county fund recent improvements ot the county’s 911 system.
“We’re moving to three dispatchers per shift, with projected operating costs of $835,000,” he said. “This will assist us in meeting that.”
Bland also noted that the county’s addressing and mapping project, which has been ongoing since 2006, is also being funded through the 911 fee.
“The cost of the signage will be taken out of the fee,” he said, referring to the new road signs which must be erected on every road in Mineral County.
“That’s going to be a lot of money,” Commissioner Janice LaRue observed.
“It’s already been a lot of money,” Bland replied.
Commission President Wayne Spiggle suggested tabling the decision until more input could be solicited from the public, then asked Bashoor what the “consequences would be if this increase does not go forward.”
“The money would have to come from some other source — the general fund — or we’d have to have a reduction in force,” Bashoor said.
LaRue told Harman she understands “what the concern is” in regard to raising fees for the county’s citizens, “but I don't know that we have a choice.”
With that, she made the motion to approve the increase, and Commissioner Cindy Pyles seconded it.